We Still Leave a Legacy

By Philip Robinson

We Still Leave a Legacy is a chapbook of verses written and dedicated in part to the many friends and family members that have transitioned either by way of HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-troubling issues. In this poetry book, Philip attempts to capture his own sense of hope, determination and remembrance. He wants people to not only hear his voice, but desperately never to forget those voices of people that make "Legacy" possible. Philip began to write "Legacy" some twenty-eight years ago as he commenced his volunteer work @ AIDS Action Committee (AAC) of Massachusetts. At that time, Philip became Chair of AAC's Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast Committee and served in that capacity for eight years. Philip became driven to praise the work of others who had gone on before him. He was determined to live by the mantra; "We stand on their shoulders". Today, Philip is still a volunteer at the AIDS Action Committee and also serves as member in his twenty-eighth year on the Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast Committee.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philip Robinson
• Release date: Apr 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370366286

Philip Robinson

Philip Robinson is a journalist who writes primarily for the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail. His career has brought him in contact with gangsters, pirates, special forces operators, despotic generals, corrupt cops, professional gamblers, fixers, Lear jet repo men, and multimillionaire hedge fund brats. His first novel, Charlie Big Potatoes, was published in 2003. He lives with his wife and three sons in North London.

Book preview

Awakened

I woke up with the urge to write and found blood on the floor.

The cold bottoms of my feet met the moisture and my heart skipped a beat. The trail’s drippings were warm and wet.

The drench sensation merged with the carpet’s beige Shetland.

I ran the course which led me to the opened door.

I saw my cousin Terence pasted against the field wielding a knife in his right hand.

Don’t save me! He yelled. I’m sick of this fucking curse AIDS. It’s going to kill us all!

Frightened by the shadows, I rushed back to bed. I pretended and hoped this was a

nightmare.

* * *

Simpatico

You were feeding my soul, until death took you away.

Sadness permeated my every pore. Then I remembered our conversations,

when we talked about everything ---

our darkest days, the brief fulfilling moments,

the silly crushes, and those fleeting dreams.

I see those days even clearer now.

We rode to the hospital holding hands

and singing along with Chaka:

Through the fire to the limit. . .

I cried nonstop. You asked me why there were so many tears.

Yet, you knew.

This was that magic God created.

I remembered our all-night chatter and your ceaseless snoring.

We shared the congested air.

Your Meal on Wheels was our last supper.

You retreated when I said I had to leave.

I promised to return,

and I did.

I just didn’t know it would be our final goodbye.

You have a permanent home in my heart.

* * *

The Battle

My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Change, we hear, is the pulse of the movement.

But we have today’s black ministers preaching separation.

They advocate a constitutional freeze on social change.

Paradoxes come to mind when they dare say,

"Be happy, but don’t destroy the black family structure with this

same-sex-wanting-to-get-married stuff."

My father’s womanizing and drunkenness broke up my parent’s marriage

His lifestyle almost killed my mother.

These ministers profess to be radical and idealistic in their thinking.

Yet, many of them questioned the existence of AIDS when it arrived at their churches’ doorsteps.

One can’t preach truth and hatred in the same voice.

What minister has stepped into Rev. Martin King’s shoes?

Rev. King’s unparalleled wisdom, his tremendous courage, and deep commitment to civil rights hasn’t been inherited.

We sing.

We also commit ourselves to God and pledge ties to our churches, only to hear that we are thieves.

Taking what? From whom?

How can the church stand on solid ground

while teaching bigotry and intolerance?

While throwing rocks at those it professes to love?

Loving someone of the same gender does not render each of us

One-fifth of a human being.

We want to carry that love into marriage,

for love’s sake and to guarantee our basic civil rights.

It’s downright unjust to discriminate against us on this basis!

We continue to let our monies be used

for wars that haven’t freed us,

We continue to pay

for guns and drugs that kill our youth,

thereby robbing those black families of their hopes and dreams.

We learned that each generation

is more accepting and tolerant of differences.

The truth should be marching on.

I believe God rode into town to save my soul

as well as others.

He intended for humanity to be united in love,

not divided by hate. Since God made all of us in His image,

we are all part of