Knees of a Natural Man

for Jay Wright my ole man took me to the fulton fish market we walk around in the guts and the scales my ole man show me a dead fish, eyes like throat spit he say “you hongry boy?” i say “naw, not yet” my ole man show me how to pick the leavings he say people throw away fish that not rotten we scaling on our knees back uptown on lenox sold five fish, keepin one for the pot my ole man copped a bottle of wine he say, “boy, build me a fire out in the lot” backyard cat climbin up my leg for fish i make a fire in the ash can my ole man come when he smell fish frank williams is with him, they got wine my ole man say “the boy cotch the big one” he tell big lie and slap me on the head i give the guts to the cat and take me some wine we walk around the sparks like we in hell my ole man is laughin and coughin up wine he say “you hongry boy” i say “naw, not yet” next time i go to fulton fish market first thing i do is take a long drink of wine