This is a rethinking through poetry of one of my favorite songs, “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.
I was born by the river in a modest house
Oh and just like the river I’ve been moving south
It’s been a long, long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living, but I can’t tell at all
‘Cause I know If I look up, I might trip and fall
It’s been a long, long time coming
But I think a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I turn on the the TV and see a man on his knees
And I think to myself, “I’m glad that isn’t me”
It’s been a long, long time going
Assuming change gonna come, waiting still
Then he comes to me, the man on TV
Begging, “Brother, help me please”
But I find every way to excuse his plea
Thinking all the while, “What if that was me on my knees?”
There have been times that I thought it wouldn’t last for long
But now I think my selfishness is what drug it on
It’s been a long, long time coming
But it’s time for change.
