My Dream Her Legacy

She gave
Me every instruction
On how to be a man

She told me…
Open her door
reach
out
For her hand
And make sure
Her coat doesn’t
Get jammed
You shut her in

And heaven knows
It has been
Hard to close
Her casket.
Cause
I don’t want
Her soul
to get caught

she taught me
that the hardest battles
fought are
those you
can’t see
that’s why
we believe in
God

Now it seems odd
That she has seen
Me win competitions
And graduate
But won’t be around
To see me receive
My first degree

She always told
Me…
One day you may
Have to carry this
Body on’ home
But as long as
You are chasing
Your dreams
I know my legacy
Will live on!

Don’t Sleep

Don’t
Just
Lie there

Your
Bed wasn’t
Made to
Live in

And since
You’ve been
Sleep
We’ve been
Grievin’
Your absence

We
Miss mornings
Picking ripe
Veggies from
Your garden

If you
Would slip out
Of your
Nighties
We could
Jam to LP’s
Upstairs
Like we
Used to
Do
Before spending
Hours making
Hot water
Cornbread

Cause’ you
Always said
That I needed
Meat on my bones
And if I’d known
You’d stay
Sleep for so long
I wouldn’t of
Spent so much time
Away from home
Trying to grow into
Someone you’d be proud
Of

But pa pa always said
You looked
Peaceful asleep
So I’ll
Quietly shut off
The lights
And let you
Rest
In
Peace….

(I love you grandma)

                                                                                                © Jayar Moten

Loch Raven Review Spring 2006 — Vol. 2, No. 1
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