GoSetaPhire

From Nikki Giovanni's first self-published volume of of poetry “Black Feeling Black Talk.”

Barbara Crosby was a mutual friend of both Nikki and her sister, Gary. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and also a member of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).

A Historical Footnote To Consider

Only When All Else Fails

(For Barbara Crosby)

while it is true

(though only in a factual sense)

That in the wake of a

Her-I-can comes a

Shower

Surely I am not

The gravitating force

that keeps this house

full of panthers

Why, LBJ has made it

quite clear to me

He doesn’t give a

Good goddamn what I think

(else why would he continue to masterbate in public?)

Rhythm and Blues is not

The downfall of a great civilization

And I expect you to

Realize

That the Temptations

have no connection with

The CIA

We must move on to

the true issues of

Our time

like the mini-skirt

Rebellion

And perhaps take a

Closer look at

Flour Power

It is for Us

to lead our people

out of the

Wein-Bars

into the streets

into the streets

(for safety reasons only)

Lord knows we don’t

Want to lose the

support

of our Jewish friends

So let us work

for our day of Presence

When Stokely is in

The Black House

And all will be right with

Our world