Thankful

Thankful

A Poem by Nik'aule
"

everyone makes their own choices, feel free to make yours...

"

It does not make me a racist that I limit miscegenation to my coffee
Everyone makes their own choices, feel free to make yours
Of course, we are all blended down in the melting pot of America's
Rapes, prostitution, and of course that four letter love..
That knows no boundaries or color lines
But there is always culture, and oh how I love mine
Religiously overfed, Misled, and Euro-centrified
I tell you: he told me he wanted to live like a celebrity
His idols were old time pimps and drug dealers
His raps came out as poor imitations of radio songs
And his jumpshot...  well, smokers don't really play ball
It seems what would have been left was nothing at all
But he has the  blood of Kings and decision makers
His mama cradled a Bible and a belt just praying
He would do a little better than his daddy
His grandmother baked sweet potato pie swatting flies
Singing spirituals on the porch swing
Just like mine
His uncles made crude jokes wearing polyester suits
Into the eighties
With hair curled over and gelled down
Shining like that one gold cap in the front
Or those rims on that Cadillac that barely runs
Because he missed the point of that song
Just be thankful, for what you got
But we both know the words
So I know, even if he's not alright, he's going to be alright
Even if he continues this cycle of what a hundred elders told us
About dead or in jail
We have another chance with our children
Because gold runs through our blood
Our history is proud
Our culture is one of a kind
And I laugh inside because my father knew nothing
About stock markets or IRA's
He rolled cigarettes and marijuana sticks
Looking for get rich quick schemes while
Sweating through twelve hour workdays
With a financial windfall, he tried investing into coca
Without the cola
Staring at thousands of dollars of baking soda on the counter
So frustrated, he inhaled all the drugs himself
Birthing five children on bread and water paychecks
With all the audacity of Marcus Garvey believing
Starting a nation was the answer
It'll be better if we're all together
I look to my Caucasian brother
We grew up on the same land,
Went to the same schools
And ask him if he understands the pride
Behind pig feet, moonshine, and jheri curls
If he ever ate black eyed peas and greens
On New Year's Eve
And danced like heathens
Knowing even if this year didn't bring resolution
It'll always be better if we're all together
I ask him, if he knows my grandmother
Clutching a green switch in one hand
With laughter as full as sunshine
And a soul as deeply worn as our winter blankets
I ask him if he knows the joy of funeral receptions
When the tears have all been cried
And how family reunions
Can be the most eventful parties of them all
He tells me no,
He doesn't understand the smiles behind
Flat-tops and Afros
Or how you can get arrested for resisting arrest
While changing a flat tire
And I tell him, sweetie
I love you just like I love myself
But this is why I only miscegenate my coffee
Love hides in loneliness and dollar amounts
On street corners and in the used up pain
Of an innocent child's eyes
I can't be everywhere love is
But I can embrace my culture
With all the audacity of my father bending down
To my mother with a pawn shop ring
Because darling, it really is better if we're all together

© 2009 Nik'aule


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Reviews

No words......There were so many great moments in this one. Your introspection is top notch. You have an incredible diction and attention to detail. I wouldn't do this one justice by going over everything because I would not get to it all, but you're an incredible director of words! You're like Alice Walker to rhythm patterns. Jane Austen of our era and I'm not exaggerating. You have something really special "Nik" and I'm thankful that you're sharing it with us. I'm sending this one to all my friends who don't have the chance to come here and read it....Masterpiece! Perfection! I'm snapping my fingers til they bleed!

Posted 15 Years Ago



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Added on January 23, 2009

Author

Nik'aule
Nik'aule

The Hills Of, GA



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