Death Comes for James Baldwin
He said I saw her picture
Her picture on the wall
I gave him a straw, a straw
He could swallow no more
He could swallow no more
His throat was dry
Dry as Death Valley floor
He could swallow, swallow no more
He stared at the picture
Was there Light in her eye
Or was it dark, was it black
Was it black, what he saw
He said I remember, I remember
What it was like before…before
Was it dark was it black
Was it black what he saw
Was he thinking of Pine
Was he thinking of Beale Street
Was he riding the Culver
Or the West End Line
Did he see a Tower of Gold
Did he see the Morning Star
Was he opening opening
Was he closing the door
Did he see Martin
Did he see Malcolm
Did he see Moses
At the door
Was the bush burning
Was his tongue on fire
Was The Law given was The Law taken
As he went out the door
He looked out at the mountain
Did the Dungeon shake
Was it Jacob’s Ladder
That he saw
Was there a flame
A flame rising
A wall of fire
That he saw
Was there Another Country
A Tower of Gold
An Anointed Vessel
That he saw
Did he hear thunder
Was he lost
Was he found
Was there Light upon the wall