Poetry

I don't know if there's a better way to get to know someone than through ingesting their art, be it paintings, DIY crafts, their wardrobe, even poetry. Over the years, I've given all of these art forms a try. I engage in art to capture an emotional experience, document my feelings, flesh out a vision, a host of reasons; mostly just for the thrill of witnessing something I feel begin to materialize into the physical world using my thoughts, my hands, even my feet (yep! I've definitely attempted to paint using my feet... quite successfully I might add).

After reactivating my Apple Music subscription (I had to trim the fat in my budget for a few months), and listening to Everything is Love by The Carter's for the first time two weeks ago (I know, I'm late to the party!), I suddenly felt inspired to write some poetry of my own at roughly 6:00 am last week. I've always regarded rap as poetry dressed up and packaged for mass consumption. It's been a loooong while since I've written poetry, let alone allowed it to see the light of day. I'm publishing this as a declaration of my creative freedom. I know my words might not connect with every person who reads them, but is that a valid reason to do anything? External validation comes and goes like the tide and if we rely on it, we're left reliant on its presence to do everything. So with my heart pulsating on my sleeve, I present a glimpse of my soul:

No nonsensical as a matter of fact

If I see it and I want it then I got it like that

Hard to please cause my standards ain’t shy

And this stubborn will won’t let me compromise

All will be revealed in due season

My confidence ain’t no coincidence, I got my reasons

26 years of duking it out with the woman in the mirror

I took the gloves off, saw eye to eye, now my vision is clearer

Chakras aligning and my skin’s clearing up

Hydrating and meditating to fill up my spiritual cup

I’m not normal and I don’t normally entertain the notion

Suffice it say I am here to cause commotion

No nonsensical as a matter of fact

If I see it and I want it then I got it like that

Hard to please cause my standards ain’t shy

And this stubborn will won’t let me compromise

Urban intellectual with love for the streets

McLemore and Edith in my memory on repeat

TriState Southern Belle with obscure knowledge

I paid attention in class but struggled through college

A brainiac since I was knee high in ruffle socks

My single black mother instilled that can’t stop won’t stop

Building my own table to sustain my appetite

Bounced from school to school with a slick mouth, all my life I had to fight

No nonsensical as a matter of fact

If I see it and I want it then I got it like that

Hard to please cause my standards ain’t shy

And this stubborn will won’t let me compromise

Lately I’ve been thinking about early retirement

Recycling to show love to the giving trees of our environment

Yonce got me feeling inspired to sell out the Garden

You charge what you’re worth and those who understand know it’s a bargain

Best case scenario I hear this played on loud speakers and stereos 

Chance encounters with radio play conducting business in other area codes

To break bad habits I replaced those with new ones

I rise up each morning with gratitude for life’s lessons

No nonsensical as a matter of fact

If I see it and I want it then I got it like that

Hard to please cause my standards ain’t shy

And this stubborn will won’t let me compromise

No nonsensical as a matter of fact

You can thank my mom, she’s a tough opening act

Hard to please cause my standards ain’t shy

I’m carrying generations on my back, I can’t afford to compromise

Thanks for reading.

#poetry #everythingislove #thecarters #nononsensical