Red fire
caught in this disturbing web
bound

By: Cedric McClester

Jussie Smollett
You’re innocent I bet
If only in your own mind
But you should regret
Making us upset
Just because you’re inclined
To prevaricate
About that alleged crime of hate

Despite all your chatter
The truth of the matter
Definitely needs to be mentioned
You clearly were seeking attention
The story you conceived
Is hard to be believed
Because it defies convention
And causes nothing but dissension

You did a week
And are out as I speak
While awaiting your appeal
But for a moment let’s be real
You’re gonna find
That your appeal will be declined
Based on lack of merritt
You’re lucky a judge agreed to hear it

But you won’t relent
And take your punishment
Because you think you’re an exception
You’re practicing self-deception
Consider what it took
In order to close the book
See thirty months isn’t that bad
You’re lucky that’s all you had





Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2021.  All rights reserved.

Sell crack said the president
Fall though cracks residents
Money over morals the precedent
In slums slaves rent the residence

His love
lived in my eyes
ups and downs
little white lies
we played joy
well after dark
knickers around
his twisted toes
a gentle pose
inside
my scented rose
he held me tight
by the band
on my hand
peace and one love
is a song he sang
my hallelujah's
I sing
to his soul
I still hear
his heart beat
heaven behold.

the sky is on fire
at sunset

(and you want to know
why i'm sitting
on the roof

the sky is on fire

and I only dream of you

and in Tibet
the monks write their prayers
on rice paper
and climb to a high mountain top
and fling their prayers
into the wind
where they will float
to heaven
and be answered

the clouds:
violet,
pale yellows,
and pink

and you want to know
what i'm doing
sitting up on the roof

so standing
I take the toilet paper
from my shirt pocket

and the wind knows
and skyward it goes)

the sky is on fire at sunset

and my quiet heart beats only for you