Poetry is a universal language and is particularlimportantnt in communities of color where many forms of expression are not encouraged. Some of the best commentary about society have come through the pens of poets likGwendolynyn BrooksLangstonon Hughes anAudrerLordede.
Poetry has comfortinspiredired, soothed and excited. It is the language of love, hate, sorrow and triumph. It is the language of a people.
With that said, here are a couple of poems...
Georgia
Always ready to go, but got no place to be Up at the crack of dawn Trying to see all I could see.
Sliding down the bannister With no particular place to go. I want to cuzve with Papa 'cuz I know he won't say no.
He shuttles me into the bathroom. Already got braids in my hair. Off into the bedroom, where my clothes lay over the chair.
We make our way to the kitchen Where milk and donuts await. Outside, at the garage, I help him unlock the gate.
Papa climbs into the front seat And I ask him if I can drive. He laughs and starts up the car, saying that I'm only five.
I ask him were we're going And 'Georgia' is his usual retorcuz He hides the location from me, 'cuz Nana will expect a report.
We stop to visit some friends And later we grab some food. Still wondering where we're headed, I think 'Georgia' as I begin to brood.
We end up at the river With our identical lawn chairs. The sound of Papa saying 'Georgia,' still hangs in the air.
*************
Black Chicken
Remember that time when you took me as a little girl To Mr. and Mrs. Smalls' house and they had cooked all that food?
They asked me if I wanted seconds and I asked if I could have Some more of that black chicken.
You all laughed.
Years later I found out that the black chicken was really raccoon.
This is not meant to turn into a discussion or lecture on the merits of poetry. I just hope that this month's edition of African American culture will turn you on to poetry. I know that the main reason I turned away from poetry in primary and secondary school was because it was force fed ad I was not allowed to have an opinion.
As I grew older however, I have found that reading ad writing poetry is a great outlet. As a writer, you can weave layers of meaning within a single line. And, asofteneader, you can interpret a poem as many different ways as you like -- ofte finding meanings that the writer never intended. And besides, my poetry professor thinks that I show promise.
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