****** up,
tuned in,
tripped on the up game,
out on a whim.

( I am this way)
Why do I write poetry
Because sometimes my emotions get the best of me
And conversations with others don't satisfy
Why do I paint and cut and color
Because sometimes the visions are so vivid they force themselves out
Why do I dance
Because theres no choice my crazy energy must be released
People call me lunatic and crazy or wild
I'm sometimes hurt by this-
But this is the way I was made
I can't fight it
And I don't want to change
I have many other responsibilities
But these passions "cut the line"
Others don't seen to understand
Lord knows I've tried to explain
Those days of explaining are now over
This is who I am

Sometimes you just need to be alone
Headphones in music blocking the world
Wrapping yourself in a blanket
Pablo Neruda on your lap

Sometimes it's so so so good to just breathe and marvel and song and write and read and be
Just be

I am a man no, I am a black man
I walk these streets with a cursed mark upon my hands
The white man trys told me in these restraints
But I laugh, look him in the eyes and say

You don't control me
This ain't slavery no more
God granted me free will
So who are you to question the gifts god give

It's funny really
When you look at my kind all you see sin
As if we're monsters created by satan
But please keep thinking that way, it's only making us stronger

The thing is this is a new world
A world were the swords between our races no longer need to be drawn
But still you haven't given up
Even after seeing what our kind can do

I admire that though
It shows that you're strong
But you see you're fighting the wrong war
It's no longer this or that

Instead, it's can we survive
Yesterday we fought each other to the death
But today we need to fight side by side
So that we can even see a tomorrow

Can't you understand that
Yeah sure I'm black
And so what you're white
But this is not about that

Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. once said he had a dream
And his dream was to see our kinds live in peace and harmony
That one day the world won't see it as being black or white  
But instead see it as equal living beings

Have you ever thought he was right
You're trying to wage war against us
And we're simply trying to end it
But I guess that is asking too much

So many have died trying to keep us separated
But enough is enough
What if it was your grandma, brother or sister
Would you finally end it then

Why wait when it's too late
Why **** anymore who don't deserve to die
On both sides we have lost so much
So let's compromise

We don't ask to be on top
We just simply wanted to be treated as equals
Because we were all born in this world survivors
But what's the point of surviving just to walk into another fight

We're simply exhausted
So please let's end it here
Let's be friends
And survive to see tomorrow

Watching people perform
Their poetry
Is my favorite thing
Your sharp inhale
Breathing the words
Exhaling art
Your hands
Fly around the room
Grabbing thoughts
And pulling them together
Your body moves
To the rhythm you speak
You look like
You feel at peace
You look so at home
Even though your hands shake
Your voice quivers
I love watching you read
I love hearing your voice
It's smooth like honey
Addictive like nicotine
My favorite thing
Is seeing
Hearing
People perform their poetry

you said you don't want to hurt me
yet words lash like a whip
rending flesh from the heart
what is done, cannot be undone
words cannot be unspoken or unheard
unapologetic and cold
there is no bandage for the wounds
as the blood falls from my eyes
in sulfur and ash

I drink you with my eyes ,
You run into my veins ,
Like adrenaline rush .
My thoughts are louder ,
I whisper to my heart...hush!

I see you ,
Like fresh perfume,
You linger in my breath .
You finally appear here,
On my paper until death...

I see you*.

Waving
             My
                   Phone
                          Frantically
                              In
                      The
                Air
                      To
                            Get
             Service