The Beat

by Marque Lynche
(Bradenton, Florida, USA)

THE BEAT…

Let me take you on a journey back in time
when the earth was but faceless void
and darkness moved upon the face of the waters
and the only sound that could be heard was the beat….
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE BEAT
AND THE BEAT WAS THE RHYTHM OF TIME
AND THE RHYTHM OF TIME WAS THE HARMONY OF TIME….
THE BEAT …
THE ALMIGHTY BEAT…
BEATS ON…
FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME
AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place

FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME
TO THE MAKER OF TIME
BEFORE OSIRIS AND ISIS
BEFORE THE SUN AND THE MOON
RA GAVE LIGHT AND SOUND….
THE FIRST SOUND YOU AND I HEARD
WAS THE BEAT
THE BEATING OF A HEART
IN TUNE WITH TIME
IN TIME WITH TIME
HARMONY WITH TIME
ALL OF CREATION FLOWS TO THE BEAT

FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME
AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place

TO A SLAVE'S LAMENT …
FROM THE BELLY OF A SLAVE SHIP…
From the cracking of the whip…
to the rattling of the chains…
to a body whirring in pain…
afraid…
alone…
confused…
Lost…
moaning…amidst the screams and cries…
that go unheard…
AS THE SHIPS WITH IT’S STOLEN CARGO
MAKES ITS WAY TO LANDS UNKNOWN…
AS THE OCEAN ROCKS THE SHIP BACK AND FORTH
TO AND FRO…
IT WAS IF IT WERE ONLY YESTERDAY…
IT’S MEMORY FLOODS WITH MY PSYCHOLOGY...
LIKE KATRINA DESTROYED CHOCOLATE CITY…

LISTEN …
AND YOU WILL HEAR THE BEAT….

FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME
AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place

FROM A COOL SUMMER BREEZE
ON A WARM SUMMER DAY
TO THE STARS SHINNING LIKE DIAMONDS
IN THE MIDNIGHT SKY
TO COLLARDS GREENS, CORN BREAD,
CHICKEN AND RIBS,
POTATO SALAD AND YAMS
A FEAST FOR THE SOUL YES?
AND LEAST WE NOT FORGET…
THE NEGRO NATIONAL DRINK RED KOOL AID…

FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME
AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place

FROM THE BEATING OF A BIRDS WINGS
TO THE RUSTLING OF THE WIND
THROUGH THE TREES…
TO THE CARESSING OF THE SEA
AGAINST THE SHORE…
TO LOVERS
HOLDING EACH OTHER IN SILENCE…
TO A MOTHER…
CALMING HER CRYING CHILD…
TO THE RAPPER
WHO'S GOT RHYTHMS NOBODY CAN BEAT…
THE BEAT IS IN EVERYTHING
AND EVERYTHING IS THE BEAT
AND THE BEAT IS GOD…

FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place

DRUM BEATS TO THE SOUND OF THE WIND
FEET STOMP TO THE RHYTHMS OF THE SUN
CAN YOU FEEL THE BEAT IN THIS PLACE,
BREATHE IN THE TASTE OF AUTHENTICITY
ORIGINALITY IS RIPE IN THIS PLACE…
LIKE SUN RIPE BANANAS,
OR THAT FRESH JUICY MANGO

HANGING ON THE TREE…
IN ITS SINCERITY IT IS AS MODEST AS
THE VIRGIN PLANES OF
THE SAVANNAH GRASSLANDS…
AS UNFORGETTABLE AS
THE PYRAMIDS OF GAZA
OR SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS OF THE CAPE…
OR CULTURES OF THE EAST
AS BREATHTAKING AS
THE CASCADING WATER OF VICTORIA FALLS…
FEEL THE ENERGY IN THE SOLES OF YOUR FEET
AS YOU STAND UPON THIS CRADLE OF LIFE …
THE GROUND UPON WHICH YOUR FEET REST IS HOLY…
CONSECRATED AND SANCTIFIED
AND BLOOD WASHED BY STRUGGLES OF THOSE
WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE…
UPON WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND….
THE BEAT IS IN EVERYTHING
AND EVERYTHING IS THE BEAT
AND THE BEAT IS GOD…

FEEL THE BEAT
IN THE CANYONS OF YOUR SOUL
THE BEAT THAT TRANSCENDS TIME
AND SPACE
THAT IS GOD YOU FEEL…in this place