Conch Sells

By: Tia L. Clarke

©Tia L. Clarke 2009

Write or Die

They call him wimp
cause he writes

They call him pimp
cause he fights

Bury the pimp on Saturday
But that wimp's
going home tonight

©Tia L. Clarke 2009

Pharoah

Critical
Pivotal
Sat by you
So calm
In the presence
Of a
King
Power
you possess
I’m a mess
Intrigued
By you

Smile
Shines
Melts me
Lick me up
Scoop me
Like rum raisin
In your cup

Body
Rippled like
The waves
In your hair
You must
Have built
Those pyramids
By yourself

Fought
Many battles
All won
I can not
Will not
Let you lose
I refuse
I give you me
My mind
My body

Egypt
Does not
Deserve you
Come on
Let me
Serve you

Pharoah

©Tia L. Clarke 2009

reputation
all you have

worth
more to you
than just
telling me the truth

worth
more to you
than just doing
what you'll say you'll do

not there because you want to be
just because you promised me
and can't mess up
your reputation

reputation
solicitation
of the real
or unreal
feelings for me
can't disappoint me
for yourself

but I love me
believe
since your reputation is all you have

I can leave

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

I Spy

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Insufficient

Almost good
isn't good enough
no one says, oh remember her, her poem was almost accepted into the journal.

And when you push
but you don't push through
there are no medals won, you lose, no matter how hard you pushed.

People say it isn't about winning
sometimes it's just about finishing
but I could finish a million poems, and if none are read, finishing didn't matter.

I'm just not good enough
Insufficient

...Just thinking

Peeking Out

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Writer's Delight

for Donnielle ~that Mackey friend of mine~

don't stifle
just grow
let it flow
like tears
kiss cheeks
trickle words
onto pages
blank ones
can't speak

tell the color
of rage
love
hope
trust

Trust you

"everything I write is shitty"
pity won't do
you can only
do you

writers write
cause it's a need
feed on it
fill up
put on a few pounds
haven't written in days
malnourished now

Project Speak

Addressed constantly
by politicians
who undress us
Detest us
do anything to
Defy us
Deny us
freedom of speech
if it’s against them
just men
making
Super human promises
Dismissed
after elected
neglected
Youngsters infected
PLP! FNM!
too young to vote
but look at them
followers of Christie and Ingraham
at ten
Cause my mom is
my dad is
born this
rallied together
crowd filled with mirth
brain dead
from birth
they know
no better

Trained to keep quiet
government knows best
but I look around
and the country’s
still a mess
Take a chance
think...
politicians
prey on the weak
so I’m invested
in Project Speak

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

Church Top

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Right

....my try @ spokenword; I've done it b4. Let's try it again.

I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that will make
make the Heathens
say Preach sister
make the Christians
say Oh Hell yes
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that fills me up inside
fills me to the brim
and on trying days
bring hope
where it's grim
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that makes men
understand
women
makes mothers
understand
children
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that makes the weak
strong
and the strong crumble
the arrogant humble
and a confident man
mumble
in awe of me
my grace
my abilities
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that opens doors
speaks to the masses
exceed barriers
stop putting people
in classes
cause we're
all created
in the image of him
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
for the children
without parents
to parents who lost
children
touch their
hearts
open their minds
there must be
better times
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that is melodic
that can
make even the
tone deaf
sound like they
can sing
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
that will make
my parents proud
my boyfriend smile
my friends glow
even though
they knew
I had the talent
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
when it rains
when it shines
when the paper
runs outta lines
I wanna write

I wanna write
something
cause I can
cause I want
cause I need
to write
nothings
ever been
so right
in the morning
in the night
in my sleep
nothing feels
more right

I wanna write...

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

Water Tower

Photographer: Tia L. Clarke

Red Eyes

I've been
down this road before

Promised myself
the last time
was the last

Tears rob
the white of my eye
trickling for
another guy

All night tears
can't believe
my
red eyes

Disguised
as an old friend
not so nice
to have you back

Loose
as you
frolic on
my face

Salty
I remember
this taste
DEFEAT

Another man
has me beat
crying
red eyes

Christ
Crisis
Cries...
red eyes

Thorns
now in the crown
that I wore
for nearly
two years

Snare
tears
like
a run in a stocking

Waterfall
defaming me
nothing purifying
about you
I doubt you
know
how I cry
over you.

I love you
you said you love me too
but it's just not that simple
Maybe I'm too simple

In my simplicity
you tricked me
to love you
Now you wanna leave.

I heave
at the thought of it
threw up in my mouth
just a little bit
sick
tired
of ...

Going down this road
Caloused feet
Corned toes
Red Eyes

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

Ears Wide Shut

He can't change
through my tears,
so...
he'll change
through the fear
of losing me

too complacent
comfortable
confident
of the fact that I'll never leave
that it is he
who I need
but its my fault
cause I planted that seed
and as you reap what you sow
I've stifled my growth
I've planted the tears
that has caused me to bleed

those seeds
he feeds...
my blood
I bleed
have I quenched your thrist
is my flesh enough
too hard to digest
my flesh
is tough

I had to
have to
have
alligator skin
but my love
for you
cut me
I had to
have to
let you in

But change
will come
behold the power
of MY tongue

if my tears can't change you
something will

©Tia L. Clarke 2008

My Views Count Too

Thought for the Day

I can not stand people who are overly opinionated and think they are always right.

Here's a note: SHUT YOUR MOUTH

LISTEN TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR A CHANGE

I have no problem with you having views, we all have them. Just for goodness sake give someone else a chance to talk. Your thoughts, feelings and beliefs are not the only ones that need to be respected.

....jus lettin ya kno...