Mo "Loumoste" Stegall

Met HIV?
Not in the sense of contracting
But Have U Ever met HIV?

Have U Ever,

Been in the maternity ward while
It was being birthed?
It's not like most labors,
U see there ain't no doctors
Smiling at you holding some small being
saying congratulations
It's a beautiful boy or girl!
Nah! The doctors looking at it
Like they see death and
With every gasp it takes they
Think this could be its last breath.

Have U Ever,

Experienced the ignorance that arrives
From its birth?
See as I told you
Ain't no daddies in this delivery room
With camcorders and cigars
Because they've turned into bewildered
Fathers whom society won't
Bother to help heal their wounded scars.

Have U Ever,

Had a conversation with HIV,
And heard the pain in her voice?
Or listened to the trembling,
Sounding like waves ripping
Against a white sanded shore?
Or a little child trapped
Behind some fictitious smile
Because all the while it couldn't
Escape from beneath from hatred's door?

Have U Ever

Held HIV's hand in yours
While frail and weak
Barely living with little or no words to speak?

Have U Ever

Wrapped your arms around HIV
Knowing that
That could be the very last time
You held it,
So afraid that you held it and held it and held it
Until it evaporated
Out of sight?
Well I have and I still hold
The pain that Mama's song sang
On that fateful April night.

Have U Ever

Wished you had the power
To bring the dead back to life?
Guess what!
You do and it's called encouragement
And you can start by
Telling HIV that you love her.
Or telling HIV that you love him,
Or Telling all the HIV's in the world
That you love them.

HAVE U EVER? Loumoste®™