I'Ll Never Be a Cool Black Guy

I don't have bling
I don't rap, play blues or sing
I'll never be a cool black guy
My strut is weak
My cred roams far yonder
Miles away from the street
I'll never be a cool black guy
The booty I shake
The moves that I make
Won't qualify for Soul Train's sake
I'll never be a cool black guy
The name my mother assigned
Won't force Grandmaster Flash to resign
I'll never be a cool black guy
The vocal lords which gospel brings
Cannot pervade thy angel's wings
I'll never be a cool black guy
Cruising slow at sunset
Love, joy, exaltation
Politely asked to pull over
Algorithms bleed into
Indignant subjugation
I'll never be a cool black guy
When a simple arrest
Leads to civil unrest
Then comes the ripple, tsunami
Of economic infest
I'll never be a cool black guy
My options broken, then severed
Left to dangle without a net
The asphalt calls
No qualms or regret
I'll never be a cool black guy
And one leads to two
And two leads to ten
History's palindrome nightmare
To invoke and offend
Why can't our same bag of bones
Simply care, soar, befriend
I'll never be a cool black guy
That diploma on the wall
Smelting books, with brains and gall
Will humanity's insanities
Finally yield beauty
Leading us to stand for all
I'll never be a cool black guy.

(5/22/17)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Flaherty Avatar
May 24, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Cool is fleeting a Diploma is for life You do the math
Lovechild Avatar
May 24, 2017 at 6:33 PM
Thx Chris, I appreciate the feedback and great thoughts. Yes cool is subjective. Everyone has their take. Sometimes it's not ideal. Best, Subby
Flaherty Avatar
May 24, 2017 at 5:44 PM
Cool Subby Cool is MTV its a Music Video its not real life its possessions and dressig like a fing idiot. 20 years from now when the so called cool crowd look back at pictures of themselves do you think they were cool or think W.T.F was I thinking
Flaherty Avatar
May 24, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Love your work Subby I hate Rap and the so called Cool you so perfectly describe here because the lyrics are like badly written nursery rhymes by badly dressed pimps who are purveying a lifestyle kkids should not aspire to. This is not cool your work is
J.T. Avatar
May 23, 2017 at 10:19 PM
nicely done. the only time I considered myself to be cool black guy was in elementary school. I'm still working on it -JT
Lovechild Avatar
May 24, 2017 at 6:24 PM
Thx for the read, JT. And when you're whatever color I am, you'll never get there... Best, Subby
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace