Another Time and Place Where We Might Belong by Brian Obiri-Asare

in this divided city, a black man
passing you by in the street usually nods –
a way of opening up another time
and place where we might belong.
and in this divided city, there are
those tough days you want to forget
what it is like living here, that as hard
as you struggle to find new roots
is almost as hard as you struggled to leave.

you return a black man’s nod today because
you have decided to blame colonialism
and whiteism and capitalism. how else could
it be that in this divided city you feel so black
and so blue? and since you returned his nod today
you might be able to shed lonely tears tonight,
at least there’s a possibility of healing in that.
and then you wouldn’t have to admit it, not yet,
not to yourself, that real healing
will only be possible once we shift
some essential part of our being.

From: https://foame.org/home/article/another-time-and-place-where-we-might-belong/

Date: 2018

By: Brian Obiri-Asare (19??- )

Advertisement

Tags: 2018, another time and place where we might belong, brian obiri-asare, in this divided city a black man, poetry