Diminish Me Not

Diminish Me Not.

When others’ fragility

Tries to diminish Me,

I feel even more empowered,

And all I have to do is just Be.

I continue to grow as tall as the trees

And more wise as the owls.

A descendant from royalty,

From grand civilization,

From education’s beginnings,

From knowledge far and wide.

It all runs through my veins.

Forever will it remain.

A continuous cycle of destiny

And greatness that I honor and carry.

So fuck you and your fear and fragility.

This body and what it carries,

And what it stands for,

Is here to stay,

No matter where I choose to be.

I Carry The Weight

I carry the weight

Of love in abundance.

Of brighter days

That see with wide eyes.

I carry the weight

That is never a burden.

It’s a weight that feels light.

A

m weight that feels divine.

Oo
C
O ePklike freedom.

The weight of paradise is upon my shoulders.

No pain does this heart feel.

No hate shall bound me.

A feeling surreal.

Feeling like feathers in the wind

Carried away in bliss.

This is the weight that I carry.

It’s the weight of love’s kiss.

When Beautiful Black Turns To Blue

My Feelings: When will you see me? See us? I can’t stop crying. No matter how righteous I live. No matter how educated I am. No matter how eloquent I speak. No matter how well dressed I am. I can go on and on about how well this, and how well that. Respectability means nothing, and I very well know it. Respectability will never save me from a bullet, and I know it. Nor will it ever shield me from the cruelty of white supremacy. No matter how much of a good human being I am, I’ll always be seen to some folk as an animal. A savage. A gang member. Uneducated. Sub human. A thing to be murdered, and tossed away like garbage, as if my life is worthless. When folk see the color of my skin, they don’t see me. They don’t see us. They see only what they’ve been taught to see and know. It’s America as I’ve grown to understand it. Sad. And I’ll spend the rest of my life fighting against a system that insists on fighting against me.

My heart weeps of sorrow,

In the darkest hour of the night.

Tears are shed inside,

Deep within my soul.

Yet, my tears can be seen and felt.

The weight of an unjust world

Has taken its toll.

It rests upon my shoulders,

And the load is much too heavy.

I’m tired,

As my weakened heart barely beats.

My heartache is too much to stand.

America has been killing me consistently.

A slow death it has been.

No knife to the heart.

No bullet to the dome.

Injustice will be my demise.

Won’t even have time to bid thee farewell.

Another black body blows in the dust.

It’s a sad song about us.

It’s about me.

It’s about you.

It’s what happens when black changes it’s hue.

It’s what happens when beautiful black turns to blue.

Wash It All Away

     Today is Friday, February 25, 2011 at 5:00 pm in Los Angeles, and the gray clouds are hovering above. Rainfall is expected tonight and tomorrow. There’s something soothing about listening to the rain tap against my window. Being at home, curled up on the couch with a warm blanket, while sipping on hot lemon tea, relaxes the body, the mind, and the spirit. Putting it simply, it just feels good to relax and think about nothing. Whatever troubles appear and show their ugly heads, seem to disappear to the melodic sound of raindrops. As I sit out on the balcony viewing the skyline, I await the rain. Even if for a moment, the troubles in the world or of the day will no longer matter nor exist, because the rain will wash it all away.

 

     The following poem entitled, ‘Believe,’ was written on June 30, 2009…the day I was laid off from my job. Although I was quickly rehired, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It’s not easy to have something that you love taken away from you so unfairly. But such is life, as it’s not always fair. At that moment, I couldn’t do anything else besides try to keep the faith and believe.

 

When darkness buries the sun,
And the world is upon my shoulders,
Heavy is the load I carry.
And despair is the emotion I feel.
Blinded by the unknown,
And stricken down by fear.
Possibilities remain at a distance,
As if these are merely thoughts in the wind.
Unclarity has sunken in.
Then along comes the sun.
I hear your voice, and I can see once again.
You never let me suffer,
And you never let me fail.
In my hour of sorrow, it’s your faith and love that prevails.
Faith is restored in me
And I am guided by your light.
Onward to a brand new path.

Jeff Lorber ‘Rain Dance’ Video Posted To You Tube By Herecomes Mongo On July 11, 2011