Best Poems Written by Alicia Bonner

Anthem

And the rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air; gave proof through the night that 
our flag was still there.  
                  HOLD UP!  WAIT A MINUTE!  QUESTION!  
Whose rockets?  whose bombs bursting in air?  Was that really the proof for 
letting me know that my flag was still there?  RED, WHITE & BLUE how untrue 
those are the colors that they gave you. Was it a sign of help or victory?  We need 
to know these things so we can plant our seed.  "Cause see, they have a plan 
now humpf, do we?   Even after all these years we still let them cause us nothing 
but blood, sweat, and tears.  Why do we continue to let them conquer and divide 
now we won't unite not even to save our own pride.  Wit' everyone out fo' self tryin' 
not to help one another just in order to get ahead of each other.  Now, my brother 
that's no way we should treat one another.  We look alot alike more than we want 
to believe but yet in still we let them others misconcieve our youth, our future and 
our tomorrow in which they see their sorrow and that's why they wanna' borrow 
our minds, genes. roots oh, and skin color too!  I mean what in the hell do you 
think is the use of a tanning booth?  I'm provoked, I'm mad and I'm 
frustrated 'cause I can't believe how I'm being hated on in this day and time only 
thing it's by my own  kind. Damn!  I think I need a hit to unwind.  Naw, but for real 
let's keep this legit because I didn't come here to wine, dine, or bs the idea of us 
still being held back in time by violence, money, sex and drugs.  Now hold up lil' 
dude you know nothing about being a real thug.  You see, they can't control us 
physically anymore so they are raping us mentally and using the front door of our 
youth tryin' to keep them held up in a booth like superman with all these new 
rearranging plans coming from the man without a helping hand.  Tearing down 
schools, messing with the elderly and messing up recreation too.  Now what in 
the hell are my black kids suppose to do.  Lift every voice and sing, we need to 
teach our blacks more about Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and that brotha' 
Raheem. 'Cause you  see all Black men are kings and the day will come for 
them to hide because the black man, he will have a new sense of self pride 
especially with his black Queen at his side.  Facing the rising sun of our new day 
begun let us march on til victory is won.

Copyright © Alicia Bonner | Year Posted 2006