Who am I, Why am I here?
Updated: Feb 14, 2019
Thank you to Priestess Yogini Nu Ra Dina for the words and inspiration entitled and repeated in this poem. You have asked this question in my presence and shared it as an offering for each of us to seek our purpose. These questions ring in my ears and I am so grateful to you for the rhythm of the ask.
Who Am I, Why am I Here
I came out from the mouths of babes
Grew up like a tree
In between
The graves
Got warned about the ones from the caves
And the ones getting saved
I was South Philly born
I was MGT raised
I was raised
Left the hood for the farm
Wear a hood to keep warm
Wear my hood to keep from harm
And they removed their hoods
Would you believe?
So I ripped off my sleeve, put my heart on my arm
So, when I lift shit,
I feel it
All the weight, bestowed by the greats
Rests on these shoulders like
There's no time to waste
Like
There's no time for fear
Just ask the question
Hold back the tears
Who am I
Why am I here
Mama told me to use my own voice
I looked up, didn't have any choice
All I can hear are the voices of old
Can you imagine trying to carry all of that gold?
Trying to be that bold
Trying to hold and not fold
But this isn't my deck
I'm all but a wreck
Everything but a speck
In this universe that coils
With this blood that just boils
And I'm reaping the spoils of "accidental" ornaments
On trees, whose purpose wasn't meant
To strangle
But whose purpose just
Got tangled with rope
And loosened with nooses
On a
White woman's whim
or
A Black man's skizm
It was you
You killed him
It was me
I birthed him into being
In a world I was seeing
Didn't believe he would ever be free
I earthed him and birthed him
Then, as his daughter, I cursed him
Wished him back into living
Then prayed and gave thanks
It was thanks I was given
And in my haste, I was given a burden to bear
I know why I'm here,
Who am I kiddin
My purpose is written
I mean writing
I'm trippin
I'm fallin
I'm callin
For help, but I'm stalling
At the butterfly sanctuary
All I was looking for was
A little sanctuary
The angst is scary
If I build it, they will come
But if the shit hits the fan
They might help some
Where am I from but the mouths of babes
and who am I
But the
Dream of the slaves
Or their memories, even
Gratitude fills the air
Breathe in hope
Breathe out fear
Inhale life
Exhale strife
It's not easy, always, but we still are here
In this space
We've lost our fear
Gained our voices
Made the choices to connect
In heaven's dance
Mama calls it choreography
And I say it's meant to be
By Tannur Ali
(c) 2018 All Rights Reserved

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