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

THE PLEDGE

THE PLEDGE

I pledge allegiance to the nation that was,

To my forefather's plan for a democratic ride.

To "We the People", to "Fourscore and Seven"

To the liberty bell's underground.


And to the violent republic for which we stood,

(The one that took innocent lives.)

To Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sudan

(We are told it's for freedom they die.)


One nation under God has changed a bit,

The umbrella's tilted south,

Instead of interring the blacks and the reds,

We're attacking the bronze and the brown.


Indivisible with liberty we stand our ground,

Inequality and separatism abide.

Our blue collar heroes die wrongful deaths,

While our white collar leaders survive.


And justice for all is a thing of the past,

No more room for the tired and the poor.

Lady Liberty's light shines dimmer now,

Humbled masses seek alternate shores


In spite of the path we aimlessly tread,

We are still one man one vote.

It still reads, "We the people",

It still says "In God We Trust".


So I pledge allegiance to liberty and justice

And "to the republic for which it stands."(¹)

To "one nation under God indivisible." (¹)

Every child, every woman, every man.



I pledge to stand up for the red, white and blue

To prove that our banner yet waves.

To endlessly fight for freedom and peace

In this land we call free, we call brave.

(¹)"Pledge of Allegiance"

IN 2001 SHE DIED

IN 2001 SHE DIED

In 2001 she died

it was winter

I have always loved winter

I got a new black dress

In 2001 we buried her

I did the program

the eulogy

the poem

the coffin

the suit for burying

jewelry, underwear

shoes,

flowers

I picked all white roses

I like white roses

no

it wasn’t fun

I was the oldest

you know

I liked hearing the preacher

read my poem

sometimes I write really well

in 2001 we drove

a million miles to be there

it was winter

she was old

she’d had a really great life

 

I liked her a lot

In 2000 I bought my last

Mother’s Day gift

because

in 2001 she died

before Mothers Day

before her birthday

and sometimes I miss her a lot

but mostly now

I just miss her a little

except on Mother’s Day

when

“I carry her heart in my heart”

when through tears

I pen her a poem

“Happy Mother’s Day mom

Love you!”

BORN INTO SLAVERY – ROUTED IN LOVE

BORN INTO SLAVERY – ROUTED 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
delivered into waiting hands of pain and dome

We are the ancestors of the historical horrors
chased into woods, along rivers, through valleys
led into freedoms curtained with provisions
Women of the Diaspora, men of the homeland
searching the darkness for a nonexistent light

We are the ancestors of the historical horrors
born into slavery, rooted in love
blessed with the hopes only family offers
nourished with caring, thriving on trust.

We are the future of our mothers and fathers
bearing the burdens of those left behind
forging a kinder, more peaceful existence
remembering the slavery, nurturing the love.


From the book “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.

OCCUPY TULSA – PROTECTING THE DREAM

OCCUPY TULSA – PROTECTING THE DREAM

His dream is our democratic awakening
Through peaceful demonstration we celebrate the man
Inspired by his principles and teachings
In the spirit of his dream we make our stand

His message for jobs is our message
His war opposition our theme
His belief in social justice and equality
the root of our movements beliefs

The quality of humanity stands threatened
wealth inequality eradicates our core
Our middle class drifts into large black holes
As starvation wages despoil

The poorest of poor grow poorer
While corporations as people grow rich
Political undertones rape voter rights
Inequality in education still exists

Race has no place in American rights and laws
Poverty has no right to our shores
Disproportion can no longer bulldoze our dreams
Imbalance won’t pillage our core

His movement is now our movement
His message of resolution our text
We occupy for jobs peace and freedom
We occupy for equality and truth

He marched for economic justice
We occupy to flush corporate greed
Void violence he marched for freedom and peace
Void violence we occupy for change


By: Shirley Howard Hall

THE PLEDGE

THE PLEDGE

I pledge allegiance to the nation that was,
To my forefather's plan for a democratic ride.
To "We the People", to "Fourscore and Seven"
To the liberty bell's underground.

And to the violent republic for which we stood,
(The one that took innocent lives.)
To Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sudan
(We are told it's for freedom they die.)

One nation under God has changed a bit,
The umbrella's tilted south,
Instead of interring the blacks and the reds,
We're attacking the bronze and the brown.

Indivisible with liberty we stand our ground,
Inequality and separatism abide.
Our blue collar heroes die wrongful deaths,
While our white collar leaders survive.

And justice for all is a thing of the past,
No more room for the tired and the poor.
Lady Liberty's light shines dimmer now,
Humbled masses seek alternate shores

In spite of the path we aimlessly tread,
We are still one man one vote.
It still reads, "We the people",
It still says "In God We Trust".

So I pledge allegiance to liberty and justice
And "to the republic for which it stands."(¹)
To "one nation under God indivisible." (¹)
Every child, every woman, every man.

I pledge to stand up for the red, white and blue
To prove that our banner yet waves.
To endlessly fight for freedom and peace
In this land we call free, we call brave.


(¹)"Pledge of Allegiance"

From the book: "ONE DAY" by Shirley Howard Hall

DIABOLICAL MASS

DIABOLICAL MASS

Satan stages his murderous cry
agents of genocide rise and comply
rapist, slayers, predators, whores
permeate Darfur’s shores.

Pray to your demons of high and low
follow your leaders wherever they go
the snake of death, the weapon of choice
in their screams and pains rejoice.

Now reap and weed revelations joys
rape and molest young girls and boys
transcend nations both near and far
despoil wreck and pillage Darfur.

Disregard governments, armies, and clans
snub out the glorified fife and drum bands
there’ll be no resisters to stay the attack
federations ignore black on black.

Fight within Satan’s reach and control
board the stage and play the role
make savage love to the mad and wild
be blessed with Satan’s child.

Evil surely doth dwell within
sin is often ones closest friend
dance upon iniquity’s star
their bodies and souls to mar.

SAVE DARFUR

©2007Shirley

DEPORTED

DEPORTED

illicitly
you eradicated my very existence
divested me of all
that was good in my life
amputated my freedoms
pilfered my citizenship
labeled me terrorist
radical activist
deported me vicariously

in the name
of homeland security
you
confiscated my happiness
smitten my wife and child
exiled and forsaken me
to a land I’ve never seen
to a tongue I’ve never spoken

I patriot
wartime veteran
born upon the humbled shores
of this great nation
did I not fret the drudgery
of your illegal wars
slave within the
bowels of your blackened mines
does my man-child not
bear the names
of your great leaders

I beg thee
in the name
of homeland security

rip the breath
from my asbestos filled lungs
singe the lesions from
my cancerous skeleton
bash this skull
of post-traumatic disorders

for
the gates of hell
are far more beguiling
than to be labeled terrorist
exiled and deported
to a land
I’ve never seen
to a tongue
I’ve never spoken

DESPOILED

DESPOILED

Youthful fluids rush
her aging body
immoral pleasures storm
her evil soul
wickedness bestows
an inapt darkness
lustful forces
grasp engage control

Iniquities flaunt
deities of satan
a naked boy
a sullied bathroom floor
for love of teacher
educator mentor
a virgin’s sperm
a classroom savvy whore

A cold forbidding sky
now in the making
blood drenched and bruised
a young boy heads for home
in lieu of love
compassion, understanding
he’s left adrift
and raped
he’s all alone

©2008Shirley

TRAFFICKED

TRAFFICKED

Be still my love

the pain shall pass
as pleasures bliss
beguiles you to
my side

your painful cries
will hypnotize
as threats of death
subside

I’ve killed you once
my precious

I’ll kill you yet again

you’ll die
a thousand deaths
and more
before this madness ends

be still my slave
my puppet

we’re doing this my way

spread wide your legs
and smile –

that’s right

I speak and you obey

©2007Shirley

STILL NO CHANGE

STILL NO CHANGE

I feel your fingers
gently maneuvering
along my inner thigh,
warm against my brand
new cotton gown.

No! Not again!

I’ll tell this time
I swear I will.

Everyone will know
and you will die!

Loving hands fondle
my never touch place,
hard knuckles stroking back
and forth, in and out,
making me sad all over,

I’ll cry this time,
they’ll see the tears
I swear they will.

Everyone will know
and you will die!

Passionately your tongue presses hard
against my dried and broken lips,
ripping and tearing with
every thrust,

I can scream
I know I can,
Someone will hear me
they’ve got to hear me,

Stop! Please stop!
I’ll tell this time
I swear I will.

Everyone will know
and you will die!

Sounds,
voices in the hall,
I hear them,
they are coming
they will stop you!

They’ll see my tears,
they’ll hear my screams,

Everyone will know
and you will die!

“Good morning ma’am”

“Good morning and
how is she today?”

“still no change ma’am,
still no change.”

©2007Shirley