Dark Corners
By: Tilla Sonrise
what drives men
to live in dark corners of there memories
writing memoirs
in midnight hours
where only the silence is listening
what makes men
build monuments
to be buried in then seal the tomb
so no one can view the body
what drives men
insane
forced to live in the dark matters
in there brain
what makes them love the burdens
refuse to eat
sit up all night long and
refuse to sleep
is it the music
that plays like
skipped records of Shakespearean plays
othello and juliet
born of death like macbeth
still births
paint themselves
like the tapestries of dead men
like baby killing doctors
and the darkness that surrounded
prince’s father
what moved colbain
to hendrix on a janice joplin
or elvis to michael jackson
does monroe reflect madonna
where’s the child
that has his own
or was billie right
life an endless fight
where men try to exist in the
dreams of others
flying from the pain of windows
dying under covers
in darkness
why do men hide
in solemn portraits
chins strapped to chest
as if it was a sin to smile
did curt
colbain
because he was trying to let his soul out
what drives men
to live in dark corners of there memories
writing memoirs
in midnight hours
where only the silence is listening
what drives men
to live in dark corners of there memories
writing memoirs
in midnight hours
where only the silence is listening
what drives men
to live in dark corners of there memories
writing memoirs
in midnight hours
where only the silence is listening
Sad Songs
by: Tilla Sonrise
i drew you a picture
its a cried river
drawn from the arrows of
cupids quiver
i shake
at the time it takes
for my fingers to dry my lids
wondering what i did
to live like this
i sit by the river
watching the sun go down
on midnight trains to georgia
i travel to motown
crying the tears of clowns
on benches in the park
i sit in the dark
searching my soul
looking for my heart
traveling down lonely roads
i run in the rain
trying to hide the pain
of this loss i’ve gained
rewinding love song refrains
like “i can’t change”
i sky dive from the curb
afraid to fall down
then i jump into the clouds
and wonder if i’ll drown
cyanide bullets but i don’t have a gun
sitting on railroad tracks
waiting for trains to come
tears triggered by shopping mall crones
can’t go to certain places
because they remind me of you
in my lonely sleep i wonder if you miss me too
wrote you a song and then i
forgot the notes
resorted to googling yahoo sad song picture quotes
sitting on windows seals
watching cars drive by
i see those in love laughing
then i remember us
then i pray for 82
and i long for the bus
so i can ride down to fifth avenue
and kick it with malcolm in harlem
and watch billie sing “nobody’s business” with betsy
go to sleep seek peace
but living wont let me
so i cry for you in dark corners
as if i could hide my face
in the middle of railroad tracks
trying to catch a ride
to the river i cried
and drew it in a picture
to give to you
cause without love
there is no life
just me
my music
my poetry
my pen
my pad
my hope in Christ
for the next life
sad songs
Steal Away
by: Tilla Sonrise
look into these eyes
remember these thighs
never yours to touch
but you swore you owned me
sneaking into my cabin at night
trying to know me
steal away you wretched soul
steal away you wretched soul
a nation of miscegenation
in the cotton fields we congregation
and mourn for selma
me, sarah gudger, frorida, weezy and thelma
wishing for the congo
before you were welcomed there
they’ll be singing
my spirituals in congo square
steal away you wretched soul
steal away you wretched soul
oh you wretched soul
mammy to your chilluns
while mine are sold
oh hated lover
your hands are warm
but your heart is cold
what will be said 100 years from now
when this story is told
the lies will say i loved you
and longed for your affection
when giving in
was my art form of protection
steal away you wretched soul
steal away you wretched soul
make me hate my midnight skin
and mourn my locks
sell my spot on endless blocks
because through 400 years of raping me
you’ve taught me i have no value
calling me
“nigger wench” and “black bitch”
my soul quotes you loosely
the horrible way you used me
so psychologically damaged
the last line of my grandchildren
will feel it and their pain will move me
steal away you wretched soul
steal away you wretched soul
sneaking into my cabin
late at night
under the threat of death
i had no means to fight
i
LEARNED
to
HATE
ME
my soul looks down on my ancestors
sad because they too long to be white
steal away
steal away
steal away
you wretched soul
steal away
steal away
steal away
you wretched soul
‘Yo’ know de sta’s don’ shine as bright as dey did back den. I wondah why dey don’. Dey jes’ don’ shine as bright.’ Sarah Gudger
Look at me Man……..How could you?
By: Tilla Sonrise
look at me man
look in my eyes
and tell me
you can’t see me
I reflect your face
like African mirrors
look at me man
look at my face
and tell me
how could you
snatch me from
the arms of my mother
knowing her language
was all I knew
look at me man
cause I can see you
I reflect you
like African mirrors
don’t look away
look at me man
and tell me
you can’t see me
reaching for my father
as you sell him
like oxen and mares
his shiny black skin
ripped like chicken garments
in the cotton fields of Georgia
look at me
look at me man
look me in my face
and tell me why you don’t care
call my mama
a nigger wench
and drag her by her
nappy hair
throw me over board into the ocean
like shark food
look at me
look at me man
I’m reflecting you like African mirrors
how could you
crush my head
as if I wasn’t the
the same as your kid
he has a mother
why have you murdered mine
in this stolen place
whenever
was man kind
you raped my sister
right in front of my face
then moved my father
from place to place
look at me
look at me man
how could you
look at me
look in my eyes
I reflect you
like African mirrors
you murder kids
and suffer no penalty
you go to church and
come out in white sheets
you leave rotten bodies
in ditches like strange fruit in trees
you separate us
because you know these
would be bloody streets
don’t look away
look at me
look at me man
I reflect you like African mirrors
I would grow to be a man
and you would grow to be my brother
I’m a warrior
I’m a prince
I’m a king
but I will never know
because you murdered me
by crushing my head
after quartering my mother
trying to make her a slave
dust is my grave
look at me
look at me man
how could you
look at me
look at me man
I reflect you like African mirrors
and still I exist
LOOK AT ME
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