UNBROKEN CHAINS By Harold Murphy

This Column is dedicated to the unbroken chain of black poets who have given us a legacy of poetic treasures to share;To the Legacy of Fitzgerald Beaver,the Founder of The Facts Newspaper in Seattle, WA,

The Facts Family and The Facts Staff

FOR POETS

by Al Young

Stay beautiful

but don't stay down underground too long

Don't turn into a mole

or a worm

or a root

or a stone

Come on out into the sunlight

Breathe in trees

Knock out mountains

Commune with snakes

& be the very hero of birds

Don't forget to poke your head up

& blink

think

Walk all around

Swim upstream

Don't forget to fly

The Author of this poem is Al Young.He was born in Ocean Springs,Mississippi in 1939.He was a very productive writer. He is the author of five novels, six collections of poetry and three memoirs.This Poet grew up in Detroit but has lived many years in Palo Alto, Ca. This Poet is another strong link in The Unbroken Chain of Black Poets.