L'Nass Shango Poet Free verse

This Is the Brawl

This is the brawl in which my life began
For I did not live, did not become a man
Until I could speak in the chaos of the crowd
Ran with smoky eyes 
Beside the living love of a fellowman
While police dogs sniffed our heels
And bit the butt of our debates
Leaving only mangled arguments
About decisions being made for us.
Today in London I measure growth
In the fraction of our blood
That flowed more like rivers before
And always I remember the taste of salt
The natal blood on my tongue
God's own symbol of my redemption
Each time I am born
So this fire alone I come fearless
Of death, longing to be born again.

♡Like0

Share 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

Pawlu Pascarawlu April 2, 2009 at 6:11 PM this conjures up some very vivid imagery and is so well written, well done.

Laurie Ginn April 2, 2009 at 5:42 PM Wow what an intense write. Totally fierce and purposeful!

Gene Williamson April 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM Powerful, beautifully written poem, L'nass. I especially like: And always I remember the taste of salt The natal blood on my tongue -gene.

Matt Caliri April 2, 2009 at 2:15 PM I like the tension and strange sort of heatedness of the the tone (thematically and otherwise)...it reminds me of something similar to what I just recently wrote on this site...called "the fire," which was a response to finding out I apparently have a lot of fire in my astrological chart...of which I ordinarily would pay no heed to... Yet I digress: I like your stye! Keep it up, Matt

Diane Christian April 2, 2009 at 11:21 AM so beautiful written, been born again is the most wonderful thing, this poem is just so wonderful and amazing, God bless you from diane

James Marshall Goff April 2, 2009 at 11:07 AM Lnass, my friend, very intense, historical poetry, wonderful! love it, every line is memorable! Jim ....still reading it over and over!...this poem has got me in it's clutches!