Annotations for Speaker: Tim Wells

Hold

Hold

still.

still.

Um, I'd like

Um, I'd like

to make a request real quick.

to make a request real quick.

I know at first we were supposed to have a slam, and then they changed it to kind of a, you know, open reading.

I know at first we were supposed to have a slam, and then they changed it to kind of a, you know, open reading.

And there's a sister that wants to read after me, and I'm supposed to be last.

And there's a sister that wants to read after me, and I'm supposed to be last.

Is it okay with y'all if she reads too?

Is it okay with y'all if she reads too?

You know.

You know.

Okay, I just wanted to make sure, because otherwise I would give her my time, because, you know, you should let her read.

Okay, I just wanted to make sure, because otherwise I would give her my time, because, you know, you should let her read.

Okay, um, this is kind of participatory, uh, and I also have a poem for Gwendolyn Brooks.

Okay, um, this is kind of participatory, uh, and I also have a poem for Gwendolyn Brooks.

It's kind of like I'm putting two poems together, but um, in this first poem, um, whenever I put my fist up, I want you to say, shut up, alright?

It's kind of like I'm putting two poems together, but um, in this first poem, um, whenever I put my fist up, I want you to say, shut up, alright?

Somebody says, shut up!

Somebody says, shut up!

But I keep talking.

But I keep talking.

The teacher whom trained my brain from the womb And even if he had his way to the tomb, says Shut up!

The teacher whom trained my brain from the womb And even if he had his way to the tomb, says Shut up!

But I keep talking The preacher that sermon surmounted on the mount Pounded, pillaged, pounced

But I keep talking The preacher that sermon surmounted on the mount Pounded, pillaged, pounced

the gospel That he only quite well believed for a spell, says Shut up!

the gospel That he only quite well believed for a spell, says Shut up!

But I keep talking The man that I admired Until I realized and got tired Of last hired, first fired In six weeks I'll

But I keep talking The man that I admired Until I realized and got tired Of last hired, first fired In six weeks I'll

be retired, says But I keep talking, the woman of my dreams could steam and scheme, do most anything, says.

be retired, says But I keep talking, the woman of my dreams could steam and scheme, do most anything, says.

But I keep talking, the addict in the basement, displaced, erased, and hastened.

But I keep talking, the addict in the basement, displaced, erased, and hastened.

Addict want more drug.

Addict want more drug.

Addict want more drug.

Addict want more drug.

Addict want more drug.

Addict want more drug.

Won't hold back the crack, cold shrug, cause I bug, says.

Won't hold back the crack, cold shrug, cause I bug, says.

But I keep talking the white liberal conservative and nervous perplexed and perverse curse by the path of

But I keep talking the white liberal conservative and nervous perplexed and perverse curse by the path of

come around bloodbath says, but I keep talking the child in the wild streets of burning yearning.

come around bloodbath says, but I keep talking the child in the wild streets of burning yearning.

Maybe tomorrow will be a turning point.

Maybe tomorrow will be a turning point.

Change seems to be strange says, but I keep talking the demon in my mind.

Change seems to be strange says, but I keep talking the demon in my mind.

Left behind by a thought, sold and bought By a peculiar institution Sees no solution, says But I keep talking, I

Left behind by a thought, sold and bought By a peculiar institution Sees no solution, says But I keep talking, I

keep talking Matter of fact, the other day I was talking to Gwendolyn Brooks

keep talking Matter of fact, the other day I was talking to Gwendolyn Brooks

I met Mother Nature We had a pleasant talk She was born in Topeka, stayed there for six weeks Then moved to Chi town Now

I met Mother Nature We had a pleasant talk She was born in Topeka, stayed there for six weeks Then moved to Chi town Now

she's moving the world Large auditoriums are too small for her big heart.

she's moving the world Large auditoriums are too small for her big heart.

Crowds tighten up until she lets it loose.

Crowds tighten up until she lets it loose.

I want my children to read her rather than Dr.

I want my children to read her rather than Dr.

Seuss.

Seuss.

She has more children coming home than Mother Goose.

She has more children coming home than Mother Goose.

Some are young and unrefined like me.

Some are young and unrefined like me.

Some are seasoned and scholarly like Haki.

Some are seasoned and scholarly like Haki.

Felt like she was already close to me.

Felt like she was already close to me.

Neophytes new to poetry are curious.

Neophytes new to poetry are curious.

I never knew flowers could be so furious.

I never knew flowers could be so furious.

Yes.

Yes.

When she's in Chicago, it's my kind of town.

When she's in Chicago, it's my kind of town.

Don't call her African American, she prefers black.

Don't call her African American, she prefers black.

Cause she's my kind of brown.

Cause she's my kind of brown.

She can run the NAACP and enlist more members than Ben Chavis and Ben Hooks.

She can run the NAACP and enlist more members than Ben Chavis and Ben Hooks.

She has no political aspirations.

She has no political aspirations.

Children, come home to Gwendolyn Brooks.

Children, come home to Gwendolyn Brooks.

And it's for peace.

And it's for peace.