african, art, love, poetry

You Thought Wrong, Bitch, Not Today

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There’s no real way to describe the fight
That ends up killing you–it takes so many nights
To build and wear and tear you down
To smack your face and steal your crown.
To show you how naive you’d been
Believin your power went past your whim…

Life doesn’t let you see it come, though–
Amused with you, she’ll take it slow,
And right when your smile couldn’t get wider,
Right when that high just couldn’t get higher?
She has a way of passing peaks
To slap you full on both your cheeks.

“You thought it’d go like this,” she say.
“You thought wrong, bitch, not today.
I got a bigger plan in mind,
You’re not in it–get left behind.”

I can’t complain. She speaks the truth.
We all embrace a boastful youth,
But in the end we all must learn,
When one man wins, another burns–
That’s simple yin/yang in this land.

Ah, but wouldn’t winning be so grand?

Feb

african, art, love, poetry

The Power of One (When There’s Evil In This Place)

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Why shrug your shoulders when you hear my despair?
When they say people suffer, why don’t you care?
Do you think it doesn’t touch you when there’s evil in this place?
But I see danger, and am pissed enough to make a case.

So you have your house and your collection full of stuff,
And by the looks of your habits, this will never be enough.
You like to think you “earned” it, this privilege to breathe
And somehow everyone else has “earned” the right to endless grief….
You say it isn’t you, you don’t make the world this way,
But I’m here to beg, let’s look at yesterday…

Even in the grandest of schemes,
It wouldn’t be that hard
To hesitate for humanity
Before you swipe that card,
But when holidays come
You conveniently forget
To watch who you pay
Even just for a bit.
Does that chocolate not have
Creamy death to its taste?
How can you bless your loved ones
With the gift of disgrace?
Why do you allow that candy
Melt decadent as a treat
When you don’t look in the eyes
Of the homeless that you meet?
I only beg you to look at the enslaved men and girls
Because that’s what your lifestyle
Does to the world…

You support these companies
(Who don’t give a shit),
Say, “I wish all the best!”
And think you’ve done your bit?
You know that’s bull,
And, well, so do I.
How advanced can you get
When you offer yourself lies?

Get off of your high horse,
Stop living like a king
Of hoarding and grief
Amongst other things.
You don’t need a front hall closet
Filled up to the top
Just think of your family
Worldwide and you’ll stop.
Of course it’s okay for
An occasional treat,
But don’t torture people
Just cuz you’ll never meet.

Tahtahme Lizz Cann

 

Feb 2015

Chocolate and Slavery

african, art, poetry

A Manifestation for an Unborn Daughter

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My little girl,
Just to be fair,
Will have smooth
Seashells
In her hair.
I hope it puffs out
Black as night,
I pray she dreams with all her might.
I wish she’ll have his chocolate eyes,
I pray she’ll find me somewhat wise.
I sense her lips will be soft pink,
I trust her aura be distinct.
I hope her skin be
Soft and brown,
Allow her happiness be unbound.

Jan 28
1:32pm

Artwork by: potasium.co.vu