Tyshawn Knight | + Follow Poet |
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What Would You Think

A Note to Kenny 
A Gifted Young Man and Student
“WHAT WOULD YOU THINK”

If you saw
A caged bird without a beak
Or heard a deaf song
From a parakeet?
A gazelle that could not run
A midnight black morning 
Without the sun
A mother that refuses to hear
The sobs of her daughter saying
“Mother Dear,
Please…”

It would be tragic indeed.
Only one other tragedy could compare. 
That of seeing a 
talented
black young man
refuse to declare.
Make known to the world,
“I am here…”

Yes tragic indeed,
to see an intellect
that we couldn’t even forget
Because it was never 
used 
to remember.
Can such a curse be forgiven?
It would be my sin
to see this wrong and remain 
silent.

So in this poem I yell!
Plead with the black young man

“Do tell!”

You with something to find

Seek…

You with something to stand

Be…

You with something to say

Speak…

 While there is still time
Make up your mind

And shine…

Copyright © Tyshawn Knight | Year Posted 2014

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Skat A Date: 6/12/2015 1:30:00 AM Tyshawn, Congratulations on having your poem featured this week. SKAT love Login to Reply

Ken Jordan Date: 6/11/2015 4:46:00 AM Black is beautiful! and so is this poem, the expressive meaning of each line. I have an 18 year old in the same situation, he did not graduate because he chose the wrong path. Now, he's twenty credits short of graduating. I've learned that it's all up to the person, cause lawd knows I've tried to get him to do the right thing, it's al up to him. Don't give up on him my friend, a light will come some day and he'll realise how much time he's wasted. Always Ken Login to Reply Tyshawn Knight Date: 6/15/2015 9:25:00 PM The young man actually died last year at age 21. No one heard his voice but he was as brilliant as Tupac. I tried to get his grandmother to publish his poetry but, she was in too much pain so I stopped pressuring her. She said that most of his poems were about a girlfriend so the grandmother gave the poems to his girlfriend. It is really sad.

Richard Lamoureux Date: 5/10/2015 11:08:00 AM This makes me think of the Movie "Finding Forester" it is important for young men of all colors to seize their magnificence. We have a 24 year old son who graduates this month and we are so proud that he has chosen a challenging path that has expedited his growth as a human being. We have told him that he is built to take the steep path. Login to Reply Tyshawn Knight Date: 6/15/2015 9:26:00 PM I love that movie! It reminds me of my relationship with the Poet Laureate Dr. Diane Goodman who mentored me in high school.