Speak Love

PEACE

I

Wipe the steam from my

Magic Mirror

And I

Take a step back,

Wondering how many times

I

Have had to lie

To my family

To my friends

To myself

And yes -

Even to you

About how

I

Got this black eye

And I

Wonder why

My

Black King

Doesn't protect me

And I

Look up at your

Black fist

And I

Cover my face as it

Comes down

- Enraged-

And I

Wonder how

A thing that represents

Such Power

Such Struggle

Such freedom

Such

Righteous

Black

Rage

Could be aimed at its

Sister

Its

Lover

Its

Beautiful Black Queen

And I

Have to lean

To the side as

I

Take another blow

And accept the fact

That I

Will never know

The plight

Of a Strong Black Male

And I

Will never know

The Burden

Of a Strike Three Fail

And

I

Will probably

Never see my dreams

Set sail

If I -

Stay with you

And continue to take this

Abuse from you

My

Righteous

Black