poems
tell him; an ode to my younger self
tell him
tell him that you got over it
tell him that you are brilliant
tell him that it does get better
tell him that you can shine
tell him that you can conquer the world
tell him you can be your true self no matter what anyone else says
tell him that’s it’s going to be ok
that you have to cry
tell him i’ll give him a hug
that i’ll be there
tell him that i love him
tell him ill be the support that he didn’t have
tell him ill be the representation that he needed
tell him i will be there for him no matter what
tell him that he is loved
tell him that he is valued
tell him that he is protected
tell him that his life is worth it
that he has to keep going so he could be where i am today
tell him that he is going to be something
show him
show he is important
show him his worth
show him his value
show him that he has a place to make change.
choice; the choice of my identity
you can’t be free
you can’t flow
you can’t fly
myself to deny
is this right?
life?
questioning your intellect
thoughts
binded in the shackles of what society
thinks a black queer man should be
let me be free
just like i’m free to read
to seek
to bleed
the blood that flows within my soul
play your role
don’t let go
this is you.
no it’s not rude
this is the truth
no.
don’t define me
don’t bind me
don’t silence me
my voice is power
my choice is power
i define who i am
who i represent
what i do
what i choose.
what i lose.
to be defined by you? i refuse.
i love.
i cry.
i fight.
my emotions and dignity i cannot hide
i am from
i’m from america
i’m from black america
i’m from the backs of hard-working resilient people
the backs of artistic creative people
poets
musicians
dancers
hairstylists
artists
activists
trailblazers
i’m from a people who had to make their own culture and customs
from their original culture being taken away
and led astray
i’m from the south
mississippi
alabama
arkansas
north carolina
the lands of where my ancestors descend from
the lands of where they came to
i’m from denver
descendant of the great migration
the historically black
five points
lincoln hills
owl club debutante ball
juneteenth
i’m from boldness
bravery
courage
tenacity
i’m from the hard-working people and activists that came before me
my parents
my grandparents
my great grandparents
all of my ancestors
james baldwin
audre lorde
toni morrison
malcolm x
maya angelou
huey p newton
i am bold
i am brave
i am courageous
i am tenacious
i am creative
i am a poet
i am an activist
i am a trailblazer
i am a changemaker
i am a 3rd generation denver native
i am gay
i am black american
i am myles vernon chapman