FMBM
I’m thinking of ending things
and this poem ain’t about telling u why
This poem not for u.
This one is for my mom
Who showed me the phrase “I’m good” can be like breathing
That these niggas can truly kick rocks
And that you better build urself up cause sometimes that’s all u got
Don’t expect nothing
Don’t ask for nothing
This poem is not for you
This one is for my grandma
Who taught me that love isn’t verbal
It’s action
It’s putting ur money where ur mouth is
Spending time
Listening
Love is listening
And waiting and working
She taught me that Love is God
And that God is in me
Therefore I am where love resides
This poem is not for you
It’s for my father who was never there
Who taught me what distance meant
Who showed me what absence does to a human
Because of him
I know what A man pretending to love you for 30 mins look like
When he slips up on ur name and calls u something else
Or forgets ur birthday
Or never calls or texts
When he does show up it’s a special occasion
He enters as of his presence is the gift
But some how it’s not
Somehow the gesture is not a gesture but a habit
And the habit is annoying—no, infuriating—no, painful—no, numb.
This poem is not for you
Cause I’m done giving u shit
This poem is for everybody else actually
This poem is for anybody else
But this shit here def ain’t for u
Bring Back Jodeci (1995)
Niggas be real thin these days
No depth
No juice
No flavor on the first approach
Maybe After the second stroke
they’ll spill a secret or two
Cry about they ex or failed music careers or some other dumb shit But the truth is
They ain’t filled w much
Unfortunately
Niggas ain’t built like they used to be
The thickness runs rare these days
And The real buried themselves so deep they’ve become plastic U ever tried sleeping on plastic?
Fuck that shit
Im making a distress call
To the men in the back
Watching the fraudulent thrive
And the givers fumble
Rise up from your seat
And sing a real song
W vamps and bridges
A nice 6/8 like they used to play
This autotune shit is getting old
I’m tired of the samples
Of the post production hiding flat niggas w sharp tones Gimme a man who don’t need to lipsync
And let me sit back for once
Brutus and the rest
I always love it
When men do that thing
Where they open up
But not really
A very earnest attempt
At being vulnerable—
‘I love you’
An admirable feat
When men hug
The earth quakes
Sea levels rise
Clouds turn pink
When fathers stay
And Brothers don’t die
And husbands don’t leave
I like dat
I love it
When they care enough
To try to love
An admirable feat
Lovely are the men
Who love just enough
Who give
A fraction of the rock
Honorable
Honorable
All honorable men
…