I don't write about, Her
much because I don't like to share, Her
But when I think of words that rhyme
She's the loop that brings it all to full circle
My love, Her, she is the best of all lovers
That I have experienced
And I wouldn't trade her for the world
No I wouldn't.

Spoken Word Performance: Neighborhood Charter School

-----------------------------------------

On May 25, 2011 I was invited by Shannon Roberts to perform for her middle school students. Shannon Roberts was my English teacher in 7th grade. She actually taught me a method I use to this day when writing poetry. It was lovely to perform for the students, the questions they asked I was open to answering, and I enjoyed catching up with my former teacher.

I can't wait to work with the students next year. I will engage with Shannon's classrooms throughout their entire Poetry section, and the project that is partnered with the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, MA.

Salaam,

Bastard

What happened to you
You used to
Drop knowledge on me at a young age
Beckoning me to walk the right path
Now you've started to kick back
Revert into a child
As you still swaddle the nipple of your mothers breast
Do you lack the muscle of your chest
Switching back and forth between sanity and reality
I used to know you
Speak proudly of the man who owned property
Had businesses and titles in his name
A father
So you taught me to be proud
And I always was
Until you started fucking up
You began to disclose the stigmas in your brain
Then you became
Nothing more than a statistic
Another black man down
Blaming the system for your careless mistakes
I don't want to say that the 10 of us are a part of the many you've made
But who knows what's going on inside your head
The other day
You told Grandmama that you had a divine intervention
Still you've yet to mention where this will lead you
Cause to me?
You're still on the wrong path
I don't understand how you got this way
And why are you so mad with me?
It is your blood that runs through these veins
So then I wonder what will happen to me when I reach your age
I've tried to become anything but you
Removed myself from all situations including your prescence
Because even though I am your child
You have narrowed me down to the sperm that dripped from your nutsack
Do you even remember when you said that?
Wretched man of wicked ways
You are an embarrassment
I never speak of you
Since I've never spoken to you freely in years
I am jailed behind this mask
Hiding my tears
Walking around life with this burden on my back
Fighting down the fears
And avoiding the issue
Because you are not the man that birthed me
You are not the man that raised me

You are no man at all.

Bursting Out...

I could just be writing words here, or spitting some truth
I could just be free versing these curses
And I could just be talking about you
But still
It don't matter what the purpose is
All I know is that we're conflicted
Hard sound bits and screams of worthlessness
Damn
Sucha cold world after all
Because my light hasn't shined bright for 6celestial stages now
Yet I'm on the hunt to get that sunshine again
You
Could be my sunshine
You could be the reason behind my rhymes
Behind the scene writing the scripts to these scenes
You could be what makes my heart burst at it's seams
You could mean so much more to me than me
Where are you Love?
Why aren't you here next to me?
Beside me where you're supposed to be
I'm looking for you closely
Particular in every movement and scanning all around the room
Your eyes used to spark the fire that churns inside
Now that fire has started to die
Rocking here trying to get some momentum to get me off my back
Because I'm starting lack
The feeling of life in my veins
I'm starting to feel like I'm going insane
The voices in my head telling me that you are dead
But my heart still beating
Oxygen still pumping this vessel to get to the finish line
So I wonder if I'll finish this poem in time for you to hear
For you to listen
Because I'm able, hoping, and willing to love you till the world ends
I'm ready to let your love mold me and bend me to your wishes
I'm ready to be blessed by the taste of your lips
Only if I could

-----

Salaam,

Fireside Chat.

o2.19.2o1o.