My Poetry

Who am I !?

Posted on by A. Long

Gold_Poem_Painting_-In-Between_Painting-I am that crazy drunk dude

standing on the corner spitting looney tunes

I was there as soon as you

came out the womb

embedded in you nursery rhymes

those synchronized lines were me

I am the original motion towards emotion

never outdated

I am the escape

so powerful I

breathed the Bible into light

and it went, eternally

Now I shine

infinitely

lighting your domes

when you go home maybe you’ll scribble a few of my children into existence

So I may live on happily

having impregnated a new generation

of poets.

Vampires

Posted on by A. Long

That smile dreams brightly of the future

You have the audacity to say

we

To boast carelessly of what we’ll have

When you’d give me spit to taste

before your heart’s embrace

There he goes

flying high off himself one minute

Then rips my throat out the next

I want a vampire

at least they don’t hide behind the guise of love

when they decide to bite you

 

Waiting in Vain

Posted on by A. Long

I’m torn between holding on and letting go

selfish self-preservation is a main goal

but  I’m scared to receive that one phone call

informing me that she’s gone

missing

one of my sisters, a cousin I haven’t talked to in years

 

Dead Rose

It happened

Not to be nostalgic

but I remember how our ridiculous matching

indian prom dresses caused such a commotion

I found yours in the back of my closet

picture perfect

the anticipation of the high school crew disbanding for college studies

our lives at the tip of a new beginning

Time keeps moving her away, ripped like the pages of our friendship

Guilt motivates the guilty

as she

weighs down steps to purchase dime bags

laced with notoriety

the plight of bouncing through foster homes like basketballs

with substitute parents black as asphalt

Even now I can hear her clattering call

ring through the halls

I’m somewhere between

a past and current status of an aged friendship

tossed by life’s tests

We all need a helping hand

and maybe our paths will converge again

even though I can’t stand in the middle of the road

waiting in vain

for her to come home

Sorry

Posted on by A. Long

sorry i didn’t keep the letter you wrote

Or the poem you sent

Or the tears you cried

Or soothe your anger

Or listen to any of the songs you said reminded you of me

Or make the hate go away along with the love

I…uh, really am.

 

Midnight Run In Brooklyn

Posted on by A. Long

WINGATE PARK IS COLD AT NIGHT

I RAN THERE

NO SPECTATORS BUT THE

LONELY STREETLIGHTS

THE SOUNDS MY SNEAKERS MAKE

AS THEY ECHO IN EMPTY BASKETBALL COURTS

I RUN THERE

I RUN PAST THERE

I TRAMPLE THERE UNTIL THERE IS NO THERE

IT IS ONLY ME

Home

CIRCLING GREEN SPOTTED BROWN GARBAGE GRASS

& BUILDINGS

CURIOUS AS THEY ARE LEAN AWAY

I BREATHE INVISIBLE LIQUID ETHER

THAT’S SOAKING IN MY LUNGS

& WILL PROBABLY EXPLODE ANY MINUTE

I KEEP RUNNING

WISHING TO VOMIT EVERY

AMBITION I HAVE OF WINNING

BUT WHO AM I KIDDING

EVEN IF I DID

I’D KEEP RUNNING

TO BEAT MY MOCKING SHADOW

THAT’S ALWAYS AHEAD OF ME

AHEAD OF ME ARE WIRED FENCES

POLICE HEADLIGHTS ON MY HEELS

I RUN

THE INSIDE OF MY ANKLES THROB

THE PAIN IS KNOCKIN IN MY BRAIN

LIKE THE BASS BLASTIN OFF THAT CAR DOWN THE BLOCK

MY FRAME IF SILHOUETTED ONTO THE RED TRACK

I CANT STOP & I CANT GO BACK

I RUN

FOR THE SHADOW AT MY SIDE THAT’S LOSING

I RUN

FOR THE POLICE HEADLIGHTS THAT WON’T CATCH ME

I RUN

UNTIL THE BRUTELY CRACKED PAINT ON THE CONCRETE WALLS

FADES AWAY

THE SOUND OF DADDY CHASTISING 3 YRS OLDS

DISSIPATES

ROACHES IN THE KITCHEN

DISINTEGRATE

OR UNTIL MY LEGS BREAK

MY SHOULDERS ACHE

I SEE STARS

& CAN ONLY COUNT 15

BUT I KEEP RUNNIN

& RUNNING

& RUNNIN

Letter To My Son

Posted on by A. Long

I wrote this in High School, but I dedicate it to my Mom who’s having my little brother…

In case you didn’t know

You see me and make me feel warm

In a world so cold

Like me I guess

So all I can give you is my very best promise

That child these hands will hold you

Until the world stops spinning

Falls off its axis

In another life I was queen

And you will have to accept your destiny

Rule your land

Run your kingdom

Raise your kings and queens to feel compassion

And never regret your bold decisions

Trust them and no one will question

But son do not worry because we were soldiers

Fight with valiance

Only use defiance

When your heart will not allow you to follow direct commands

Fear is an option         Combat commands it of us

Be afraid of the capability of your own hands

Against another

Because you should always first and foremost love your brother

We were slaves

I remember the way you didn’t you didn’t cry when the boat rocked and I remember the way your hair smelled

You kept me from leaping

I was a teacher

You must learn to be a student

Respect me and I will respect you

My job is to harangue  preach  and give speeches

When I feel its necessary

Your job is to listen

Understanding is your greatest tool

And your mind is your greatest weapon

Because it is the only thing an enemy cannot destroy

And son if you remember nothing else

Remember you are descendant of artists

Poetry is your native tongue

And music heats your blood

You have the eyes to see the colors of the grotesque beauty of the world

Cherish who you are and what you can create

And I will always be here for you