“wake up, baby”

Mama said to get up

to wear my best clothes

And wash my face

To comb my matted hair

And wait by the door with a single bag alone

So I did when I saw a certain mister

He knocked on the door

For my now present father

In front of the man

A nod, a hello

Words I didn’t know

A man walking away

From the breath I let go

I heard a few more shuffles

And we looked at each other

And before I could ask

I was hushed by stares

So I followed close to mama

Her skirt tugged by my hand

And we walk longer than I had ever

A road going on forever

A better place

Never home

—

‘roads under the moon’

A prisoner on a treadmill

Running to somewhere

And my heavy eyes, a reminder of my journey

And while the scenes seemed to darken

A glittering future I remember faded away

To white lines on the road

White lines

to guide me

White lines

I can’t trust

White lines

With invisible gaps

White lines

I don’t cross

Yet, tonight I follow them like stars

—

‘assume’

I wonder why I am here

Why now

Do I sit alone

Waiting

For someone

Maybe

Something

To help me

And although my eyes do not shine

I am human

What do I look like?

What do you see?

What do you know before you meet me.

—

‘nighttime stories’

Envied by the world

only see money

greed is the foundation

blood on the floor

with the pride of the mayflower

the ignorance it brings

the fear and false security

that leaves us with unrest

promises broken

a perfect country we paint on our roofs

race and then ‘american’

colorism for the world

with nowhere to go

and white lines that dash the paved roads

gaps for those to flow

gaps with guards and gates

cuffs for anyone but meant for someone

i know you understand

so tell me i am wrong

is this reality i speak

a false one for you and me

this is what i see

this is my reality

i ask what you teach