Dialouge

 *compiled from the narratives of Decoded, Cane, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Jazz, Stars in my Pocket like Grains of Sand, and Mumbo Jumbo

He awoke on this birthday morning with the feeling that there was a menace in the air around him - that something irrevocable had occurred in him. Pain. I seem to have an affection, a kind of sweettooth for it. Bolts of lightning, little rivulets of thunder.  And I the eye of the storm. Sorry God, I lied, but give me one more try/ Got two bricks, new cars, new whips/ But niggas never learn till they end up in the newsclip. Muriel seeks happiness and beauty. Dan informs her that life is a balance between the two, between suffering and laughter, beauty and ugliness. Do you choose happiness? You only have to say 'yes.' Yes? Yes that's true enough, he sold his soul to the devil for pleasure, prestige, and position. Did you ever think about that? "'Will it--?' 'Destroy your will?'"A host of thoughtful people looked at the signs (the weather, the number, their own dreams) and believed in the commencement of all sorts of destruction. Many a time he's seen them drown in their dreams and has kicked about joyously in the mud after. Still that ain't the blame for all that's happened to me. You don't know what to do with this boy, that's why you're always trying to fix the blame on somebody. Ain't no one to blame. I'm the victim of their sin. I'm what sin is. Does he look like me? Have you ever heard him say the things you hear me say? It was the loving City that distracted me and gave me ideas. Made me think I could speak its loud voice and make that sound sound human. Sounds of tape recorders of its human voice at high speed. "I hate him! I hate him! Big, black prancing tomcat of a nigger!"


I wish you a safe return/
but only love kills war, when will they learn?