Fire (A Poem For My Students)
Posted by Tracey Gilbert (Alumnus) | Filed under Poetry, Print
To my students, I have but one thing to teach you.
The pen is mightier than the sword,
I promise you that.
And just as far as everything you say echoes infinitely throughout the universe,
Your words will hold you in your darkest hour
As long as you have them with you.
But how do I reach you with words when
Your truths are already further from my truth than the difference I can make
Please reach me.
As far from my grasp as possibly could be
You’re following too closely to mimicking something you don’t fully understand
I’ve lived a life I can’t fully explain to you in this venue
I promise you it’s so much bigger than you
Will you listen, even though you don’t think I know what’s up?
I still believe in the power of the word to inspire you,
to remind you that it’s bigger than this tiny big city
Please help me to know that it’s possible to awaken a meaning in life.
I’m trying to give you a gift that will eventually save you,
Pick your ass up and take it far away from here.
Just write it down.
Take yourself across sands and skies, transcending lies
Yet far enough from the truth to see straight.
Crooked analogy, unauthorized biography
Your words will tell their own stories.
And their stories got stories,
Let them bitches out.
Before words ball up behind your eyelids and press, hard, creating unimaginable pressure.
This is something I should be able to control.
Is this really life; can we dig it?
And look at what multiple generations of oppression have done to a beautiful people,
Can you think of a deeper, darker power than the mind?
You are a child, but you don’t know that.
You are so young.
By the time you realize what you’re doing here, they will have gotten you.
You’re beautiful, don’t blow this.
Think you’re content on that bangin’ bullshit
Reppin colors like it was 1994 and holding on to your learned convictions like they’re all you have.
You’re acting out something bigger in your world, and you only know one side of things.
What you don’t know yet is the police rep both sides
With alternating lights on their cruisers
Red and blue
Crip/Blood toss-up
And suddenly the label of ‘colored’ has a new connotation.
It’s in their best interest
For your affiliation to fester and boil and be made obvious to them.
Why are you just giving it to them?
Enemies are only real if you acknowledge them.
After whom do you truly seek revenge?
Sometimes I swear to you ink is as dense as bullets and
Pens don’t weigh as much as guns in your pocket
But they unload a hell of a heavier load when you empty the cartridge.
Just let it blow.
You’re burdens will be lifted
And you’re secrets safely guarded,
It will be enough to protect you.
This is something you can control.
In the streets, someone stirs,
Forces rally, you get your call
This is something we take under control.
Tuck your weapon, pick your playmates
Son, are you ready to ride?
And you wonder, as your finger grazes the trigger
Can you do this? Are you with this?
And you pull up, in position,
Click to ready
Steady, aim,
And onto the page,
You fire.
