Featured Poems
That Word
Disrespectful,
Deceitful,
Just downright a disgrace,
But we still use it face-to-face,
As if the word has a positive meaning
To describe the history of our race.
Some don’t know how it feels,
But I’m just keeping it real,
I’ve been called out my name,
Not once,
Not twice,
But 3 times, as a matter of fact,
And it’s memories like that,
Where I don’t wanna look back.
I was hurt,
I was confused,
As I watched them drive by,
With an expression on my face,
As I turned to ask my friends why.
I didn’t do nothing,
Didn’t say nothing,
We weren’t even in their way,
So to have those words spoken
I just didn’t know what to say.
When we say it amongst ourselves,
It means one thing,
But to hear outsiders say it,
Expect to cause a scene.
It’s within our music,
People listen to our songs,
So if they listen to our songs,
When they say it,
Is it wrong?
We say it on the streets,
They’re amongst our gangs,
So when other people hear us,
When they say it,
Does it mean the same?
So let’s think about our ancestors,
And the pain they endured,
Think about Dr. King,
Fighting for our freedom,
When racism ruled the South,
Oh, and what was the word
That came out their mouth?
Think about our rights
That were taken,
We couldn’t sit in the front seat,
In restaurants,
We couldn’t sit and eat,
And if we thought about fighting back,
Guess what
we were beat.
We’ve been inferiors to outsiders
And that was our name,
Hearing outsiders say that word,
Is just like saying,
The Lord’s name in vain.
If we say it amongst oursleves,
As a people, we know how it feels,
But the outsiders don’t have wounds,
That took years to heal.
So let’s not put it out in the open,
For others to hear,
‘Cause when they say it to us,
It’s not a term that we endear.
Let’s start by respecting ourselves,
And if we don’t want them saying it,
Then it shouldn’t be heard,
‘Cause no outsiders,
Should have the audacity,
To say the “N” word.
This Life without You
I don’t have the freedom of speech,
So I can’t say what I want to say,
He controls my every move,
Allowing me to only think one way.
I don’t smile when I’m happy,
That emotion doesn’t exist,
I’m overcome with this feeling of loneliness,
That I try so hard to resist.
Every day I cook dinner,
And have it waiting on the table,
He throws my food on the floor,
And turns his attention to the cable.
I try to look nice for him,
I even fixed up my hair,
Took a long bubble bath,
And slipped on a cute dress to wear.
He walked in the door,
And I blew him a kiss,
“Where are you going, go change,”
You’re not wearing this.”
What am I doing wrong?
Tell me and I’ll change it,
Is it my hair, the food?
Anything, you name it.
I’m looking in the mirror,
Watching the tears flow from my eyes,
While a voice in my ear,
Catches me by surprise.
“Girlfriend, please listen to me,
I don’t want to see you hurt,
I want to see you loved by a man,
Not abused by this controlling jerk.”
“If this man don’t want you,
Then go find someone else,
Don’t waste your pride and happiness,
‘Cause you can be better off by yourself.”
My Calling: Chapter 1
I’ve been ripping and running these streets,
I don’t have a stable home,
My mom passed when I was younger,
And my dad has always been gone.
Everyone knows my name,
And they respect me in the hood,
For the newcomers driving by,
If they don’t know then they should.
I shot 4 different people,
But my official record is clean,
A few people probably saw me,
But when questioned
They distanced themselves from the scene.
But now my time has ran out,
I finally got caught,
They charged me with robbery,
Gun possession, murder, and assault.
It only took 3 hours to deliberate,
They found me guilty as charged,
Not it’s time to serve these 35 years.
Behind these cold, steel-like bars.
I don’t have many visitors,
Just my lawyers and the chief,
But all homies from the hood,
Not taking a second to think about me.
I need to turn to someone,
I need some moral support,
My days are filled with the same old thing,
And making appearances in court.
Now realize the mistakes I made,
I can be a different man,
With my knees on the ground
And a Bible in my hand.
When I was out in the streets,
I should’ve been in the pew,
When everyone turned their backs,
I should’ve just turned to you.
