CIRCLE OF POETS OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
  • About Us
    • Meeting Dates and Schedule
    • Become a Member
    • EVENTS GALLERY >
      • NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2019
      • National Poetry Day 2018
      • WORLD POETRY DAY 2018
      • National Poetry Day 2017
      • 2016 Member Apreciation
      • World Poetry Day 2015 >
        • National Poetry Day 2014
      • Collaboration with Culture House- WS80 and Unveiling of the 2015 GAPP Awards Logo
      • Quinquagenary Workshop 2012
      • World Poetry Day 2012
      • World Poetry Day 2011
      • National Poetry Festival 2009
      • National Poetry Festival 2007
      • World Poetry Day 2007
      • World Poetry Day 2006
  • Programmes
    • Poet Laureate of Trinidad and Tobago HOME
    • Poem of the Month
  • Contact Us

History Blackened Soul - Kym Chapman

13/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Black soul,
darkened by my story,
our collective history.
My dignity was ripped from me,
when I was put in chains,
shackling my identity.
My world was torn apart by destroying my ancestry,
Redefining who I can consider my family.
Denied me the stories that I would have been told,
if I'd stayed in the land that was originally my own.
Placed me in the sun to work for less than sh...
But the sun?
It only blackened my skin, while hardening my spirit.

Our collective history repeated in our story today,
But unlike the slaves of old, we no longer fight to save our world.
We watch as our families breakdown,
because parents are separated or might as well be.
Robbing ourselves and our children of their identity.
Instead of fighting against what wants to keep us at bay.
We sit around and say that we dream of a better day.
But we only dreaming.
Correction - we only dreaming of dreaming, not even dreaming of fighting.

Burns me that all those...
years and
marching and
writing and
singing and
walking and
talking and
studying and
inventing
is now being blackened by our present story.

Because now we're killing time on the street, selling our selves short.
Marching past the college's without a glance at the open door.
Writing only what others wants us to say (of course being politically correct).
Only singing about how my booty is making you sweat.
Captivated by the lore of ghetto royalty,
instead of aspiring to be the true kings and queens our history wanted us to be.
We are no longer blackened by our history.

We don't face the sun anymore.
Afraid we'll get blacker than the way we were born.

Our history grew out of the heat of the blazing sun.
Yet our present has been cooled to almost arctic temperatures.
But...
Our future though is still ours to mold.
We can stay inside...
Or...
Step out into the sun and reignite the flames of the black soul.


Copyright Kym Chapman
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About Poetry Day in T&T

    For many years the Circle of Poets showcased local poetry by many popular and budding poets of this land. For this 2014 observance of National Poetry Day, we invite all poets, professional or amateur, to share your original poems with us and celebrate T&T Poetry.

    Archives

    October 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About Us
    • Meeting Dates and Schedule
    • Become a Member
    • EVENTS GALLERY >
      • NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2019
      • National Poetry Day 2018
      • WORLD POETRY DAY 2018
      • National Poetry Day 2017
      • 2016 Member Apreciation
      • World Poetry Day 2015 >
        • National Poetry Day 2014
      • Collaboration with Culture House- WS80 and Unveiling of the 2015 GAPP Awards Logo
      • Quinquagenary Workshop 2012
      • World Poetry Day 2012
      • World Poetry Day 2011
      • National Poetry Festival 2009
      • National Poetry Festival 2007
      • World Poetry Day 2007
      • World Poetry Day 2006
  • Programmes
    • Poet Laureate of Trinidad and Tobago HOME
    • Poem of the Month
  • Contact Us