Balances Poem by Nikki Giovanni

Balances

Rating: 4.3


In life
one is always
balancing

like we juggle our mothers
against our fathers

or one teacher
against another
(only to balance our grade average)

3 grains of salt
to one ounce truth

our sweet black essence
or the funky honkies down the street

and lately i've begun wondering
if you're trying to tell me something

we used to talk all night
and do things alone together

and i've begun

(as a reaction to a feeling)
to balance
the pleasure of loneliness
against the pain
of loving you

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Jasbir Chatterjee 13 September 2012

you are right, Nikki...everything balances out in the end...

29 20 Reply
Natasha Ashwe 25 July 2006

Balancing, making choices, one over the other, what this life is about. The last part gave me a chill. It's so sad when the person you love chooses to become a wrong one. This poem is more sensible than lovely, more wise than beautiful. It's a dart that goes straight to the heart.

24 22 Reply
Clara Odelia Ciutara 22 February 2012

i love this poem. so deeply written with truth in every words penned.. great poem!

23 21 Reply
Ladawn Trice 16 March 2012

lovely.... life is a balance... everything is a balance... even pain

24 18 Reply
Erhard Hans Josef Lang 27 April 2008

This is really a wonderful poem!

22 20 Reply
Tonia Nadeau 17 March 2024

I'm watching the new HBO documentary on Nikki. I'm woman with the spiritual color of PURPLE which understands that life is in the blood that flows through the course. The physical color of GREY who

0 0 Reply
Tonia Nadeau 17 March 2024

I'm so inspired by Nikki. I grew up with balancing an abusive mother and submissive father, with abusive ex husband

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 12 March 2024

A very fascinating immortal poem, so many times read, still worth to be visited, a precious poem to keep.5 Stars and TFS

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 12 March 2024

On 22 July 2022, and on 31 January 2024 and today chosen again as The Modern Poem of the Day, immortal poem, a very fascinanting poem. Heartiest Congratulations! , der Nikki!

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 31 January 2024

Chosen on 22 July 2022, and today on 31 January 2024. My heartiest Congratulations! TFS.

0 0 Reply
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Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni

Knoxville, Tennessee
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