If I Called a Rose a Nigger
If I call a rose a nigger...
Would it give off fragrances
Of a different mixture?
Would the color fade from
Red to dark brown?
Would it stop facing towards the sun
And hold its head down?
Tell me now
Do you suppose?
That after being called a nigga...
A rose
Would take off its peddles
And wear baggy clothes?
And start referring to all the other flowers
As bitches & hoes?
The answer is...
No!
And nor should you or anybody else
Allow a word to define you
The people who do that
Are blind to
The fact that we give words
Their definitions
That's why words can serve purposes
With multiple dimensions
Because its not the word that's used.
But the intentions
That decide whether its used for good
Or used for inflictions
Would it give off fragrances
Of a different mixture?
Would the color fade from
Red to dark brown?
Would it stop facing towards the sun
And hold its head down?
Tell me now
Do you suppose?
That after being called a nigga...
A rose
Would take off its peddles
And wear baggy clothes?
And start referring to all the other flowers
As bitches & hoes?
The answer is...
No!
And nor should you or anybody else
Allow a word to define you
The people who do that
Are blind to
The fact that we give words
Their definitions
That's why words can serve purposes
With multiple dimensions
Because its not the word that's used.
But the intentions
That decide whether its used for good
Or used for inflictions
Don't allow words to define who you are...
But define the words
Published by Lloyd Pearson IV
My gift is bigger than writing. Writing is just one of the ways I can express my gift.I've only been writing for less than a year, but I have always been a free thinker. I website for networking with poets.... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentbEAUTIFUl & Brilliant!
Oh I like this poem! This is very well written and I love how the rhythm to it also. The message is so great! Thank you for sharing. Please, post again sometime.
This is brilliant, Paradox. It's been a while since you've published. Are you still writing?
Very thought provoking poem!
I'm printing it out to give to some of the students I teach, I think they need to read this one!
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/402464/nigger_36.html
I like this. I gave it a 5. Although, PETALS is the correct spelling of peddles
I like it, because it's true!
You write beautiful truth. Those men you describe in "In-Security Guard" haven't destroyed everything yet. Your writing is evidence, and a part of our hope. My favorite CP list just expanded by one.
Loved the poem. Keep writing young brotha.