REVERIE - I THOUGHT

I thought we’d like

the same music

read the same books

see the same movies

I was wrong

I thought short of merit

our lives would dance freely

in our own clumsy way

we’d see ourselves

in one another

 I thought

I thought candle light and flowers

would swirl waves of passion

we’d like the same wine

confront the same dogmas

thought you’d be love’s metaphor

the imagery I fashioned

we’d be souls entwined in time

inseparable together

 I was wrong

thought I’d never be bored

thought I’d never be lonely

thought your touch

would make me tremble

thought our love

would warm and cuddle

thought what’s yours

would be mine

thought what’s mine

would be ours

thought I’d free myself

to be myself

thought I’d see myself

in you

I was wrong

From "EMBRACE" by Shirley Howard Hall

Available on all on-line sites,  Amazon.com, all e-readers, and Barnesandnoble.com.

BORN INTO SLAVERY-ROOTED IN LOVE

BORN INTO SLAVERY – ROOTED IN LOVE


We are the ancestors of the historical horrors
birthed into arms of a chattel society
born amidst slave blocks
fields of cotton and tobacco
dispensed into theaters of torture and doom

Women of the Diaspora, men of the homeland
chased into woods, along rivers, through valleys
hoist into freedoms curtained with provisions
probing nights shadows for illusory lights

We are the ancestors of the historical horrors
absconding the bondage – demarcating the lies
hallowed by truths once held as self evident
conceding the horrors- expounding the crimes

We are the nemesis to slavery’s horrors
nourished through caring, thriving on hope
forging a kinder more peaceful existence
born into slavery, yet rooted in love

From "ONE DAY" by Shirley Howard Hall

28 Days

28 DAYS

I need a year to be black

linguistics of typecasting

get it just right

pigeonholed in a bucket

cagy stereotypes

I need a year to be black

deprived of a home

in a white neighborhood

shunned in a racist white club

apply for a job whites only

test equal work equal pay laws

shoved in the corners

of fine restaurants

rejected avoided eschewed

passed over imprisoned and cheated

profiled in keen airports and schools

need a year to secure high blood pressure

sickle cell, diabetes and aids

to be told that my brain is smaller than most

wash dishes, clean toilets

refrain

need a year to honor the ace of spades

stand on corners, push drugs pot and pills

get welfare and food stamps

be single and poor

join a gang, learn to pilfer and steal

to exhaust all my savings

estrange my white friends

donate all my finery and jewels

void my accomplishments

distance achievements

in short to make me more like you

give me a year to practice the lies

to make all your falsehoods come true

to drop out of school

quit a well paying job

sell my home in the burbs next to yours

28 days just won’t do it

need a year to turn back the tide

or you can enlighten yourself and your friends

on the truths of Black History

Black Pride.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

In 1929 a child was born

in a small backward town

on a cold windy morn.

the son of a man of God so sworn

to spread good tidings and hopes freeborn.

This boy child grew in statue and mind

and developed a love of all mankind.

this love was taught throughout the south

and equality preached through word of mouth.

He wanted a world that lay at peace

he wanted the prejudice to cease

he wanted the north and south to meet

on a highway to glory

aboard a heavenly fleet.

In a peaceful tenure the war begun,

some battles were lost while others were won.

a few folks decided their lives to give

so their brothers and sisters could someday live.

this leader of men and women alike

was tortured and beaten yet refused to fight.

Then one quiet day when all seemed well

a chartered demon ascended from hell,

he fired one shot of hatred and scorn

he placed an entire nation in mourn.

That morning in Memphis a body lay cold.

an irreplaceable creature strong fearless and bold.

Martin Luther king Junior died in 68.

had his purpose been served or was it fate

that took this great leader at the peak of his war

that for a million people closed an open door.

The year is nineteen seven and nine

this is the day, this is the time,

to join our hands and show that we care

to show we remember and whisper a prayer

For peace.

 

©1979Shirley

©2007Shirley

From the book "ONE DAY" by Shirley Howard Hal. 

Available on all e-readers and from your local bookstorel