Poetry

denisbin photo

 

By

Renee Drummond-Brown

 

 

 

The Swing

 

 

His mansion has

oak stairs. A southern

flare. The ghost of my past also

resides here.

 

The sounds of torture echoes like

plantation shutters swinging em’

to N’ fro.

As I polish his silverware. The floors

crack. The walls

speak; who lives here? Certainly

not me!

 

THAT dirt driveway houses

my DNA. The open door is locked. I enter

from the back to cook

his menus plus

add me some fat-back. My minds

on that auction block. Those slave ships. Moses

parting THAT Red Sea for me. Gotta’ get back

to work; cause, I don’t wanna’ swing. No!

Not on this day.  No! Not me. All

my clean windows see

“THAT”

infamous SHOW tree. Reminding us

O’

that swings plea. To make sure

you hang-em’ on high for

Massa’s sake and the picture-perfect imagery. I’m jus’

a passer by; til’ my turn to swing. Until then,

I’ll jus’ keep on telling; while keeping it clean.

 

 

 

 

Dear John,

 

 

Dear John,

I hope

this poem

finds you

in the best of health.

I love you

BUT…

I found

someone else.

 

He’s actually

your best friend

and

my babies’

dad.

I promise you though,

he

did-not

destroy

what you and I

once had.

 

I just grew tired

of you

being away

so

very long.

One thing led

to another;

felt so right

an’ yet

so wrong.

We tried to tell you

before

you left

for war.

But then

like the Temptations

we both thought

another

mind war;

hmm~~~

what is it good for?

 

So,

as stated before,

I love you,

BUT…

I found someone else~~~

that I

just

absolutely

adore.

 

Dear Jody,

Oh,

no one

must’ve

told you,

an’ you still

don’t know?

I married

your

best friend

LONG; LONG

LOOOOONG

before

I left home.

 

She gets

‘YOUR’

allotments,

medical coverage,

social security

and

my pension too.

We’re on an island

(military base)

‘laughin’

our butts off;

bout

how

WE BOTH

PLAYED YOU!

 

Hey Jody,

How’s them projects;

I left you in?

All them mixed babies?

The welfare checks

and my drug dealing

best friend?

 

Sorry sister girl,

you got played in the end.

See you,

when we come home

with

our

son,

daughter,

dog

and

Mercedes Benz.

Love John,

Your ex-lover and best friend.

 

 

 

 

Cycles

 

 

Momma told her not to do IT.

IT was done; she did not LISTEN

LISTEN to her, for what, and why, she too did it, AFTER-ALL?

AFTER-ALL, she had her at 16.

16, she, herself, should’ve been pristine CLEAN.

CLEAN as bleach on a summers CLOTHESLINE.

CLOTHESLINES, yeah, not soils hung out to DRY.

DRY stains. Tide can’t even get these out, nor CAN;

CAN a praise and/or SHOUT!

SHOUT it out!!! Should’ve been playin wit dolls, jacks and balls til 9:00.

NINE months to GO.

GO to jail…do not pass go til 18

EIGHTEEN-year BIDS.

BIDS her FAREWELL.

FAREWELL Momma says, “I told you so.”

 

 

 

 

 

Renee Drummond Brown

Renee Drummond-Brown, is an accomplished poetess with experience in creative writing. She is a graduate of Geneva College of Western Pennsylvania. Renee’ is still in pursuit of excellence towards her mark for higher education. She is working on her sixth book and has numerous works published globally which can be seen in cubm.org/news, KWEE Magazine, Leaves of Ink, Raven Cage Poetry and Prose Ezine, Realistic Poetry International, Scarlet Leaf Publishing House, SickLit Magazine, The Metro Gazette Publishing Company, Inc., Tuck, and Whispers Magazine just to name a few. Civil Rights Activist, Ms. Rutha Mae Harris, Original Freedom Singer of the Civil Rights Movement, was responsible for having Drummond-Brown’s very first poem published in the Metro Gazette Publishing Company, Inc., in Albany, GA. Renee’ also has poetry published in several anthologies and honorable mentions to her credit in various writing outlets. Renee’ won and/or placed in several poetry contests globally and her books are eligible for nomination for a Black Book award in Southampton County Virginia. She was Poet of the Month 2017, Winner in the Our Poetry Archives and prestigious Potpourri Poets/Artists Writing Community in the past year. She has even graced the cover of KWEE Magazine in the month of May, 2016. Her love for creative writing is undoubtedly displayed through her very unique style and her work solidifies her as a force to be reckoned with in the literary world of poetry. Renee’ is inspired by non-other than Dr. Maya Angelou, because of her, Renee’ posits “Still I write, I write, and I’ll write!”