poem/by Haki Madhubuti

this poet was born Don L. Lee but he changed his name
this poem is from his poetry book intitled we walk the way of the new world( 1970)

Knocking Donkey Fleas off a poet from the southside of Chi (for brother ted joans)
a worldman with the careful eye: the deep look,the newest look.as recent & hip as the uncola being sipped by thelonious monk jackie-ing it down to little rootie tootie's.
he's a continent jumper, a show-upper,a neo-be-bopper.he's the first u see the last to flee, the homeboy in African land; with an inner compass of the rightway.at times he's the overlooked like the rhinoceros in a bird bath.the sound of his trumpet is the true off minor to hear him tell it:bird is alive,blacks must colonize europe,jazz is a woman& I did,I was,I am.& I believe him.
he's younger than his poems & old as his clothes, he's badder than bad: him so bad he cd take a banana from a gorilla,pull a pork chop out of a lion's buttocks or debate the horrors of war with spiro agnew with his mouth closed. a worldman, a man of his world.
ted joans is the tan of the sun; the sun'stan.a violent/peace looking for a piece.he'll find it(in the only place he hasn't been) among the stars, that star.the one that's missing.last seen walking slowly across africa bringing the rest of the world with it.