Her Red in My Blues

Can I play it again?
She wanted to drown out her hurt in my notes
Those melancholy memories of what was
Suturing her heart back together for restoration
She hoped it would end
That pain
The tearing of her emotions
The knowing that her body had been given
To a man who was only taking
Without thought of receiving
The sour play of a chord
The decay of accord
I continued to serenade her
As she danced on the floor
Her countenance was spent
Like a weary soldier who lost his bearing
Fear left the conscience
It was now up to instinct
Which was why she came here
To hear
Something that would remove the darkness
And replace it with solace
Because at least then
There was a chance to come to
For her to break free
For the instruments to play softly
Until she could figure out the next piece
To her number of life
I will play it again
Only for you
M'lady

Aces and Eights

Life is about the cards you are dealt
But too many cry about a misdeal
Welcome to my parlor
Games are meant to be entertainment
But some think they are beyond the rules
Fools they are
Putting their confidence and consciousness
In the hands of those who could not care less
Are you ready to play?
The deck has been shuffled numerous times
And even cut many ways
But I guarantee you can't win
I am the house
The dealer
The competition
And the pit boss
The one you want to ante up against
Before the cards fall before your hands
Be careful when you lift them up
I know what I'm holding
And can bet that by the time you make up your mind
That you want a hit
Your next knife is before you
She told you that she loved you
And you bought that
Put the deed on it
Only for her to tell you that she has a man
And she has a fam
That she didn't think that you really believed her
But since you did
She will ruin your plans
Still think you can win?
Did he tell you that you are his only girl
But found out that he just fathered twins?
And the man that you thought was his cousin
Was his boyfriend?
The car he picked you up in was in his mother's name?
I laugh at you who think that you can have all the fame
This game is not for the delusional
Your reputation does not precede you
I gave you that only to deceive you
Just like now you look in your hand
And think you see two pair
But you don't see who's there.
You thought long and thought wrong
Because instead of thinking
You should have been watching
Ask Wild Bill when you spot him
And when all is said and done
And you thought you had fun
Only to find yourself in darkness
On the wrong end of the gun
Look at the trigger man
If you can't see him
It's because it's you
You should have known it was loaded

Petals Posing

As she sat down on the chaise
And took off her shoes
Her feet barely over the edge
I watched her
Silently looking over the flower
Gently rolling it between her fingers
Inhaling the earthy nature of it
I presented it as a friend
But cherished the moment
As her secret admirer

Black Beauty Is Not A Horse

Beautiful coating shines from the glistening of
Manicured stature that keeps you looking new this
Lovely royalty
Heavenly personality
Never lowing the standards of your character
You are black and beautiful
Black not in color but ethnicity
No dark skin or light skin you embrace
What it is to be Queen of all queens
Cling to all things good and pure
Never letting kindness be taken for weakness
Never letting emotion override your integrity
Never letting never be in your vocabulary
You are black and beautiful
Features beyond the cover of magazines
Grace beyond the halls of elegant pageantry
Intelligence beyond books and streets
You make sure that it be known you are not
Some thing
But you are something
So some things will not fly within your parameters
You hold court like a judge commanding order
If it pleases your honor
May I approach the bench to state that the honor
Is all mine and the pleasure to make acquaintance
Would only be fascinating if i can just take your hand
And say thank you
For not being afraid to embrace the heritage
And making it fit to your inheritance
To see the beauty of what you have been blessed with
Enhanced by the true knowledge of who you are inside
Is why you are so perfect
Double down with the triple crown already handled
You're black and beautiful
And I like that.

The Exodus of Decency

Poverty
Divorce
Starvation
Separation
Jealousy
Degradation
Complacency
Ignorance
These did exist.
But did not hold prominence
In the black community.
They did not mold the culture
But instead were abhorred
Until today.
Until the miseducation of the negro
Became the glorification of the people.
Willie Lynch did not do this.
Ku Klux Klan did not do this.
U.S. government did not do this.
No.
This was allowed
To commence.
No one can lose when they choose
To be undefeated.
There is no deterrent to someone
Who has made up their mind
To be unstoppable.
The greatest enemy to anyone
Is in their own conscience.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Procrastination.
Deception.
Hurt.
Sorrow.
Lack of knowledge.
Absence of love.
Catalysts that powered the dead
To take over.
To infiltrate the homes
The schools
The churches
The businesses
Of the people.
And until there is a new movement
There is no hope for the community.
This is not about civil rights anymore.
This
Is about cultural obligation.

Cold Truths In a Hot Mouth

Forever silenced
Because the answer that you give
Brings danger to their persona
Prisoner of honesty
Constantly looking for a way
To discredit the just
But how long can they keep you
When the facts come out?

Not As Ye Suppose

Speak when you want to speak
Hear when you want to hear
Only time I hear from you
Is when you want my ear
Friends are few in this day and time
This day and time when you think that you have them
But they have you
Fooled
New year with a new mind
But trying to give old people a chance
To see if they change only brings pain
Year older, year wiser
That's a lie
To see the ones before us act like the ones behind us
Is confusing to them who can't see
Which way to go
Friendships are now based on
What can I get from you?
Can I get over on you?
Are you dumb enough to fall for this story
So I can get something from you?
What do you have that I want?
That's why I stay quiet.
Can't help those who don't want to help themselves
And can't be there for those who can't be here
Can't extend a hand anymore
You tapping my pockets
Have no problem with helping
But you jacking my pockets
Call me to tell me your issues
Don't ask how I'm doing
Ignore me because it's convenient
But you look for convenience
And wonder why I'm so silent now