Dear Black Woman,
From before the time I emerged from the womb of a Black mother,I have always needed you.
You have been a puzzle to my mind,a piece to my heart,a friend to my soul,a nurturer to my body.I have always needed you.
Somewhere along the way called life,I forgot somethings along this crooked path.When I look at you,I see a reflection of my deeds,I see a reflection of my greed,I see a reflection of my needs.I have always needed you.
You gave me my first meal,You gave me my first kiss,You gave me my first hug,You gave me my first laugh.I have always needed you.
I remember the first gift I ever recieved,it was a cookie from a girl named Teresa in Lubbock, Texas nearly 35 years ago.Though I have met many Black women andshare my space, my time, and my bed,names I barely remember,but I always will remember her.You see I have always needed you.
Though my heart has been tainted,my deeds have been tainted,I have foolishly misused and abused the very one,who God gave me to love,I cry late into the night,fighting with myself to make things right,excuse me if I seem a bit skitzo,because I dont always understand you,I just know one thing I have always needed you.
For every sister who suffered from oppression,depression, posession, subjection, and infection,I weep for you.Black woman, I tire sometimes just trying to love you past your pain.Trying to provide a umbrella filled with holes to keep you from the rain,I am feeble and frustrated, fallen with shame.Calling you things other than your name.Oh God... I am dying inside from genocide,mentacide, and suicide all because of my pride...But I have always needed you.
I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,Yet it is all I have left,I am sorry I am sorry I am sorryThere is nothing else in me but a longingfor your smile while walk past me,for your laughter while walk past me,for you hug while you walk past me,For you are my sister, my mother, my auntie,my grandmother, my lover, my friend.I have always needed you.I have always needed you.I have always needed you.I write this to you in hopes of being restored.I write this to you in hopes of being forgiven.I write this to you in hopes of being made whole.For I am nothing...without you.
Sincerely,One Black Man.
Richard J Wright (2007)
From before the time I emerged from the womb of a Black mother,I have always needed you.
You have been a puzzle to my mind,a piece to my heart,a friend to my soul,a nurturer to my body.I have always needed you.
Somewhere along the way called life,I forgot somethings along this crooked path.When I look at you,I see a reflection of my deeds,I see a reflection of my greed,I see a reflection of my needs.I have always needed you.
You gave me my first meal,You gave me my first kiss,You gave me my first hug,You gave me my first laugh.I have always needed you.
I remember the first gift I ever recieved,it was a cookie from a girl named Teresa in Lubbock, Texas nearly 35 years ago.Though I have met many Black women andshare my space, my time, and my bed,names I barely remember,but I always will remember her.You see I have always needed you.
Though my heart has been tainted,my deeds have been tainted,I have foolishly misused and abused the very one,who God gave me to love,I cry late into the night,fighting with myself to make things right,excuse me if I seem a bit skitzo,because I dont always understand you,I just know one thing I have always needed you.
For every sister who suffered from oppression,depression, posession, subjection, and infection,I weep for you.Black woman, I tire sometimes just trying to love you past your pain.Trying to provide a umbrella filled with holes to keep you from the rain,I am feeble and frustrated, fallen with shame.Calling you things other than your name.Oh God... I am dying inside from genocide,mentacide, and suicide all because of my pride...But I have always needed you.
I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,I attempt to apologize but it seems so empty,Yet it is all I have left,I am sorry I am sorry I am sorryThere is nothing else in me but a longingfor your smile while walk past me,for your laughter while walk past me,for you hug while you walk past me,For you are my sister, my mother, my auntie,my grandmother, my lover, my friend.I have always needed you.I have always needed you.I have always needed you.I write this to you in hopes of being restored.I write this to you in hopes of being forgiven.I write this to you in hopes of being made whole.For I am nothing...without you.
Sincerely,One Black Man.
Richard J Wright (2007)
2 comments:
omg this poem is just, so awesome. inspiring, wonderful, just, awesome.
great write. so passionate! i can just imagine you performing it. do you perform??
nah... i let the poem perform itself. Thats the cool thing, I could do it, but if you can see it in your mind, then I have already reached you. I might do this somewhere though. There is new spot I have been wanting to try out, maybe this one will can serve as an icebreaker.
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