
Hidden
wounds
living time
beneath the
insecure reach
that trades touch for protection

Bearers of power live from the surface
skin deep-
the only measure of dominance.
Too many die in the shadow
of their sun spared wrappings
-Of hate by exclusion
-Of fear in black cover

Exhaled
breath to the end
Emptied
pulsing heart
confused by hate and race
not white
under the weight of grace-less men
this Black life matters
"Mama" please
rest in peace
I don’t know in the night
about corner edges and how they hurt
about who is in charge of my broken heart
breath so loud with fear
and yet no voice
tears fall fast and never seen
the space divorced from eastern light
I don’t know in the night
about me, about hope
Barely awake with tangled thoughts
around hurt
around pain
reaching around
for the energy of presence

Alone
seemingly above it all
success
radiates like heat
upward
then
into the burden of the soul
Alone.

The heart grows tender only in the dark places of pain and loss
where seeds of anger die too slowly
but then reach
for the hope of rebirth
for the delicate touch of light
for a healing shower of grace and love