Solidarity follows
What humility begets
Hilarity follows
When humanity forgets
Sorrowful wallows
We panic, we regret
Indemnity follows
A species drowning in debt
So black lives matter now we say
their worth now seen anew
While ages past we saw the day
we recognized so few.
But white lives matter too they said
and brown and yellow too
Yet centuries of hidden bled
‘neith toes of masters’ shoes
Enslavement built our country strong
in goods and crops and funds
A wealthy nation moved along
on backs of murdered sons.
We benefitted, all us here
no matter when arrived
The trials, the deaths of lives held dear,
paid forth while some survived.
To teach, to know our history past
to claim what we have done
to own the wrongs we’ve amassed
and could never be undone
In knowledge learned we find our quest
to right the wrongs we’ve made
To drop our shields, our acts confessed
True history now conveyed,
Now streets so loud, with anger, fear,
drums beat resounding clatter
How long ‘till we erupt in cheers
that every black life matters.
Lord I am an ingredient
I want to be more than just that
In your pot stir me up
Come sup, dine with me
Fill me up
With thine substance leaven me
Keep stirring me up
Keep me from sticking, burning on this and the other side
Come sit with me come drink my portion
Engage near me my resolution
You are and have been,been mine solution
As I been broken I the bread of restitution
11/1/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2022©
My smiles just for the institution,
Which trifles not with constitution:
Brooks not the safest prostitution,
Defaulters starving restitution...
Institution that works with tuition
To minds prepare for intuition,
So that yesterday's Dumped Destitute
Is not today's Bitter Prostitute...
Institution tasting sweet Appeal,
No plans to Sacrosanct Laws repeal:
A body for Routine procreation
Of men with famished eyes on fruition.
That's institution for Rubber Stamp
None other ever served as the Lamp
In this life of mine
I forgive all transgressors
We are endless ones
Restoring the lost me
To replenish the exhausted zest.
To learn to fall off a crest,
Looking up again, with a heart in my chest.
Reviving reliving
the vivid memories ,when the feet were tiny,
full of grace
full of pace.
Holding on to memories,
nostalgia circling me,
i began to walk ,
a tumultuous trip.
Holding on to my hues,
alas, I traversed through.
Timidly trailing time,
hoping to meet at cross roads,
a rendezvous.
Leading to a place,
with destiny powering my craze
i began to gaze
but saw a place devoid of grace
Everything perishing with pace
Battling inconstancy was no easy maze.
Remaining was me,
amongst the debris
Ceasing to restitute the lost me.
The summer scene
So blissful and serene
A bright sun shines
Over baby-blue skies
Upon a mountainous view
Bringing pleasure to my eyes
It’s great to be alive!
Breathe in the air
Feel a surge inside
As it flows through
Something beyond compare
There is no way to describe
There is no way I can share
What I am telling you
It is the accomplishment
More like personal gain
To rise above all of “it”
From a cesspool of names
Once achieved, rest with ease
Begin to enjoy the summer breeze
Hear the birds singing in the trees
Swaying to the song of peace
I am free! I am free!
Free at last to be
The one that never had the chance
To finally succeed!
Can you see? Can you see!
There is no more “you and me”
Long and treacherous the road has been
To the salvation I now receive
True happiness is rarely achieved
Far and few for many
Now at the pinnacle of my life
I am fully restored and ready
- Boz -
A sick, bleeding heart
Sings a song of loneliness
It lives for true love
And is searching everywhere
For the one who will mend it
A sore, vengeful heart
Longs for a moment of peace
The heart is maddened
And is straining to repair
It's cold, endless suffering
Dawn Kilby
Copyright ©2008 Dawn Kilby