Forgetting

Forgetting Bryant Smith (bio) Chill blows between bricks and hustlers on October winds, under darkness, peeping moon. Jackets close tighter. Another newspaper in barrel fire warms hands enough to hold and sip emotions Minds, busy with intoxicated thoughts of big change, hope for more, rooted on corners and ghetto walls. Sometimes self backwashes into near empty bottle passed too many times. They hope more, rooted on corners and ghetto walls, decipher messages, sell journeys to promised lands, and sip backwash from near empty bottles passed too many times. Open hands wait for big change, sips of escape. They journey beyond promised land, scribble corners, ghetto walls. Cipher hieroglyph generations removed from hoses and dogs, open hand to hand. Big change comes in sips, glimpses, between dim cells, sheets and past crosses burned in memory by generation. Re moved from fire hoses and dogs, jackets tighten. Cold realization that future have chills. Blows between bricks. Hustlers roll, tilt bottle and puff smoke from barrel fire. Forget. Bryant Smith Bryant Smith, a native of Chicago, has published in Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature and Art and in Warpland. For his work as poet, performer, and educator, he has been honored by the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and by Chicago Mayor's Office through Insight Arts, a neighborhood "education through art" program, sponsored by Workforce Development/Gallery 37 and Chicago's Neighborhood Writing Alliance. Copyright © 2006 Charles H. Rowell

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