Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 09:02:02 -0700 From: "Rodney C. Coates" Organization: Miami University To: revs@csf.Colorado.edu Subject: Conversations with a Madman: Part II Conversations with a Madman: Part II rodney c//96 The madman had lived with us for some time having been expelled from his home for lack of money. When he first arrived his bones showed through his flesh, his hair was matted, and his eyes spoke of the pain of homelessness. He offered us work and wisdom for a piece of bread, a slice of meat and a cool drink from our well. For the first few days he would work then eat - saying it was not moral to eat before he had earned the food to replenish his body. And so he slowly became a part of our little family. I noticed that, although old - maybe as old as 60, his stature was proud and straight, his skin without blemish radiated like gold, and his hair filled with silver lines of gray and rich African braids, rested on his shoulders. As I watched him one day, painstakingly by hand remove the weeds from our garden, I wondered where he had come from, who he had been and how he had come to this state of poverty. Watching and pondering his plight, I suddenly became aware that he had stopped working and was looking intently into my eyes. And then he began to speak in a voice deep from the rivers of time yet calm like the pools of life. “I was born in a distant land, my father was the ruler of a great people. When I was but a teen I fell in love with a woman from a rival clan. It was a love that was forbidden, a love that could not be and because I would not listen I was expelled from our family, my love and our land. Since, I have roamed the world, lived with paupers and poets, Kings and fools, rich and poor. I have fought in wars, worked in factories and on farms, I have preached scriptures from great cathedrals and I have lived with whores. I have drank the wine of new pressed grapes and smelled the stench of death. I have continually searched for serenity, happiness, and peace but always my path lead to places filled with hatred, confusion and despair. And so my road is ever before me to a place where dreams are born. You, my young friend, are of the future and I a discarded vessel of the past. Walk with me for a while and look through my eyes.” I did not know how to respond, his words so filled my mind. I saw visions of far away places and people dressed in wondrous clothes. I heard music playing and felt the sound of quiet. My soul was strangely at peace and then his words caught up with my soul. Let your heart dwell among the stars, your soul dance in the valleys, and walk the plane between the two. Let your dreams be filled with hope, your thought as fresh as this moments flowers, and work for a better day and a better way. Let your realities be the constant struggle to make your dreams come true. And let your dreams include the other that’s not as blessed as you. Let your years constantly seek out wisdom and truth. And your mind contemplate what is pure. Be ever humble and listen to the song of Angels. Let your tongue speak words of love and peace and let your actions so conform. Hearken to the voice of elders and the laughter of those still young. Heed the call of justice and righteousness submit to their will. Search the heart of strangers and friends build bridges of understanding. Silence the urges of distrust and hate that blinds the eye of the soul. Comfort those injured in the storms of greed, contempt and envy. Be true to your quest, your heart and your soul. Find love, honor life, and seek ever to grow. If in all these things you are faithful then your dwelling will always be among the stars. As our path led into our grove, we parted for the day. I looked forward to the next walk and voyage through his soul. umoja: I have no permanent friends, I have no permanent enemies, all I have is a permanent agenda. Malcolm X Rodney D. Coates Director of Black World Studies Associate Professor of Sociology Miami University Oxford, Ohio 45056 E- Mail coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu