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Truth is Stranger than Fiction

poems

March 13, 2016

She was not a poet

No one told her she was supposed to taste the lyrics first That her brain was supposed to decipher the intent of melody before it escaped her mouth That her taste buds were supposed to burst forth before she spit them out She had no aspiration that we should admire Never attended a poet’s university… Continue reading

Poetry

#SundayBlogShare, blog, gift, google, lyric, metaphor, Open mic, pbs, poems, poetry, simile, spoken word, talent, wordpress
February 24, 2016

Why I Write Black

Because flowers grow in strange places like tattered pieces of wood and recycled paper Because history is frost bitten and winter refuses to be comforted by the sun bluish-white and numbed pain cold skin and prickling feeling Because the sky don’t stay dark forever but light ain’t taught in history class Because… Continue reading

Poetry

#WWWblogs, black history, blog, courage, google, historical, hope, poems, poetry, spoken word, strength, wordpress, write, writing
January 14, 2016

Brown Skin

Mississippi lips Lousiana tongue West African shaped nose Skin kissed by the sun Israelite Culture American Captive Egyptian Color russet brown seal dark puce blue black eastern man blue black woman symbols of authority over her head natural beauty no longer dead hair like sisal rope braided coiled nappy strong prayer hands that crack open… Continue reading

Poetry

#ThankfulThursday, african american, beauty, black, google, history, natural, pbs, poems, poetic justice, poetry, spoken word, wordpress
October 29, 2015

I Promise You a Woman

I promise you a woman. You see I know what kind of girls you’re used to I know that little black girls can’t appreciate you like I can see I know that those little girls you’re used to doesn’t know what you’ve been through cause kindergarten fingers on small hands don’t know how to hold… Continue reading

Poetry

#ThankfulThursday, blog, blogger, google, love, love poems, marriage, poems, poet, poetry, relationships, spoken word, womanhood, wordpress
October 6, 2015

Dear Hip Hop…

Who Willie Lynched your mentality? Who put you under a spell? Why you let them teleport you back to slavery? They could have at least made it look good didn’t have to hang you on the block in your own hood from your own trees could have bridged the gap between the souls you “sold”… Continue reading

Poetry

BET, blog, blogger, generation, hip hop, millennial, music, poems, poetry, rap, spoken word, truth, wordpress, youth
September 16, 2015

We Trust

Born into the ticking clock of innocence a hurrying forth of second hands to match the inhale and exhale of lung we sing truth against the fragile voice of newness and taste of the refreshing sound of belief Trust it is the automatic gift life births us with against the cold relentless winds of the… Continue reading

Poetry

blog, blogger, general, google, life, pbs, poems, poetry, relationships, spoken word, trust, truth, wordpress
July 15, 2015

This Hair Will Not Apologize

You can reason all the reasons Why I embraced the nap Call it kinky crap like kitchen naps Cause it no longer snaps, crackles, and pops There are no more cracking chemicals back there But Kings fight private battles here There are wars taking place here There is strength here There is healing here water… Continue reading

Poetry

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About Me

My name is Yecheilyah (e-see-li-yah), and my work confronts historical erasure and advocates for a more inclusive understanding of Black history. Through my literature and poetry, I uncover and preserve the rich, often underrepresented stories of African Americans. I also host an annual poetry contest.