he was Dead
he never Lived
died
died
he died seekin' a Cause
seekin' the Cause
because
he said
he never saw the cause
but he heard
the cause
heard the cryin' of hungry ghetto children
heard the warnin' from Malcolm
heard the tractors pave new routes to new prisons
died seekin' the Cause
seekin' a Cause
he was dead on arrival
he never really Lived
uptown . . . downtown . . . crosstown
body was round all over town
seekin' the Cause
thinkin' the Cause was 75 dollars & gator shoes
thinkin' the Cause was sellin' the white lady to black
children
thinkin' the cause is to be found in gypsy rose or j. b.
or dealin' wacky weed
and singin' du-wops in the park after some chi-chiba
he died seekin' the Cause
died seekin' a Cause
and the Cause was dyin' seekin' him
and the Cause was dyin' seekin' him
and the Cause was dyin' seekin' him
he wanted a color t. v.
wanted a silk on silk suit
he wanted the Cause to come up like the mets & take the
world series
he wanted . . . he wanted . . . he wanted . . . he wanted
to want more wants
but
he never gave
he never gave
[p. 24]
he never gave his love to children
he never gave his heart to old people
&
never did he ever give his soul to his people
he never gave his soul to his people
because he was busy seekin' a cause
busy
busy perfectin' his voice to harmonize the national anthem
with spiro t agnew
busy perfectin' his jive talk so that his flunkiness
wouldn't show
busy perfectin' his viva-la-policia speech
downtown . . . uptown . . . midtown . . . crosstown
his body was found all over town
seekin' a Cause
seekin' the Cause
found
in the potter fields of an o. d.
found
in the bowery with the d. d. t.'s
his legs were left in viet-nam
his arms were found in sing-sing
his scalp was on Nixon's belt
his blood painted the streets of the ghetto
his eyes were still lookin' for jesus to come down
on some cloud & make everything ok
when jesus died in attica
his brains plastered all around the frames of the pentagon
his voice still yellin' stars & stripes 4 ever
riddled with the police bullets his taxes bought
he died seekin' a Cause
seekin' the Cause
while the Cause was dyin' seekin' him
he died yesterday
he's dyin' today
he's dead tomorrow
died seekin' a Cause
died seekin' the Cause
& the Cause was in front of him
& the Cause was in his skin
& the Cause was in his speech
& the Cause was in his blood
but
he died seekin' the Cause
he died seekin' a Cause
he died
deaf
dumb
&
blind
he died
& never found his Cause
because
you see he never never
knew that he was the
Cause.
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Comments
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From guest Luke (contact)
I rarely read poetry but when i read this it appealled to me in such a powerful way, i think anyone who lives or has lived in a large city would feel the same -
From guest Jovan (contact)
Pinero was an amazing playright and poet.I advise watching the movie "Pinero" with Benjamin Bratt one of my favorite films.This is one of my favorite poems it speaks to the soul of any poet across all cultures. -
poem
From guest LEnny Ortiz Jr (contact)
This is one of the deepest poem i have evr heard of in my life. I usually write poems and haven't cause i had no inspiration, however after this one...He was theman, is the man and will always be the man for many have tried to imitate and articulat like him ut guess what?? Close but no cigar!!!Much love to mi hermanito Miguel and may he rest in peace in Heaven Lenny Ortiz Upper Eastside of Manhattan "EL BARRIO"!!!!!! N>Y>C> YA HEAD!@!!!!!!! -
From guest Joe Osejo (contact)
inspires me every time I read this... Bravo for Nuyorican poets...pioneers of slam poetry!!! -
From guest Orlando Goncalves (Miami) (contact)
sometimes i feel like i am living yesterday, today & tomorrow all in one. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift. We are the cause. Be the cause because there is a cause. -
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From guest Zbvm (contact)
How can we not start at square 1? The things that we should be most familiar about more than anything - ourselves. I laugh a little deep down inside whenever I hear this poem, and will be a constant reminder for me in all the things that I do. -
Man....
From guest Leslie Rios (contact)
I've always loved this poem... because its crazy true. Sometimes we try to find something that is right under our noses and that we are a part of. We waste time in the material things or in symbols of connection, but never really connecting. Geez... this dude seemed in tune with his spirit. I only kno alil of this man's story, but its So sad that great poets/artists live troubled lives. ( or any one for that matter ....shoot) Our soul cries out for the truth, while we live in bondage. Here's to freedom of the mind, body and soul. i agree with one of the statements below, never overlook someone, because they seem "less than" They may possess a word from God and possibly may be closer to Him than anyone else....just struggling big time... Peace Fam -
From guest Claudia Suarez (contact)
seeking the cause is what we all are trying to do since Plato,Galileo, freud, to Dan vinci and Picasso. It does not take philosophers or Poets I believe no one has ever found it or at least know it until we die!!! -
Comentario
From guest Miguel A. Furlong (contact)
Sencillamente estamos hablando de la forma que perdemos nuestra identidad y nos disfrazamos de anglos.Aprendemos los vicios y las malas costumbres y le damos un giro folklorico.Nos converimos en unos payasos mas disfrazados y mal maquillados y con chistes grotescos. -
Analysis of the Poem
From guest Brenda Flores (contact)
Many can relate to Pinero poem because a lot of people died without ever knowing thier purpose of life. Pinero's Seeking The Cause was created beautifully! Love it! One of best poems ever written!
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jep
From guest Vedran (contact)
i first head this poem on the movie "Pinero" and since then i am amazed by it...it is a very realistic art of shoving the reality...simply.. it is great... -
Renegade
From guest Drew (contact)
More brilliance from a messed-up, criminal, knee-high-in-trouble renegade scumbag. May the great keeper of souls look out for the Pinero's and Kerouac's of our world. They are us, only more so. -
From guest chirsto vanqo de j baptista (contact)
im not a puerto rican, but this poem really reflected similary to what have happen to my people in timor leste and its still haven't changes. r i p m.p. -
From guest maria (contact)
I am a Puerto Rican, who grew up in Brooklyn New York. and i can still see many, many of us still seeking the cause. Wonderful poetry. Truly is. -
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