Featured Poems

You say you love me.
So much so, you can’t let me go.
Hold me so tight.
I can’t resist, even when putting up a fight.

I try and try to free myself,
Only to find, the harder I try
The tighter you squeeze.
Hear the sound of my wheeze?

That’s me grasping for air,
Wondering, how did I get here?

Your love has me surrounded,
With no other place to go, 
No other person to seek,
Caught up in the illusion of the commodities,
That you’ve set forth for me.

Questioning my every move, thought
Words, conversations.
Did I mention, relation-ships?

Oh well I guess that ship has sailed!

But don’t get me wrong,
Cause I love you just as strong.
Probably will love you just as long.
The difference is…, my love is evolved.

I know just how to let you breathe.
Let your lungs inhale and exhale,
A new breath of fresh air,
Every time you come near.

See I want you to see me for me.
Not just as a prized possession,
Or your crazed obsession.

No see me as your partner in crime.
The Bonnie to your Clyde,
Your equal,
The type of girl that make you wanna have a sequel.
In this life, the afterlife, for that matter any other life.
I’ll be your wife, always larger than life.

Know me, like really get to know me.
Amazing by your side,
But even better when untied.

Free spirited, lighthearted,
Genuine to my core,
With passion that exudes from my every pore.
Regardless of all my flaws, 
You should know I’m not a whore.
When left to my own devices,
Don’t you worry about ‘em.
Who cares if they fantasize about how these hips can go into overdrive, 
Or otherwise (they don’t know).
And as far as you’re concerned, you’re the one I ride.
Plus, you know I love when you head to the southside.

I wanna believe you mean well, 
And know most girls would be thrilled, to be in my position.
But I can’t help and feel, like a need a physician.
A thorough revision to check on my mental partitions.
Beggin the Dr. to fill a prescription, put an end to the affliction.
Cut the addiction, finally letting me breathe in from a distance.

You’re so cultured. I’ve heard this more times than I’d care to admit.
I usually put on a smile and act like it doesn’t sting a little bit.
Like I don’t know there’s an unspoken limit
My culture is ok so long it doesn’t show its true colors and spirit

I notice the side eye when my pitch is too high.
The fervor in my voice is not meant to pacify
It often sounds like a “Panama Yellow-headed Amazon” cry.
And this is only ok if we’re out on a summer night in July.

When out to eat I do a double take at the cutlery. 
It wouldn’t be ok to forgo such luxury.
Yet I stare at that chicken and fish fry wondering…
What if I suck on the bones, eat with my hands and hideout in the scullery?

See, in my culture it’s ok to not have many commodities.
If you have land or property, you’ve hit the lottery.
That does not mean we all live in poverty.
However, compared to your standards, we don’t live properly.

We’re uncivilized. But are we?
I mean we don’t gather around to sip tea.
Unless someone really is spilling the tea (you know what I mean).
In that case we gather by the sea, sip rum, coffee and a few other delicacies 


Business is closed with a stern shake of a hand.
Our men learn early on, their word is their brand.
My grandpa had no education, but a crowd and herd could command.
As boys they’re taught to respect curves, God and the land.

Long before the rooster crows we’re awaken to the rattle.
Of pots and pans that in the kitchen seem to be at battle.
Lit by a candle, breakfast is prepared as our women inherit the mantle. 
The taste of fresh cheese, fried dough and cassava out beat any egg scramble. 

Our girls know better, than to walk out the door looking undone.
The gel industry makes a fortune as we keep our hair slick back or in a bun.
Mama always said we’re poor but scrubbed and most certainly not bums.
And so, we leave no crumbs as we hold our head high, and strut thru the slums.

Good manners are observed by how we address our elders.
The generation before us holds needed wisdom and shelter.
It’s a lesson to the generation after us we must render.
Our elders have been here long enough to impart a few lectures. 

Every “God bless you” is followed by an “Amen”.
It’s our mom’s way of keeping us safe once we’ve outgrown the playpen.
Without saying grace no meal is indulged in.
It does not matter how hungry one may have been.

In good company we’re quick to bend our elbows.
To the rhythm of drums and percussion our bodies effortlessly flow.
It’s a lively sight to see the hips of our women put on a show.
Our men trail behind magnetized as they leave behind their woes.

We may not all be able to afford a spa. 
When troubled we can count on a good waterfall.
Soothes the mind, heals our soul and washes away the flaws.
Plus, at night our sky lights up with infinite stars. 
It’s the small things that keep us in awe.

I’d argue we’re civil, even better we’ve got heart.
Yet I’m not naïve and know very well we’re three worlds apart.
Our education is not considered state of the art.
Wealth is not distributed fairly or equally; hence we’re denied a head start.

What we lack in advantages we make up in character.
Let that sink in and register.

My culture stands out just as much as a black eye and a bruised lip.
I’m not cultured, if all it means is that I’ve adapted to the lessons imparted by the whip.
That same whip my ancestors fought as “the cultured” arrived in ships.
When you say I’m cultured, please acknowledge the hardship.

I’m only cultured if my heritage I honor and uplift.
If by doing so I’m considered unhip, then so be it.

Wish the world knew, what is to love with substance.
Not expecting anything in return, cause it comes from a place of abundance.
Wish you knew and made no assumptions, 
About the love that I give with no reluctance.
Loose from all judgements, it stems from clear origins.

If only you had my view, it’d be elementary sort of like 1+1=2.
If carefully you picked the cues, you would understand why I love you.

Wait, I love you? 
Yeah, I said it, I truly do! 

I love you not for the things you do, but because I choose to. 
It’s not a matter of love being due, it’s a conscious election that gets renewed.
Day in and day out, it remains true.

Are there no better words to express love and affection?
Now adays seems like every soul prefers suppression.

Sounds like purgatory, living’ each day afraid of rejection, 
Thinking that somehow, it’s better to avoid a connection.
So, we continue collecting bodies, hoping to obtain redemption.

How about we set aside the what if’s, but if’s, would ifs, could if’s,
And instead focused on something diff.
Not letting bliss slip from between our fingertips.
Learning to forgive the past sins of our kin.

I sit here meditating, no longer debating. 
On how to deliver a message for the ages.

After delicate introspection, there’s hardly room left to question.
I may have found a bottled collection,
Of newfound expressions buried deep within my recollection.

See I wanna know what you fear, not to make it disappear (although I wish I could),
But instead volunteer to always be near,
So, on your own you’ll never have to go another year.

I wanna know who and what’s hurt you.
I know it’s nothing new, and you’d rather skip that avenue,
Because you let in a select few, and to this day you still rue.

Although it’s not for me to undo, I am ready to
Vow to learn how to never leave you feeling blue.
Cause the same pain once again, I’ll be damned if I put you thru.

I wanna know what makes you smile, 
So, I can be versatile.
Speak your language, match your energy, vibe, and style.

I’ll go with you all the way, mile for mile.
I’ll keep my promise to make this journey worthwhile.
When eventually we’re covered in gray, you know senile,
nearing the end of our trials, we’ll come across as juvenile.
Cause I’ll retain an in-joke on file, so your pearly whites can come out daily for a while.

With you I expect nothing in return, other than endless discussions.
Knowing how to discern, honest love from elusive constructions.
I want mindless conversations, that deliberately go on without interruptions.

Because love is so underrated and overrated at the same time!
Just know that my love is sublime and goes beyond any measure or paradigm.

What I feel for you there are no words to define, 
But rest assured that I’ll love you until the day that I die, 
I chose you so that when I’m gone you can testify, how in the flesh you felt love exemplified.

Gandhi once said,” If we could change ourselves, 
The tendencies in the world would also change”.
Yet in this era the concept remains foreign and strange.
People are so out of touch with reality, they’ve lost their humanity.
Over fleeting moments that have been staged.

Looking inwards because all we care about is self-validation.
Am I right? Seeking that instant gratification!
Don’t believe what I write?
When was the last time you held a kind conversation?
With a stranger or someone who could not offer a benefit to your situation.

Seeking that quick fix that goes straight to the brain.
Hit with a killer combo of you’re so vain with a smidge of entitled,
Which slowly seeps into your veins,
And your ego sustains.

Because who cares about compassion and kindness.
Last I checked the socials said we’re all gods and goddesses.
Although not ill intended a dangerous misconception that gets passed on like a virus.
Downloaded and embedded into our stream of consciousness.

Ever heard about being altruistic? No, I’m not being unrealistic, 
Not even in the slightest idealistic.
I just like to believe that there are people out here that move heroic.
My heroes from the comics ain’t got nothing on individuals that are stoic.

All it takes is for one person to set the example,
Of what it’s like to be a real life, role model,
To inspire and give rise to a new ensemble,
Of beautiful people, a bite sized sample of a tangible model

However, what do we do instead? 
Continue to allow ourselves to be misled, 
Playing a game of “who can I impress?”
So empty and shallow, someone should address,
How superficial and hollow is today’s definition of success?

Read a couple books so now you think you know better.
Couldn’t care less about the wellbeing of other members.
If you weren’t desperate for attention, with a need to be in the center.
You’d notice that this is deeper, (I should say wider) than you and would reconsider.
How you carry yourself in every room that you enter.

I yearn for the day that we realize, 
That our strength lies, outside of the confines,
Of the apps that we’ve installed in our mobiles.
Socially hostile, a breeding ground for souls that are fragile.

I yearn for the day we acknowledge that this is much larger than ourselves.
That together we form a beautiful combination of endless tales.
That any of the physical treasures or riches we obtain in this realm,
When next to unselfishness and kindness can’t compare or excel.

I do not wish to argue, nor do I wish to change your view.
I just hope you’ll be willing to take a look inside you.
Ask yourself if you’re part of the issue.
Is there anything you can do,
To drive change and add value?

Without the expectation of public recognition.
Just purely out of warmth and with a predisposition,
To doing right and being a light when outside it’s less bright.

No longer willing to remain dormant followers,
Of a self-absorbed culture, prey to a bunch of uncaring vultures, 
Slaves of unmindful desires.
Cause time is invaluable and of it we’re all borrowers.
Let’s instead tap into a frequency that sits much higher.

Cause happiness is evident once we learn to be benevolent.

There’s something special about you.
I can’t put it into words, but few view you the way that I do.
The first time I heard you, just knew you’d forever be my boo.
To hear your blues, every night at nine I rendezvous. 
Sneak you inside my room, cause I’m so into you.

Your sweet melody always makes me utterly weak.
Sweeps me off my feet, lays me down at peace. 
Simultaneously turns me into the centerfold piece.

So unquestionably unique, indeed nothing can compete.
In the forefront of my mind constantly on repeat, 
Day in and day out in my head you’ve lived rent free.

I love the way you sound, 
How you lift me up from above the ground.
Speak the right words to pick me up when I feel down.
Around you life has a different color hue surround.
Have me on a cloud because the way you love gets me aroused.

mm-hm, love so hard and passionate, 
This girl so very fortunate to have you in her life indefinite.
To my spirit the conversations you deliver are intimate.
You’re Bes incarnate and I’m blessed to be proximate.
 

My first true love, hardly anything above…
With you I can be all the different versions of myself thereof.

No need to front, I’ll be blunt, got a thing for your funk.
Never, ever do you feed me junk, but manage to always keep me drunk.
On your candy glazed serenade, there’s no kicking the habit I need to get crunk.

In your company I’m seductive, willing to give up this,
Little piece of bliss, I carry between my hips. 
Love how together we reminisce, 
Cause your deep soul is never amiss.

Did I mention how disruptive I get with your verses.
Be toying with my senses I must’ve,
Slow jammed endless nights. Cried myself to sleep once or twice,
Listening to you explain what I couldn’t otherwise, vocalize.
You’re real, I hear truths come thru you in the shade of lullabies.

You’re so highly conductive, I can feel it’s strong current as if,
Energy was to flow from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.
I’m penning this now, down, to the beat of your drums, it’s nearly combustive.

As I listen to you pour your feelings out raw,
I realize we’re all flawed, but I stand in awe.
Amidst joy and pain a beautiful picture you draw.
I feel for you, “I care 4 U” wanna come over and “cater 2 U”,
Since I can relate to it all.

Some call you romantic others dramatic.
I like to think you’re chromatic, even enigmatic.

Interlaced with black, white, and grey.
You bring joy to my days, and I hope you live on always.
To inspire the next set of hands as your music plays.