A Cento
I AM tired of work; I am tired of building up
somebody else’s civilization.
The beer company
did not hire Blacks or Puerto Ricans,
so my father joined the picket line
Steadfast and awful, my tall father
Hit hard as a hailstorm. He’d leave marks.
You ain’t gonna be able to say a word
If I land my fist on you.
Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!
The mob arrives with stones and sticks
to maim and lame and do me in.
It has been a
hard trudge, with fainting, bandaging and death.
come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
she say, she don’t know how
she’d get along without Beulah
show me someone not full of herself
and i’ll show you a hungry person
let snow soothe you
make your healing water
clear sweet.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
I bit sweet power to the core.
How can I say what it was like?
Remember what
the world is like
for white people.
This is my first Cento. I knew the topic I wanted to write about–knew the theme instantly (mental exhaustion from oppressive regimes and how the system is still designed to benefit the majority over minorities). I reflected upon the indomitable Writers of Color to be able to express the point I intended to get across. I researched writers, poems, and pieces of prose before compiling lines to build stanzas that, in my humble opinion, flowed seamlessly. I hope I created that.
Inspirational Works:
Tired by Fenton Johson, All Poetry
The Sign in my Father’s Hands by Martin Espada, Poetry Foundation
Duplex by Jericho Brown, Poetry Foundation
The Ballad of the Landlord by Langston Hughes, All Poetry
If We Must Die by Claude McKay, Poetry Foundation
Loose Woman by Sandra Cisneros, Genius
To Black Women by Gwendolyn Brooks, Illinois Poet’s Forum
won’t you celebrate with me by Lucille Cliftion, Poetry Foundation
Stagerlee wonders by James Baldwin, Poetry Foundation
Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like by Nikki Giovanni, Poetry Foundation
Appalachian Elegy (1-6) by bell hooks, Poetry Foundation
Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda, Quantum
Eve Remembering by Toni Morrison, Poets.org
If You Are Over Staying Woke by Morgan Parker, Poetry Foundation
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with a previous place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination, growth from the transition after resigning from that company, and life’s foibles and overall experiences. I welcome your visit.
A Cornered Gurl 
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