In celebration of poetry month. Poetic Resurrection will interview poets and links to previous poet interviews. In this episode, I will be discussing and reading a few poems from Inspire Me: Raw. Inspire Me: Raw was recently re-edited and a compilation book of the first two Inspire Me books will be released this month with a preview of five poems from my upcoming book Inspire Me: Awakening Dreams. Enjoy!
Citizen poem was written several months before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. When this happened, I was surprised that many didn’t know Puerto Ricans are American Citizens. This poem explains how many Puerto Ricans feel.
Curly red hair
Freckled skin
Speaking Spanish
Not fitting in
People’s biases
Perceptions
Ignorance
—Citizen
Where are you from?
How did you get here?
Was it a struggle?
No—Citizen
No boats
No tunnels
No hiding
Airplanes
I belong here
Born here
Educated
—Citizen
Forget was written about a woman who lived in the tenement where I grew up in Chicago. As a child I would catch her crying in the hallway after her husband physically abused her.
Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually
The times I run out and say nothing to you
The times I am angry and pretending to be okay
The times I don’t come home at night
Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually
When your anger lashes out at me
When you drink too often and hurt me
When you disappear into an aberrant abyss of time
Sometimes I do remember: often, actually
Your cruel words that hurt
Your desire to touch that repulses
Your anger at who you’ve become
I remember and choose to forget
Do you love? As those you love are hurt
Do you know the emergency room—a second home?
Do you understand—Inner scars show more than the ones I wear?
Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually
The raising of happy children here
The life we thought was possible
The comfort of a safe, loving home
Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually
How reality needs exposure
How I’ve always remembered
How lights slowly dim on you
Go Go Boots is about being a ten-year-old child and wanting to be thin so she could wear the sixties fashions. They didn’t fit.
At 10
Made a mistake
Told my teacher that I
Want to lose weight
First diet included
Liver, once a week—Yuk!
Different recipes, so nasty
That’s not what I was seeking
Stood in line for free lunch
Menu: peanut butter cookies
My favorite munchies
I wanted one—Damn!
“Hide one for me, please”
When teacher’s not looking
Don’t want to get teased for
Failing program on first day
My mom states, “You’re only ten!
No reason for a diet”
Wanting to be model thin
Groovy clothes—Buy them
Go-Go boots the stylish trend
Chubby clothes too short
Regular pants too long
Big kid bell bottoms reach calves
Average size bells at ankles
Others smoke bongs
Skunk weed smell
Permeates halls
Hide don’t tell—jail fate in ‘68
What to do with weight
Insecurities begin
Entire life, same shit—wasted time
And now I’m fine
Music by: Gotama “Forgiveness”
Visit https://gotama-music.bandcamp.com
