how many ER trips does it take to show that i'm serious? that i never came into this world ready to push forward? when i said i was the phoenix, i intended for you to know that i had to burn myself down to nothing but ashes. i still promise that i will rise from the ashes i made of myself, ascend, and shine so bright that i blind those around me from all of the horrible darkness and show them the light... i am here. i have purpose. i refuse to consume myself, wholly. i am not a part. i am the ever eternal presence. i can not be removed. when our souls come into contact, i am anew. i'm reminded fully of who i am. i hold responsibility, here. in the white space, i make the conscious choice to push forward. my eyes open, and i see things that even you don't.

i am here and i am aware. the water pours over my head, drips down my face relentlessly... a waterfall across my skin. i feel awake. i feel alive.

What then is the poem?

The poem is a sword too sharp and piercing
Too vast and Strong
The poem bridges the gap between known and unknown forces
Between seen and unseen faces
The poem is a sword too sharp that cuts
Cutting through hearts and minds
The poem bridges the distance reached and unreached

The poem has its wings and aim to fly on its own
Don't force it to fly,
Let it fly and soar when its time comes

Ovi Odiete©August 2016

WHAT A POEM SHOULD BE

A
        Poem
               Should
Be
             Devoid
                  Of sentiments
            Should be
                   Dark as the Night
Or
                Clear as the day,
          *A
      Poem
            Should speak
Attention
And
        Not seek attention
             Should be
           Bright as the culminating cloud
Or
           Dark as the emanating nights
A
        Poem should not seek, but speak
Should be
              Free as the Moon moves the earth
       A
           Poem should
Be
         Free, but not stale
     Should be
            True, but not forced
A Poem
       Should not seek,
          But speak
Should
Be
    Vast as Rainfall
And yet
       Calm as Dew falls
A
                      Poem
Could be
        Violent,
But mean no harm,
Could be hateful,
          But mean no hate
    A
          poem
Should
      Be bright as SUNSHINE,
Should be
           Vast as Rainfall,
      Yet
         Calm as Dew falls
A Poem
     Should not seek attention
But
     Speak attention!!

Should be
        Vast as
               Rainfall

                     *Should
                          Be
    Vast
       As
            Rainfalls

"So I'll probably **** myself,"
I said to you,
"But not until I'm 21 and can stain my lips red
And drink for real
And get so drunk I'll dance right off a cliff.
The rocks at the bottom will hug me so tight I'll split right open.
And then I'll never be able to hide any of it
It'll all be there for you to see.
Bleeding out."
You looked at me and all you said was
"Okay."

I watched my neighborhood park
undergo a transformation
on a warm autumn morning
that carried the smell of dew and maple
the sun peeked through the trees
reflecting off the yellows reds and oranges
illuminating them
till you could swear they had caught fire
crisp air threw amber leaves skyward
raining down like golden confetti
to be collected for jumping into
by the laughing children

I want to make Love to you, like the flame to the wick
Wrapping around you
                                        Caressing you
                                                                 Lighting You UP
                    revealing      YOU
The Real                              YOU
Not that silly facade you show the world -- cold and lightless
We are shapeless and flowing... dangerous and beautiful...
Love and Lust
Fused
Consuming Each Other
Awake and Alive
Tasting the Divine as our Temple burns
This is Life.
This is Death.