Swing Praxis

Swing Praxis 
In which considering the lack 
Of a truly beautiful, violent revolution
We establish ourselves as mediums for change
Change which must accumulate 
Yo maximum impact and speed
Like rhythm 
cnd rhythm 
Is a unit of meaning
Of feeling
Of being
cnd there are ways 
To withstand sustained conflict
But guns are the teeth of democracy 


Swing praxis  


We must not easily be possessed 
By what is just the crudest element of a given plan 
Either we vote or protest or tremble or march or fight
But either way it will soon be hard to be 'cool'
cnd black at the same time  


Swing praxis  


It is self-evident
That we stand at the edge of a great victory 
Of which we are confident 
That we have been wounded in battle 
But it's too late to be hurt 
It's too late to turn back now!
So go on, go on, bring fire music 
With harmonic cycles of hymn rhythm 
cnd we will navigate the fear of death 
Go deep in the jungles of deceit and concrete
cnd see how we are murdered on these streets  
Or be real and go back to the old country
Go down in the valley and see how my people have built 
Such beautyfull homes in the dirt 
See how only secular sound and the mutability
cnd resilience of black spirit duality
Can liberate them
From history 


Swing praxis 


Come with the hard bop 
cnd catch the vision 
Jazz is a river of vigorous spirits  
Come like Lightning Hopkins 
With the ckpala hip shake  
Come and dance the Juba 
With the kick and step
cnd the arms akimbo
	

Swing
cs method   
cs action 
cs rubric 
cs heritage 
cs a black and combative orchestra
With terrible bees 
cnd whistles and teeth  


Swing praxis  
Swing praxis 


Swing as method  
Swing as a template for revolution