Lawrence S. Pertillar Poems

I have been black.
To long to know,
Racism is a fact.
And living to experience that,
...

On the streets in our hometowns
They stand together...
Men throw cans in carts together
Learning to live and eat whatever.
...

Raised on slim chances,
And taught to feast on increased poverty
To survive in pretense and fear!
These children of tomorrow
...

You may never know
That I am troubled too.
You may never know that,
Like I do.
...

Alone with myself,
So much comes into view.
Life and my purpose.
What is and not true.
...

When you go for the money,
You'll be selling your soul.
And when one goes for just the money,
The heart turns cold.
...

Where are the sounds of Motown now?
That innovative and daring reach to be different!
Nothing today can captivate...
Except Beyoncé who tintillates imaginations!
...

I saw something I had never seen before,
Once I looked beyond my own sorrows.
I lifted my head and saw an open door.
A light was shining through,
...

There is more than materialism,
That can be touched...
And is valued!
...

Long after these times lived are gone,
And you have discovered your points of view
Of these times have been wrong.
What will you then choose to do,
...