this is not a poem

I have been absent

for days and weeks.

I have been cleaning
and sewing

and trying to quiet the anger
that I can't control
in light of this new America.

They say there will be a day
when federal monies
will be revoked from arts programs.

I suggest we start looking for ways
to protect the voices
the ones that are real and true
*and not alternative

i stand as undefined
as the beginning
of my lines
no rules will tell me where
to end
where to start
or where ill begin
society will not label me
tell me when to be capitalized
when i can stand true
undefined by their lies
i will not shift
into who they want me to be
last time i checked
they didn't die for me
as my king
and i refuse to let
a broken society
try to mold and
shape me

-b.m

By Arcassin Burnham


Listen to the beat of my heart it's like a tiny drum,
But filled with so much life and blood til it overflows
With anger and shame to get it boiling or does your
Sadness turn it cold again,
Maybe you should cut ******* ends,
Maybe you talk to all your friends,
If you had some then that would be somethin',
Really there's no need to pretend,
But you're a loner
Always will be,
Stays at home and thinks of memories,
The bad ones not the ones with envy,
Get a hold of yourself in this economy,
I did not know now where I would be,
if i didn't let **** get to me,
if all the things in life that I've encountered was pleasant to me,
i wouldn't having this conversation with my heart nailed on my sleeve.