Everett LeRoi Jones also known as Amiri Baraka. Baraka was born October 7, 1934 in Neward New Jersey. He was one of the greatest, some compared him to James Baldwin. He received the PEN Open Book Award. He died January 9, 2014 in his birthplace Neward New Jersey.

Lately, I've become accustomed to the wayThe ground opens up and envelopes me
Each time I go out to walk the dog.
Or the broad edged silly music the wind
Makes when I run for a bus...

Things have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars.
And each night I get the same number.
And when they will not come to be counted,
I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night I tiptoed up
To my daughter's room and heard her
Talking to someone, and when I opened
The door, there was no one there...
Only she on her knees, peeking into

Her own clasped hands

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