P O E T R Y

"WhatYou CanB"

by JanikaJackson

All my life I’ve believed that many things will come to you once you develop a drive and decide to dedicate energy and forcefully forge towards generating an historically honest, idyllic initiative and impressive journey towards kicking-off to living your life as a monumental necessity and ooze optimistically into a powerfully potent quest and radiate intentionally as a sensationally ongoing transformation of the ultimate raison d’etre visionary and worthy x-factor in order to leave the optimal best of yourself in this world as the most exceptional and possible zealous being that you can b.

DEFAULT SETTING/CLOSEDbyKapri

how much should i open up to you?

like a good book eager to share its prose or like a rose petals blossoming, bright red, in those warm, June days or like a door creaking with warning as you open it more should i open like an eagle’s wings as i watch it soar how much should i open to you should i tell you my fears could i trust you enough to show you my tears or share with you my foes how much should i open to you i’m bashful like morning shadows i’m complicated, not black and white like my grandfather’s dominoes but someday i’d like to be vulnerable with you like the parts between my cornrows your thoughts please? how much should i open to you should i take the lock off the windows of my chest and let your love breeze in a warm caress i’d rather open slow and steady not fully comfortable with you ’til i am ready ‘cause God only knows if I let my heart get used to your touch and you drop it i’ll permanently close

Washington

"Frame"bySerenityHill

thick round wide robust lips thighs nose breasts hips stomach nude naked vulnerable reflection mirror betrayal suffering touching feelings hatred help me save me

I do not know whose skin im in

"ButTheyNeverAskedMe Who I Was"by

This reminds me of summer days, in Hot-lanta during the 90’s. When we used to form a circle as friends scream out loud,

“Shabooya-Sha-Sha-Shabooya Roll Call!”

As we rock our hips to the beat Clapping, and stomping our feet. Who can be the loudest in their intro, we would all think. Sometimes, it was about word play, other times, it might’ve been about your sway or just the way, you would showcase who you were Who you were proud to be. Silly thing, is whenever it is my turn, to talk about me, I keep it short I keep it sweet, but #SayYoName is asking me to go deep. Honestly, I have never been asked thoroughly about who I am. I just normally exist,

Hiding the depths of my talents and love for safekeeping in the abyss. Roll Call! They would shout, Born at the intersection of Coca Cola place And Butler street is where I was born and where I came to be I viewed this as a challenge, introducing myself metaphorically. There I stood proudly, as they continued to shout. I grew soundly

At times, words did not come out Visions of my Georgia roots running, Outstretched, beyond me

JessicaN.Collier

to the unsolved mysteries of the “Big eas-y.”

River" by KRF

Love can flow

Like a river of peace

A river can hurt

It can carry, sharp metal objects, downstream

It can give way, to bumps curbs, abrupt changes

If the river could speak It would say, I have seen much Done much

Destroyed much

But nothing satisfies me more, than Peace

If their is no peace, it is confusion Where there is peace

There is love

Never be confused when I flow At my best.

"SchoolLunch" by SerenityHill

Warm grilled cheese, tomato soup

Milk I wont touch, a side of frozen apricots

A vegetable I refuse to eat, apple sauce

Ice cream costing seventy-five cents I give her my lunch number, only six digits

At the table already are Homemade sandwiches

Fresh cut fruit

Smoothie prepared that morning

Salty, savory chips

And a sweet treat for desert

Familiar faces different from my own I, an imposter among the others Different, but trying to feel the same

An outsider within An anomaly

Maybe was it the time? Was it money?

Or did I feel so unsure because of my skin?

BULLETPROOF"byKapri Washington

cry black man, it’s okay, cry and when you done releasin’ that salt water i’ll be there to wipe your eye i’m saving all my love for you you ask me why? cause i pray you’d do the same for me and i know that if you speak truth too loud like Malcolm if you live too fast like Nipsey if you put your hands up in self defense like Oscar Grant

YOU’LL DIE. or if you don’t do anything at all except try to live you’re still too dangerous so you might as well tatt’ “thug” across your chest like 2Pac, the son of a Black Panther you might as well rock a 14K gold cross across your heart like him too just let me find you one that’s bulletproof

"10:42"bySerenityHill

i search for the unimaginable. a desolation which consumes me, an unseen touch or familiar smell, or a song the soul cannot forget but longs to recall, trying to fill this void.

well, it devours my very essence.

the mind’s gaze, stranded in this abyss.

the expansion of my lungs ignites the force, the will, to bite back damp eyes. for there is a longing, a yearning, intellectually, spiritually, physically. this “it” unnamed, unclaimed, will i find?

"Skin" by KRF

have skin, thatI think noone can see

WhenI try to look up

The sunlooks down on me

I try to run away

But the sunoutruns me

Tarring my flesh

As sable as can be Internal - externalAmbirace, I want in society, I try to fit in But woe, there it is again, My skin

Rooted a “minority”

WhenI go toaccept the beautythatI see I getangry and wish there could be, My eyes an imbedded mirror not denyingit I want to seea portrait more Of humanity, equality, passion Knocking at all our door

A chance tounderstandsometimes Whatit is I’m fighting for A chance tounderstandthattheir is somethingmore Whatwould happenif I disregarded my skin?

Would my ancestors disregardme?

Or would theyuprise within Bringing me back to reality

Illuminating my propagatedfallacy

To tell me thatthat isn’t me They would say:

“Look mama, your purple is as thick as cornbread

As finely grained as themeal

Ignoring us is a battle downhill. You complain aboutthe summer, But turn around, now Hunch bend.

Feel the heat of the race theycall sin

On a summer’s day

Complain now

Abouttar skin

Aboutsable

Aboutdarkness

We the people, who are loved by thesun

Copper burning

As rooted as cane

We the people

With molasses skin

Girl! Caress this air with the sway of your hips

Speak with conviction

Whenyou useyour full lips

Whenthey askyouto sit down, Your hair will remain standing

As high as thehighestcrown

Never hate thesun, For it loves you

As tar as sable as the race youare

You are a human

You are a divine craft

Andnever will that be untrue.

Come home

We’re waiting for you.