another great entertainer
bojangles
jingled his way to the top
tapped nonstop
for him it was play
but he was made to work it
he tapped himself to the stage
jingling jangling
jangling baby jangling
until he couldn’t stop
because the penalty was
whuppings on his back
so he tapped himself
until his freedom ran raw from his pores
’til blood seeped from his soles
’til sweat poured from his soul
Sambo led the way for black entertainment
remember that
step to the table with a pen
release all the static within
view the universe clearly
in my thoughts sand, gravel slipping through my hands
cocoa butter memories swim around
this intellectual revolutionary
bury me with dark chocolate and a floatie
i can back stroke through the essence of life
anger and admiration raise the question
are you really that comfortable with ignorance?
ebonics has spread like the bubonic plague
devil obscured our language to make meaning vague
if you can’t comprehend what i said
let me reiterate
in communication lies peace these words we preach
but the violence can’t cease if no one understands us
ninety percent of your speech is driven by thought
think of the truth
translate that into actions dominated by ninety percent of your heart
knees search for the carpet
amidst the tornado from the bed to the couch
we hit it hard
the mouth moves
the thigh sways
swimming in each other
until the door creaks open
watching you leave is like burning an angels wings
bring water to the scorched place
where hope springs
Come back,
I think you forgot a kiss
your heart
your charger, glasses, burdens, house keys, phone,
head,
a lighter
a back rub
a hug
a plate of food
an embrace and a song
wrap it up in your pocket for later
when the out there slams your wrists
backs you into a corner
pilfering your happiness
Unfold what i have held for you
just like this
dab a little on your lips like sunshine
and let it soak in
remembering your space in here
where all the things you lay to rest
live.
–Ciane The Knight
this one hair is connected to the universe
this one hair forcing it’s way out of the back of my thigh
has unseen ties to the fabric of reality
this one hair back there is freaking me out
its coil is curling through space and time
i tried to shave it down but it grew back strong
i tried to pluck it and ended up unraveling ancient tapestries
it’s long and thick
and perfectly isolated on an island of brown skin
i think the other day when i tugged at it, it growled at me
what hair is this
where did you even come from
did you escape from my nana’s mane or some other ancestry
if i destroy you will you bleed
or would the world unfold
little hair down there
tell me the secrets of dimensions and dark matter
let’s master creation together
since the length of your follicle i bet
is rooted at the foot of God’s kingdom
Tell me something I don’t know
dive deep into the honeycomb
excavate my secrets
lay me bare
give me more reasons to love you
Don’t touch there
that’s where the lies are buried
or here
or
anywhere really.
Niggas don’t read.
and if it didn’t occur to you that all niggas ain’t black
stop reading this.
Why weren’t they allowed to read…
because within the ability to comprehend words
would develop the zealous desire to learn
to think
to be equal
which would breed uprising and defiance.
Why do people not like to read anymore?
Trust no man
liars weave fancy cloth
cut from razor steel
leaving the truth in their wake
There will be no happy resolution
no promises
Trust them not
just for yourself
but because the lies they birth
rip their bodies open
exposing a stubborn selfishness
no one can understand
Take heed and duck
i heard they carry beautiful bullets within their tongues
and breed with bitches in flea ridden sacks
They dye their lyes
to match the shades of golden lilacs
Curl their glimmering smiles up at you
while they reach into their bag of tricks
& knick knacks
Don’t trust
careless people with sunshine dreams
No one will ever replace you inside
no one will ever erase you from my side
as the dawn breaks into light
i promise not to hide from your sight
as you turn, walk away
i can hear something say
don’t forget me
i won’t forget you
even though the distance in my heart
just pushes us apart
if you love let it go
need this time to grow
but this feeling i’ve never known
and the further you go
i can hear my heart scream
don’t give up on me
i can’t let go
even though we’ve been led down this road
because of the hardness your heart holds
maybe in another life
you and i can
make it right
right?
theawards.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/OscarDelmar12.jpg
you read me
like an open book, plainly
so playfully
i shrug it off
summarize all my lines
you see me clearly
like prescription glasses
you compliment me
though we’re hardly ever in sync
even on pizza toppings we disagree
yet
you will always fight for me
so put down your fists
i will be your gift, shield, and armor
The Poetry Corner 