LET'S KISS THE SKY
By redzone (cooljazz47@yahoo.com)

   "Wild thing, I think you move me. You make everything
    groovy. Wild thing, I think I love you."

       Jimi Hendrix

Splashed across the TV screen, a Jimi scene where he is
on his knees, guitar aflame as red ember fingers entice,
urge each flickering note to wail, screech. Black. All

colored fingers encourage a generation to take it higher,
be the fire burning down an oppressive society. "Wild thing,
I want to know for sure. You move me!" Back in the day,

as we often say, Babylon was on the run. People planet-wide
were having fun like agitated atoms escaping the sun in great
solar storm flares spurred on by Mao Tsetung and the red

East rising of Tai Shan. While in the beast's belly stood
the Black Panther Party, red book's shining light held high,
displayed proudly. In the other hand they held the guns

of liberation. There were many who impatiently awaited word,
"Let's go! Now! Seize the time. Seize the hour. Off the pigs.
Seize the power. The sky was there with red tinged clouds

waiting, wanting to be kissed by the surge of humanity.
That was then. We have rounded history's bend, never reaching
the top of Chingkangshan. This is now. A new generation.

A youthful crowd seeks a new hour. A righteous power to topple
those old "Ivory Towers." That was then. We rocked the boulevard
with our deeds, our urgent words, and necessities. "Let's not

speak falsely now, the hour is getting late." Each day saw
some new advance. A new dance. For a short wonderful breath,
we had the upper hand. We had the bourgeois on the run. 

They, shaking at rustling leaves; we, laughing as they flee.
That was then, this is now. We have rounded history's bend,
never reaching the top of Chingkangshan. As I replay

that Jimi scene from 20 some odd years ago, I can't help
thinking, "We had them on the run." The flames from Jimi's alive
guitar spoke to us and we replied, "Wild thing, you move me!"

And as we round history's bend, I can once again see
the snowcaps gleaming in the sun. This time, this time 
we will reach over the top of Chingkangshan. We will boldly say,

"Excuse me while I kiss the sky!"