Before the thunder coats my lungs I whisper soft

The storm is a cacophony of pink that flows between slow and stop.
In every direction, pointed hats and sharp signs
stinging words and biting looks
phrases dotted with peaches and comb-overs
hardened women fiercer than the surging wind.

I had never imagined feeling so powerful until
50,000 women
and men and nonbinary friends
engulfed my senses in magenta and bubblegum
and lightning struck 100,000 times in the space of two blocks.

The richest man may offer all his jewels,
The strongest man may threaten all his brute,
The most powerful man may call all his horses and all his men,

Yet no one, and absolutely nothing, can take you away from me.

The voice inside me is never heard
And it doesn't matter how loud it is
Even though I find this very weird
I have never told a living soul about this .

The voice inside me has a frequency
That's measured in some silent decibel
No matter how acute the emergency
No one ever hears a silent bell .

The voice inside me never sleeps at night
It rings in my ears and never stops
Even in my dreams I have to deal with it
Sad that I'll never hear when the pin drops .

The voice inside of me is a vindictive *****
She doesn't care if I deserve some peace
Penetrating my soul like a surgeon's stitch
And disturbing my inner man with ease .

The voice inside of me is a perpetual arrow
It stays in motion and never slows down
Intoned mostly to my pain and sorrow
My voice is a storm that'll never be known .

The voice inside of me is a quiet storm
That will probably never ever be heard
But lives underground like an earthworm
That threads the earth's soil with its head .

The voice inside of me is my late mother's
A voice that continues to bless and inspire
A voice of wisdom I share with my brothers
A voice of a great woman to whom I aspire .
  

#IvanBrooksPoetry
twitter @ivanclappers

Being black is the essence of strength
The ones my ancestors relied on to survive
When forcibly shipped across the ocean's length
Hanging on to only hope just to keep alive .

Being black is the essence of performance
The ones we put up at the mighty Apollo
When jazz and blues fill hearts with romance
As Chuck Berry's feet moved like flamingo .

Being black is the essence of toughness
Like those possesed by the giant baobab
Comes rain, storms, it stands in calmness
Defiant just like the sons of Queen Habib .

Being Black is the essence of athleticism
Portrayed by LeBron James, Jordan and Tiger
Gifted Black brothers born with enthusiasm
Black Essence runs deep as the River Niger .

Don't speak on the matter
I found a batter
Spit on the ball
Dissolve into matter.

Don't hold on my hand
Or step on my tail
Loose like some sand
Your bound now to fail.

Mouth 'round my name
Your playing my game,
I brought the flame
So combust into matter.

Saying I'm ****
Your dressed in some tatters
Hum on my ****
In your face till it splatters.