I was searching for an Avenue... A lane I could live on... Some grain I could bid on... Help balance this world's Protons neutrons and electrons... a Place with a vegetable garden and a Library where words, scribbled on Love's parchment paper could feel at Home... I'd been writing Letters to myself Postcards from my soul Mailed from my ancestors sequestered in other realms Finer and almost perpendicular to this one Spirits communing nightly Poetry Falling like rain Eyelids closed, my body slept On this parched bed of earth Dreaming and coaxing new things to Grow and sprout and blossom Climb the steeple Ring the bell Water the soil Cultivate and propagate and Feed the people cause People need people In this memory I walk along main street With its church and courthouse Sneak behind alley side street Exposed rear ends... buildings Lifting skirts and dropping trousers To display their garbage cans banging Filling the atmosphere with misery, stench and reality tv I jump the fence and skip Downtown on the D train Crowded, loud, and noisy Sponsoring banks and bars and drinks Intoxicating Intoxicated I stumble back uptown To parks and penthouses I woke up In your drive way One rainy day You opened the gate Lined with ancient trees Skin wrinkled like bark and trunks Wide enough to fit a house Wooden dresser and comb I liked the scent of your home Purple lilac and lace God bless this place Surrounded by Honey shrubs and hickory buds In the flower garden I sipped Ajiri tea Leaves hand-picked Farmers in Kenya There I underwent a transformation Wisdom of the ages Wisdom of the sages Huddled together Gathered round the center Mystic call of the drum Spark Fire Wood Metal Earth Water Sacred daughter Radiant sun Author Love Lift us higher... alter Light warm form 1 circle One globe Limbs hugging one another Giving strength to aid each other Divine harmony Songs sailing into the night Meditating under the stars Mars Jupiter and the Moon full Teacher preacher Poetess prophet Storyteller Wisdom dweller Healer Seeing the world... not as she is But as he could be They them us Together One hand clasping another Hand assisting another Hand on another hand Washing dishes in the sink Weathering yet another storm Together Moments are forever My channel hope found I tuned in daily Your radio station nourished Marquee words reading "What you get, give..." Blinking on and off and on Miss Maya You taught me Reach down reach up reach out Stretch and be your best self No need to change clothes to go down the road... Come as you are and your family will love you Thank you Dr. Maya Angelou Phenomenal woman Caged bird singing loudly Proudly Still I rise I pray today With grace and hope I too, until the day I return to clay will say Simply Good morning