I climb to the top of Mt. Zion and enter a small town then approach an old wise man with a sign that says: LIFE'S QUESTIONS ANSWERED, ONE PENNY. We hold a breif conversation.

Na~LEDGE

"I'll pay a penny for your thoughts........a dollar for the truth
Cause sadly deception runs so rampent amongst are youth
To obtuse to avoid influence from the ever growing percentage
Over-concerned with the physical their spiritual minds diminish
From exsistance.......which explains why ones are so persistant
In their quest for greater understanding of the human condition
In my own I found personal agendas mixed with skewed perceptions
Which led me here..........hopin blindly from you to find direction"

Elderly Black Man (wearing a Rakim is God hat and a dashiki)

With a deep breath he leaned to the left...........stroked his beard
Cleared his throat, through his raspy speech could hear the years
Of knowledge gained, unattianable at the most distinguished schools
And with a dark voice he broke down the rules.........

" Ask what you will and I will provide the explanation.....
And no dollar is needed, a penny is an adequate monitary donation
I will bestow on u my vast knowledge inherited through life lessons
But remember......................you are limited to a single question"

Na~Ledge

I thought long before speakin............weaked by his reasponse
Wonderng how to encompass in one question all my thoughts
Wants, beliefs, and theories, philosophies and mental quieres
Pertaining to life, hoping the answer would help me see it clearly
Emotion rose inside.................slowly swelled within my throat
To my tounge, and with determination I spoke...................

"As it pertains to love, life, family and everything I hold dear,
Answer me this.......................................Why am "I" here?

A weak smile crept across a face that was once stone dead
He gave a chuckle, and this is what he said.......................



............To Be Continued