Welch’s Grape Juice
for George Lamming

how comfortable he is about
his right to our time

drinking it, giving us his to drink
without apologizing

even when we’re unable to hear,
unable to understand
his guttural pronouncements

in juxtaposition to when
he enunciates as clearly and as loudly
as Dylan Thomas
reciting his Welch verse


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2007
8: 59 p.m. 30/march/07