Exit-ku

Seemingly guarded 

hearts fleeting east to somewhere

must avoid the storm

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

 

Syncopated

Cover me with bell tones and blue notes
staccato rhythms that come from loud horns
break up the letters of the alphabet so I can braid it into my hair
sing me lullaby's in the middle of the day with 3-part harmony
and then write all about that jazz in your journal

Prepare a package of Flute Hums like oxygen
high low octaves from your hidden thoughts
throw in a pitch only the chosen will hear
ringing cipher circling round-round the heart

Deliver sharp beats of melody one octave at a time
make the key signature a sign of explicit simplicity
bending noise-accidentals I'll use to paint my nails
layering strings between Prince screams from that 45
and then play ghost notes to grace notes just to see if I'm listening

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

The Story Never Ends - Part 1

Sometimes I am quiet and when I am quiet

in quiet-mode-silent to your ears-eyes 

absent physically unconnected spiritually

where you think I should be only near you

I flee quickly so quickly I flee

dust doesn't have a chance to cloud

'round your way...somewhere 'round my/your way

the killing never stops and cops ohhhhh I am quiet

but alive and keen in my consciousness

heart a bit ruptured but beating strong 

don't ask me to speak now...the story may never end

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

Musica-ku

I still breathe music
Fading loud at his last breathe
I sigh breathe music

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

Check out @SCLColeman's Tweet: https://twitter.com/SCLColeman/status/751644873032278018?s=09

First Day of Summer-ku

Very HOT outside
naked man sitting on grass
side-eyeing the sun

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

Yo No Entiendo (I don't understand) for Mandela and Rivera

God...Friends...random people on the street...
I'm 19 years old in 2012...
please help me to understand some words like Freedom and Liberty
out of bondage independently
no longer controlled, how we choose to be
is too often and overwhelmingly interrupted by the powers
I see that systematically enforce laws that don't serve we...our society/community
I heard that before Nelson Mandela and after Oscar Lopez Rivera...
You and me...then and now...locked up or beat down...ignored...
treated less than human...in the hole-no-light...save my soul...I'm only 19...
this isn't justice, it's trickery...seditious conspiracy?  Really...
Ay...ahhh Dios Aidame a entiendo words like la Libertad y Independencia
as I stand here with those who say everything that you're thinking...
when did it become a crime to love one's home
and the preservation of that home...tell me again,
mi besinos say I'm American...don't you know...but I'm still not clear...
is it what he said...who he led or a nations fear...
I'm 19 years old in 2012 y yo no entiendo

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman

Conversation piece: Big Plastic Ring

There are letters of the alphabet floating around in my head
hair follicles string a to z splendidly into words of clarity
as new audience peers at me through the cracked door
eyes sore from looking so hard and so long...
...what is she doing and what's with that big plastic ring?
Ha! Before we go any further audience, let me say this one thing...
...come here...yea come on in...I see you, yes come on in
listen, this is my notebook and this is my pen...I write

by Shonnese C.L. Coleman