The Essential Etheridge Knight

A POEM TO GALWAY KINNELL

A POEM TO GALWAY KINNELL Saturday, April26, 1973 Jefferson, Missouri 65101 (500 yards, as the crow flies, from where I am writing you t;his letter, lies the Missouri State Prison-it lies, the prison, like an overfed bear alongside the raging missouri riverthe pale prison, out of which sonny Iiston, with clenched fist, fought his way, out of which, james earl ray ripped his way into the hearts of us all ...) dear galway, it is flooding here, in missouri, the lowlands are all under water and at night the lights dance on the dark water, our president, of late of watergate, is spozed to fly above the flooded areas and estimate how much damage has been done to THE PEOPLES ..• dear galway, it is lonely here, and sometimes, THE PEOPLES can be a bitch dear galway, i hear poems in my head as the wind blows in your hair 74 and the young brown girl with the toothpaste smile who flows freely because she has heard OUR SOUNDS ... dear galway, OUR SONGS OF LOVE are still murmurs among these melodies of madness ... dear galway, and what the fuck are the irish doing I and when the IRA sends JUST ONE, just one soldier to fight with say the American Indians, then i'll believe them ... dear galway, the river is rising here, and i am scared and lonely ... Mary and the children send their love to you and yours always Etheridge Knight 75 ...