Jerry Pendergast is a Chicago poet and activist who frequently shares his work on the Chicago Revolutionary Poets Brigade Facebook group. He was a regular at such city venues as the Guild Annex and Green Mill Tavern and looks forward to
returning to the stage. His work is
often infused with music, especially jazz. He also draws inspiration from the struggles of working people and the oppressed.
In
this poem Pendergast evokes the spirit of Gil
Scott Heron, the legendary musician and
poet who has sometimes been called the God
Father of Hip Hop verse. For more about Heron and his most famous song/poem The
Revolution Will Not Be Televised check out the lyrics from his 1971
album of the same name.
The Heron Remembered
1
You called out “What's the word?”
We shouted back “Johannesburg”
Hips, shoulders feet picked up the rhythm
No floor director
called out the correct steps
Can this be played on the dance hour?
Your voice
The fingers that joined you
on the piano
the guitar
were schooled in the blues
But can we call it that?
Sax rising
Piano holding the ground
Your voice stretching
the lower register
Can we call it Jazz?
You chanted
“The Revolution will not be televised”
above percussion
On SPIRITS
You bade us
“Keep the Nerve”
“Don’t let the Spirit Die”
“Don’t Give Up”
2
Can the voice
soaring with the sax
fly from Watts to Harlem?
Reach a mid pitch Groove in Roxbury
Ocean currents
Carry them
To Bog side?
Can Northerlies
Blow them South
To Alabama, Arizona
Can they join the street marchers, dancers
in Honduras?
3
The Heron remembered
narrated the history
of the music
the struggles
But sometimes
instruments were electric
Can we call it Folk?
If the lyrics
the rhythms
are long remembered
Can we call any of his songs
Classics?
If the songs
spoken word
his life
give strength
to anyone fighting
long term occupations
addiction,
mass eviction
poisoned elements,
Or for the right to save seeds
Can we call them
Spirituals?
Gil Scott Heron born on April first but he was no damn fool.
—Jerry Pendergast
No comments:
Post a Comment