This Is the Brawl

This is the brawl in which my life began For I did not live, did not become a man Until I could speak in the chaos of the crowd Ran with smoky eyes Beside the living love of a fellowman While police dogs sniffed our heels And bit the butt of our debates Leaving only mangled arguments About decisions being made for us. Today in London I measure growth In the fraction of our blood That flowed more like rivers before And always I remember the taste of salt The natal blood on my tongue God's own symbol of my redemption Each time I am born So this fire alone I come fearless Of death, longing to be born again.