if you could see
my mama standing
in harlem, at sunset
the cruel wind
threatening
in vain
to rearrange
her natural hair...
you'd know this woman was
a rare & beauteous
poem...
a bare roots
boogaloo-philly dance of
a poem
a joe tex, al green
otis redding listening
poem... a sweet-
potato pie, chitlins
grits & gravy
deliciously rich type
poem...
a my man's gone
but i'm still
standing poem...
a whatever
doesn't kill me
makes me a
stronger poem...
a hand on her hip
'boy don't you give no shit'
daydreams are
forbidden here...
it's truth or
consequences
& oh yes, a fearless
poem...
a please... address me as
"Your Majesty" cuz
'i used to be
a queen
& can't nobody tell
my spine
any diff'rently' poem!
if you could see
my mama standing
erect
after the shit tude
this america's
dumped upon her
shoulders, you'd say...
'DAMN!
if that ain't superwoman...
then she sho nuff
must be some
kinda gravity-
defying... strong
fierce, defiantly
black, keep on
keepin' on...
i got your back
poem!'
One.
by L.M. Ross
**originally published in Painted Bride Quarterly
Happy Moms, Momma's, Mumsy's MaMi's, Mamacita's & Baby Mama's Day to all!
One Love.
Lin
16 comments:
lol, I absolutely Love it! Thank you!
Very nice, Lin!
This has to be one of my favorite Mother's Day Poems! You captured my mama too! Thank you.
I love this because its real and soulful. We are not from Harlem, but I imagine this will play well here in CT too.
Thank you! Glad your mama birthed you! Happy Mother's Day to her.
@ Miz:
Thanks, Sis Pen. Hope you enjoyed a wonderful & mad lovely Mother's Day.
One.
@ Val:
Thanks, Valentina. 'ppreciate the props. :-)
One.
& Lovebaz:
Wow! That's a HUGE compliment. Thank YOU very much! I hope your holiday was made extra special by your Beloved Big Heads (keeids) & that love turned the day into a beautiful memory.
& yes... hopefully the poem is universal, regardless of one's native spot, or their momma's locale.
Thanks again.
One.
Thank you brother, for writing a beautiful power poem for me! xoxo! *grinning*
LOVE this piece!
Wonderful words in honor of wonderful women, everywhere: mothers. Excellent tribute!
@ Anna Renee:
You're welcome, Anna May aka My Sista Eastsiiiiiide. Very glad you were able to relate it to your own life & times. :-)
One.
@Daij:
Thanks, bruh. Appreciate the love.
One.
@ Roger:
Thanks, my friend. I'm pleased that you saw & felt the universal message within my words.
One.
Light,
Pure poetic perfection my dude!
Thx J. 'Ppreciate it, mane.
One.
Finally getting around to comment on this poem, I truly adore it. A tribute to mother's everywhere.
A hand on her hip "boy don't give me no shit."
Thank you for sharing this with us.
@ Chet:
You're welcome, man. The poem's purpose is so much larger than just a simple piece in honor of my own mom. I'm pleased when others *get* that message. Glad you could relate, Chet.
One.
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