From a Leonard Pitts editorial(See the Article at www.miamiherald.com)

Sweet Soul Music


―A Found Poem for Gerald Levert


A singer of thunderous power, mimicking dance steps
he watched from backstage; borrowing
vocal dives and climbs, barrel rolls
from his father's playbook

imagine what it must be like
to lose a son

Remember when black music was about soul
and soul was about truth and truth
promised the moon and stars to a woman, and truth
pleaded with breaking voice and teary eyes for another chance, and truth
made you hear echoes of soul that came before, echoes--
Cherish women. Baby, please; is becoming a lost art

but imagine what it must be like
to lose a son

Sometimes, begging
is the best part. Sometimes make up justifies
break up. love requires vulnerability
more: baby, please
less: too proud to beg
we held one another and shelter each other from life
wrapped in a need deeper than sex

but imagine what it must be like
to lose a son

"Baby, hold on to me," he sang
because he knew what we were missing.