Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni (June 7, 1943 / Knoxville, Tennessee)

#76 on top 500 poets

Poems by Nikki Giovanni : 9 / 43

Balances - Poem by Nikki Giovanni

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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

Nikki Giovanni

Poems by Nikki Giovanni : 9 / 43

P. Mason (12/13/2016 8:53:00 PM)

Oh, I like very much! Excellent imagery....I'll read more (Report) Reply
Whisperkwane Lamb (5/26/2016 10:14:00 AM)

out on a limb....balance (Report) Reply
Mohammed Asim Nehal (12/30/2015 12:05:00 PM)

we used to talk all night
and do things alone together.....nice lines (Report) Reply
Terry Craddock (6/4/2015 5:17:00 PM)

Life Checks Balances Wisely Weighted

Life has various checks balances
beware false weights false values
truly valuable assets experiences friends

not valued wisely
not appreciated until lost
not held in esteem

experiences are part of the fabric of our souls
true friends enrich share journeys in our lives
sow peace love harmony wisdom into our minds

Copyright © Terence George Craddock
Inspired by the poem 'Balances' by Nikki Giovanni.
Dedicated to Nikki Giovanni. (Report) Reply
Michelle Claus (9/12/2014 4:33:00 PM)

Wow! I love this. I admire the various examples of balance-maneuvers... ultimately using balance as a psychological defense against relational insecurity - stroke of brilliance. I'm feeling inspired. (Report) Reply
Terry Craddock (9/12/2014 3:55:00 AM)

Life has various checks balances, beware false weights false values, and truly valuable assets experiences friends, not valued wisely; not appreciated until lost 10+ (Report) Reply
Aftab Alam Khursheed (9/12/2014 2:57:00 AM)

Balancing is a natural phenomena we should not forget (Report) Reply
Wahab Abdul (12/5/2013 7:57:00 AM)

nice poem.. i like it... (Report) Reply
Jasbir Chatterjee (9/13/2012 12:11:00 AM)

you are right, Nikki...everything balances out in the end... (Report) Reply
Ladawn Trice (3/16/2012 7:55:00 AM)

lovely.... life is a balance... everything is a balance... even pain (Report) Reply
Clara Odelia Ciutara (2/22/2012 1:01:00 AM)

i love this poem. so deeply written with truth in every words penned.. great poem! (Report) Reply
Joanne Norvell (9/4/2009 9:33:00 PM)

Deep! I am truly feelin' these words... (Report) Reply
Erhard Hans Josef Lang (4/27/2008 11:09:00 PM)

This is really a wonderful poem! (Report) Reply
Chris Mendros (3/21/2007 4:59:00 PM)

this is insanely beautiful in its simplicity. That old classic profit/loss consideration of a relationship, quietly slipped into her environment. (Report) Reply
Natasha Ashwe (7/25/2006 8:25:00 AM)

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. (Report) Reply