Rahsaan Dead at Forty-One

By Rudolph Lewis

our man Ra

burnt by the sun

a wonder blowing braille mystery

three horns, nose whistle, & vibration staff

hoodoo man, juju Man, & historian

they can't stop you from flying

they can't stop you 

watusi spear man, nor nat turner

trump card or trump charge

Rahsaan, aware bluesman

beads tumbling over a massive heart

lover after hours with black roots

you ain't volunteer slaving, but vibrating 

manhood in white, knotted minds

you clicking on "Bright Moments"

do it Light-Giver!

serve up Egyptian dog stars

on grecian silver trays

Roland Baby, uncork Trane's

muscadine melodies in "Chimchim Cheree"

bursting plum-ripe in the purple-starred night

time-trip us back to Bechet

relume his Mississippi Down-to-New Orleans

syncopations on the soprano

Rahsaan, Osirian Life-Giver

wrapped in your horns

unwax dead ears

ancient space traveler of "The Inflated Tear"

search the universe for undernourished souls

forever blowing

                                                      BLACKNUSS 

                                       BLACKNUSS 

                           BLACKNUSS

*   *   *   *   *

Roland Kirk (1935-1977) BLACKNUSS album