Red Room Poem

Listen

Do not be confused by what you see,
A white american male is far from what defines me.
Do not be tricked by rust that covers aging iron,
strength still holds sturdy in its changing ions.
Open your ears and drop your judgement,
there cannot be fear in hearing the following statement.
I am the brook that cannot be controlled,
the seed that buds and continues to grow.
I am the sand between your toes,
the waves that crash and the cool wind that blows.
I am the voice of your mother when you needed coddling, someone to hold,
I am the voice of your father when he was forced to be bold.
I am the tar that gives your wheels traction,
I am high-end fashion, loves action, and hearts satisfaction.
I am the song that beats in your head,
the sun that rises and the moon that shines while you’re in bed.
I am the pen that scribbles your thoughts to paper,
the dream of strength that makes you your savior.
I am the tree, the roots, the trunk, the limbs,
the air that moves to fill your lungs.
I am the mirror that reflects your smile, your hopes, your scars, your fears,
the goose bumps on your skin, and the compulsion to bring one near.
I am the light in the darkest night,
I am strength, courage, honor, wisdom, and might.
I am the shadow that hides,
I am weak, insecure, shy, wrong, and I cry.
I am the innocence of a child held within their smirk,
and your wine, your bottle, your label, and your cork.
I am a guitar and all of its strings,
a door bell letting you know someone is here, ding, ding.
I am everything and I am nothing,
I am together, I am alone and it’s crushing…
I am the chair that supports you when you feel ugly,
I am chocolate, sugar, snacks and the anger when you say don’t nudge me.
I am black, white, red, yellow, and brown,
I am the world, the continents, the country, the state, and the town.
I am pisces, virgo, sagittarius, cancer, scorpio, and all,
I am short, fat, thin, and tall.
Do not let your mind confuse, do not think these words not be true,
I know this is me because I know it is also you.

Parallel Shores

to the land of the beautiful,
the home of the brave:

A voice rises from these chains.
Strengthen your authority.
Define your lines,
as you let freedom flourish at the expense of your neighbor

the silence devastates her
and complicates the voyage
the sun flees from her cheeks
as twilight peaks

she breathes in a breath of uncertainty
and contemplates a home of fallacy
fevered with confusion,
society is marked by illusion

tousled between generations of division
implants of a national vision;
silver spoons in mouth and hand
the embodiment of the patriarchal land

can you define the beauty in ignorance?
and swallow personal responsibility
strip rights with every new policy
answer to “justice is a game”

Yet, you provide her with the ability to flee
to tread water to the faraway seas
she packs up white supremacy,
and unloads her secularity.

she lands as a living, breathing, form of hypocrisy

she arrives by night
wavering between modes of societies
wanders the streets without fright
and floats in the clouds auspiciously 

her spirit and soul,
dances in the company of ghosts.
as she embraces the dawn of the western horizon
and pays homage with a morning toast

she learns of oriental philosophies
and forgets duality
in a delicate balance of identities,
syncretism breeds equality

she channels the waves of civility to the island’s shores
the winds paralyze her as ‘that foreigner’
she pulls back the conspiracies
and hides in the face of academic responsibilities

her freedom is implored by context
in a land bought and sold, at best
and blooming with adversity
a lotus bred from the dust

her discontent travels from her heart to feet
rain floods over these streets,
she’s caught in a storm of complacency
a reminder of our congruency

the magnificence of the sky,
the extensions of orchids loom
the harmony of nature’s hum
the anticipation of a full moon

Afflicts us with no sensation,
a lantern illuminates an ugly light of these nations
learn to keep face, hold your tongue
because what’s left unsaid,
is left undone.

with love,

an old soul from parallel shores. Read more