by Toni Bee
(for George Floyd, and Black folk who never made it home)
When ya hangry need to eat
instead emotions, dribble at speak
dry then cry eyes in heaps
sittin’ fronta Mama
Graduate, glide ‘cross the stage descend to hug’s hooray
quick grab is the caress
towards her, such gentleness
‘i made it MaMa’
Naughty or sweet Hood
Tearin’ it up – shakin’ it good
Nerd – Boogie Black or
IwishYouwould
We Stay misunderstood
– at the close or the start it’s always the Lord
Most times…Mama
When Artsy idea gets funds
you yo’ own boss, thanks homie for coffee run
bogged, frustrated ideas won’t come…
”be patient, dear one”, tends to
sigh ‘n say “oh alright Mama’
Tripped into love of my life
dew of morning, feels ignite
‘this is why they are my Light’
you sing to Mama
And when the world slipping away and there’s nothing left to say
darkness coming in and the light begins to dim
Couple folks upon your back
pocket hand – knee on neck – my breath, my breath my breath
…he mustered up the air to say
Mama
The air to say…
Naughty or sweet Hood
Tearin’ it up – shakin’’ it good
We Stay misunderstood
At the close its the Lord
or a groan …too often a whisper …a calling out
Calling out… MaMa, MaMa
On getting through it
(remembering 1619, and the enslaved before then)
400 years Black sufferation
400 years endure the fears
400 years last still first
Still here
Let’s tell of surviving a boat ride. How winds howl blotted out moans loud and entered the soul as trumpet’s growl. That hole at ship’s hip showed heaven – and staring at the stars made her ears eye blind to gruesome. How gruesome was swallowed and gulped back as: Kara’s silent silhouettes as Sugar Sphinx’s who noses never melt off. And how Basquiat’s million dollar scribble stays a mixed blood riddle – Quieted now yet – resounds
Let’s tell of escaping a scarlet tide. Hiding in the woods with little lives cuz of neighbor’s horror – surprise. Bird song make sanity thrive. Tweets letter to a DNA – that in future days will be: Nina’s classic pouncing piano – Scott Jill jumping a Neo Soul maze. Feather chirps – jazzing Badu haze. MagicMusic is a Black Girl Rock and Healing Wave. AND Brown Sistuh waxed first hip hop album – all parTayy, an UnViolent daze
400 years Afro adulation
400 years pushed thru fears
Let’s tell of love that lost, then found.
Up from lynch land or from Carib’ sand – they they they still boss MAN! Tenement tight frozen nights cla clang cla cling rings pipes. Soundtrack to an AfroLatin inner sight. Cruising through Alto Celia azucar flight. Rhythms base unite – conga gets right- Bailamos! – These daze a reggae fusion of Papi Now Daddy making the world a Yankee Dance.
Let’s speak of uncovered ancient large stone heads named Olmec with Could-Be-Ghanian faces Tell that yesterday they located another American pyramid. Ebony taught that? Let’s speak of stop lights and peanut science and she who uttered #MeToo first – aloud – to the republic and hot combs – let ‘em know that hot combs made the path a bit straighter
Let’s speak of his stop lights, Uncle’s peanut science and she who uttered #MeToo first – aloud – to the republic upon which hot combs stand – let ‘em know that Aunties hot combs did make the path a bit straighter – Chat of ebony ballets granted to Jamison never to be left ailing …Let’s tell how Black creative beginnings THOUGH stamped upon – STILL PAINT – POET…. WE SING
400 years AfriCan adulation
400 years laughed thru tears
400 years – last Still first
Still here
TONI BEE is a poet, educator, and photographer raised in Boston, MA, educated in Roxbury. In 2011, she was elected as Poet Populist of Cambridge, the first woman to grace that position. She led the Black Lives Matter march of Cambridge in 2015 and the following year was selected as the Cambridge Inaugural Poetry Ambassador. Toni was a teaching artist and storyteller at The Wang Theatre for several years, and received her BA from Simmons University in 2017. Two years later, she self-published 22 Again, her first book of poetry. Bee was selected, and is on the Advisory Board of The New England Poetry Club. The poet has featured at: The Lizard Lounge, The Boston Poetry Slam, New England Poetry Club, The Boston National Poetry Month Festival, the Boston Poetry Marathon, and has been awarded by YWCA Cambridge.