Category Archives: poetry

kin

©

for decades i walk this meandering trail

ears and eyes open as my ship sets sail
in dangerous waters

tiptoeing, dancing, stomping through rain
sunshine, hail, sleet and snow. the strain
of raising daughters

the lines deepening, a sneer, a scowl
evidence of loss and pleasure, i howl
in unbearable pain

raise my fist against illegitimate power
raise my voice against despicable, sour
government stain

for decades i study a history only to find
truth is a mystery, my studies remind
me to patiently wait

while somebody else’s ancestors moan
those words unwritten, i proceed not alone
with my aging gait

but move assuredly forward toward peace
brought by justice, sealed with intentional release
of degrading inflection

move assuredly forward with hope
the support of my comrades to cope
with continued deception

we look through the window of knowledge
for clues to the mystery no college
can begin to surmise

we travel together as one, on a mission
defining ourselves, refusing to fish in
an ocean of lies

we’ll remember, some day, it is love
not from ‘somewhere out there’ or above
but from deep within

that knowledge will free us, that earth rumbling calm
will release us. we finally apply the balm
of knowing we’re kin

whisper of spirit

©

in only a moment
hot turns to cold
what once was a body
harboring a soul
now empty, depleted
all energy drains
whisper of spirit
is all that remains

hovering remnants
of energy pure
as a wish for tomorrow
bringing no cure
wish turns to vapor
body to dust
crumbling emotion
like metal to rust

where once were ideas
plans, hopes, and dreams
departed in panic
no fabric, no seams
no binding or glue
puts the body back whole
what’s left, only memories
of each stolen soul

the reaper rejoices
consuming its prey
no worry for consequence
no one will pay

lies entered on paper
“suspect had a knife”
reported as duty
grand theft of a life
“suspect had a phone
which looked like a gun.
i feared for my safety”
this can’t be undone

lies entered on paper
excuse the offense
“he refused to obey me”
the usual pretense
“he fired a weapon”
no residue found
lies entered on paper
no one was around

reported as duty
grand theft of a life
lies written on paper
“suspect” had a wife
a mom and a dad
sister and brother
“suspect” was a father
and friend to another

in the reaper’s assessment
“suspect was black”
a good enough reason
to shoot in the back

reported as duty
murder becomes plain
the job of the reaper
becoming mundane
lies written on paper
“suspect had a gun”
reported as duty
this can’t be undone

breath has escaped him
along with his blood
he’s left there for hours
displayed in the mud
while reaper reports
“suspect did a crime”
maybe a witness
will show up this time

spirit surrounds
as mere humans lament
particles left after
final breath spent
a sparkle in darkness
star in black night
a dream in the morning
fresh air in daylight

the reaper on duty
reporting all lies
to the reaper in charge
choosing who dies

where once were ideas
plans, hopes, and dreams
departed in panic
no fabric, no seams
no binding or glue
puts the body back whole
what’s left, only memories
of each stolen soul

hovering remnants
of energy pure
as a wish for tomorrow
bringing no cure
wish turns to vapor
body to dust
crumbling emotion
like metal to rust

in only a moment
hot turns to cold
what once was a body
harboring a soul
now empty, depleted
all energy drains
whisper of spirit
is all that remains

 

seventeen police victims
derek williams
derrick gaines
alan blueford
oscar grant
raheim brown
kenneth harding jr
trayvon martin
james rivera jr