Long African american Poems
Long African american Poems. Below are the most popular long African american by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long African american poems by poem length and keyword.
The next time we meet, I may be someone else.
Extra thick, light in weight.
Resourced to fit purpose.
The next time we meet,
I may be a splint. Easy to light.
The next time we meet.
Would silence truly do us justice.
Learning to cope before given reason.
Rounded off at the top, rough patterns felt between us both.
A spark that ignites the scrape of when I fell for you.
We stood there because we knew how we felt, we never truly understood.
Collecting ourselves in abrupt fire. Only a fool would stand to wither completely.
What else did we truly know but to extinguish ourselves in the same abrupt manner.
Breathing in each others essence. Stained in soot.
We lived in sulfur, sliming down in the same instance.
Lighting myself before becoming contagious.
I thought this way because it was all I'd ever know
The Culling
Happiness is a beautiful smiling word,
That soars the skies like a radiant black bird;
Culling ebony sheen downs from her sable breast
To fluff and cushion the crib of her protecting nest.
Murder and death are conjuring words too;
Sneaking around and stealing your children from you;
And though their bodies pile up in streets and on the bloody ground---
Like trees chopped down when no one’s around, justice hears no sound.
The long arch of justice has been bent backwards to times of old;
The streets have replaced the hanging tree and the noose by a bullet hole.
We now understand the strange fruits stories of which the ancestors once told;
One by one, our little sheep are being justifiably culled from the extended family fold.
While we cannot and must not substitute one tyranny for another,
We will and must protect the seeded child of every black mother.
Oh Ye Poets, Weep Not!
(Apropos When Silence Is Betrayal)
To write of peace, love and beauty,
Would be what others think should be
The poets’ only duty;
Albeit, what we write, is like that of the dove;
Peace and love rendered from up high—Soaring
Within the oneness from God above—
Within the winds of truth blowing—
Let us not heed to the silencing ones trying to hold us in check;
Let not need of their approval make us a nervous wreck.
Let us write no lies we’ll later cringe and seek to deny;
Let no one cause us to question truth—asking why;
Let us remember the lamb of truth that chose to die!
Let’s always chose to pen and scream the truth of the heart!
Let’s always remember who chose us to echo words of a new start!
Reached the panicle of an older state;
faced body rugged, as stone or slate;
I must reiterate, I am not old, but great;
I'm imparting of an older state;
A family that no longer calls;
An aged person whom new crawls;
Though, they sometimes may fall;
you won't find me shopping at the malls;
I am imparting of an older state;
It's about to rise;
You have to get to where I'm at;
you have to live life close to reenact;
I am not just an artifact, in fact;
I am part of an older state;
I know the beginning all ends;
I live now for God He's my true and only Friend;
Fifty is the new teen;
Sixty is the between;
Seventy most never reach;
Eighty is close to heaven's gate;
I'm not old but just wait;
age but a number, a member, I'm in fact an older state;
Call me Elder, Senior call me old;
]When time is done my stories told;
No illnesses, No arthritis, Alzheimer's;
Neither money gold nor diamonds;
Flight of stairs, bronze, golden, grey white hairs;
Multiply wrinkles on the left right corners of both my eyes;
I'll be the one singing my grandchildren's lullabies;
Once left my foot toward the skies in youth;
Now can hardly walk crow the street but in truth;
the youth have strength in part;
But aged are my spirit, soul, mind and heart;
I am a senior to those under me in age;
but I am not too old and not too frail;
For I am full grown matured and great;
I'm in fact an older state, it's about to rise;
you have to live life close to reenact;
I am not just a n artifact, in fact;
I am part of an...
OLDER STATE
(by James E. Lee Sr. from 'Intergenerational Poetry Slam "Elders Track" University of Nebraska Omaha Poetry to Bridge the Generation Contest'
(c)2014
Birthday feelings
Another year is back no longer can leapfrog this day
Where my body squeals on me from time to time
Melanin, flawless, caramel skin transparent
for you to view my friends,
Face ageless, mind intone to my compose poetry,
Every Nano second counting down to dust,
By the grace of the almighty:
The loud notification bell rang the old familiar tone,
From my well-wishers, on Facebook, and WhatsApp,
The thousands of unwanted gray hairs cover my silky black,
to match my aging face as I jokingly play around with my camera
My smiles seem to match well with my reassurance
of knowing that l am going to be alright today,
the loud notification keeps on coming,
I am releasing a happy energy
called I am alive and doing great
I have reached the good old age of ....
Here I am once again, unscrambling the word birthday,
Happy birthday to me.
copilot
Reflecting on our lives during birthdays holds a special significance. It’s a moment to pause, look back, and take stock of our journey. Here’s why it matters:
**Gratitude: Birthdays remind us of the gift of life. Reflecting allows us to appreciate the people, experiences, and opportunities that have shaped us. Gratitude fuels positivity and contentment.
**Self-awareness: As we age, we evolve. Self-reflection helps us understand our growth, strengths, and areas for improvement. It’s a chance to assess our values, beliefs, and priorities.
**Life Lessons: Birthdays prompt us to revisit pivotal moments—the highs, lows, and lessons learned. These experiences contribute to our wisdom and resilience.
**Setting Intentions: Reflecting helps us set intentions for the year ahead. What do we want to achieve? How can we align our actions with our aspirations?
**Celebrating Milestones: Each birthday marks a milestone. Reflecting acknowledges our progress and celebrates our existence.
So, on this special day, take a moment to look within, appreciate the journey, and embrace the next chapter. ????
2of30
mistakenly me...
I was walking down the street minding my own business
It was near dusk it was getting dark walking across the line onto the sidewalk
I was by chance inquiring in my inquisitiveness wondering what the siren was What was the business?
As one police car railed by me
I imagined and thought what if they were looking for me
And then suddenly and my peripheral vision I did see
Heading toward me police officer rallied saying halt as he approaches me
Mistakenly me
Following his loud boisterous instructions as he tells me to get on my knees
By the time I get down and get there he already has me my hands in the air
He cuffs me, seemingly unfair read my Miranda rights in 4 seconds it seems
I was told this is suspicion the suspect matched my description
We were both African American medium brown with black curly hair?
But alas the suspect was six foot three, well I'm only just 5 foot 6
The suspect was skinny unlike me with a media muscular built
Mistakenly me
Seem not to matters to them though all I needed was one of color or you see
The assailant had lied accuser had lied to save herself from an alibi
Just because I was close to matching I was placed without compassion inside
a jail cell
Guilty until proven innocent how is incarcerated being a look alike mistakenly me
Until my trial date my freedom is inadequate
Stopped question handcuffed UT and in prison...
This is how that night I was someone losing my freedom
Freedom to nothing to somebody I am mistakenly me
Now proven innocent released and forgiven
freedom to nothing to something, I've been exonerated forgiven;
Mistakenly me
3/22/19
Freedom to Nothing to Something Poetry Contest
Sponsored by : Delilah Ventura
How much more can we stand
To witness the killing of "Another Black Man?"
Walking with a friend, these two meet
Words were spoken, get the “F” out the street
Getting out of his car, taking this shh… a lil too far
Pulling out his gun, Mike Brown on the run
Hands up, don’t shoot, Black Lives Matter
Shot down to the ground, see the blood splatter
Black Man on the ground lifeless and dead
“No Indictment,” was the verdict they said
Over and over, again and again
Got this on video, but we know how it end
“Leave me alone, stop harassing me”
I’m minding my own business, can’t you see
All of a sudden, Eric Garner was choked
“I can’t breathe,” the last words he spoke
No justice, no peace, another brother deceased
Black Man on the ground lifeless and dead
“No Indictment,” was the verdict they said
And now to the world, you gotta go tell
Unarmed Black Man killed in the stairwell
Can you believe, it wasn’t even dark?
12 year old killed, shot dead in a park
Kid was riddled with bullets all in him
No questions asked, he was dead in a minute
Here we are in 2020, truly what the heck
Another Black Man can’t breathe
Dead from a knee pressed in his neck
What’s really going on? Another son not making it home
Another kid without his dad
The country’s tired, fed up and mad
Saggy pants, dreads and even some tats
Make us suspicious and plus we’re black
None of that defines just who we are
This shh… being taken wayyy too far
No matter what’s the name, Eric Garner, Mike Brown
Any kind of Black Man is a target ‘round town
Stop killing our brothers, our husbands, our sons
Please, Please, Please… Stop shooting your guns
They say, “It’s NOT about race”
Well if it’s NOT about race, then it must be about fear
Yet who are we that they fear when they see
The color of a man, black, brown, caramel or tan?
And if it is about fear, then it must be “The Fear of a Black Man”
Because truth be told, it’s NOT the same results
How many times do you hear of a shooting of a “white man”
Just because you “thought” he had a gun?
Or the unarmed white man shot 10 times in the back just because he was running away?
It’s not justice, it’s not fair
It’s not the same everywhere
Where did this fear come from?
Where did it begin?
Is it the power of the color of the skin?
It’s possible to accumulate so much of the world
That you lose your own self
We expend so much time
Effort
Psychic energy trying to fortify
Our lives with things of this world
Of course
Everyone has a right
Clothing
Shelter
Education
Rest and restful creation
Personal safety
It’s possible to get to a point
Where these things mother our deepest
Truest selves
Be careful of getting too much of a good thing
Pray for the wisdom to recognize when enough is enough
As long as there are people who don’t have anywhere near enough
Of course
There will always be opportunities to share
Because nobody deserves too much of a good thing
Lord, Father Christ, help me to see when enough is enough
4202014
Deep sighs all throughout the day
Lord, I pray that your ears are not paralyzed to what I have to say
As I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Keep me from the slayer that tries to slaughter your sheep
Deep and hard my heart pounds
People hear it with no thought
Reminding me daily that it’s my price Lord you had bought
However, annoyance consumes my spirit Lord
Brace myself from the random things to happen in some sort
Never thought that I would look for the worst
Mind going 100 miles an hour, ready to burst
But I’ve learned
Never give up on the dreams that you yearn
Be stern with your goals
Stand up for what you believe in and always show that you are bold
How can you unfold from not being told the truth
Even I too have to check myself and come out spitting as if I’m in the booth
Just let loose for it’ll set you free
Things in your life is already written to be
Strong endurance to handle what you can
For the Father is not going to put more on you than you can bare
Black lips vibrating for the right mix
Black lips kiss with a passion, Black fistfight for our past and future sons
bloodshed lies spilled
Black lips start to peel
slaving for a meal, time standing still, life flying by
black lips begin to cry, no more lies, no more corrupt minds
Cut all ties with evil spines, attempting to take the soul of the Black lips, with a quick fix
gripping tight on the crucifix
hundreds of years running
hundreds of years of being a fugitive, accused of living Black, black Lips Start To fight Back
Activist, these Lips Never Fall back
These Lips were in Defense, and Now It's Time to Attack
never double back to slavery
black lips keep the bravery
Are some going to hell? maybe, you cannot save all beings
it's human nature, even though God Created everything
Going through the struggle
black lips start to sing
I'm blessed in the name of the King, All Through Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring.
I Will Sing
"I'm Blessed."