Poetry Black History Month

Bring The Noise

Im lifted and gifted and oh yeah, surrounded by noise. I hear the world inching its way around me and all the time trying to figure out what my weaknesses are. I maintain my strength and stay steadfast in this world, vibrating at all time highs and living just the same. 

Who is to blame?

Life was breathed into me and I in turn breathed back. I love this gift and deplore the grift of something so precious. 

Boom. boom. boom.

Black Destiny

If I had a horse, that is what I would call it. Black Destiny. It would have an afro on it and be able to do this trick walks through town so everyone would know. I just wanted to draw attention to myself and make sure that the picture was as clear as it could be. That is pretty much what a black man would have to do to get attention in this society. 

And the rest of the world is just on the outside looking in with a grin that would shame a cat and wonder how could we be this way. We are sinners living with high sinners and they look to us as dinner. 

Ding ding. Dinner is served.

Black In Poetry

I was a prodigy to the world, I was black in poetry as if I ever left. I was stranded in the world and somehow found my way. I say somehow but I knew it all along that I would be here sitting on this perch and singing this song. I was a born leader but I had to take in so much negative that I was wondering if things were really adding up. 

I was out of my element, I was looking for white out in a world of word processors and still managed to pen every stroke until it was the death of me. 

I see you and you see me so dont let these words get lost. You found something here and I found something too. I just didnt realize I was looking for you too. 

We Got The Message Out

We told the world that it was all about our urban poetry. We had a message and we wanted them to hear it. They heard the message but that has not silenced us still. We wanted to carve it into the wood or the world so we would make a permanent. We write permanently and we continue to write until every corner of our poetry is heard, remembered, revered, and ultimately spoken as common truth.

Infinitely Powerful

The thing about asking for the gift is that you have to be ready to accept it. Its as simple and plain as that. There is power in the asking, but there is even greater power in accepting that things are the way they are and you have arrived at exactly where you are destined to be. 

It's called destiny and you have arrived. 

Can you lean back for a second while I unlock your door and undo your seatbelt. The shove is going to be a little jarring at first and Im really not too preoccupied where you land. You were meant to be there. 

Break

He da*n near twisting my arm and had me leaning at an angle where I was losing my balance. My solemn instinct was the turn and look at him and look for my opportunity to strike. Wretching through the pain, survival was still in the forefront of my mind to push forward with a defense. 

I could feel his breath curling on the top side of my neck and the movement of his torso influencing me to move in ways that I was not in agreement with. I was an unhappy hostage, almost in the same position as a mean drunk with the will being drained from me.

With one effort, I made a move to twist and turn only to hear an unfamilair snap and suddenly I was at a loss for words just as much as I was at a loss for the use of my limb. 

I was no longer in the fight and all of a sudden trying to figure out the mystery of an arm that did not function. It was obeying the commands of my brain. I think that was the real break, the understanding of the miscommunication...

Enough Credit

A lot of y'all havent been giving yourself enough credit. You were doing things passively and not looking along the way to say "I did that." Because the truth of the matter is that you did do that. You pulled it off when things seemed like they were not going your way. 

You made a way. You cut a valley through the darkness and when everything was said and done, there you were. Shining and smiling so hard that it looked like you had a banana shoved in your mouth sideways. 

They said crime doesn't pay and it doesn't. What you have been donig to yourself is criminal and it stops today, now. 

Back Pain

I got back pain from carrying the back strain of a black stain on how the world thinks my history started with slavery. Im from a kingdom of kings and queens and things that were stolen from us, the main thing being our souls. We tried to recoup that and that is the hardest thing that any culture can be asked to do. 

We crawled and then walked in the mud for it and in that exploration we never became explorers. We became something else of the likes that the world has never seen. 

The cost was high though and the Universe was unforgiving even as we forgave. So once again, my history never started with me being a slave.

My Own Weather

The one thing I have always tried to do is bring my weather with me, that is when I figured out it was my weather. This life is not a burden, it is a gift and you have to accept the grace of what it gives you. 

I am thankful and grateful. I didnt squander this opportunity and judging by the poets I have been around, I have been in good company. 

Long live the poets.

Blink Of A Black Eye

Salutations! and then he just punched me in the face. Welcome to the party pal! but this aint die hard so why you try hard. Is it the black skin that makes you think you are winning in the world when you havent even conquered yourself. You are lost and found yourself in front of me. How could this be?

Am I your highest level? Are you my greatest devil?

Because if that is the case, I am doing just fine and and it just became time to give you no time.