Black Ice Poem by Alex Kenneh

When you see my color, what's your first impression?
Does the sight of us leave you guessing?
Or do you understand the frustration
The lost look in our many faces like
We were never deserving of the Lord's graces.

But

All I remember is
Teacher Julia teaching us about our creator.
Her pocketbook grand baby boy
Yet all She remembers is knocking hard heads and passing genes to trouble connoisseurs.
And we know She still has a few cents for our behavior:
Never forget -
you are highly favored.

Nevertheless

Never for the playwrights
Not even the coroners are in our corners.
We've been acting out to get rights.
Lost hope laid out in streets,
Lost in the world still a threat in plain clothes.
We've been in high demand highly sought
Found minding my own, concrete my rose.
Works of art, different times still being bought

If only

If Heaven was a mile away,
World, just know I would leave you.
What if we are never enough?
We've been repenting,
They pray on us,
Lord forgive us,
Heaven only knows,
The apologies due.
Excuses that failed the living,
Relegated from thrones,
Black was the color of sunshine,
Now adapting to t shirts.

Our dreams should stay fictional.
Our prime should be halted.
Young, gifted and impatient,
We're still assessing
Our light
Our blight
Our God and
Our devils
Have patience.

Got used to looks of disgust
One description fits all
Like what are we?
At risk
Of forsaking our gifts?
Recovering from the lies
Told we're born sinners.
Like we're barely worth it.
For the love of a purpose,
Nostalgic of old propositions,
God about a recall.

But in spite of all that
God knows our worth,
And is the only
One
Worth impressing…