Harlem Christmas
By Daniel Carlton
It was the night before Christmas
All through the hood
Things were type quiet
You could say all good
The crack fiends were chilling
The weed heads and alkies too
It was so chill
Like the whole block took medicine for the flu
Windows were blinging
With colorful lights
It was like being in Times Square at midnight
The kids sleeping hard
But keeping their cool
On none of their mouths could you see any drool.
Dreaming about X boxes, dolls, and play stations too
Don’t Dreaming make the world feel brand new?
My shorty who is as fine as can be
Was looking flavalicious delicious
Hanging lights on the tree
I was about to give a hug you know, get me some love
When I heard this sound on the fire escape above
I grabbed my bat and ran to the window
Somebody is trying to get hurt messing with my flow
I looked up and saw this dude who was big like fat Joe
Or was it a pimp?
I kept hearing ho, ho,ho
Below on the street was a raggedy ride
I must of been tripping
It looked like it could fly
It was tagged up with some crazy names
Like dancer and prancer and does that say Rick James?
I needed a closer look to see what was up with this dude
But my Grandma would pop me if she saw me being rude
Then he looked at me with bight shiny eyes
I could tell that it wasn’t because he was high
He had on a red suit that looked real nice
His white belt was so big -on me- it would wrap around twice
His beard game was smooth
His sideburns were tight
Something about him was chill
Not looking for a fight
Then it hit me
I swear that it did
I hadn’t thought about him since I was a kid
He said “I see that you recognize who I am”
Then he rubbed his big belly full of mac and cheeses, fried chicken and ham
“ It’s good to be back in Harlem
This much is true”
“The Schomberg, Apollo, and Lenox Avenue too.
I,ve got to get over to Slyvia’s and get some soul food for my boo.”
“But first it ‘s time to pass out these gifts”
“The folks of Harlem need things that uplift”
“I can’t give out apartments that people can afford.
Somebody better get it together before they become null and void”
“I can’t teach the children how to read
Recognize that in your house video games aren’t a need”
“A book is the way to travel real cheap
You don’t even have to leave your couch and the stars you can reach”
“Everybody in life wants to have fun
How does that work if you have a gun?”
“Parents when they take time with young ones
Become the youth’s connection to the sun”
“Kids need to be kids
They’ll grow up soon enough
They’ll find out that without love
Life can be rough”
“Love has to work like a two way’s though
Or you’ll find yourself in a hole face down and covered with snow”
With that said I have to bounce-you know time to go”
“Ho, Ho , Ho”
He was gone like a ghost.
Without leaving toys his presents were still the most
The gift of knowledge was what he dropped
If we use them and share them
Harlem can’t be stopped.
