Eartha Kitt

I came Jordon Down Gym in South Central, L.A.
every Saturdy morning to be with Eartha Kitt
She was small just like me
She had high cheekbones just like me.

The power in her voice
The fire in her eyes
Her laugh soared over six conga players
and filled the whole gym.

I wanna be just like you, Miss Kitt.

Oh, Jean it's you, she says
take this costume I wore it in a TV talk show
take this, take that...

Will that help me be like you?
This small timid girl
who wants to be so much more...

Rhythm, Rhythm
she demands across the Jordon Down's gym
That's it Jean (she called me Jean)
you hips are moving
making circles in the air
you got it!

Her words pumped me up
made me ready to fly
my feet wanted more and more

If I could only be like you
I could stand up to Lady Bird
fly over mountains
and claw up brick walls

But then you had to run
running for your life
Because you spoke the truth
at a White House Luncheon
and you were
banished, exiled from your country
your home, your family
blacklisted for many years
and yet you prevailed

Then one day 
She stopped coming to Jordon Downs
each week I kept coming back
to emptiness

Oh, Miss Kitt is busy now,
Mrs. Evan said...

When will she be back
Where did Tabula, little Barry, Kwazi go
Where did the laughter, the rhythms
where did it all go?
An empty gym loomed over me

I practiced her walk
the way she tossed her head
Yes, she was my heroine
People said, 
you're idolizing her

But that's OK
Because when you love sommeone
they become a part of you
Connected by Love
Miss Eartha Kitt,
You are me  and I am you
Forever....

Genie Nakano