I'm a Growing Woman

PAD Challenge Day 17: Take the phrase "Not (blank)," replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Not All Heroes Wear Capes The world may recognize and advertise one Wonder Woman. But I know several Wonder Women. Wonderful, wondrous women naturally suited in black. Far from steel more like black steel magnolias. Full of poise, grace, and dignity. Unashamed of their blackness and femininity. Known for sprinkling and passing down black girl magic for me to sparkle. Superpowers unmatched. Known for genius intellect, inspiration and uncommon favor Ladies of fortitude Knowledge of occult Pioneers of generational healings Unconditional love The strongest black panthers on earth Warriors of faith The only Queens of Pentacles that knew how to free us Lead us through nonviolent resistance in the civil rights movement. Taught us true resilience. Day and night, fought Jim Crow Countless

PAD Challenge Day 16 (Two-for-Tuesday): Write a form or anti-poem. Hourglass Hips Stick out like stanzas  Rhythm like jazz and hip-hop Smooth as porcelain  Anti- Poetry I can't imagine life This world without                      poetry I'd be in a mute pose I suppose  If I couldn't prose I oppose it all Because  When I indulge  I want a sample of it all                  All of its                      Raw                    Sweet                    Tender                  Sufferings                          &                      Woes                  With density symbols and themes If I could                  in repetition  I'd lift my voice  Sing rhymes                   ad lib some onomatopoeias Fertilize your mind                    with irony & imagery Let your optics          Grow through my alliterations & assonances Break you off with a little enjabment Make you smile like a simile Dream that you were a metaphor                until you Wake up wit

PAD Challenge Day 15: Write a middle poem Middle East Breaking news everyday  Breaks my heart to hear  Al Jazeera says the same thing Conflict in (blank) War on (blank) and (blank) Drones and missiles  launched on (blank) by (blank) Attack on (blank) At least (blank) causalities Total deaths in (blank)  Civilians face (blank) and (blank) Refugees require (blank) (Blank) fears (blank) (Blank) accountable for (blank) Women and girls (blank) and (blank) Babies (blank) Mosques, homes, businesses (blank) Rage and more rage between (blank) Fires, amputations, and famine in (blank) Strikes on aid in (blank) Aid delayed in (blank) (Blank) pledges to do (blank) (Blank) will be responsible for (blank) (Blank) accuses (blank) for (blank) There is no (blank) here Just people dying in the (blank) Crying in the (blank) Running from the (blank) to the (blank) Hoping to find a little (blank) and more (blank) While men in power debate about (blank) I think about the lives  destroyed and damaged  How p

  PAD Challenge Day 14: Write an ekphrastic poem. Black Steel Magnolia I met her for the first time on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 10:30pm, in Charleston, South Carolina at One Hundred and Eighty-Five East Bay Street. In the right wing of the private dining room, is where you can find her.   She’s in an ornate gold frame. I was too distant to decipher  the painter’s name in the lower left corner of the canvas of blended oils and acrylic paint.   Her background is midnight black and purple. She looks like the big momma that many in this generation needs today. Her skin is medium, deep bronze, smooth like silk. No blemishes. Over a U-shaped neck, her oval shaped face owns no smile. More like an RBF.  Perhaps, she’s confused, disdained,  maybe a little exhausted but clearly alert, or just appalled. Her eyebrows are relaxed and medium arched. Her left eye, decorated in pink pastel eye-shadow, is bigger than her left. Her lower lip is heavier than

PAD Challenge Day 13: Write a living poem What it Feels Like...Living Black I'm a gift from Africa/  a curse in America  where I'm loved by the kindred/ hated by the Klan Blessed by angels/ condemned by demons Magical by culture/ copied by vultures Born free but  Skin feels hunting Independent by choice/ colonized by force Challenged with adversity/ swindle by greed Amplified by inheritance/ underestimated by the arrogant Admired by pupils of love/ envied by green eyes Desirable by the honorable/  disadvantaged by the prejudice Accepted partially/ denied by the majority  Heard barely/ ignored widely Seen by many/ unnoticed by a few Mysterious from afar/ suspicious in close view Everyday It is me verses everybody and everything  Everyday  I'm full of struggle and strive A whole rhythm, flavor, style and vibe. Everyday Still weary and wary Everyday  Sometimes worried and afraid  Everyday I fight  Everyday  It's hard It's tough It's exhausting  But everyday I birt

PAD Challenge Day 12: Write a funny poem. I Wish I Could Rap I wish I could rap. I would be on Dreamville because I am a Dreamer from the 'Ville. My name would be something like Dr. DOC. I'd be iconic like Run DMC. An original and distinctive MC. I'd drop rhymes like polka dots. Have number one albums like Hov, In different area codes like Luda. With a flow like Eminem and Notorious, I'd be the new B.I.G. And if you take shots, I'll expeditiously split your W.I.G. Spit lyrics like Pac, Nas, Lauryn, and Lupe. Fashions styled by the college dropout Kanye Storytelling slicker as Slick Rick's Push positive images and narratives, No pill popping or pushing bricks. Catalog feature Rapsody, Missy and Badu Hell, invite the whole  "Ladies Night Remix"crew We'll party, laugh and dance all day. Charcuterie boards, champagne, and moet. Truth is, can't you tell I'm better at being a writer and a poet At least my stanzas can sho