MAD ABOUT YOU

ELVERT XAVIER BARNES / WRITINGS ON THE WALL

1500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, WDC . Thursday, 30 March 1995

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South Beach Miami, Florida . Saturday, 28 February 1995

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I sometimes laugh to keep from crying

but, that, too, only confirms for you

that lie about that you so cleverly

choreographed and orchestrated

knowing that because I am ‘mad about you’

that you could twist my love for you

to mean, semantically,

that I am paranoid about you.

And crazy too!

And because I be black, gay and everything

whatever it is that you fabricate about me

many will treat me, accordingly,

with you being white and everything!

This is how my friends, my family, my communities and enemies

have always treated me.  “Dissin’ me!”

I watched a show this evening called “Mad About You”

in which the couple, Paul and Jaime, went on vacation.

As you and I have done!

And when caught in lies that they both had told

while pretending to be Paul’s parents

which is who the non-refundable trip had been booked for

the wife pretended to the resort staff and security guards

that her husband was crazy and had multi-personalities.

As you have done to me.

Yet, it was she, who began and then convinced her husband to

“play that game”.

Just like us!

But, the joke was on he.

As it has always been on me.

Just for fun!

One by one, each and everyone pointed him out

and eye-balled him down, as many do me

… with me being black and everything

supporting and surrounding her … as many do you,

with you being white and everything!

He, then, attempts to explain that it was just a game

coerced and ‘sat up’ by her.  Not unlike us!

As she, secretly and connivingly, denies the truth

… gesturing from behind his back ...

while touching her head but eye-ballin’ him down

As you each do to me!

As the show, but lie, must go on,

as many rehearse their lines and stage their movements

… about me …

and audiences of our friends and our families

and communities

clap and shout “Bravo!  Bravo!”

in standing ovations, but, sacrificing me!

… with me being black and everything ...

Vacations are just mind-trips, but, mind-traps

and dressed rehearsals for a Hitchcock-like play

called “Mad About You”.

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BLACKOUT:  The Resurrection of an Oppressed Soul

An anthology about being black, gay & everything!

Elvert Xavier Barnes WRITINGS ON THE WALL

Chapter #8:  Mad About You (Title poem)