Spoken Cycle

 Silent feelings

from twisted words

into shapes I couldn’t recognize.

So I learned to pause my thoughts.

And then—
Your silence came too.
So empty and barren,
where the quiet is so loud
my screams still couldn’t find a way out.

So I learned to hold my tongue. 

Gaslighted

 into submission.
into second-guessing

 Ignoring intuition
just to keep the peace

 that never kept me.

 

I saw the pattern.
Saw it clear.
Saw it coming.
Saw it circling.

But I cycled back.

Out of hope.
Out of habit.
Out of believing
you’d meet me in the place
where my heart lived.

But all I met was silence.
 

And then the whisper
of my own voice
calling me home.

October 27th

Strong like a flower; 

He is not soft.

Every blossoming, 

A mystical transformation.

When his petals fall, 

They’ll hit like bullets.

Cycle

 Silent feelings due to twisted words.

Silent treatment, so even , 

Still screams aren't heard.

Gaslighted into submission.

Ignoring intuition.

Saw the pattern, 

And yet cycled back. 

You, Me, & I

You see me?

I do.

You see me?

I do. 

I see you.

You teach me?

I will.

You teach me?

I do.

I'll teach you.

You hold me?

I will.

You hold me?

I can.

I'll hold you.

You love me.

I do.

You love me.

I do. 

I love you. 

Fault

I don’t fault you

For what you couldn’t accomplish

For what you couldn’t persevere 

I don’t blame myself

For how hard I work

For how I persevere

I don’t judge you

For  what you could not do

I can’t accept criticisms

For what I have done

You left your work undone

Unsolved, all theory

The work is never done

So I don’t fault you

For only teaching me

The things I can’t accept

Things you could not change 

Make Sure

This poem is dedicated to Black men.

Make sure he eats

Make sure he sleeps

Make sure he can 

Cover his basic needs

Make sure he reads

And if he doesn’t

Write to him

If he still doesn’t

Read to him

Be with him

Love him

And love with him

Make sure he eats

Make sure he sleeps

Make sure he prioritizes 

His basic needs 

So

 I really don’t have time

To ask

When I can figure it out

On my own.

You gotta tell me

Would you?

Would you ask?

Or figure it out

On your own.

My life, my problem.

I’m my own solution.

I welcome all efforts

To collaborate

But you won’t be the one

Orchestrating any actions

So I have to ask

Do I need to ask?

I used that time

To figure it out

On my own.