i am not any of the faces
you have put on me america
every mask has slipped
i am not any of the names
or sounds you have called me
the tones have nearly
made me deaf
this dark skin, both of us
have tried to bleach
i can smell the cancer.
this thick hair, these thick lips
both of us have tried to narrow
begging entrance through
the needle of your eye
some of me broken
in the squeeze
and even as i carry
a bone of yours in my back
your soul america
no matter what we’ve tried
i’ve never been able to bear
:: Safiya Henderson-Holmes, Madness and a Bit of Hope (1990)
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I remember reading this incredible piece way back in the late 1990s. Thank you for posting this fantastic poem by a legion hardly named.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more Jarrod! It's been a minute let's meet up again and read some poems!
Deletesimply masterful - Jarrod makes such incredible, poignant commentary
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Jarrod is such an incredible, beautiful person ;)
Deletethis is a work of art. I read this poem with my friend Jarrod back in the late 1990s, thank you posting this fantastic poem by a legion hardly named.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ron, this is amazing. Me and my friend Jarrod would like to take you out to dinner! Let me know Ron!
ReplyDeletehmu Ron
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