there is a warmth
in the sun kissed breeze
that caresses my face
and
this is a welcome reprieve
from what the reality
of my situation is
I wanted my freedom
not even knowing what
that really is
but I knew I needed it
but really, what is freedom?
is it power taken from the oppressor?
one's oppressor might differ from another
yours might be the slave master mentality
that still exudes from
melanin deficient souls
that shine up their boots everyday
making sure their soles
and heels
are always fresh
the better to keep them upon necks
of those destined to rise
but emancipation hasn't made it to them yet
is it the revelation
of the context of the word
asking oneself what's real,
fabricated or wholly non-existent?
well, if it is just context
then I guess you have it
I have it
everyone has it
except for those who
just haven't been able to reach
that level of
negro spiritual humming
while the Southern sun beats upon their backs
fingers leaving cotton streaked
with blood
pricked over and over and over again
each drop
leaking a little bit of freedom...
Is freedom real only if we believe it to be real
or is the mirage that well crafted?
see
mirages scare me
because they pop up
when you are most desperate
making you think you've found relief
under that hot sun
only to leave you
crawling on your hands and knees
begging a God you can't see
for your life
begging people you can see
for your livelihood
you
gasp for sustenance
only to get dirt in your mouth
mixed in with the water they gave you
as they wait for you to say
'Thank You'
gratitude for a life
that was always supposed to be yours
grace in reception of their so called grace
bowed heads
and shattered souls
due to thoughts of returning
whence you came from
yeah, it's scary when you think about it
8 years of a mirage
8 years of what they called freedom
8 years of Black young men and women
being gunned down
sacrificial lambs
offered up
so that we could think change was possible
only to be Trumped now
you see, they held that hole card
we knew it was there
but some of us believed it wouldn't be played
not that overtly, right?
I mean, we were used to covert tactics
we'd come to see them more clearly
surely
they couldn't right?
Right?
Right?
Wrong…they could
they did
and now, every single person
who ever thought
that what those melanin deficient folks
told us freedom was
was what it was
knows now what it is...
the question is
Is that what it is, to you?
These are the thoughts
that escapes black souls
as they hang from trees
while the sun kissed breeze
flows over their bodies
all because they wanted
what was already theirs to begin with...
