Featured Poems
Part II: Issues We Face
My Blackness
Protect. Honor. Obey.
Yes, it’s used by the law,
But it is also used by me,
Being prideful and respecting myself
To the upmost degree.
I don’t have the smoothest hair,
And my face looks a mess,
With all the bumps and spots,
I don’t think of myself any less.
I tried different kinds of chemicals,
I tried different types of creams,
Causing more damage in the process,
Those marks not going unseen.
I know I’m not a model,
Men tend to look the other way,
But I’m a strong woman who’s happy,
That’s all that matters to me, anyway.
My blackness is powerful,
My blackness is a gift,
Not wanting anyone surrounding my temple,
With the purpose not to uplift.
On the outside, I’m not perfect,
Picture me, I don’t have the best skin,
With all my imperfections on the outside,
Doesn’t affect my beauty from within.
Part II: Issues We Face
Optical Dysfunction
Your face always wears a scowl,
Which makes people think you are tough,
And making people think you are mean,
Wanting to question your actions,
But just too afraid to intervene.
So quick to catch an attitude,
So quick to throw a fit,
Pondering and wondering all this time,
And I think I know the cause of “it”.
Walking around mad at the world,
But your troubles stemmed from before,
Going off on people for no reason,
When that behavior was uncalled for.
Growing up in a two-parent home,
Your parents were there for you,
Yes, you were disciplined a lot,
But they did what any parent would do.
You usually kept to yourself,
In school, you didn’t have many friends,
You dressed nice and presentable,
And didn’t focus on the latest trends.
Didn’t have the opportunity to date,
Not knowing how to draw boys near,
And when they did approach you, I guess,
They spoke words you didn’t want to hear.
Leaving to go away to college,
You experienced the first time being alone,
Making calls to your parents daily,
Begging, wishing to come back home.
You learned how to adjust over time,
But there was a deep feeling you kept pinned,
That feeling wanting someone to see,
The beauty that you had within.
During your time of loneliness,
You were looking for that love and care,
That same love that your parents provided,
And you looked to a man to compare.
You wanted someone to nurture and provide,
And spend time with you when they could,
And when one guy didn’t meet your expectations,
You moved to see if the next one would.
But you act mean and wear a frown,
Wrinkles etched throughout your face,
People are so bothered by your vibe,
They move to let you have your space.
Then you look and talk about other people,
The same issues that you won’t admit,
Blinded by this fog called reality,
It’s up to you to recognize “it.”
See, that “it” is the truth behind your eyes,
And that sparkle that’s not shining through,
You look for a guy to give you happiness,
But look in the mirror and smile for you.
Part III: Relationships, Love, & the Aftermath
I Deserve
“Hi, excuse me,”
“I think we have met before,”
I turned toward the voice,
Seeing a nice man at the door.
We started talking for minutes,
And those minutes turned into hours,
We found ourselves going on dates,
With him greeting me with flowers.
A couple of weeks went by,
Getting serious as time went on,
He wanted to sit down and talk one day,
Said he wouldn’t say over the phone.
He told me he was currently married,
But he really wanted to leave,
Telling me it was all over with her,
While I’m thinking, “man, please.”
I quietly got up to leave,
He’s raising his voice, getting angry,
The nerve of him to be angry, had me confused,
Why are you mad, I was the one being used?
He said he wasn’t telling a lie,
This time he was for real,
I turned to look him in his face,
So I could tell him how I feel.
I deserve a man who will love,
One who will care,
No matter what trouble I’m in,
He will always be there.
I deserve a man who is faithful,
He won’t put me before God,
But we would stand in prayer together,
Having faith in knowing he will provide.
I deserve a man who is respectful,
If he respects me, then he respects himself,
Meaning you should be with your wife now,
Instead of lying with your cheating self.
So, I’m leaving with my pride and dignity,
Because as far as I’m concerned, I’m through,
I’m not going to waste my time explaining myself,
When the man I deserve is not you!
Part IV: Self-Assurance & Self-Confidence
I’m Different: The Final Narrative
I recognize I’m different,
I haven’t denied it
Or given it any thought,
I love who I have become,
Based on my experiences
And what I was taught.
Here’s a snippet.
At times, I feel like an outsider,
But I don’t see the world like you do,
I see things realistically as they come,
Understanding everyone has a point-of-view.
If you come to me with an issue,
I’m actively listening to what you say,
It’s unfair for you to switch roles,
We’re different and don’t think the same way.
I see different sides of a story,
I can’t tell you if you’re wrong,
Rather I try my best to encourage you,
To be kind, thoughtful, and stay strong.
That’s the difference between you and me,
I want to be fair and just,
Understanding that we can disagree,
But I’m not altering my identity,
In order to fit into this box,
In which you think I should appear,
Attempting to defeat the negativity,
Mentally, it took a lot to get here.
With all the criticism I have faced,
My focus is on being valuable,
Shielding any fakeness with a guard,
Not worrying about being popular,
Or worrying about being seen,
Proving you can accomplish anything,
With prayer, hard work, and a dream.
I embrace it, remaining humble and true,
That’s the expectation I set for myself,
And every day that’s who I strive to be,
So there you have it, a snippet,
In the mind of Kaiesha D.
