Vendor to de Stars

Ah was sellin' street roots
outside a Powell Books deh pon Burnside
when Ah sight David Crosby comin' out de place

David Crosby to rass!

When Ah 'proach 'im fus me a tinkin'
Laard, 'im nah go tek mi one likkle paper nuh
me 'ave too much competition roun' yah
too much people a bawlin' out fe change

But when Ah 'xplain to de said man
'ow is a good likkle paper dis
it give we a voice
put change inna we pocket dem
an' change up people consciousness
'bout poor people issues, homelessness
'im tek one
an' pon top a dat
'im give I man five dollahs
tell I fe keep de change!

So 'membah seh, good readers
when yuh buy yuh street roots fram me one
yuh is buyin' fram de Vendor to de Stars

Later dat night Ah was singin'
'bout two cats inna mi ya'd
all de way doun Burnside
to de Rescue Mission overflow
weh me sleep pon de floor like a daag
an' me haffi laugh

Jack Tafari, vendor # 269