Poetry to Edify

IT AIN’T OVER

The assumption is, now that we have an African American President

Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream has been fulfilled

But first, we must wake from the nightmare

that too many Black youth are still being killed.

“They” tell us that we have arrived because

the number one man in the White House is Black

But our journey(now) must be more focused

and we have to stop holding each other back.

Words being spoken by many in the press and all across the land

would have us believe that finally, we have overcome

But even President Barak Obama

is reminding us often that our work is not done.

It is critical to grasp that – it ain’t over

until our people learn to prioritize.

It is grossly mis-stated that to be educated

means a twisted inclination to be White.

Self-improvement is not a crime.
It is time that we stopped indicting each other.

Instead of acting like crabs in a drum,

as we rise, we should uplift another.

We must embrace the fact that the Divine Plan for man

includes those of us with a hue to our skin.

Dreams to which we aspire and goals that our hearts desire

no longer need to lie buried within.

We hold firm to the belief that – it ain’t over

until the places we decide to call home

are based on our choice and not another’s voice

because they relegated us to some red-lined zone.

It is time to go back to what’s rooted in our souls;

return to the God who cares for us all.

Return to the Word that we know from long ago,

because United, we stand; Divided we will fall!

It’s time to pull up our pants, push down our skirts,

Stop printing obscenities on the front of our shirts.

Close our legs and open our minds.

When opportunity calls – Go stand in line!

Close the baby factory that opened too soon.

Stop making new buds when we haven’t yet bloomed.

No matter how we wear it - keep clean, well-groomed hair.

Clean up our language and turn back to prayer.

Strive to be smart, put more love in our hearts.

We haven’t overcome yet but this is a start.

No, we shouldn’t kid ourselves cause – it ain’t over.

It won’t be until all excuses die.

We’ll know better where we’re going

when we realize where we’ve been.

We can accomplish so much more

when we find love and pride within.

This is a milestone where new hope begins

and nothing beats a failure

nothing beats a failure

but a TRY!

written by RuNett Nia Ebo