Fear - Poem

Fear

They say don't be afraid Fear can kill dreams But you see, Police kill black people White people kill black people Niggas kill black people They kill black children And yet they say Have no fear Don't worry, be happy Sorry Bob Marley but everything is not alright Because I have a black man leading my house hold Black skin and black mind Black man, black fine Because I have a son black like me and his father He has my light skin but his fathers' features African nose, African lips, African hair And African chin African feet and African hands Africa is on his finger tips He will be profiled no matter what Fear is muthafuxka No matter how many times I have self-care routine Sundays I can shut off the television Turn my phone off Read books Kiss my husband and son before bed Make coffee and breakfast in the morning Read the Quran and talk to God I shouldn't be living in fear I shall fear no man, no situation I should be able to send off my husband in peace to work with his homemade lunch in one piece He should come home in peace to peace in one piece I should be able to send my son to school in peace in one piece He should be able to come home in peace to peace in one piece. I should just be able to live Interesting though, that's what I've been doing Living because existing is only half of it But fear...oh how fear is one hell of a trickster Fighting everyday to get this signifying monkey off of my back And the fact that I have to use my Anansi spirit to do so Says a lot Fear is hatred and they say hate is stronger than love But I say love is louder than hate Fear think it's winning but when there is love Fear lose... Every time.

(C) Jenavia Powell 2023