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THE BOX

another box
just been carved
another mother
wiping tears
one more sista
left to pull up the rear

children growing up
without a dad
to young
to face
life can be so sad

no more three R's
we give them three C's
crack, cocaine and chronic
gave them a new language
called ebonics
got people running past the real problems
having histrionics

your probably
wondering what i'm going on about
us killing each other off
gives the klan more and more clout
they no longer need those sheets
cause my brothers are
shooting it out in the streets

the hunt is on
and the prey is you
what's a sista to do
how can i make you understand
taking a life
don't make you a man

how do we stop it
takes more than
just say no
we must all stand up
or the killing won't go

reclaim your hood
your life
your head
or your kid
could be the next one
lying down in the street
shot dead

Karen Roberts
(c) 1997
 
++++++++++++++++++

If you don't want a connection     


If you don't want a connection. 
Hang up the phone.
If you don't want a connection,
Leave them alone.

Don't call them up to say hello,
Or ask their advice.
If you don't want the connection, 
Get out of their life.

Pushing buttons, 
Opens the door,
Leave their buttons alone, 
If you don't want them anymore.

It takes two to hold on,
And two to let go.
If you don't want the connection, 
let the other party know.

Break the connection, 
Avoid the fight!
If you want the breakup, 
Please do it right. 
If it's finally over, 
Leave each other alone.
If you don't want the connection.
HANG UP THE PHONE!!!!

From; Life ain't nothing but a 
series of words" Book II
By L.K. "Rose" Ford


+++++++++++++++++++

By Now

I am nowhere near you
by now
But I can still smell your scent
I can still see your smile,
and feel the chills it often sent.
By now,
I could be just a distant memory in
your mind
Scattered by the winds of change
or faded by the eraser of time.
But I will never lose the hope
that some time you will 
quietly consider
The laughter we so often shared -
The moments we had together.

Tyese Dantzler

+++++++

     poem To mourning


she wakes me in the morning,

as Morning's breath is dew
dropped on slumbering leaves 

& leaves me refreshed

her rays flood the horizons
and splash against my painful
reflection

with early yesterdays of light-red regret.

emotions burn out of control 
at the sight of forgotten night

mere dreams are broken by the flood of light 

as the sun-washed waters recede
she wakes me in my Mourning

inundations of inner guilt fill my mind 

as gently as the Sparrow's flight
The day will not save us

& gone, is this night.

     Saleem 
     © 1990

+++++++++++++++

        DREAMS 

OFTENS TIMES I SIT AND THINK
OF CERTAIN THINGS I WANT IN LIFE
ONLY TO REALIZE THINKING IS ALL
I AM ALLOWED BECAUSE SITUATIONS GO
A CERTAIN WAY LEAVING DREAMS TO FALL
BUT ALL THE WHILE I SEEM TO KNOW 
THE DREAMS I DREAM WILL ALWAYS BE
IN MY HEART AND CARRIED WITH ME

       Eric Egerson