Outside Looking In

I prefer it this way

Looking in on a world that excludes me

That does nothing less than use me

It seems so perfect without me

Enjoying the fruits of my labor

I should just disappear

So, it can continue to appear

To be perfect

But who would work for you?

Who would you look at?

With your scornful eyes

Hating the very sight of me

Not even knowing why

I can be resentful

Despising you for all you have

Staying a victim

Blaming you for what I lack.

Would it be so wrong?

For me to stay outside and you, in

Some would call that a

Win … Win

A situation that solves

A nation of hate

We should all just separate

And wait…

for time to heal old wounds

Build and grow using

Our own tools

That is a thought

One that makes sense

It’s been attempted before

But your ancestors invented

A reason to murder or imprison.

The leaders who executed the plan

Can’t make us stay and insist

that we leave in the same breath

forcing a punishment upon us

that is worse than death.

Ignorance, we’re so insulted

By the word but

Not knowing is nothing

to be ashamed of

Ignoring the truth

When it’s right in front of you

Is the reason they enslave us.

***

Scared

  That when a man that I love leaves the house
I may never see him again
Don’t want to alert him of my fear, he may think I’m silly
or he may be thinking the same thing as me.
Too many times we sit and watch as our neighbors, friends, family
have gone out the door without a kiss goodbye never to return.
No one could have known that a trip to the grocery store would be so hazardous to health.
So, every time I watch as my man, any man that I love walks out the door
I pray, with silent words I pray, and I hug and kiss him as if it were the last time
that we would be together. He may think I’m silly
or he may be thinking the same thing as me because he did not pull away
or wipe away my sloppy kiss. I get so scared there will be no more moments like this,
that I will be the next wife/ mother /sister /aunt /cousin to cry out for the injustice that falls on
deaf ears. Am I the only one that swears when the verdict is not guilty?  
I’m left to treasure what I have as there’s no reassurance no guarantee
That my man, any man, that I love will return home safely
And I’m so scared…  him again
Don’t want to alert him of my fear, he may think I’m silly
or he may be thinking the same thing as me.
Too many times we sit and watch as our neighbors, friends, family
have gone out the door without a kiss goodbye never to return.
No one could have known that a trip to the grocery store would be so hazardous to health.
So, every time I watch as my man, any man, that I love walks out the door
I pray, with silent words I pray, and I hug and kiss him as if it were the last time
that we would be together. He may think I’m silly
or he may be thinking the same thing as me because he did not pull away
or wipe away my sloppy kiss. I get so scared there will be no more moments like this,
that I will be the next wife/ mother /sister /aunt /cousin to cry out for the injustice that falls on
deaf ears. Am I the only one that swears when the verdict is not guilty?  
I’m left to treasure what I have as there’s no reassurance no guarantee
That my man, any man that I love will return home safely
And I’m so scared…  

***

The Big Bad Gun

Yes, it’s me the Big Bad Gun. Don’t run cause you’re not faster than my speeding bullet. I’m defined by the mind of the man that pulled it, the trigger that is, men, women, and kids your uncontrolled emotions set me free.

Your curiosity sometimes is all I need then, BANG!!!

Someone may be dead. You heard me right that’s what I said

because I’m the Big Bad Gun. Don’t run cause you’re not faster than my speeding bullet.

Only your superheroes can outrun me somehow. I always end up in the hands of the enemy and what you live in is no fantasy world.

I don’t care if you’re a boy or a girl as my bullets don’t have no names on them, no shame on them.

It doesn’t bother me if you kill one another, you can even kill your mother (brother)

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha (evil laugh)

  I am the Big Bad Gun. Don’t  run cause you’re not faster than my speeding bullet

I’m mass produced for profit. You can’t stop it as I’m in everybody’s neighborhood

I’m even overseas

Pleeeease… don’t bore me with your stories and your tears as the only fear 

I have is of not existing. As if without me there’d be something missing like a billion-dollar industry!

 You don’t even gain any wealth from me; with the money you invest in me you should buy a clue.  You can give me your dime then give up you time

Use me, and if you’re still alive I’ll take about 25 to life

5 years for each bullet, finger on the trigger now pull it! They can’t outrun me

 because I’m the Big Bad Gun Don’t run cause you’re not faster than my speeding bullet.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha (evil laugh)…

***

I Dare You

Like daring a child to do something makes them want to do it more

Can you resist the urge to be yourself?…

I Dare You.

I guess not because if you could,

I would not have to see so many of my brothers and sisters

laid to rest, life cut short by the idea that

fear can pull a trigger.

That mentality is leaking out of the police station and into the air

The uniformed citizen has now dared to test the restraints

of the black man and his children

Getting physical… it’s pitiful cause we have relinquished our power

to some Asians that beat us with brooms and punch our women.

Those Caucasians that call 911 because we have come too close to succeeding

while they watch us bleeding and poison our minds against each other.

We are so confused with dark skin and light skin and geography

We forgot that we are all brothers and sisters

Damn,  how I miss the way we use to stand together

Not in my lifetime but I read, I see the pride in our ancestors’ eyes

not having to apologize for who they were. Wake up my people

There are so many of us that know the truth, a knowledge that

comes with roots and a renewed sense of power.

We are not the violent ones, the thieves, the abusers, we didn’t

create the guns. We’ve been on the defense for years, the offense is

pretty strong and they have started recruiting our children, changing our

men and lusting over our women.

I’ll give credit where it’s due, but your plan was made for zombies

and fools and you won’t find that here. Be aware that your

karma will come into play, but we won’t be here anyway

So, you will have to answer to your own God. Until that day obey

The laws that you created, tell the truth about the way this system is operated

Stop shooting down people because their skin is myelinated

I Dare You!

***

Words Hurt

Fat

Ugly

Big nose

Pig

Those words

used to make me cringe.

Make me mad,

and yes, I’ve cried.

Had some fights

and blackened some eyes.

Children shouldn’t be so cruel

but as an unspoken rule

they are,

saying things that do leave scars

stomping on my self esteem

and all I can call you is

Mean.

Momma says that words don’t hurt

Well… I’m sorry momma

that’s not true.

Those words

stick to your soul like glue

crossing lines that

make me doubt my worth

wishing that I could leave earth.

You do not need to be physical

your words hurt enough

so much so

they make me tough

make me stronger despite the pain.

But understand…

That your words do stain.

***

My Crown

When you speak of me, don’t be rude and wear a frown

I sit on top of your head as royalty

A perfect natural crown.

You let the stereotypes they used to describe me…Define You!

Those negative words like nappy, kinky, coarse

Insulting and incorrect

You reinforce these feelings with contempt, so you

Burn me, perm me, straighten me

and show me no respect.

I was born with a dark complexion. Why do you bleach me

and burden me with color…do you long to look like another?

I am unique to only a certain kind

Coiled to reflect the number 9

Wooly would best describe me,

tight curls worn by kings and queens

I’m in the image of my ancestors

manifesting the strength that’s in your genes.

I give protection from the sun and absorb essential energy

You must handle me with care, do not resent me

I am your hair and you I will defend

But you have not done the same you see

Your children are ashamed of me

Influenced by reverse imagery

And to that we must put an end.

I require a little maintenance

wash me, grease me, pick me up

I will never bow down

I stand tall because

I am proud of who I am

Every coil, curl and strand from end to end

I am your Crown!