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I Hear Words Crying
I sit
and
I watch
and
My thoughts scream
“How dare you use
the stage as an
excuse to
get yo'
rocks off on?”
Abuse this space
to list who you've laid?
No-keep talking,
because your words
are revealing Ugly
How such trash
drops from a “poetic” mouth?
Don't say it's romantic..
it's filth!
And please don't say
It's all in the name of art-
Man you could've been at a peep show
instead of here wasting my time
Makes me mad listening
to poetry being desecrated
being defecated on
taken captive for your experiment..
Them words are telling on you
they don't even want to be spoken
Oh, you thought you'd just come up here
and steal away the beautiful?
You thought you'd come up here
and proclaim artistry
because you used the “F” word
10 times
so eloquently?
Do you really think you're saying something?
Are you even thinking?
Are you writing?
Are you respecting the spaces that deserve honor?
Try honoring yourself
Do you think you're bigger than the lyric?
Better than the creator?
Get down off your high horse-
Get back to the babe you once were
before you decided to grow up
and kidnap poetry.
Black Boys
Black boys
daring
cautious
afraid
white t-shirting it
the masses
moving like black strap molasses
Black boys
trying to be black men
too soon
Gleaming grill
housing ill
beautiful
still
broken 'till
appeased and tempted
with hell's delicacies
again
Black boys
feeling all crazy inside
bending the sun
to bow down
to their anger
Black boys hustling
mischief heavy
at the bottom of their shoe
stepping in time
to the street's rhyme
Black boys
wondering
if anybody sees their soul
feels their waterfalls
carries their burdens
listens to their eternal scream
Black boys
gifted
but crying
Black boys
shining
but dying
for the holes in them
means a hole
in somebody else
and color to a bullet
is irrelevant
somebody else
who had nothing
to do with their pain
but now a part of it
as a cyclone picks up
everything in its path
the dust with the rain
Black boys
wanna
play outside
wanna
show their heart
without the bruise of “wuss”
and the brand of “fagot”
tattooed on them forever
Black boys amazing
so amazing it makes me cry
because they don't know it
their realities
wear down their spirit
as harsh choppy waters
erode rocks over time
and they live out their wounds
reach for poisons
to fill their voids
Black boys do you hear
your grandmothers' prayers?
Do you feel
the innumerable tears
that cover and encapsulate you
as the womb did?
Mommas wanna put you back in
there, you'll be safe
maybe
Black boys
do you feel
that you stand a chance
against this war-torn country
and war-torn corners
and war in you?
Black boys
wielding fists
to say
“I am here”
“I have power”
“Respect me”
“Don't disregard me”
“I matter”
“Don't look through me”
“Look at me”
“Love me”
Black boys
do you know
why you're so tired?
why it's getting harder
to run and play?
Because you're wearing
someone else's shoes
too big for you
they don't fit
you shouldn't be the one
raising the family
Black boys
should be allowed
to just be
Black boys
Black boys
Sing!
until you drown our street sirens
Fight!
on your knees
not with your fists
Fly!
until those scabs fall off
use the pain
to motivate your wings
Black boys
hear my prayers
Know that God
is painting your life
even though the dark colors
it will become clear
and a beautiful picture
will appear
That portrait is you
and God's dreams for
Black boys
coming
true.
Jaz
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