I remember Shani
Born, October 23, 1971
The eve of her birth
She danced in my womb
To Scott Joplin’s Opera "Treemonisha"
The motion sent me to the Restroom
Blood was in my urine
Her farther and I made stayed until
The Concert was over
The morning after Shani B
Our first and only girl together
Shani, a wonder
Amazement
She joined her two brothers
Obalaji and Ras
In life
Soon there would be
Amiri Jr. and Ahi
For all time
When the Ice Cream truck comes
Playing "the Entertainer"
I will think of Shani and Scott Joplin
And her many flavors
Shani my Shining Star
A flower grew in October
Indian Summer
She named the night
"Dark time"
She reasoned with rhyme
The Sun brought light
My "Little Darling"
The sound of, Nat Phipps Band
Terrace Ballroom, Newark, N.J.
When the dance was over
Time to go home
Shani is
Sweet potato pie
Made of Brown Sugar
Collard Greens and Hot Sauce
Salmon and Lamb Chops perfectly grilled
A crisp Green Salad everyday
Woman, Daughter
Talked fast
Played Fast Ball
Won it all
Brought the Gold Home
The Basket Ball court
Her back yard
Amiri Jr. called it
The Black yard
Neighborhood came
Played the Game
Her brothers taught her
To kept the Team tight
I remember Shani
A puzzled little girl
Statement about Race on application
"Ain't we Human" without guile
At Johnson C. Smith, in North Carolina
Shani called to tell
The Klan marched downtown
Hoods and all
She saw Racists
Shani, questioned their intelligence
Said they were "dumb"
Graduated, Magna Cum Laude
Came home to Newark, New Jersey
Where she taught
Science, Math, English
One year she taught French
Fast learner
Isn't she lovely
I remember
The day she brought Rashan Holmes
To the house
"Mommy this is Ray"
Shani would find a Ray of Sun
That Ray Be
Isn't they Wonderful
Unforgettable, Irreplaceable
I know their Spirit lives on
I want my Daughter and her Ray
I will forever carry a tear in my eye
A pain in my heart
For my daughter Wanda abused
Blamed
Her estranged husband is the suspect
For the murder of her sister and Ray
Unrestrained by Law
Shani and Ray were here
Now the are gone
I wore the same white dress
First, to Shani's Baptism
Second, to Ray and Shani’s Wake
I wore Black to the Funeral
Trees in the Neighborhood have become Tombstones
Violence--
Domestic violence
Families, Communities
Worldwide violence
Violated by the chill
The wind of war
When will Human Beings evolve?
Evol learn to Love
Learn how to
Learn to fight
To abolish All Forms of Oppression
Let Justice See
Seek Peace
In the Name of All
