Best Kwansaba Poems

In the bush the dancing begins early 
     Leather drums call from far and near. 
     ...

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I gather up all of my courage
My gaze drifts to the evening sky 
All that space there between 
Alien visitation must be a lie 
The...

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After a night of rain, the sun,  
its shimmer, a welcome like no other.
A new day starts with such promise,
an array of flora across...

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Each morning just before lunch at eleven,
I can see the black smoke rise.
Pops has his large grill fired up.
Chicken and ribs sizzle over the flame.
Just...

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Up so high all the fireflies fly
          Look at them! Look at them all!
  ...

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Hey little black girl keep your head up and walk proud the ghetto cant break you 
and the hood cant make you who you are...

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bolts of thunder light up the sky
splash of colour visible as rain fall
rain supply its own kind of music
lyrics the trees sway and dance to...

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On Good Friday after church we eat
curried pickled fish and hot crossed buns
and drink black coffee because we share
in the painful agony of the Lord.
On...

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Rhythm develops 
everything
horrid
heavenly thoughts
misery
tones of home vibrate
livelihood exists inside
ambiance waves crash
tear shorelines
sliding through marinas
ships live n' die
by rhythm

high tide
to low the sailor knows
to schoon the...

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"What's your story?"
she questions,
"you seem interesting."

wildflower eyes
                  ...

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Weeping willow growing outside my office door
blows in the wind like angel wings.
Each wing unfurls as though taking flight
to some haven where there is peace.
And...

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Haunted house on top of the hill
Scares many kids that sure walk by
Ghouls and ghosts make their display known
Deep inside this hold there’s all sorts
They...

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Asked for fresh trout from the menu
Server brought it hot to my plate
Pronto take it away, to my horror
Two vile beady eyes stare at me
And...

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Can a word be just a tree?
Is a forest any form of poetry?
Where the soil adds imagery of style,
Rains make the flow of each line.
Light...

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Dark skin sweats in a dark night
as around the fire, they drum on.
They drum their pain and their joy.
Red sparks fly birthed by the log.
Hearts...

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What cause to thrust me off my narrow road?
When truth, factual actual truth unto me bestowed,
In my inner deep’s deepness such sowing sowed,
What cause then,...

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am nices
so think twices
before dis repect
and don't forget
all i have for you too
just let me be
to my heart you have the key
your
LUCKY TO HAVE ME...

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At the silted banks of river Nile,
I'd sung to the glory of Lucy;
I'd soared high over the echoing Savanna
and fought and bled for Shaka Zulu.
I...

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Great lion who once ruled the land,
you are a serf to your lord.
Gone is your kingdom where you reigned.
You now serve new masters these days.
You...

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The deer shake off the headlights


We sat in the car outside the 
liquor store peering like deer, our eyes 
following Pinky as she went in...

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Laughter, fun, joy for all the world!
 Not just holiday time, forever and ever!
 When kids can play, mum, dad too!
 From fear, much-needed respite,...

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There are all kinds of raw fish
that can be used to make sushi.
Orange salmon is quite popular these days.
Try mahi mahi or yellow fin tuna.
Mackerel,...

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Red x trane 
(a black arts movement kwansaba)
by ‘bro.zayid’

Garvey greased Harlem struttin 
Baraka bluuuue New Ark floats
Chicago ‘sippi blood thick
Watts fire ibeji badd
Big Eazy polyrhythmic
Dee...

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Rap
  +
Port
  =
Rapport...

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Irresistable kool 
(a Kwansaba for Eugene B. Redmond)
by ‘bro.zayid’

For him Miles is not god
Just irresistible kool
Yet he claims ancient ears
Sips Dunham’s golden legged dance
From Dumas’...

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