So I was requested for a poetry show last night (yes. I got paid. :-) ) It was for a bunch of investment bankers for Black History Month. But I wanted to share the poems I performed with you all.
1) I Am From. This is a poem I wrote in 2007. It was a school assignment and grew into a favorite. Not so much mine any more, but it still gets my message across.
I am from swift hit it quit decisions with no safety provisions
And grown men who find pleasure in the thieving of young girls innocence
I am from the hating of self and ALL that shapes it
I am from mourning for stolen flowers when all others negate it
I am from a brother
Who met and dated his sister in public
Because their dad could never remember exactly where he stuck it
And so they get to talking and happen to land on that little subject
Only to find they are from the same paternal punishment
Eyes flooded and burning I pray God forgives him
And protects me from the repercussions of his many sins
Because I am from a mother who tries with all her might
To allow a bountiful future to be within my sight
And though I am from mistakes and fallen dreams
I am from integrity that rises like steam
I am from friends and family that stay on my team
I am from people who hold me when my soul bleeds
Though I am from pain and fear
I am sure to learn from every dropped tear
And to never act if my fog of anger has not cleared
Because I've seen the results of hate enacted
And clearly felt the emotions contracted
When evil feelings are left to be active
I am from 9th and 10th cavalries
Buffalo Soldiers always battling
On real or steel horses we stay traveling
Not running from our past but establishing
That we are running to our future that will be lacking
In drugs hate and other things damaging
And abundant in love hugs and laughing
I throw up "peace" signs when I see Harley's passing
Because I am from a Buffalo Soldier daddy
I am from addicts, users and abusers
Families built on drunken stupors
I am from holding grandmas hand believing I'd lose her
As I watch the chemotherapy slowly dilute her
I am from the overstanding that everything has a price
And though it hurts to look back on my life
It gives me all that much more reason to hold my future tight
Because where I am from
Is
NOT
Who I am
But if I hadn't fallen
How could I stand?
And grown men who find pleasure in the thieving of young girls innocence
I am from the hating of self and ALL that shapes it
I am from mourning for stolen flowers when all others negate it
I am from a brother
Who met and dated his sister in public
Because their dad could never remember exactly where he stuck it
And so they get to talking and happen to land on that little subject
Only to find they are from the same paternal punishment
Eyes flooded and burning I pray God forgives him
And protects me from the repercussions of his many sins
Because I am from a mother who tries with all her might
To allow a bountiful future to be within my sight
And though I am from mistakes and fallen dreams
I am from integrity that rises like steam
I am from friends and family that stay on my team
I am from people who hold me when my soul bleeds
Though I am from pain and fear
I am sure to learn from every dropped tear
And to never act if my fog of anger has not cleared
Because I've seen the results of hate enacted
And clearly felt the emotions contracted
When evil feelings are left to be active
I am from 9th and 10th cavalries
Buffalo Soldiers always battling
On real or steel horses we stay traveling
Not running from our past but establishing
That we are running to our future that will be lacking
In drugs hate and other things damaging
And abundant in love hugs and laughing
I throw up "peace" signs when I see Harley's passing
Because I am from a Buffalo Soldier daddy
I am from addicts, users and abusers
Families built on drunken stupors
I am from holding grandmas hand believing I'd lose her
As I watch the chemotherapy slowly dilute her
I am from the overstanding that everything has a price
And though it hurts to look back on my life
It gives me all that much more reason to hold my future tight
Because where I am from
Is
NOT
Who I am
But if I hadn't fallen
How could I stand?
2) Education This is a modification on the FIRST spoken word piece I ever wrote. Honestly I remember writing it. I don't know where it came from and I had no idea what it would come to be, but I wrote it and I shared it and here it is now:
My teacher asked me if I was paying attention
Said she needed me to listen to the information being given
I replied
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said the reason school takes 13 years to finish
Is because that’s how long it takes to break a child’s spirit
Especially of us minorities
But let me tell you something:
We are the majority
That’s if you think of us as one human race
This world is a disgrace
We separate based on the color of our face
“Education” teaches us kids to be racist
Acting like it’s the basis for humor
These days is built on the evilness of human to human relationships
Race to race relationships
Brother to sister
Sister to sister
Brother to brother relationships
Our African-American
Latino-American
Asian-American families should be on vacation
Not lists for deportation
But we must limit liberty in order to keep this a free nation
Apparently, loving truth puts me on a blacklist
But, I’m tired of hearing you’re too black that or you’re not black enough this
Because what I do has reasoning deeper than my flesh
I refuse to let schools exploit everything my ancestors achieved
Even those challenged pigmently
It’s very likely I have ancestors of Hitler decent
And though I don’t agree with the games they played
You have to admit: Nazis worked hard to spread their love of hate
Though nowhere near as hard as my slave ancestors worked to get to those free states
But somehow
Now, color is influential beyond skin
5 years ago my brother wouldn’t be caught dead in red
Cuz he was a ShoLine crip
Now he’s on his Choir Boy tip
So move over Tookie
He sings for Jesus now
Before he would die for me without a sound
Now he lives for me and screams about how he loves his little sis
And hopes my life is filled with bliss
But he’s sure to stress:
Get this
If they won’t love you until the caskets closing, they won’t love you in sheep’s clothing
So screw society and the immortal fluctuation of rumors about what is beautiful
Look within you
That is beautiful
Look next to you
That is beautiful
Look right here
I am beautiful
I am CeCe
This is me
No playing
No faking
Just me
And I’m bearing my mind for this audience to see
So excuse me if I’ve been speaking of you evasively
If your conscience stings when I mention discriminating
Then stop judging by looks
And never settle for what you’re given
Because the answers aren’t in the textbooks
The answers aren’t in the pigment
The answers are in your heart
Will you choose to listen?
Said she needed me to listen to the information being given
I replied
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said the reason school takes 13 years to finish
Is because that’s how long it takes to break a child’s spirit
Especially of us minorities
But let me tell you something:
We are the majority
That’s if you think of us as one human race
This world is a disgrace
We separate based on the color of our face
“Education” teaches us kids to be racist
Acting like it’s the basis for humor
These days is built on the evilness of human to human relationships
Race to race relationships
Brother to sister
Sister to sister
Brother to brother relationships
Our African-American
Latino-American
Asian-American families should be on vacation
Not lists for deportation
But we must limit liberty in order to keep this a free nation
Apparently, loving truth puts me on a blacklist
But, I’m tired of hearing you’re too black that or you’re not black enough this
Because what I do has reasoning deeper than my flesh
I refuse to let schools exploit everything my ancestors achieved
Even those challenged pigmently
It’s very likely I have ancestors of Hitler decent
And though I don’t agree with the games they played
You have to admit: Nazis worked hard to spread their love of hate
Though nowhere near as hard as my slave ancestors worked to get to those free states
But somehow
Now, color is influential beyond skin
5 years ago my brother wouldn’t be caught dead in red
Cuz he was a ShoLine crip
Now he’s on his Choir Boy tip
So move over Tookie
He sings for Jesus now
Before he would die for me without a sound
Now he lives for me and screams about how he loves his little sis
And hopes my life is filled with bliss
But he’s sure to stress:
Get this
If they won’t love you until the caskets closing, they won’t love you in sheep’s clothing
So screw society and the immortal fluctuation of rumors about what is beautiful
Look within you
That is beautiful
Look next to you
That is beautiful
Look right here
I am beautiful
I am CeCe
This is me
No playing
No faking
Just me
And I’m bearing my mind for this audience to see
So excuse me if I’ve been speaking of you evasively
If your conscience stings when I mention discriminating
Then stop judging by looks
And never settle for what you’re given
Because the answers aren’t in the textbooks
The answers aren’t in the pigment
The answers are in your heart
Will you choose to listen?
