Pass the Torch

No Elton, Not another "Candle in the Wind"
whose flame was too soon blown out.

But rather, a provocative, introspective,
troubled genius -
who gave us some stuff to think about.

He awakened the slumbering social-consciousness
and shined a light on things we couldn't see.
a clarion call to stop being hypnotized
your soul anesthetized
by that black box called TV.

Despite insight, intuition and a "Third Eye"
with which to see,
his body of work - his "Pieces of a Man"
became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"You can't take it with you" is more
than a hollow phrase.
The wisdom, the hurt, the laughter - the gift
stay on this side of the grave.

We won't just reminisce about him and sip Dewars
or raspberry ice tea,
while we rock in chairs on the front porch.

He came this way - and left that way.
Now, it's time to pass the torch.

Homage to gil scott-heron
Presented to my "Son-by-Choice,"
Meeko Israel
on 9-1-1011