inadequate?
I've had it...
being compared to women
who don't compare to me
by people who don't know me
won't take the time to show me
decency
to even try

not pretty...
by who's standards?
by the people who can't see
beyond hair texture?
by imperfect judgmental human beings
feigns
for a Europeans

"she was a beautiful girl"
is he telling me I'm not beautiful enough
that if I was liquid in his cup...
his cup would be half full
and she would fill it up?

if I were a little taller
would I reach the mark
or maybe my skin is just too dark
how are you measuring my beauty
because by your standards
you might always see
inadequacy

Stuffed of Love

Tightly capped
So we pushed,
pulled
Opened together

Now,
We can’t finish
It’s wasted

Only tasted

Defeat
bitter
once was sweet

Take it away

Can't handle
Can’t eat
What we wanted
And we fought for

Can’t endure
Just a little bit more
Stuffed
Had enough
of
Love

©Tia L. Clarke 2010

Seems you think of me
Mind on me
Bended knees
Face wet
Slippery as feet
Crossing a mossy stone
Grown enough
To admit what I can’t
Decades separate
Separating us

Bound by words
Bind my mind
To yours
Oceans surrounding
Tempting us to jump in
But I
cannot
swim

© Tia Clarke 2010

I'm not Drunk...I'm Tipsy

strip me
of all inhibition
I give you permission
to derail me
frail me
will be strong enough
for you to lean on
to break up
to hold

call me
into submission
in any position
you can think of
speak of
dream of
dreams never so sweet
I think...

laughter, tears
you burn
my chest
you bring out my worst
you are the best
I think...

strip me
I'm not Drunk
I'm Tipsy
I think...

© Tia Clarke 2009

Why Keep Rags

1.
ripping at the seams
like a poorly constructed dress
needle and thread
nor seamstress
can keep us together

we're done

2.
stick a knife in us
burnt to a crisp
charred remains of dedication
we no longer have
the strength to love each other

too weak to stand
the sight of you
makes me ill
to think this love is over
good luck, no luck
no four leaf clover
could help

3.
our cards have been dealt
joker
left me
after you poke her
I lost the game
sucker

Loved too much
you

I pity her
"I do"
to a man
who don't
who won't
who can't
love her like the start of a new day

appreciate her
like sunbeams
on the face of a prisoner

4.
locked in your love

for decades
clinging to me
like meat
to the bones of the dead
buzzards pick
you're tricked

you Prick
splinter in my finger
small
big enough to hurt
yet
want us mended
pretended
to be what I needed

conceited

5.
concede defeat
at the end of all you can eat
buffet closed
done weighing my pros
you're a con

I'm conscious now

© Tia Clarke 2009

First Draft

i detest love
what a mess i've become
because of loving
how weak
weakened by emotions
guiding my movements
bitter lovers
sweet love
end it
before it ends me
like this first draft
this love
will be forgotten

We lose loved ones
But their love lives
Within us
Binding
Remaining souls
To live
in love

©Tia L. Clarke 2009

Polls Now Open

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 the country’s
still a mess
Take a chance
think...

Then Speak
Then Vote

(editted from my Project Speak)
©Tia L. Clarke 2009

Fabric Softner

cotton panties
entangled in satin sheets

leather stilettos
lodged in cracks of wooden floors

silk blouse
slung over a Lasko fan

gold earring
missing one of its kind

pink scarf
binds us together

blue boxer briefs
set him free

brown belt
looped through more than pants

buttons missing shirts
heels missing shoes
out turned pockets
change scattered on the floor
laundry

the morning before

©Tia Clarke 2009

With or Without Sex

Close enough
to taste your sweat
breathe in your breath
inflate my lungs
arch my back
when you
crack your neck
Drink
I thrist for you
I dance
to the pain in your heart
pump my blood
with your thoughts of life
open your eyes
so I can see
watch
while you
enter me

intimacy

© Tia Clarke 2009

Play Ground

I
want
to

Be near you
bodies close
sweet sensation of your
kiss

Bliss
Fully imagine
the warmth of your

Touch
me
here

Yes right there
finger tips
glide down erect nipples
skin infected with
goose pimples

I
want
to

Be near you
rib to rib
cage me in
your monkey bar
arms

Slurred
speech
just as you

Touch me
tease me
tongues
play on jungle gyms
of saliva

I
want
to

Be brave enough
to be
your play ground.

© Tia Clarke 2009

nes-cheat-fe (nescafe)

They told me
Entering that competition was a pure set up
Tia...you're too dark
too short and too fat
Apparently I didn't understand that
And for 30 minutes under a bright light
Under the scrutiny of judges
On a hot night
I learned
That despite what people say
I can not be a model
Smiling and Bubbly can go to hell
I knew all too well
Odds were stacked against me
But
With sincerity
I can say
Maybe I didn't deserve to win
But I will throw it out there
Neither did the girl that did....

Farewell

Quickly
you settled
under my skin
deep with in
me
no time to think
and I didn't

Silly
little me
big heart
knew this would happen
from the start
swiftly it did

Soon as
it begun
I must bid
you
farewell

Pinocchio

Bear with me
while
I bare myself
splinters
and all

See him?
the guy in these poems
in my eyes
in my heart
my heart string
my Gepetto

I love this guy
in these poems

Does he love me?
I wonder...
How much longer,
do I let him
toy with me?
can't he see,
I can never lie to him?

Made of wood
would he
love me
enough
to make me
a real girl
cause I have a real heart
I know

his blood pumps it
sometimes
his feet stomps it
thank heavens
the rest of me
is made of wood

©Tia L. Clarke 2009

It Is Mine

I will not cry for you:
these eyes belong to me
though
my heart longs for you
I will not cry

I will not lose sleep for you:
this mind belongs to me
though
my body is restless for you
I will not lose sleep

I will keep my sanity
Though I am crazy over you
I will remain sane

Or at least try to...

©Tia L. Clarke 2009