A tribute poem to Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf'
FOR COLORED LADIES by Oni...a work in progress
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I went back in time
To visit the house I grew up inside
Mother's lovely palace
French Provincial sofa and chairs
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I am not the person you want me to be
You talk too fast and too much for me
I can't listen carefully, when you don't listen carefully.
You cut off my train of thought
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If I were a tree
I would never be
a tree dogs paused to pee
On my head would be leaves of dread
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Let me tell you a story poem about a man
Who grew up in many world, Black, White and Tan
His mother was Irish American from Kansas, Ann Dunham
His dad was from the tribe of Luo, Barack Obama Sr. was an African
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I love my heating pad, and it loves me.
Reciprocal love is how it should be
My pad's name is Dad, in tribute to the one I never had.
And he's so warm and cozy and he doesn't talk back
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Inspired by the creativity of our creator
Admired throughout the ages, she was also...
Made in his image.
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A tribute to Nikki Giovanni, my 'play cousin.'
If I knew Nikki, she would say 'keep walking in the light Oni, read my poems, listen to every recording I left behind....
'specially for you
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Juneteenth Rap for Kids (C) 5/11/26 Oni Lasana Productions
Music: Boys & Girls Gather Around by Reggae Randy
The story poem.....
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Sistahs be...Sensitive By Nature
Wet & Wild, Soft & Free
Hairstylin' you and stylin' hair me
Our Wild Roots...Do Grow
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There is a place of bloodstained ground
Razor blade...passed around
A far off place where cultures share
Secret torments...young girls must bear
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I had a dream too
Martin Luther King Jr.
that your dream came true
& people looked inside of me
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I KNOW YOU SEEK TRUTH
SO CONTINUE TO READ
WOMAN DID MORE THAN LAY UP & BREED
I SPEAK OF HER STORY
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Haiku's is a form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5,7, & 5
Oni Lasana's
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I am Woo-man...here I stand
Super Woman...Mother Earth
Blessed Mary...of your birth
I have nursed you to life before
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IT aka CANCER by Oni Lasana (c) 2013
IT, took my good friend, my lover, my male me.
It, stopped our song before it ended
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Oni Lasana was born in Strawberry Mansion, a neighborHOOD of Philadelphia, PA, and presently residing in Coatesville, PA. Oni is a multi-disciplinary performing and teaching artist, women and youth advocate, a poet, storyteller, musician, director, playwright, and intuitive creative people person who loves to laugh. www.LOL4Real.com A Webby award-winning podcast voice talent, podcast producer and host of Story Village with Aunti Oni. Creator, writer and voiced Kwanzaa Time with Aunti Oni. Oni won a poetry contest in 8th grade and continues writing 'in the spirit' on social ills and whenever life her-stories moves her. A published short story author and founding member of In The Company Of Poets as 'Story Poet' As a re-enactor storyteller Oni Lasana brings to life the journey of Harriet Tubman, Ona Judge and other great Black woman in American Her-story. Oni wrote, performs and produces one woman plays, Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother and Always Free, A Juneteenth Celebration, featuring the works of iconic poet and author, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Since 2021 Oni founded and coordinates The Love Of Dunbar Collective, a online weekly gathering of artists who research, perform and produce the spoken words of Paul Laurence Dunbar. www.LoveOfDunbar.com or visit Love Of Dunbar Collective's YouTube Channel to discover Dunbar's timeless spoken word poetry. 'Oni is the voice of Dunbar! '...Nikki Giovanni Original poetry productions, a spoken word compilation, Sister Wings, Word Songs, Bass & Beats and Feelin' It, where she plays the bass guitar. Sister Wings is a listening adventure on all digital platforms. More on Oni @ www.OniLasana.com)
Good Hair
GOOD HAIR
You have 'good hair'
My sister would say
as I sat on the stool
between her legs
she pulled...yanked
parted...greased my scalp
braiding a week of tightness
into fake Asian eyes
spitties on the side
baby hair bangs
I cried myself
from tender headed
to
hard headed.
Why did having
'good hair'
feel so bad?
(C) 2009 Oni Lasana