WORDS
photography credit: ashley bland
LONG POEMS
-
i'm too this
not enough that
need more of this
way less of this
a dash of this
watered down that
to spice up this
so i can be part of the group
sign with the show
join the company
up to me
if i want to conform
we need bits of this
and heaps of that
lower this
so we can raise up that
cut off this
to sew on that
cover this
actually cover that
i know, i know
less is more
i know, i know
simplicity works
i know, i know
make it palatable
i know, i know
you need water
okay i need a mic
a stage
a show
where the people have no idea
where i’m gonna go
i need a chance
a moment
10 seconds to prove
y'all are still stealing from people
who actually know how to groove
i need lights
a camera
an action off set
where my best foot forward
lands on the oppressors chest
you need time
preparation
a moment to heal
y'all still love playing dumb
to the ideas that you steal
i'm not picked for the team
i'm not chosen for the group
im not spotted by casting
i'm not highlighted in the troup
i'm not liked in the chat
i'm not kept in the loop
i'm not meant to be with y'all
busy leading your chickens to their coop
sitting on the stoop
taking a long drag from this cig
wondering what gig
will help me purchase my next wig
a rigged game
feels like i'm looking for blame
instead i don't want to play
i choose success over fame
taming me
wasting your time
y'all are really good at wasting time
the one thing in this world
we can't get back
i could be meaner
but manners are cutting y'all slack
bring back
raw art
i'm not afraid to hurt your feelings
i'm not afraid to be wrong
i'm not afraid to start healing
some of y'all stay healing
and ain't never been hurt
just been kicking up dirt
and claiming there's something in your eyes
what's a surprise anymore
we predict endings
know results while it's pending
know the text while it's sending
everyone is pretending
that why what's real feels like a joke
signaling smoke
the ribbit before the croke
coke and rum
trynna to pretend to be numb
i know you're gonna feel that hangover
my cup will runneth over
y'all can have my leftovers
i gotta feed myself first
i know, i know
time is money
i know, i know
money rules all
i know, i know
the bigger they are
the harder they say they fall
and i want a guarantee
that they will fall
i recall
calling for some change
of face
of space
of pace
but that's too much of this
we meant more of that
yes, less of this
as a matter of fact
scrap the whole thing
make it a reboot and make ‘em all black
lightskin with like two of ‘em
chocolate
one of ‘em chocolate
the other can be african
born and raised in london
that's it
that's progressive
that's powerful
that's what they wanted all along
stop complaining
about all that other stuff
we can't control that
but we can control this
we have no say in that
but we can manipulate this
we don't have money for that
but we got millions for this
and this
and this
and this
but not for that
that is up to you
whether you wanna spend your money on that
once we give you the money
you can decide whether you wanna spend it on this or that
as a matter of fact
scrap that
we're going with the original idea
the original stolen idea
the original white wash
washed out
played out
overplayed
outdated
overstated
guarantee to make us some money
idea
cause you know
time is money
and we can't get our time back
but don't worry
we will take back the money
so we can purchase more time
time is ticking
nature said time is ticking
grandma said time is ticking
russia said time is ticking
haiti said time is ticking
yemen said the clock is about to run out
sticking with their oversized knife in this gun fight called life
and i will be labeled the killer
kill me before you silence me
before you water me down
before i say something too loud
before i put on my crown
and remind y'all who is the queen
cause too much of this and that
makes a whole lot of me
and since i know
y'all will continue to steal from me
and call it healing
give me a mic
a stage
and an action off set
so i can give you something to heal from
-
we’re going on vacation and the country is on fire
I perspire
each sleepless night in bed waiting for
each noise to quiet in my head
wondering how i got so lucky
survivor’s guilt and I’ve never even seen
the barrel of the beast
unnecessary guilt to say the least
we're driving to the beach and the country's drinking bleach
i'm perplexed
by the apparent hex that has been placed upon the people
like sheep we flock to the next shocking story that guzzles our feed
are masks still a need
america is a different breed
of fucked up shit
we're posted in south carolina and the country is tired
but also wide awake
some of them fake
but hey, better late than never
said no one ever
when dealing with the military clearing out the streets
it'll be 2035 when i get some factual deets
about what the hell is going on
we're tanning on the patio and the country is in an election year
and my biggest fear
is that history's song will stay on repeat
there's so much hope for defeat
but that means people have to read
and listen and wait and negotiate
and i've never witnessed an america where that's lasted more than like 8 months max
trying to relax
since my family and i are on vacation
-
i'm feeling pretty helpless in the fighting for humanity
i'm worried and conflicted
shit is fucking with my sanity
to see what things are trending
makes me only speak profanity
they're drawing up the lines
making unity a fantasy
don't know what to do
to make an impact that exemplifies
the feelings that i feel
seem to constitute as selfish lies
cause overstimulation
picks a winner that personifies
a well rounded distraction
pulling focus lessens all the tries
so many questions
lead to questioning the truth
being force fed
it's injected
but i still need way more proof
cause i'm connecting all the dots
the pictures looking real fuzzy
i'm picking at the scab
about to bleed, contemplating was he
worth it
was he right
was he wrong
did he fight
for his right
to survive
in a world
still alive
breathing well
can he tell
where his life
woulda been
if they spared
or they cared
for a man
with no plan
seems like we all are trapped
in a groundhogs day sequel
destined to repeat
like a bad series prequel
help me understand
if the victory can be won
the clock is ticking quick
cause the fighting has begun
i'm putting up my hands
and your putting up a gun
i either stand and die
or i'm going on the run
run
run
run faster now
run
run
never knew how
run
run
cross over seas
run
run
my apologizes
i'm feeling pretty feeble in the fighting for morality
i'm tired and rethinking
whether being here's reality
i aiming for some freedom
social, faith, or sexuality
we don't see eye to eye
fucking trapped in a duality
i'm checking ticket prices
trynna get the hell outta here
this place don't run on love
it has functioned solely outta fear
i've always played the game
but these new rules that appear
will take a person's life
they are hunters, baby i'm the deer
so many options
makes it hard to choose one
i'm so use to running
never thought to hold the gun
but stooping to their level
never got the job done
war's not my jam
said God's only son
run
run
run smarter now
run
run
i'll show you how
run
run
fly to the moon
run
run
hope to see you soon