Read My Truth Page 2

banging down your door

  wondering why you don’t answer

  Then your word reminds me

  you won’t give me more

  than I can carry

  and that timing is

  the Master

  Imperfections

  If I was somewhat taller

  I would look so beautifully slender

  they'd be no rolls of fat

  up and down my back

  I am imperfect

  I wish my hair was longer

  it’s where my beauty lies

  but it doesn't cascade

  I have to cover the grey

  I am imperfect

  I wish my breasts didn't sag

  like a wet tea bag

  nothing stays the same

  it doesn't pay to blame

  I am imperfect

  I turn the camera on

  then strike a sexy pout

  my selfie will be kept to myself

  I look like a hideous trout

  I am imperfect

  I wish my belly was flatter

  I wish my waist went 'in'

  if my feet had an arch I could

  wear pretty shoes with a sling

  I am imperfect

  beauty is in the eye of the beholder

  if you have eyes to see

  then see - look deeply

  you’ll see the beauty inside me

  I am perfect

  I am perfectly imperfect

  Just Saying…

  There are some women

  who crave love that much

  they will wear their

  heart…

  on their faces…

  shoulders…

  chests…

  backs…

  backsides…

  legs -

  as well as their sleeves

  I’m not judging…I’m just saying…

  Every girl wants the fairy-tale ending

  I get that – when you’re five!

  but let’s get real people!!!

  some men are not that charming

  all the time you’re together

  he’s cheating on you

  like I said…

  I’m not judging …I’m just saying

  You see it all the time

  young couples gazing

  into each other’s eyes

  oblivious to anyone else’s glares

  she thinks he loves her

  man… he’s got her good

  and now her card’s been marked

  she’ll go on to have his child

  and then he’ll leave her

  I’m not judging… I’m just saying

  Keep Moving

  Through mist filled eyes

  we will search for a resolve

  with unwavering voice

  sing ‘we shall overcome’

  we will raise our hands to the heavens

  and beckon harmony to fall…

 

  And we will live

  We will dance

  like no one is watching

  we will sing

  like no one is listening

  we will be scared

  but we will do it anyway…

  And we will live

  We will bury the innocent

  wish them peace as they rest

  we will cry – but will laugh again

  we will fall to our knees – but will stand once more

  while we live -we will do Good

  striving for a better future…

  And we will live

  We will witness

  hatred and ignorance

  but will rise above

  we will feel helpless

  but in the minds of children

  we will instil hope love and assurance…

  And they will live

  Know Your Frienemies

  I was a different person then

  used to be off the rails

  now I’m doing well in life

  you want me to fail

  when I was happy

  you looked sad

  when I was miserable

  you seemed glad

  when I cried

  you cut your eye

  you call me trash

  say I sashay like

  I got cash

  and that

  I am the cat

  that got the cream

  gurlfriend… don’t hate me

  cos I’m living my dream

  I walk with a glide

  you say I’m swelled up

  with pride

  please don't hate me

  cos you ain't me

  you don't pay my bills

  put plants on my window sill

  you don't cook my food

  or polish my shoes

  you don’t clothe my back

  or keep me on track

  you say I think I’m all of that

  and I have it all

  snap…snap… come back

  you were there when

  I took my fall

  now I’ve chosen

  to live right

  I thought you’d be

  happy for me

  now it turns out

  that all the time

  you were my frienemy

  Lessons Learned

  I didn’t know what laughter was

  until I stopped my cry

  without joy

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what peace was

  until I let go of all strife

  without forgiveness

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what courage was

  until I stared death in the eye

  without hope

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what learning was

  until mistakes I rectified

  without humility

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what loneliness was

  on my own I thought I could thrive

  without a friend

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what success was

  until I started to strive

  without persistence

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  I didn’t know what happiness was

  until I shared my life

  without love

  my body functions

  but I am not alive

  Lifetime Achievement Award

  To the owners of slaves

  old and new

  the supremacists the racists

  hatred guides you

  you ruthless band of haters

  so proud to beat and maim

  gouging those of their dignity

  never to be the same

  I really admire how you sleep

  your dreams must be so sweet

  waking afresh to relive a new day

  with mind-set of no retreat

  is it fear or ignorance

  that leads you to believe

  having power over the powerless

  is the only way to be

  kudos to you - using dirty tricks

  to fulfil your evil deed

  I admire the fortitude of the forces

  who aim to shoot and kill

  black men women and children

  that must take some skill

  oh and institutional racism

  what an ingenious hiding place

  come out come out

  where ever you are

  let us witness your fall from grace

  Rulers I applaud your intellect

  in distributing the wealth

  with hierarchy of the classes

  the rulings no one delves

  our fate lies in the devil’s hands
/>
  how he’s swelled up with pride

  roaring with laughter wielding his sword

  as he takes the life of a child

  What use are the ‘wheels of justice’

  if they never spin

  there’s no freedom without fairness

  is this a fight we can win

  'Lady Justice' where are you

  even your stone must seep tears

  is it the ruling of the masses

  that we forever live in fear

  Mind Matters

  Mind over matter

  easier said than done

  I don’t know what

  matters anymore

  I know life is no longer fun

  some may see a kaleidoscope

  I see shattered dreams

  Is there a glue for human minds

  that are shredding at the seams

  I have crawled over broken glass

  screaming to be heard

  I no longer have the will to thrive

  and have lost the zest for life

  how come the world

  can hear a tiny bird sing

  but a neighbour

  can’t hear my cry

  how come the world

  can tend to a bird’s clipped wing

  but that neighbour

  wont wipe my eye

  I know I can scare people

  with what I say and feel

  that’s part of the problem

  I can’t be authentic or real

  Is this my ‘new normal’

  do I smile and agree

  That it’s all in my head

  people they won’t understand

  that my best friend is my bed

  It comforts me – no end

  my pillow is my loyal friend

  It will never share my fears

  and absorbs my tears

  my covers blackout

  the doom and gloom

  I’m safe here in my room

  Not This Time

  I watched you with that woman

  holdin’ hands kissin’ and huggin’

  you told me she was your cousin

  and that I … well I was just being paranoid

  and if only I knew how much you lurrrved me

  how your heart skipped a beat each time

  you thought about me - looked at me

  by rights you shouldn’t even be alive

  my brotha please… do not tempt me

  I am worthy of so much more

  you see all of this

  I am no longer gonna allow you dis

  the times I caught you in a lie

  you played me for a fool

  innocent smiles acting all confused

  Queen Victoria… I hear you girl

  ‘‘we are not amused’’

  Say what...

  I am nothing without you

  you made me

  you saved me

  oh brotha please

  I can buy my own fake red rose on Valentine’s Day

  from the 99p store

  yes… you left the price tag on

  so now you wanna call me a diva

  because I got wise and no longer

  need ya – see ya

  tell me Mr. Repeat Offender

  was honesty ever part of your deal

  was anything about you real

  it’s o.k. Gloria Gaynor survived

  and so will I

  because…

  I am worthy

  I am lovable

  I too am a survivor

  now say goodbye

  to my front door

  grab your refuse bags

  up off my floor

  look straight ahead

  don’t worry about me

  in time my scars will heal you’ll see

  stop… I’ve heard enough of your pitiful plea

  however this time for you my dear

  there will be no reprieve

  you must have tripped and bumped your head

  if you think there could be a ‘you and me’

  the reason I’m waiting with my hand is outstretched

  is for you to return my key

  Power In The Tongue

  Do you know the power I posses

  you have no idea just how mighty I am

  with an unconcerned whisper

  I can destroy families

  with a venomous tongue I can

  smash your dreams

  to smithereens

  Oh yes I am such a spiteful person

  I am so proud

  by the power of my tongue

  I can raise you up

  or if I choose

  I can swot you

  dead like a fly…

  So you see I have the power

  I am big… I am clever

  and you…you

  will be left feeling

  Judged

  Tormented

  and

  Destroyed

  There is power in the tongue...

  We can give it death or we can give it life

  Don’t let death become you!

  Reluctant Goodbye

  I loved you

  so why did you choose to leave

  I admit that you were quiet at times

  and your chest would sigh and heave

  You never heard that a problem shared

  is a problem cut in half

  I could have helped to ease your pain

  I could have placed you on that path

  Toward the silver lining

  the lining we all seek

  why did you never ask for help

  was it pride or were you weak

  I’m so angry with you right now

  I don’t know what to say

  your legacy is the guilty verdict

  I’m sentenced to each day

  What made you so special

  when it rained I got wet too

  I didn’t know that way too soon

  I’d be losing you

  For me every day is torture

  I keep asking and asking why

  did you feel so desperate

  so hopeless you couldn’t try

  I have to keep on hating you

  hate is my saving grace

  I refuse to feel the pain right now

  I’m staying stuck in this maze

  You have forever broken my trust

  reluctantly I say goodbye

  ashes to ashes dust to dust

  I pray I can stop asking why

  Serial Lyricist

  Wha’appen my Nubian queen

  and how are you today

  come and chat to me nuh

  baby you look so fine

  I cannot let you get away

  oh my sweet sugar dumpling

  come on be with me

  we’ll make beautiful babies

  and live down by the sea

  baby you are…

  the Guinness to my punch

  the bun to my cheese

  the ackee to my salt fish

  the rice to my peas…

  Wha’appen my English rose

  and how are you today

  come and chat to me nuh

  baby you look so fine

  I cannot let you get away

  oh my sweet cherry drops

  you are the icing on my cake

  get your jacket you have pulled

  it’s true it’s no mistake

  baby you are…

  the salt to my pepper

  the bacon to my eggs

  the fish to my chips

  the meat to my two veg

  Wha’appen my Asian splendour

  and how are you today

  come and chat to me nuh

  baby you look so fine

  I cannot let you get away

  oh my little fortune cookie

  you are the ying to my yang

  I know you’re the one r />
  because the nightingale sang

  baby you are…

  the rice to my noodles

  the spicy to my plain…

  the oyster to my sauce

  the chow to my mien

  Shuddah - Cuddah - Wuddahs

  Oh no

  you did not

  just look me in the eye

  and tell me

  another bare faced lie

  oh no my dear

  you who had me for all these years

  lovin’ you

  trustin’ you

  carin’ for you

  sharin’ with you

  and then... and then

  givin’ you

  all of me

  I Shuddah never ever listened to you

  You and your army

  trained night and day

  to demolish the barriers I had

  I closed my eyes and ears to the sirens

  that flashed and screamed

  at me

  so many warnings

  fool me once

  shame on you

  fool me twice

  shame on me

  shame on me

  shame on me

  My heart Cuddah healed

  long ago

  but oh no

  that cheeky grin

  I found so endearing

  but all the time

  at me

  you were sneering

  If only I wuddah listened

  to my ‘Angel’s voice’

  she tried to save me

  right from me the start

  now she lays there

  with her head on her arms

  mourning the loss of my heart

  When You Look at Me…

  tell me

  what do you see...

  do you see a patwa speaking gyal

  ‘one of them’ that loves to ride in a gang

  leaving her four kids with her grandmother - yet again

  do you figure that I must have four baby fathers

  When you look at me

  tell me

  what do you see

  do you see yet another black face

  content not to be in employment

  never wanting to make a positive contribution to society

  do you find me too loud and too boisterous

  am I that ‘coloured’ girl that will break into your home

  When you look at me

  tell me

  what do you see...

  do you figure I must smoke that smelly ganja stuff

  and that I will use a gun because I am no respecter of life

  as I approach you do you clutch tightly your handbag

  as I pass will you chant a pray of thanksgiving

  When you look at me

  tell me

  what do you see...