Strutting in a Cold Sweat

By Rudolph Lewis

On the lower end Druid Hill is

lined with trees. They not oaks

like they once were. Nor lemon

colored sweet men with pencil

mustaches. They died like old

habits, slowly. Full-lipped blacks

with knots dense as African jungles

now speak their minds. In hallways

golden smiles dimmed like pulled

down chandeliers sold for scrap

Bethlehem Steel has closed its

gates. We still runs to the corner

for bologna slices & salty fatback

still seasons lima beans. Out of

work we sleep whiskey dreams

Choirs are pre-recorded gospels

at Bethel AME. At New Psalmist

Baptist on Old Frederick Road

Walter Scott Thomas baptizes

himself a sweet smelling Bishop

His esteemed wife is dressed as a

white angel in Woman Thou Art

Loosed Cookbook by Bishop T.D.

Jakes. Undercover they all have

the spiritual gift of lively tongues

I’ve read Milton’s Paradise Lost

I know the Devil ain’t interested

in a life of poverty. The Army

of the Lord now gets professional

wages. Their blazing canons go

Bang! Bang! Bang! when they get

laid as law-abiding citizens. Shades

have been drawn. The globe lights

up with Shock & Awe! Pain ain’t

blues when the world grows dark

  *   *   *   *   *

Responses

I like the Druids, translated them in Latin in HS. They wore hoods, took many vacations and were pacifists, so we revived the sect, using Stokely Carmichael as our leader, because of that famous photo of him in a hood. we all wore the button, until the principal brought us into his office and told us to stop. – Kam

I can really see and taste and feel Baltimore in your poetry.  Your poems have such a strong sense of place but the landscape ain't pretty. – Miriam

Rudy, you are so ingenious. No, the force of this poem does not dawle or limp along! I love the energy! This poem makes me laugh. My favorite lines are "I've read Milton's Paradise Lost. I know the Devil ain't interested in a life of poverty." – Jeannette

Mr. Lewis,  I'd like to recite this on the air, February 2, 2006, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. PDT, KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, "Some Of Us Are Brave".  Show should be about the upcoming "The National Black People's Unity Convention". Regards, Grayce Gadson  www.griotsessions.com

posted 5 February 2006