Live? How could I live on -- knowing::::::::Oh sure I could hold on
Wait -- worry -- But I had to hear the sobs -- I know what I must look like

Live? I did live on -- when the bullets rained I fell -- over the girls I
knew he was gone -- I knew I had to change things

We were partners -- you know -- we thought as one -- Sometimes he thought

it was all -- him -- why not::::I knew::::it was us

The changes -- the acceptable changes -- The work -- The worry

But We Pulled Through

The people who used us -- stole from us -- tried to divide us from each other

But we pulled Through

We were at the plateau -- not resting but catching our breaths--The
girls were doing all -- right -- a stumble here -- and there -- but all right

Then this -- this mark that could not be erased -- the mistake that could not be
corrected::::::::I only wanted to Help her

Help cleanse her
Help tame her hate
Her fears

that thing that ran in his family
I brought the boy home hoping trying yes praying scared I was too old too
tired to make a difference but trying

We argued::::and we argued::::but this to me--I didn't feel like it

I wanted my crossword puzzle and late-night radio -- I wanted peace

I felt him before I heard him::::::::Heard him before I saw him::::Called
out MALCOLM don't do this to me

And he threw gasoline on me

MALCOLM don't do this to yourself:::::Stop Now

and he lit the match

MALCOLM I called MALCOLM MALCOLM

and he tossed it

How could I live on -- like some thing out of Richard Wright's poem -- like
an object for people to come view -- like a shadow of myself No, I could
survive but could not live on Knowing my grandbaby:::::named for a great
man who loved me::::::wanted needed insisted upon My Death

I could not live on and wake up -- from that nightmare

*From Blues for All the Changes, Nikki Giovanni, William Morrow, NY, 1999 This page and all contents are © 1999, National Public Radio.