Poetry
Everything Is A Mix-up (And Nothing Seems Wrong)
Was it not the sensuous mouth or the bulging frame
of Herodias that caused Herod to ‘flip his lid?”
Was it not the ‘stuff’ spoken by John the Baptizer that
caused Herod to take a liking to his ‘curly locks,
(So much so that he had to take his whole head?)
Was it not the sins of Jericho that caused its walls
to fall-their marchers its height?
Was it not the hand-washing of Pilate trying to buy
comfort for a troubled conscience? A sheer mix-up.
Could it have been the jaw-breaking of the courageous
strong creatures before Samson decided to misuse his
‘boyish’ energy? The shoes that lasted through the
forty-year trek to cover a wilderness plain…they were
not AIR JORDANS! Reflections of history’s past has led
to a startling climax…and everything is a mix-up,
(and nothing seems wrong.)
My Anti-creativity
To wish that I was some other being would
be in reality denying myself of my own existence.
Privacy interwoven in personal satisfaction
or centering in on harbored resentment due to
an unfulfilled goal is sure death. Would
I not rather accept imperfection, protest
against mundane or carnal knowledge
and never escape glory?- being satisfied
with undeserved kindness? For to deny
me-what I am-as to my anti-creativity would in
effect destroy sheer love and grant Jah
nothing in return for his wisdom in
my very existence.
Ears Without An Understanding
Tears were meant for those who
were repentant of a wrong act.
Smiles were meant for those who
had pretty teeth. Ears were
for the curious… those who
had no better task in life but
to overhear an incomplete sentence.
Reinorse was for the
pitiful soul; for those who
mocked at the thought of
immortality or a resurrection
of a forgotten dead.
An infallible mistake-
Is there such a thing?
Need there be one?
Conforming to understanding is
what keeps courage alive.
Eavesdropping into a future
without hope-an answer to an
unasked question-
are ears without an understanding?
IAM
In whatever speech that delights your
soul…speak.
The power you boast of has been granted
you by someone who stands against your
rule. Superpower! Number One!
Babylon’s lover!
Will I be allowed to express myself?
Do I exist in your sight?
I AM aware of your power-your strong
iron hand of steel-the one that struck
Cleo so hard that-not only did it knock
her from her throne, but drained her of
her swarthy hue… Liz take a bow…
Isis, dare not speak!
Yes I, even I, AM aware of your power!
My headdress, my braids, my earrings,
and my dashiki have all become decorations
for your walls, baskets for your
pot plants, and room dividers to shield
out your every perversion. My heritage
something strange, the last chapter in
your history book…too tired to get
acquainted with me? True knowledge of me
has been concealed from my true lovers, as
if I was a body without a heart. I enjoyed
running around the fields, barefoot and
free-rolling gold stones around-my
African Soccer… ‘you see?’
I was happy until the ships sailed in, with smiling faces and trunks
of foreign treasures…extended to
me.
BOUGHT
AND
PAID
IN
FULL.
I no longer exist.
What I AM is what you’ve caused
me to be. Your very own stamp of
approval…MADE IN AMERICA!
But I was, and am, and will be
forever in your midst a strong
foundation…like fertile BLACK
earth. I AM.
Giving birth!
I AM.
Diamonds By The River Nile
There were diamonds left by the
River Nile. They were buried
In haste by a runaway maiden
from a cruel tribe. Wounds
were inflicted upon her through
Ignorance. It was not the pieces of
Glass left by a broken mirror…the River
Nile-the nearness of the Euphrates
that seeped its way into Assyria-
The human flesh between man-made bricks
that haunted those who passed her
by-the diggings beneath earth’s
surface only to discover layers of
gold flattened through time’s wear.
One skeletal finding-
A maiden.
Ebony-
A navel of gold-
She was a replica of beauty.
She was buried in haste.
She was covered with diamonds-
And left by the River Nile.
Black Man
Why do your eyes well
with tears each time I look
at you?-
My eyes well with tears
because I’m in constant awe
of how wonderfully
You’re made-
HE knew what HE was doing
when He made you…
tailored my stylel
Deep dark
Chocolate coated
EGYPTIAN MASTERPIECE!-
my AFRICAN KING!
Sweeter than the fig tree
in the Garden of Eden-
More graceful than the
Trees of Lebanon-
You’ve incited King Solomon
to jealousy!-
The sculptor caught a glimpse
of you when he carved
the Sphinx!
EGYPT-Swarthy!
AFRICA-Ebony!
That’s why my eyes well
with tears each time I
look at you-
swarthy man of my
hidden dreams-
echoing my name
softly beneath a
pulsating body…
reaching out to
touch me-
An EBONY delight.
Dance
Kings, servants, and tribesmen
stood together chanting songs
of their war heroes-
Horns blew mesmerizing tunes
for the crowd gazing upon-
The women in their colorful
dashikis gathered-singing
songs and swaying to the beat
of clapping hands-feet
jumping in rhythm to the
sound of the African drums-
sending messages to kinsmen
afar off-
Hips emanating a tribal want…
come to me-
be with me-
stay with me-
daaaaaaaaaaaance-
Desire
I am a BLACK daughter.
The sun has pronounced
me happy; the world
vouched for my beauty-
there was no other
opponent.
The moon glowed brilliantly
at the very sound of my voice;
The stars danced and
proceeded to
cro○○○○○○○○○○on a
melodic tune.
The velvet BLACK universe
stationed itself within
my reach; I stood beneath
its majestic splendor.
I kept standing-
I keep standing-
I continue to stand-
My very being yearns to
touch
the
sky!
Apartheid
Has the Apartheid come to
its end?
Why is the earth trembling?
A massive earthquake from
afar…
What is that noise in the distance?
Cries! Gnashing of teeth!
Groaning and pain!
The setting sun sizzled
in blood when it touched
the burning hot earth!
Blood as kerosene…
Anger that ignites the fuel-
Look there! EGYPT-
The Pharoahs are awakening
to claim their Motherland
AFRICA, her eldest Son!
Gather your scattered children
and give them suck;
Regain the thrones that
stood majestically afront
the pyramids-
Annihilate the robbers of
Sacred tombs
The stealers of gold-
Satisfy the hunger of your
living dead!
Let them roll gold stones
underneath the soles of tired
feet to strengthen them-
Give ear to their mournful
outcryl-
Turning into joyful laughter!
Has the APARTHEID come to its end?
Every Word Is Understood
It’s not fair,
it’s not good.
Not a word is understood.
It should be right-
Destroy the wrong-
Nothing bad should be condoned.
It’s too bad that it’s upheld-
The bad guys free-MANDELA jailed!
Its unsolved mysteries…like voodoo…
Like a hex-there are still questions
Asked-who slew MALCOLM X?
Like guilty so-called friends,
Their feelings they deceitfully hide
While in their hearts they’re
Approving of the APARTHEID!
To them it’s fair-
To them it’s good-
And all their words are understood.
To them it’s right, keep the
Wrong alive-condone the evil,
All bad-never hide!
With sanctions aheap they falsely
Praise God-they praise Him and sing
And even kiss golden rings.
A pompous show they loan to all-
This Lucifer Condition-They heed its every call.
So why should it be fair?
Why should it be good?
Why should their words be understood?
But the APARTHEID will end!
MALCOLM’S man (7) will be found!
MANDELA freel-No bad guys
Hanging around!
Weird stuff-occults and even
Strange voodoo-
These are the dreams that dare
Come true.
It’s not fair!
It’s not good!
Be not deceived! –
Every word is understood!
Making Jokes
What can I say? -except I’m sorry.
You constantly reject me and harp
on past tomorrows.
If there were no past tomorrows,
You’d find another excuse
To conjure up a wicked slur
That you find humorous and new.
A TIME OF CHAINS AND BONDS OF STEEL
THAT DENIED SOME OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THEIR PAL
HEARTS WEAK FROM A DESIRE LIVE-HANDS
HANDS UNABLE TO FEEL.
You and your garb, your fancy cathedral
With its high steeples,
Are you that heartless?
Do you not know that it’s cruel to
make jokes of an oppressed people?
Your education is lacking in true knowledge
of me; what can I say-
It’s your kind of thinking;
It’s what you want to see.
It’s not harbored hatred.
It surely isn’t jealousy.
How would you like it if I told lies of you
For the whole world to see?
Yes, tomorrows are what will make history.
Yesterday, there will always be another.
Neeeeeever prove yourself stupid by
making cruel jokes of others!
Your apologies are fake!
Your ‘I’m sorry’ I don’t need!
Buuuuuut! What I said about making jokes!
You had better take heeeeeed!!!!!
Fact
Can you ‘borrow’ my idea? –
Why not?-
You’ve stolen everything
else-
T.M.L.
Tell me what you’re honestly thinking.
Don’t give me an explanation of your motive.
Spare me hypocritical love…
It’s all uncalled for-
Shadows
Narcissus was sheer vanity,
Personified in fact,
Hitler, an evil god-
Mercy he lacked.
Abe Lincoln, a rare fellow-
In history’s past he played a part.
I heard he freed the slaves
And gave them a new start.
John Kennedy and Martin King,
Your last names-the same letters,
You tried hard, King, and you, John-
But there was one who did far better.
Ah Herod! Oh Herod!
Once a giant in the earth!
Had slaves…his brother’s wife,
And gave Salome his dirty work!
Herod’s friend, King Pilate-
Pontius Pilate-indeed!
Was privileged to meet that one,
But failed to take heed.
Tragedy struck Him hard-
Rarely any real fun-
His works were only shadows-
Of good things to comel
The battle is still on;
For the end is not yet.
No oaths to give away
Towards Herodias’ vicious request!
Faith-an expectation of reality
Though not beheld,
If one endures to the end
Then one will do quite well.
Kings rise. Empires fall.
It’s all a part of the play.
Be careful who you follow;
The wrong shadow can quickly fade away.
Free At Last!
Twelve people to judge me,
With eyes of fiery glow,
Twelve people to judge me-
My peers, I have not come to know.
My age-some older a mixed breed…
Not one my hue,
My heart is calm.
I have no fear.
They’re judging me, not you.
The lady has two scales,
She’s supposed to be blindfolded.
She can’t see my face-
My testimony, the twelve told it.
They said it the way they thought
It should be,
Their motive was not intact,
The whole case had ended before it began
Because truth is what it lacked.
I had no chance to plead my case-
No defense for my safety they gave-
They didn’t want the TRUTH from me…
Too busy noticing the color of my face.
“I’ve heard enough!” the Judge now said,
Banging his gavel real hard on the bench-
It was up to me; I decided for myself-
To satisfy their bloody thirst…
To appease a demonic quench.
“Please listen, Your Honor, to what I have
To say, please listen to me kind sir, the
Twelve you chose I know not one…
Is the depth of your caliber?
They are as strange to me as I am to them
And what they said of me is not so,
Not one of them is acquainted with me-
So what would they know?
My peers are those who know me well,
My desires, my temperament,
They are the ones who saw me grow up
and with them much time I’ve spent.
Is this why twelve strangers-the ones
Listening to me, will give a verdict of
impartiality? How could they ‘see?’
How could it be?
Twelve different strangers judging
Without knowledge of me.
And your lady with eyes covered
and scales in hand-an image
Carved by an imperfect fool
And here it stands…
Listening to me with ears not-
Speaking to me with tongue locked-
Reasoning she attempts without a heart-
Has prejudged me from the very start.
The blindfolded lady never saw my face
But if this be your way
Then I rest my case.
I hope the lots thrown from whence
They cast…read three good words-
FREE AT LASTI
I’ll wait on a righteous Judge,
A defense attorney who’ll plead my case,
One that’s interested in me, not the
Hue of my face.
One who is fair and knows me to a ‘T’-
One who’ll judge me with true
Impartiality.”
The Foremost Misnomer
It’s hard to think about future days;
The choices we have just hinder our way.
The good intentions the politicians promise,
Have suddenly become the foremost ‘misnomer.
The country’s leaders swapping this way and that,
Accepting blood-money at the tipping of a hat.
What good is mistaken for sheer hypocrisy-
They said it with crossed fingers while
Promising liberty!
Our forefathers who fought and died for this land,
Were placed in the forefront of the enemy’s hand.
A dire need they tried to quench with
Hand-written declarations and strong three-
Cord ropes to lynch the most innocent!
Future days were not meant for all; the
Regiment sounded its horn, only a chosen
Few would heed the call. The undue
Criticism meant for those to claim-
It’s a sad, sad people they have no
Shame!
Some said ‘dis’ and their speech was admired-
Others said the same and they snickered inside!
This ‘LAND OF OPPORTUNITY‘-
This ‘MELTING POT-
It’s called let not its meaning be misunderstood-
This ‘POT” ain’t meant for all!
U-can have what U-can.
Get it!
Hurry up!
Too many dipping from the ‘POT-
Drop the dipper! Use the cup!
A ‘MISNOMER’ indeed- is what it has become…
Even so, my so-called friend-don’t spare
Me any-1
think
it’s
LOATHSOME!
Color Struck
I rememba yu-
Yu black thang!
Smart uppity heffal
I remember you also-
Yella hamma!-
Yu still black!
You’re not so yella anymore-
Yella hamma!
Yu still black-
Black and beautiful-
Yu wuz alweys black and
beautiful…smart tu-
But yu sho’ is black!
You’re black too yella hamma-
Believe me yella hamma-
You’re BLACK too!