Motif

Category: Poetry

  • Don’t Hold Your Breath

    Don’t Hold Your Breath

    Imagine 

    Finding yourself 

    Being pulled underwater. 

    The current taking you out

    Into the deep.

    You

    Try your best

    To paddle your feet to the surface.

    Gasping

    Gagging

    Eyes bulging for oxygen. 

    And the weight of your ankles

    Never have the strength 

    To shake off the anchors 

    Holding you down.

    The chain of subjection.

    The more you struggle

    The more

    The rust of the iron 

    Cuts into the calves.

    Blood introduces the oppression 

    Of other predators.

    Racism 

    Discrimination 

    Police Brutality 

    Profiling 

    Redlining 

    Gentrification 

    Privatized Prisons.

    Lungs filled with ocean. 

    Blacked out.

    Being pulled Into the outer darkness.

    It’s a wonder why 

    We are stereotyped on swimming.

    Afraid to test the water.

    Never taken lessons. 

    Always second guessing 

    How cold it is

    How deep it can get.

    How long can you hold your breath?

    Until

    Emmitt Till is found 

    In Tallahatchie River?

    Until 

    They’re ready to give penicillin 

    To Macon County sharecroppers?

    Until Eric Garner 

    And George Floyd 

    Get their second wind?

    We put our hands up

    To be rescued.

    Waving a white flag in hopes

    Of a fitted life jacket.

    Instead

    Body bagged

    Toe tagged

    Target practice for the next

    Victim.

    It’s not that we just can’t breathe

    But we’ve been out of breath

    Since slave catchers and dog bites.

    We’ve been 

    Back of the Bus tired.

    We’ve been

    Klan rally gag ordered. 

    We’ve been

    Vietnam Frontlined.

    We’ve been

    Flint water poisened.

    Hell

    Being short of breath

    And

    Asthmatic 

    Tends to be life’s custom.

    To be an American 

    Is one thing.

    To be an African American 

    Well…

    Let’s just see how long

    You can hold your breath.

  • The ABCs of a Woman

    (Sung)

    Sister,

    You’ve been on my mind

    Sister, we’re two of a kind

    So sister,

    I’m keepin’ my eyes on you

    I betcha think

    I don’t know nothin’

    But singin’ the blues

    Oh sister, have I got news for you

    I’m somethin’

    I hope you think

    That you’re somethin’ too

    (Spoken)

    You are something, more than something. There aren’t enough letters in the alphabet, words in the dictionary, to properly portray the power and persistence of the double X chromosome.

    Awesome Amazons, Aphrodites

    Blessed bohemians 

    Courageous CEOs

    Destined dynamites and deep dive diplomats

    Experienced energizers

    Fierce feminists

    God’s gifts

    Honorable hustlers

    Implied igniters

    Juicy joys

    The keeping kind of kin

    Limitless leaders

    Mind-blowing mothers in a man’s world

    (Sung)

    This is a man’s world, this is a man’s world

    But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl

    (Spoken)

    We stand him up when he can’t do anything other than take a knee

    We are the whoa in woman

    We are the womb, a safe space in the face of honor killings, objectifying ooglers, constant combat, sex trafficking, marital rape and non-equitable pay 

    82 cents for every dollar a man gets

    59 cents if you are a Black woman

    50 cents if you are a Latina

    We sometimes have to yell into a void

    Pursue when we are tired of trying

    Take on responsibilities that aren’t ours

    Run into burning, systematic racism fires

    Even at our worst and perhaps the most dishonest place in our birthright, omnipotence oozes from our perfect, passionate pores.

    We are the glue, fuel, key, the drumbeat for the best rap battle. 

    We are the push and the pull an elastic, safety pin and paper clip – sometimes all at one

    We are the needed vaccine

    We bind what is broken with body, soul and bridge building bravery and beauty

    We get it done, sometimes with a smize, wink, sashay or hair toss while surpassing the odds.

    There are indeed not enough words to eloquently explain the exquisiteness of an effeminate

    Notorious notables

    Opulent optimists

    Poised packages, princesses

    Quintessential queens

    Righteous resonators and responsible rock stars

    Scintillating sisters

    Tenacious, timeless teachers

    Uplifting unicorns

    Vivacious victors

    Woke warriors

    Exceptional extraordinaries

    Yelp-worthy yen

    Zealous zeniths

    Zeniths that illuminate with the brightest bulbs and most significant superstars. Strong winds can’t break us. 

    (Sung)

    I’m every woman, it’s all in me

    Anything you want done, baby

    I’ll do it naturally

    I’m every woman, it’s all in me

    I can read your thoughts right now

    Every one from A to Z

    Whoa, whoa whoa= oh oh

    Whoa, whoa wo-man

    Watch this piece performed: fb.watch/4qhvse_kr5; For more, Facebook: @YourWingsRReady Twitter: @AlishaPina

  • Black Culture in the Classroom: An interview with educator Phoenyx Williams

    I recently had the opportunity to interview two amazing educators at the Providence Academy Middle School, Andreana Thomas and Phoenyx Williams. This is the second in a two-part series of interviews that will take you on a journey through Black joy, Black culture, educational struggles and more using film, poetry, and education as the tools for success. 

    Phoenyx Williams is an educator at Providence Academy Middle School.

    Damont Combs (Motif): How are you using art and poetry in your classroom and why is it important?

    Phoenyx Williams: Currently I am teaching an enrichment course on the poetics of hip hop.  This course is important for several reasons.  Hip hop culture has been diluted over the years, and although it can be a very effective tool for communication, it can also be used as a distraction and can hold young people back from reaching their full potential.  It is also important for young people to be able to identify their feelings and emotions in a creative, constructive outlet.  

    DC: How have the students grown learning this art and how have they improved the community?

    PW: The students have been able to write original haikus, spoken word pieces, and even a limerick or two. We have also put together a Beat Tape that you can check out on our SoundCloud Page, featuring students from our Beat Making Expedition course. 

    DC: What is one lesson you try to teach to every student?

    PW: One lesson I try to teach every student is that they all have a unique story to share with the world. They matter. They have something worth saying and worth listening to.

    DC: What is the importance of Black culture and learning that in the classroom?

    PW: The importance of Black culture in the classroom is something that cannot be understated. For far too long black culture has been left out or villainized in the classroom. It is important for all students of all cultures to understand and appreciate the contributions Black culture has made to the arts and the various fields of education and study.

    DC: How can we support the school system and help improve the lives of our youth?

    PW: We all can support the school system by showing an active interest in our scholars. This interview is an excellent example of that. By showing interest and investing in our scholars we all help improve the lives of our young people.

    Below is a student-written poem called “Black Joy.”

    Black Joy 

    A collaborative poem by D. London, C. Richardson, T. Miller, P. Williams and AF Scholars

    sunday dinners at nana’s house, arguments with my brother, the smell of my mother in-laws cooking

    Black Joy is A FRESH HAIRCUT!

    black joy is music arts actors athletes and food 

    black joy is hopscotch and manhunt

    family

    black joy is fatherhood

    baby hood

    black is loud!

    black joy is being a big brother

    hard working

    black joy is family reunions and cook outs

    celebrating one another

    dancehall music

    black joy is what the world needs

    shoes

    hbcu’s

    activist

    information spreaders

    black joy is knowledge!

    black joy is art

    love

    clothes

    jobs

    taray

    black joy magical

    black joy is black love 

    we need more black teachers and doctors 

  • Black Joy: An interview with Providence Academy Middle School dean Andreana Thomas

    I recently had the opportunity to interview two amazing educators at the Providence Academy Middle School, Andreana Thomas and Phoenyx Williams. This is the first part in a two-part series of interviews that will take you on a journey through black joy, black culture, educational struggles and more using film, poetry, and education as the tools for success. 

    Andreana Thomas is the dean of motivation and investment at Providence Academy Middle School.

    Damont Combs (Motif): What does black joy mean to you? 

    Andreana Thomas: Literally the word joy just spreading throughout the black community in a positive way.

    I think that sometimes, our communication, our community can be deemed in like a negative way or the type of music that we listen to, but we bring so much more joy than that. We contribute our culture, and our culture is actual joy and it allows people throughout the world to connect. So yeah, that’s black Joy.

    DC: You’re working on a documentary. Can you tell me more about it?

    AT: We’re working on a showcase for black history month and the theme of it is black joy — just bringing out that black joy, finding people in the Providence community who are doing things within their community to show that black joy and excellence. We have had many events throughout the black history month, paint and sips, yoga sessions, panels, wellness Wednesdays.

    We’ve done a lot of different things to bring black joy into our school building regardless if we are virtual or if we’re actually in person. It’s been able to connect, not just the black community, but all communities within the school. To come together and just learn more about the black culture in a positive light.

    DC: What is black excellence?

    AT: When we go above and beyond. When we go and do different things that one does not expect us to do as a black culture. Being a principal, being a dean, being a poet and doing things for the community, being a producer, being a president and being vice president is going above and beyond the ordinary that they put us in the little box to be.

    DC: I know that COVID has been very challenging on teachers and deans and school staff. How can we help our youth’s educators and encourage teachers during this time?

    AT: Yeah. I think that people don’t really recognize that teachers are essential workers as well. Teachers have probably one of the most underpaid jobs yet. It takes a lot of their personal time and investment. This is different. It’s a different atmosphere. It takes a lot of partnership with families. It takes a lot of connection with families to really bring on that idea of that.

    It takes a village to really, you know, raise a kid and provide them with the right education that they need. I think that teachers need support during this time from people because we’re human beings too. And we have days when we’re upset or it’s hard for us to get through. We’re going through our personal things.

    And I think that people just always expect them to show up with a smile on their face and just get the job done. But this is more than a job. If you’re in this field, you want it because you care and you love the kids and you want to see them do great things. So just making the space for teachers to like mentally be supported through this process is huge.

    DC: I met you through Phoenyx Williams, a wonderful performer and is also a fellow teacher here at this wonderful institution. How is poetry used in education here? 

    AT: Yeah. So Mr. Phoenyx brought a great program here, hip hop and poetry. Kids are allowed to join in the class, different trimesters.

    So he gets a different rotation of kids, so they have the different experience. They do things like make beats, and then they learn about the different types of poems and then they end up doing a final project on what that poem is. We also have a writing unit based off of poetry.

    I do think that we can do more, as far as like poetry slams and things like that for the kids to allow their creativity to come out more rather than it being so much structured. But I think that as a school, as a charter network, we have the freedom to do things like hip hop and poetry and create those type of courses for individuals.

    DC: What positive change can you make right now?

    AT: Use your social media platform. Use it in a positive way. Build your community. Don’t break them down. Continue to use your voice because your voice is powerful. No matter what age you are, continue to use it in a positive way. 

    Please check out Andreana Thomas’ amazing documentary called BLACK JOY here: youtube.com/watch?v=bxE5EVi5zyA&feature=youtu.be

  • Saying it Out Loud: Teen poetry competition gives students the tools to reflect

    Saying it Out Loud: Teen poetry competition gives students the tools to reflect

    Teens, poetry and excitement seem like an unlikely combination – but therein lies the magic of Poetry Out Loud. Since 2005, the program has been engaging new generations of students to not only read, but to embrace the rich legacy of this art form by competing to recite a poem, thereby making it their own.

    Poetry Out Loud is an arts education program and competition created by The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. By working in partnership with state arts agencies, the program has grown to reach more than 4 million students and 65,000 teachers from 16,000 schools. It fulfills a crucial need that has only grown since the advent of the pandemic – an accessible educational program that really motivates students to learn.

    “Poetry, when I was a girl, was done in junior high school,” said Martha Lavieri, program coordinator for Poetry Out Loud RI. “Some ancient English teacher would ask us to memorize ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ and it had no meaning to me at all.” She noted that for students today, the concept of poetry has been affected by rap and spoken word. “Cadence has changed, storytelling has changed, and social justice dominates the issues expressed,” Lavieri told us. “It is far more culturally sensitive, which is a good thing.”  

    Competitors are asked to recite one poem from a curated anthology, and this year’s collection is one that high school students can really connect to; the Foundation has been responsive to students’ and teachers’ desire for poems that reflect ethnic diversity and cultural issues. “We feel like we are working with an organization that is listening,” said Lavieri. “They’ve been doing an outstanding job.”

    Rhode Island is fortunate to have Kate Lohman and Motif poetry curator Damont Combs to assist in facilitating the program in local classrooms. Both Lohman and Combs are teaching artists who offer a wealth of experience in writing and performing.

    Lohman said, “I teach oral communication at Providence College and even there it’s hard for students to begin. A poem can get you talking about a topic … something as personal as being lonely. Teens, especially, have intensely complex emotions, but they don’t always have language for what they’re feeling. Poems give them a place to start and the means to reflect and process.” 

    “There’s such courage in these kids,” said Lavieri. “It’s not just the poems or the competition – there’s a personal story for each one of them. I can’t think of anything that I’ve done in terms of work or career that’s given me as much satisfaction as this has – watching the strength of these kids and the dedication of the teachers.” 

    Poetry Out Loud is supported in RI by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Learn more at the national website poetryoutloud.org. On March 21 at noon, the 2021 state finals will be streamed live on Zoom; tune in on May 2 for the national semi-finals, and on May 27 for the final match. All events are open to the public – find the Zoom link and updates at facebook.com/Poetryoutloudri. 

  • Tiny Treasure

    A small gift

    Something we say about a heartfelt present

    Or used to describe one that provides, guides and uplifts

    My mama Educates

    My mama Motivates

    As of late you have been that *constant*

    Keeping me rooted in faith

    Encouraging me to stay in the race

    Like a lioness stalks her prey, 

    You chase the chance to deliver God’s praise

    You’ve been my glimmer of hope

    During the darkest of days

    So today, you, your life, 

    Your legacy

    Is what we want to celebrate

     And if you didn’t know, your wisdom Elevates

    Don’t play 

    You rule with that iron fist in a velvet glove

    Discipline sometimes can hurt

    But it makes sense when done in love

    I try to recall the lessons from my youth

    And apply them as I try to raise these youths

    But Mama, ain’t nobody as good at that as you

    Mama ain’t raise no fools!

    Every year in my youth I attended Mama Williams Summer School

    Blessed with beauty immaculate and expansive knowledge

    And made sure all of your children at least applied to college

    Tho We ain’t all graduate

    We ain’t have to, to tell the truth

    We had every bit of wisdom needed in a woman of integrity like you

    So everybody on this Zoom, 

    It’s my pleasure,

    To present to you

    This tiny treasure

    Mama I love you 

  • Ode to the Black Woman

    ONLY A BLACK WOMAN

    Can take a week of leftover scraps

    and make a gourmet meal

    Can cuss a man out, then make love to him

    that night and make him feel like a king.

    Can wear a burgundy French roll, 3-inch heels

    and a split up her thigh to work and

    make it look professional.

    ONLY A BLACK WOMAN

    Can wear the hell out of Spandex

    Can raise a doctor, a world-class athlete

    and an A+ student in an environment

    deemed by society as dysfunctional,

    broken, underprivileged and disenfranchised.

    Can heat a whole house in the winter

    without help from the gas company.

    Can go from the boardroom to the block

    and “keep it real” in both places.

    Can slap the taste out of your mouth.

    ONLY A BLACK WOMAN

    Can put a Black man and his non-Black date

    on pins and needles just

    by walking into the room.

    Can live below poverty level

    and yet set fashion trends.

    Can fight two struggles everyday

    and make it look easy.

    Can make a child happy on Christmas day

    even if he didn’t get a thing.

    Can be admired and fantasized

    about by men of other races.

    Can be 75 years old and look 45.

    ONLY A BLACK WOMAN

    Can make other women want

    to pay plastic surgeons top

    $$$ for physical features

    she was already born with.

    ONLY A BLACK WOMAN

    can be the mother of civilization.

    Black,

    And strong,

    Different words,

    Same meaning.

    She is a strong Black woman.

    Captured and beaten,

    Tied and bound,

    You endured the Middle Passage,

    Was dragged into a new land,

    You held your head high.

    You are a strong Black woman.

    In the fields all day,

    Hot, blazing sun beating down,

    They stripped away your language,

    They took your clothing and made you look like a slave,

    But you never bowed,

    You are a strong Black woman.

    I saw you till the soil,

    Bend your back to make things grow,

    Saw you cooking food,

    That you could not even eat,

    Saw you washing clothes,

    Mending shirts,

    Growing flowers to adorn the house you could not sleep in.

    And not once did you shed a tear,

    You are a strong Black woman.

    They bred you like horses,

    And sold your children like they were dogs,

    They took them away in chains,

    While you stood screaming,

    And then you prayed to God,

    Because you are a strong Black woman.

    In times of Jim Crow you shouldered the weight,

    Brought food home when I could not even work,

    Bore the children,

    Cleaned the house,

    And raised my children.

    A strong Black woman.

    You brought God inside,

    So we could talk,

    About our toils and pain,

    You sat Him there and He listened,

    And gave us relief,

    We marched for freedom,

    And you were at my side.

    Went to jail when I did,

    Stayed awake and held me in your lap.

    You comforted my every fear,

    Gave me courage when I had none.

    Washed my face with the hem of your dress,

    Cleansed the matter from my eyes so I could see,

    Prayed for me when I did not for my self.

    You are a strong Black woman.

    You taught me to read

    You taught me to write,

    How to eat with a fork,

    How to tie my tie,

    You taught me grace and kindness,

    You taught me how to treat my fellow man,

    You found the goodness in my heart,

    And nurtured it and made it grow.

    For all you’ve done I can never repay,

    Nor can I do the same for you,

    And despite all of that … you smile at me,

    And pull me to your bosom for love,

    I thank God for you,

    And that you are a strong Black woman.

  • Quiet Moments

    Quiet Moments

    Everyone needs some time to think.

    Don’t say you don’t have enough time, you have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein and others.

    Education and intelligence accomplish nothing without action.

    Our brightest future hinges on our ability to pay attention to what we’re doing right now, today.

    No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.

    If you really want to do something you’ll find a way, if you don’t you’ll find an excuse.

    In the quiet moments ask yourself what do you think about? How far you have come or how far you have to go?

    Your strengths or your weaknesses? The best that might happen? Or the worst that might come to be?

    In the moments pay attention to thoughts because maybe, just maybe

    The only thing that needs shifting in order to experience more happiness, more love and more vitality is your way of thinking.

  • …. I’ll Arise…. (Let Freedom Ring)

    …. I’ll Arise…. (Let Freedom Ring)

    In my shoes if only you could walk this mile
    With tragedy and disappointments I’m still proud

    Long, courageous strides along this highway
    Sun, beaming down radiantly across my face

    Today marks another day written in history
    My right to vote sets me free,
    Yet cold blaring stares surrounding me
    Threatening weapons of anxiety overtaking my ability to breathe

    False evidence appearing real
    And I’m reminded as to why I feel the way that I feel
    The change that’s needed is the change we including me have to be
    Generations looking up to you and me
    While Gen Z are becoming the leaders we should really be
    We now have the chance to truly teach them with the opportunities of distance learning

    EDUCATION STARTS NOW!!!

    Some are not going to like this but that’s okay
    Just listen to what I’m about to say

    Text book definition of “Plantation” has it watered down to an estate on which crops are cultivated by resident labor
    Thank you for the pretty definition but nothing was pretty to the kin of me when my ancestors were on those very plantations

    And yet I’ll rise to educate, teach and preach
    What the public schools and curriculum system won’t allow for us or youth to read

    Why because writers of American History based it off of their experience of what they perceived to be reality: their reality
    But in actuality it was slaves the quote unquote residents that broke their backs on those very plantations

    I can only imagine the strenuous pains of labor,
    Constantly giving birth to a stillborn view of why my life matters too

    So how can I ever feel welcomed in a land of a so-called Providence decree, when within the same name presents a negative connotation to me

    Fact; abolishment of slavery in Rhode Island was set in 1652 but was never enforced

    Fact check; abolishment of slavery in Rhode Island was officially banned in 1843
    Wow; it only took centuries

    Check your history, because to understand the present we have to digest the past
    Which brings us to an attempt in 2010

    In my shoes could you ever walk this mile
    Maybe, maybe not but hopefully now you understand why
    Embracing our history and why we’re a melting pot of diversity
    And why my right to vote continues to set me free

    And yet we arise again to the occasion because here we are having a celebration of what we thought could never be

    We’re becoming the change we desperately need
    On our way to becoming a state of peace

    The state of Rhode Island no plantations attached
    LET FREEDOM RING

    Freedom and victory reign breaking those shackles and chains of pain

    We arise again, becoming who we are truly meant to be
    In this land, this state of being, a new decree
    We are now free

    LET FREEDOM RING!!!

  • Dangerous Thoughts on a Highway

    Dangerous Thoughts on a Highway

    Fall descends (here comes again

    A seasonal verse, please humor me);

    I-95, rugged spine

    Of this East Coast,

    Receives it indifferently,

    Like a tired wife-then-mother whose

    Glazed-over-eyes stare

    Blankly, at her dreams

    Eons in the rearview.

    Rhode Island kamikaze pilots—

    Pickup trucks of broken men—

    Are your Law and Order for the day.

    That much has not changed.

    Milquetoast musings on the cycle of seasons

    Have not changed much, either.

    You muse anyway.

    Each recollection, rumination

    Lights spritely on the tumbling brooks

    Of your concerns, but some sink deep

    And divert the stream, and now you think

    About not so beautiful things.

    They don’t brush off like the crunchy leaves

    From your windshield this morning.

    The next step is to pull over.

    Are your musings dead-on-arrival,

    Wounds, or a precondition’s revival?

    Poetic answers come with presuppositions:

    Nothing is new about New England’s turning leaves.

    Nothing is new about fearing for your life on I-95. But,

    Something is new about visiting a past recently buried

    And knowing it stalks the autumn wind not as new life,

    But as a ghost. What else is there to do, but

    Talk to it again, this time as a man, and figure why

    The two of you left things where you did,

    Colored only halfway last time.