Poet's Note (😊): This poem was written for a man I read about in the newspaper. What really stood out to me was that, at the time of his death, he was awaiting the birth of a new baby; I thought this was just about the most heartbreaking thing, and I dedicate this poem to that little baby. Thank you for reading.
Windy warm
August day.
The newborn's cries
Split the air.
His mother wept as she held
Her baby boy close.
Tears of joy
Of pride
Of utter hope
Slid slowly down her cheeks.
Little boy watches
From atop the monkey bars
As the teenagers jostle
On the court,
Laughing and shooting.
Missing more than making,
But making memories.
The television announcers' voices
Burn in his mind.
He lays in bed but can't sleep,
Watching number 23,
Endless baskets on repeat
Dancing across his eyelids.
The GOAT, that's the dream.
The ball bounces
Against the cracked concrete
Of the basketball court.
Little sister watches his friends
From the sidelines, flirty-like.
He ignores her,
She ignores him.
Playing their loves.
Music came young,
An easy escape from his head.
Writing it down next –
Simple, but complex.
The words came fast,
But so did the second-guessing,
The caution:
Never let them see too much.
Then the first baby
And a second.
A third was soon on the way,
Watching him at 23.
Ta'mia,
Londyn,
And the unnamed one.
For his babies, there was
So much love; he couldn't even
Begin to express it all.
Windy cold
Early December morning.
The sound of gunshots
Split the air.
His mother wept as she held
Her baby boy close.
Tears of sadness
Of heartbreak
Of utter loss
Slid slowly down her cheeks.
He reached out with soft hands
And wiped the tears from her eyes,
"Don't cry, I'm still here.
I'm always with you, forever."
He lifted her chin up to the sky,
And pointed up,
"Every Lost One is a bright light
In the night, Mama.
Watch the stars, and I'll watch you.
I love you."
Hakeem O'mer Cage
9/6/1997 – 12/2/2020
YOU ARE READING
thoughts from a dark hole
Poésierandom poetry that i think of. poetry is my way of coping with my mind and learning about the world around me through the beauty of words. thank you for reading! TRIGGER WARNING FOR THE FIRST TWO POEMS - sexual and physical abuse, violence, CSA, de...
