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My Goal, My Prayer Written By Zetta Chandler- Roberts AKA “The Quiet Poet” ©2006 My goal while I’m living Is just to keep on giving Life to all that are willing To fight the natural feeling And protect themselves when dealing With sex and syringe fulfilling The spread of AIDS and killing My prayer while I’m kneeling Stop HIV from stealing The lives of our siblings While our tears are spilling And our voices are shrilling Lord, let doctors be revealing A cure for our healing
Woman
Heavy eyes, large lips
Red skin and thick hips
For so long I've been carrying my heart in my hands
Because I've been contemplating my courage as a woman
Things I've done, I felt I could do better
Although working hard making sure my feet don't slip and talking to God
Is there any excuse for me?
Is there any excuse for a woman's infedility?
When she measures herself with the world
and despite her grief she is never a fraction of the woman she feels she should be?
Oh, I have walked in her shoes
For so long that woman was me
Everytime I wanted to relax, and step back
I remembered where I am at
Opprutnities are advancing
So...
I hear Madam CJ Walker saying
Yes, you can
She made wealth out of proverty
Riches out of a dream
And I ask myself "Where does that leave me?"
A black woman with obsecurity
Reasons to fail because success seems to be an impossiblity
Where does that leave me
When I am measured before I can even speak
If I had not been chosen
My strength would have gone stolen
A weak man was never my prodigy
Before he knew my heart
He wanted my body
Where does that leave me?
What will become of me?
Now you understand WHY...
Through my white smile and rounded breast
I'm nearly about to burst because of the issues on my chest
Don't get me wrong
I've learned to be strong
But for so long
I've wondered what have I done wrong
Until recently
I realized...
That is wasn't me
It was my heavy eyes, large lips
Red skin and thick hips
That often broght my heart to my hands
And left me asking God for courage being a black woman
© Copyright 2013 Ana Aliceia Boyd.
By Merino, Emily
I had only been with one man
Didn’t wana say who cause its kinda sad
How embarrassing to say it was my dad
Didn’t say a thing cause my mom would be mad
So I moved on like noting ever happened
Kept crackin jokes to keep myself laughin
It worked like a charm
No one ever new he had cause me harm
23 and finally
Met the man of my dreams
He swept me off my feet
Than out of the blue I got a call from my mom
So I asked her whats was wrong
Says her and my dad are ill
For her I was scared but for him it was no big deal
For my mom I cried to my man
He said no matter what strong we have to stand
Him in my life I was so glad
So we drove to my dad’s
When I got there I asked my mom “what did the doctor say?”
She replied “he said we have AIds”
My eyes opened wide
But I couldn’t let her know I was terrified inside
On my way home all I did was cry
But could not tell my man why
The very next day I mad an appointment to the clinic
Prayed and prayed maybe he didn’t have it when I was violated
I let them draw blood
And in a few days I would get a call
About a week later the phone rings
I hear a voice on the phone suddenly its harder to breath
The conversation is over and I drop to my knees
I’m infected with HIV
A World of Aids?
A Spoken Word Joint
Today in 2010 we live in a red world
that wasn't around way back when
boys courted girls
and girls waited for marriage
to follow through in the night
Aids has invaded our people, family, and friends
Don't think because it's not you
it doesn't touch you through extension
one way or another
it could be your sister, father, or mother
It could be your brother or friend
When will we educate ourselves enough
to bring it to its closing end
Stop the madness and protect yourselves
Aids is not easy but medicine helps
helps, not heals
there is no cure
The cure is abstinence
You want to live
Be free and happy
keep your innocence
Love will come
and so will sex
When you get Aids
what comes next?
Some real quick passion
for a lot of pain
Your partner will smile
but then comes your rain
A storm of doctors, pills, and tears
but you and only you
will solely hear
You've got Aids
and it will burn in your ears
Abstain from sex or wrap it up
but please educate yourself
before dealing with a life
that will be tough, tough , tough
by Tia
Dedicated to those affected by HIV and Aids. May there be a cure someday. May we all say a prayer not just today, but everyday.
Tiapoetess
LET'S START LIVING FOR TODAY
By Gary Gumbs
It's time I live my life
I have come to realize
no one else is capable of living it for me
Your image is what the world will identify you with
can you recognize it if you see it
the world has given it a face and a name
"Stigma"
It's morally accepted. This negative attitude
humans "Oh how we delight in it"
But a spirit remains unbroken
hold tight to your dignity,your self-respect
And the readiness to defend your personal freedom
You give me my freedom
And I will learn to be a better person
Give me my freedom and I'll learn to live again.
Gary Gumbs// Poetry booklet... A Silence is Broken
HIV, my unwanted best friend.
By Gert-Jan Baan
My life changed some 5 years ago
A random blood test
With a positive outcome
My life to be changed forever
My heart was pounding fast
My body started to sweat
My tears rolled down my face
My hands were trembling
And I ... I was scared
That bright summer day in July
Turned all of a sudden very cold
I felt alone, so alone
I had many friends
I had a caring family
But I felt so alone
Knowing myself, I knew, after a few dark days
After a period of self doubt and confusion
After anger and bitterness
After feeling sorry for myself
I would open up
The true me came out
The true strong-minded me came out
The true strong-willed me came out
I reached out
Friends showed compassion
Family showed their bond
I showed courage
I was glad I reached out
So much to learn
So much information
Where to start?
Where to go?
Many answers needed for my many questions To ease my mind
To make this enemy my best friend
To live with this disease
Hand in hand
One cannot live without the other
So we best get on
And so we did
5 years later and we become one
I have it under control
I and my unwanted best friend to stay till the very end
I better make sure it understands
Do not make my body weak
Do not let me die
When I go I take you with me
So be my unwanted best friend till the very end
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
By Leonard Rabb
We're here on the first on December striving to remember
The so many who have died from AIDS - and yet, there are those
Who still pave the way recognizing that the reality of AIDS
Still exist in this present day; if only we could bring a finality to
This malady; then and only then would the reality of AIDS be
Laid to rest proving that we have passed the test of time, even
Though so many lives were left behind letting us know
How the early years were when advocacy work didn't transpire
With so many quirks, and how we pounced at the chance
Just to pound the cement in advance for the change that was to
Come; real-eyes-ing that the band played on for a lot of us
And not just for some - and still we held dear to the
DENVER PRINCIPLES that may have come across as
Being suspenseful; but we fought - we taught - we learnt - we
Earnt our way as we watched bodies lay in funeral parlors; not
Bodies of scholar's just everyday people who strived to
Survive the reality of AIDS, who were laid to rest as we
Stood remembering them knowing that the band played on; and
On, and on for all those women who dropped tears throughout
The years because they lacked access to PAP SMEARS and
Studies that could have kept them alive while sitting back listening
To all the jive knowing that some of there peers took a fall, but to
This day a lot still stand tall - and for those of ACT-UP who always
Strived for clinical trails, sometimes getting vile, sometimes
Having to smile because of the politics; and yet, we all stood
And took their licks knowing that for us to live, they had to give -
And the band played on; and on, and on as my mind flip
Through the mental pix's remembering the days of 076 when
We worked on the protection that would allow us to save the
Babies from pare natal infections' knowing that saving lives
Is that which made us thrive; recognizing that we didn't
Have to hide, so we were on the forefront willing to confront
The reality of AIDS as we stood around the quilt not with guilt,
But with a fortitude that wouldn't allow us to always be rude,
Because we knew it was about obtaining family centered care
And the band played on, and on, and on with a hallow sound,
For the so many that is no longer around
UNTIL OUR DYING DAY
By Leonard Rabb
We strive to reach a synopsis
About how do we stop this, how do we
Bypass the thought of someone
We truly miss, and although we look in
The mirror each day and confront
The face of AIDS remembering the so
Many who have been laid to rest,
The so many who put forth their best for
Change, real-eyes-ing at the time
It was definitely in our range - and still
We marched and moved on; not
Only for those who have died in the
Struggle, who were convinced of what was
Needed; but for those who never heeded
To the message of prevention because
There intentions weren't the same as those
Of us who are living with this
Dis-ease; so we pounded the sidewalks
Of the so many cities with the
Message of "Use Protection Please"
And still we strive to reach
A synopsis until a cure is found;
Recognizing that for us advocates we
May never see this come down -
And yet; we look in the mirror and
Confront the face of AIDS;
Understanding that we will advocate
Until Our Dying Day
Under Attack
By Janice Brooks
I am a reflection of my past, living in the present, looking forward, moving towards my future.
My eggs are my legacy. My legs spread and a tribe exits me.
Merely know from which I came, barely know my last name. A queen on a quest to reign.
Keep your wedding ring! Where's my crown? Where's my king?
Where are my princes and princesses? Where are my queens?
Where's my palaces, my riches, my gold?
My mother, my brother, my sister, my cousin, my aunty, my uncle, my grandma, grandpa, nana, big nana, great -great grandma, great-great grandpa?
One dollar, two dollar, three dollar, sold!
Sold? But where'd they go?
These fifty states are all I know. Puerto Rico! VI! California is the west side! Florida, Georgia is the south side!
Swimming in chlorine and I aint talking bout no pool.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste so don't be no fool.
What is black? What is yellow? What is high yellow? What is red? What is brown?
Anybody seen my culture? Go look in the lost and found!
What is African? What is American? A birthplace or a citizenship status?
Jennise Rivera: Puerto Rico. Bernice Beaoudine : Haiti. Olaraewonju: Africa.
Janice Brooks: Good ol' American
If we were still slaves, who would be my master now? Excuse me "America", but who am I?
Toby! Kuta Kinte. Toby! Kuta Kinte. Toby!
Janice Brooks reflects no source of creation. No idea, only imagination.
If we were still slaves now, where would be my working plantation?
First they took us, and then they took our names.
Our pride, our lives, our fame.
Our diamonds, our gold, our oil.
Our ancestors, our blood, sweat, tears, our soil.
Our language, our palace, our throne! All gone and I aint never been home! Never seen it! Only dreamed it. How many of you have had the chance to go back to Africa?
Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing any commercial advertising a travel package to the Mother Land Neither.
When the Exclamation Proclamation released us, they could have at least shipped us
Back to where we came from,
We brain dumb.
Thinking we in the land of freedom.
They snatched, grabbed, shackle and tackle us at random.
HOOK:
MY PEOPLE SNAP OUT OF IT! SNAP OUT OF IT! STOP THINKING NEGATIVE; THINK POSITIVE, WE NEED A MODERN MALCOM OR MARTIN, TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS NEW REVOLUTION! MY PEOPLE SNAP OUT OF IT! SNAP OUT OF IT! START TESTING NEGATIVE AND NOT POSITIVE! GET READY FOR THIS NEW WORLD ORDER, NEW O'S UNDER WATER, HEAD FOR THE BORDER.
My people, we are under attack!
Those who oppose us don't want us to go back!
They don't want us to know black!
They don't want us to know jack!
They want us to smoke crack!
Crack is on the attack!
My people we are under attack!
The Negroes are under attack.
Latinos are under attack!
The Hebrew was under attack!
The Jews were under attack and got a check for that, and you expect for blacks not to react!
When Haitians are getting sent back, but you want to send children to Iraq!
To be all they can be in the front line of the attack?
Drowning in New Orleans, dying for weeks, and nobody even takes a peek, gives a heap, turn the other Cheek to new born babies with no food to eat! No shoes on feet!
How many can die in a matter of a week?
And what who ever survives is worthy to keep?
. Somebody call FEMA and Bush wants to keep this discreet!
HOOK:
WADE IN THE WATER. WADE IN THE WATER CHILDREN. WADE IN THE WATER. WE ARE GONNA SUFFER IN THE WATER.
VERSE 1:
I'M SEARCHING A ROUTE TO LEAVE OUT THIS PLACE,
BUT ONLY GOD'S GRACE CAN REPLACE THIS FACE.
IT'S SHALLOW AND SOMBER,
THE PAIN LASTS LONGER,
NOT MENTION THE HUNGER,
WERE ONLY A NUMBER.
IN THEIR EVIL EYES,
I DO DESPISE.
THE COLOR THEY HATE MAKES ME WANT TO CRY.
I'VE BROKEN MY SHACKLES I'M OFF THE CHAIN,
BUT THEY'VE GOT ALL MY PEOPLE BOUND BY THE BRAIN.