nights of the black maria

as nights footed toward the day

coward cars starked vehicles on the way

in pursuit of justice for men

cursed black by some interpretations code

as nights circuited toward the day

three bullets drilled the flesh of some

Yankee trapped by his accented haunts

that stalked his conscience painfully

the nights cooled cruel at the hands of men

who'd mangle, slice and slip in quiet

the arm or leg and toe and thigh of a

former human who over-stayed

what nights would drip a drop of blood

when whiten waters suckle brown-tanned flesh?

waters slurp-in all b.o.

without a hater's discrimination sign

oh, nights that wince with a nightmare scream

at sights of boggie-hoods praying all in white

at centuried riots unleashed at once

upon the souls of a longed-lost hope

oh night, shy nights fleeing past the day

like black marias chasing scenes of crime

release the beauty and longings of your sky

to men blinded to a love-reply

*Painting is a faith and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.

-Vincent van Gogh

*I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.

-Galileo