Black Man, How do I tell you?

BLACK MAN, How do I tell you? Black Man, how can I tell you, what words do I use...? to say, my heart fills with pride to see you stand tall with your child - by your side. Manly and strong, You’re strong enough to be sensitive, to get along, with an upstart child or an upset mother. What’s special is you hold tight, you don’t walk away - This is YOUR Child; so you bother to give, to learn, to live more and more fully each day. While Black with a powerful history at your feet, while male with a presence and legacy too prevalent to be discreet, your individual soul is made manifest as you nurture God’s majesty into this new being you now represent. So I applaud you, Black Man, not to praise the non negative things you do for that is your minimal role anyway, but for the positive, life-enhancing actions you take to show our sons, our daughters that pride, dignity, responsibility and respect have always been our way! For teaching, caretaking and OUTRIGHT LOVING is the mark of a people heralded throughout the ages as that righteous group, that’s first to start, build anew, yet need not Conquer another day; but rather exists as a testament that the Universal God IS present in man, human-kind, as a beacon of light- to lead, to create, to hold fast to ALL that is Right! Black Man, Father of All. Black Man, now father to one, to many, or even to none because you guide, you advise, you listen, you participate, you activate, you stimulate because you are on a mission! I pay homage to you. I show my respect here and now for you. As I honor you for all THAT you do. And I silently pray to God to thank him for you and ask that through his everlasting grace that he may forever SUSTAIN YOU! BLACK MAN! Jo Anna Bella, Poet at Heart, Written 6/13/97. Copyright by Jo Anna Bella 1997 joannabella.com