Awakening Dreams - Inspire Me: Raw

In celebration of poetry month. Poetic Resurrection will interview poets and links to previous poet interviews. In this episode, I will be discussing and reading a few poems from Inspire Me: Raw. Inspire Me: Raw was recently re-edited and a compilation book of the first two Inspire Me books will be released this month with a preview of five poems from my upcoming book Inspire Me: Awakening Dreams. Enjoy! Citizen poem was written several months before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. When this happened, I was surprised that many didn’t know Puerto Ricans are American Citizens. This poem explains how many Puerto Ricans feel. Citizen Curly red hair Freckled skin Speaking Spanish Not fitting in   People’s biases Perceptions Ignorance —Citizen   Where are you from? How did you get here? Was it a struggle? No—Citizen   No boats No tunnels No hiding Airplanes   I belong here Born here Educated —Citizen   Forget was written about a woman who lived in the tenement where I grew up in Chicago. As a child I would catch her crying in the hallway after her husband physically abused her. Forget Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually The times I run out and say nothing to you The times I am angry and pretending to be  okay The times I don’t come home at night   Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually When your anger lashes out at me When you drink too often and hurt me When you disappear into an aberrant abyss of time   Sometimes I do remember: often, actually Your cruel words that hurt Your desire to touch that repulses Your anger at who you’ve become   I remember and choose to forget Do you love? As those you love are hurt Do you know the emergency room—a second home? Do you understand—Inner scars show more than the ones I wear?   Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually The raising of happy children here The life we thought was possible The comfort of a safe, loving home   Sometimes I can’t remember: often, actually How reality needs exposure How I’ve always remembered How lights slowly dim on you   Go Go Boots is about being a ten-year-old child and wanting to be thin so she could wear the sixties fashions. They didn’t fit. Go-Go Boots At 10 Made a mistake Told my teacher that I Want to lose weight   First diet included Liver, once a week—Yuk! Different recipes, so nasty That’s not what I was seeking   Stood in line for free lunch Menu: peanut butter cookies My favorite munchies I wanted one—Damn!   “Hide one for me, please” When teacher’s not looking Don’t want to get teased for Failing program on first day   My mom states, “You’re only ten! No reason for a diet” Wanting to be model thin Groovy clothes—Buy them Go-Go boots the stylish trend   Chubby clothes too short Regular pants too long Big kid bell bottoms reach calves Average size bells at ankles   Others smoke bongs Skunk weed smell Permeates halls Hide don’t tell—jail fate in ‘68   What to do with weight Insecurities begin Entire life, same shit—wasted time And now I’m fine     Music by: Gotama “Forgiveness” Visit https://gotama-music.bandcamp.com