A Negro Poet And Painter Poem by Jamal Brown

I am a lonesome dove
and a free spirit eagle.
If you knew who I was,
how would you view me?
I'll give you a chance.
Someone approached me
on the street last night and
asked me 'Are you the
rebellious Negro poet who
has been well known for
several years? ' I simply
responded by saying 'At
one time, maybe. However,
I am now a poet. No. I'm an
artist.' He scoffed and said 'An artist? I've
never seen any of your
works.' I chuckled and
said 'I am an artist of
words. My pencil is my
paint brush. The paper
is my canvas. And most
important of all, my
words are my various
painting colors.'
Then he asked me
a question
unexpected. 'Who
are you, then? '
I told him 'I am
the struggling
Negro artist. The
Homosexual poet,
who's parents
kicked him out,
because they didn't
understand. The most
educated black guy
in the neighborhood,
but is considered
ignorant because I'm
gay. That's who I am'
Now how do you view me?