I'm Stuck: Crossroads

Ever been stuck doing something and you couldn't figure out why and there was no reason in your mind. Well what started out as a situation where I couldnt understand my mental block ended up in my newest of poems. Although the reason I got stuck isn't really the theme of the poem but it addresses difficult, mental and physical "crossroads".

Stuck

I’m stuck
Between this rock and a hard place
I’m stuck
Which direction do I take?
I’m stuck
Left or right, back or forth
I’m stuck
East, west, north or south
I’m stuck
Running out of time, running out of luck
I’m stuck
This seems so right though I know it’s wrong
I’m stuck
Should I tell or just remain mute?
I’m stuck
Maintain the lie or tell the truth
I’m stuck
Because what I need is not what I want
I’m stuck
Now I refuse to choose, refuse to move
I’m stuck
Oh help me for I’m still confused
I’m stuck
Asking for, but refusing the help
I’m stuck
I; my own worst enemy, still my own best friend
I’m stuck
My insecurities will ruin my strength
I’m stuck, yes I’m stuck

by

Delroy "Nesta" Williams

I'm performing this one at the NYC talent show for Global Youth Service Day at the Community Hostels Inc (Grotto Home for the Homeless) on Saturday

Why I write poetry

This isnt the first poem I read, nor is it the first one to touch me, but it is the first one that said what i wanted to say in poetry. I can't remember where I first read, heard or saw it being performed but I do remember that it touched my inner being.

Yesterday I saw it being performed again by Matubaruka and all the feelings came back all at once, the feelings of oppression, struggle, fight, freedom and so much more came back to me and I saw my purpose all over again. It also brought back so much emotion and memory, like the first time i saw the Colour Purple or the Roots miniseries on TV.

Made me feel ashamed and proud to be Black all at the same time. Ashamed because we seem to forget while claiming to remember, we seem to be conscious so much but ignorant of alot more. It is probably the longest poem that I have read and it still manages to capture me, line after line. And this poem is:

Dis Poem

by Mutabaruka

dis poem

shall speak of the wretched sea

that washed ships to these shores

of mothers cryin for their young

swallowed up by the sead

is poem shall say nothin new

dis poem shall speak of time

time unlimited time undefined

dis poem shall call names

names like lumumba kenyatta nkrumah

hannibal akenaton malcolm garvey

haile selassie

dis poem is vexed about apartheid rascism fascism

the klu klux klan riots in brixton atlanta

jim jones

dis poem is revoltin against 1st world 2nd world

3rd world division man made decision

dis poem is like all the rest

dis poem will not be amongst great literary works

will not be recited by poetry enthusiasts

will not be quoted by politicians nor men of religion

dis poem s knives bombs guns blood fire

blazin for freedom

yes dis poem is a drum

ashanti mau mau ibo yoruba nyahbingi warriors

uhuru uhuru

uhuru namibia

uhuru soweto

uhuru afrika

dis poem will not change things

dis poem need to be changed

dis poem is a rebirth of a peoplarizin awaking understandin

dis poem speak is speakin have spoken

dis poem shall continue even when poets have stopped writin

dis poem shall survive u me it shall linger in history

in your mindin time forever

dis poem is time only time will tell

dis poem is still not written

dis poem has no poet

dis poem is just a part of the story

his-story her-story our-story the story still untold

dis poem is now ringin talkin irritatin

makin u want to stop it

but dis poem will not stop dis poem is long cannot be short

dis poem cannot be tamed cannot be blamed

the story is still not told about dis poem

dis poem is old new

dis poem was copied from the bible your prayer book

playboy magazine the n.y. times readers digest

the c.i.a. files the k.g.b. files

dis poem is no secret

dis poem shall be called boring stupid senseless

dis poem is watchin u tryin to make sense from dis poem

dis poem is messin up your brains

makin u want to stop listenin to dis poem

but u shall not stop listenin to dis poem

u need to know what will be said next in dis poem

dis poem shall disappoint u

because

dis poem is to be continued in your mind in your mind

in your mind your mind

for more info on the Jamaican poet or to view him performing the poem

And this poem shall live on in me

Nest@