i could write about my home in new hampshire
about the bubbling brook
that flows peacefully beside the barn
where the horses drink quietly after running across the lush meadow
i could write about my father who sits on the porch chewing tobacco
spitting over the front rails
and my mother who comes out of the house
carrying a pitcher of ice cold lemon aide
i could write about the times i sat down with my folks
on the front porch laughing, singing,
and enjoying this beautiful scene
on a warm summer’s day in new hampshire
i could write about this…
if i hadn’t lived in the projects of charlotte
looking out over uncollected trash pushed
to the side of street gutters
outside my government owned apartment widow
my mother who raised me and six other brothers and sister alone
no father to be seen
no child support to be had
i could write about new hampshire…
if not for the hopeless men
walking up and down the neighborhood streets
selling drugs or some other ‘hot goods’ trying to get rid of it fast
before the police bust them
i could write about new hampshire
about my life there
but, it would be a lie
U.S.S. *Henrietta Marie
(In Memory Of A Slave Ship)*
a conduit, a vessel, a womb full of life i was
i’ve borne forth children both great and small
in the bow of my haul i was pregnant
my stomach ached of chains and swill
crammed with cries of bitter tears
prayers to a god (i know not which)
pain, birth pains of a people
a great people to be
they were within me
i conceived on a dark ancient shore
i saw them raped! violated! stolen!
against their will i conceived a nation
and brought them to the new world
but many have been slain
put to death by men who violate—mocks
the pain of a people
dangling like ornaments on a tree
i wept for those within me
as best i could, i carried my children
i heard their cries within me
chained people—kicked and screamed
yearned to sing, to dance, to play the drums
to come out and see the sky
to be with loved ones under the sun
to see the rolling hills, the wild plains
to run—to run once more
to be free!
but, the lied there stacked/ cargo/ within me
side by side, shoulder to shoulder
head to foot, foot to foot
knee to head, head to side
foot to side, side to knee
i could do nothing but carry them along on the vast emptiness of the sea
docking on an alien shore
to give birth to an oppressed people
the one yearning to be free
a great people to be
they were within me
*It Ain’t Nothin’ But A Party*
dance, dance, dance my big feet
twirl, twirl, twirl my big hips
pay them folks no attention
give’em a reason to stare
dance, dance, dance my big feet
twirl, twirl, twirl my big hips
shake and shimmy all night long
and give them girls reason to talk
it ain’t nothin’ but a party
*Love, Undying*
how i long to see you
to touch your face
to hear a word spoken from your lips
to dive in the pools of your laughter, once again
to be nestled in the warmth of your beauty
loving you till my days are ended
remembering our love, till my days are done
wait for me
and the universe shall be our ballroom
the cherubim shall sing in honor of our love
the flames of hell dare not separate us
its scorching touch shall be made cool
fanned with the wings of our love
“come, let us dance,” i will say
the stars a foundation beneath our feet
be patient, my lovely one
till my days are ended
remember our love, till my days are done
wait for me
