Chaotic Control
by Sumayyah Talibah
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Sumayyah Talibah
Cover Design by Sumayyah Talibah
Smashword Edition, License Notes
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Contents
thanks for the fire
bleed
afterthought
debt
grounded
good enough
no name
blind
morning after
brand new day
shaken
new moon
watcher
routine
yes
honest lies
slave to freedom
love song
normal
Amerika: Things Fall Apart
living on the edge
understanding
triple threat
for my people of the diaspora
black star
silent song
born free
protect and serve
child's prayer
about me
chaotic control
nobody
bittersweet
ancestors
rise
*****
thanks for the fire
thanks for the fire
that you poured on me
from the sky
thanks for the browbeating
you delivered to me
when i spoke out of turn
i opened up my borders
let you come inside
because you said
you'd save my soul
and teach me how to teach my sons
but you stole the heat
and livelihood
my diamonds and my coal
my rubber and my gold
thanks for the flames
you sent me
as i cried out in pain
you said they'd cleanse me
but they burned
took away my knowledge
my history and my pride
tell me why
now that my heart is filled with sorrow
and the teardrops mark my trail
why'd you mislead me
why'd you take away my home
opened my arms
released my joy
told it to fly
and return when it found a place
i'd call my own
away from evil deeds
thanks for the memories
the nightmares of my trust and shame
the rumors of the light that waits
for me to gain to my sight
for the darkest veils to be cast away
thank you again
thank you again
thanks for the fire
that burns inside my chest
moving my feet forward
even as i wish to rest
just close my eyes and sleep
wallow in sacred memory
thanks for the tears
that wash away dirt of shame
and spur me on my way
thank you again
thank you again
bleed
red is the color
of the blood my people shed
whipped and beaten
holding up tree branches
with their necks
the strength that brought us over
the fire that burned
the symbol of hope
that you spurn
red is the sacrifice
that was made for you
so you could
leave school
smoke weed
make babies
and rot
professional freeloader
blaming your failures
on The Man
with his foot
on your back
blaming the darker peoples
that came after you
blaming your mother
for giving up on you
blaming your father
for not being there for you
blaming everybody
but you