He came out of the water canal bliss with the world
Soul so pure and luminescent
As for great success he is bound
His quiescent mind wants nothing but good things for mankind
A head full of dreams and a heart full of inexorable hope
A beloved brother to the universe and proud son of the motherland
Complexion as dark as the night sky
Crown as coiled and soft as a cumulus cloud
His eyes show the history of his ancestors
Nose wide and snub
His dark and plum lips can tell endless stories
A unique beauty gifted by the gods
Talent? Plentiful
But the world did not see him as such
They see him as part of the epidemic that is perishing our world
They see him as the negro.
(PS: Artwork by Titus Kaphar, if you are interested in learning more about his work check out this article :) https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wd4mb9/titus-kaphar-on-his-new-solo-show-and-unarmed-black-men-in-america-111 )
Originally, I wrote the last line using the N-word but when I read it at poetry night I felt the need to censor it because I thought it would make some people feel uncomfortable. That was a mistake
Oooooooh interesting. Can I ask what made you decide to change the last line?
Such a nicely worded poem. You make me feel hopeful, inspired, and happy for this man. The imagery allowed me to create him in my mind, I was rooting for him, anticipating the next line to be better than the last. Awaiting his successes, I considered his purity, his innocence and want for good.
Until the end, when reality hit, the systematic baba bullshit world we live in that - even when unintentional - will prevent him from flourishing like others just because of his physical features. it's systematic and old, we know it, but it still hurts.