Block Poet

Unlike the beat poets, I'm a block poet. Meaning My words don't come out in graceful shifts. It's been awhile since I have even attempted, but I am determined to get my ass down to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe eventually. Even if it's only for myself and by myself. So lets dust off the old thought process.

I think this poem is a comparison (not my best) of learning to love the city and learning a lot about the culture of its inhabitants. Especially a particular Puerto Rican family whom I really love. It's also a smidge about my struggle to accept myself in a community so steeped with culture and also being afraid of rejection. New Yorkers take their heritage much more seriously then many of the outer laying suburbs and it has been an eye opening experience to live here. One that I think will benefit me for a lifetime.

.......................

Heavy you laid on me
the air was thick
but only from your smoke
but I took you in anyway
Your bark's always been bigger than your bite.
stray as you were

Imposing you were on me
rooted deep with culture
I still don't know my name
but all the world has seen you

Often I don't see the daylight
you keep me in the dark
I've tried to go about
but I take the bumps personally

I laugh anyway
because what you say
is all a joke
my skins a joke
my life's a joke
my jobs a joke
and its OK for you to say

and still I bury my head deep in my pillow
and crawl in with you in the night
heavy you lay upon me
so I squint my eyes
making the focus blurry

I try not to take the pokes personally
but if I speak back
what happens to me
you are so imposing
I know only you to be
one whose bark is bigger than their bite
so I bury my head at night
and you kiss my eyelids

music pours out from you
you don't always hear it
rhythm is in everything you do
you breath and move
the beat is timed
every moment new

culture is so ingrained in you
I still don't know my name
you would rather be called anything than what you are
so I call you muneco
in my sleep
it's safer to say it where no one can hear me.

your so imposing
the air is always thick
from your smoke
I took you in anyway
stray as you were.