"The Audacity Of Hope"

“The Audacity of hope”

In reference to, or the thing generically or universally considered
Sad that some of you still call me a highly offensive term for a black person, go figure
To be daring or willing to challenge assumptions or conventions
We needed one who would bring our dreams to fruition
Indicating the affected by performing the action of
Jaws hurting from teeth showing and embracing the unity, the love
Courageously avoiding the customary way of doing things
Hanging on every word as if he were Marvin Gaye mercy me
Tackling the difficult or dangerous assumptions of those from previous, prior than
Witnessing this for my ancestors chained to the bowels of a boat shows me where I stand
Ahead of the times, with little time to spare
For once, the sometimes-United States of hate will care
How dare one believe, the nerve, the simple eloquent audaciousness of being bold
Inside my head screaming this must be
I have conviction in my belief no more lies, I accept it, I can see
The old has been replaced by the innovative, fresh and modern
The past is done; don’t forget, but no need to mourn
To think I am ashamed by my previous contemplations as they lacked profound intensity
Was I holding myself back?
Surely, this could not be the circumstances of my lack of progress
I did not end up a statistic nor do I stand out in a crowd
No babies at a young age, and being black is what makes me proud
Am I living to my full potential I ask as I greet each new day?
Praying tomorrow will be better as I dream them away
Too comfortable we have become
Wake up, I scream like Fishbourne in the Daze
Time for the new day, the next phase
Everyone stirred up, loving this new shade of black majestic, grand, stately and gleaming
Hating everything about this new shade banging their heads while screaming
It can’t be, it cannot be, but all are involved
Everyone has something to say or feel whether it is a smile or a scowl
Why are you so mad like there is a stench or someone committed a foul
Anger and misunderstanding spew forth, why are you,” people”, happy over a color you know so well
Patiently I explain away the ignorance and why I am so proud, you are upset because you don’t want me to excel
You assumed I wanted to be like you, but we created our own world and we grew
Even learned how to intermingle between worlds, back and forth surviving in the two
Could you do that?
Would you do that?
No need to answer because you never had too
I trained and fought for this country, hatemonger did you?
I sacrificed, but does it matter, dirty looks or blatant disregard for me
Are you mad because we are happy?
We followed the star to the north, walked instead of going to the back of the bus, low and behold the man running the country looks like us
This is not the highest peak we’ve reached, or the end of the race
I know this man has set the pace
I’m running harder, and have gotten my second wind
Pushing myself, singing out loud, I’m making it around the bend
Pushing myself while screaming
Yes I Can!

By:
“The Wordsmith”
R. Nicole Lee (TweetDammit!)


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