Note: this piece is inspired by the album of the same name by legendary musician, Miles Davis.
You ain’t got tell me
God is Black
Because Miles’ and
Gabriel’s horn
Got to sound
The same!
That horn
With the fire
On the inside
To the outside
That announce
The arrival of
Heroes into the Earth.
The poet prophets
The prophet poets
Responding to the
Echo of the 3 strand
Divinity inside them to
Tell you want is wrong —
And how to right it.
When she is woman
— and not man
She is bossy
She is agitation
She is loud
She is rude
And to push
The hush into her?
You call HER a BITCH.
(Beat)
I’ll be the bitch
Stay that bitch
The chick
Which notices
Every ounce of
This bullshit!
Who’s business
Sits on her chest!
And adjusts in
A good Fenty DOUBLE D bralet!
Because:
who The fuck is youPlaying wit’?!
The brew be that
Fire that bring
Light, heat and smoke
To step on ashes
And in my ether
The unworthy choke!
The world needed
Saving,
And by one man
It was done
And this time
At this reclamation
The truth still
Gon come
From a Black woman!
(Beat)
So…
I’ll be villain in ya story.
I’ll be the lie you repeat.
Because I didn’t
Break in half
Die,
Or gravel at your feet!
That truth be
Fire all up in
The EYE
that make sure
The greens taste
Just right!
Pulling in all the scraps
The world gave
Believing my Black
And woman
Would give
Me no haven.
Time and fire
Made the brew
So when I show up
All big in room,
Yall don’t know
What to do!
But know this,
I know what I
See,
And see what
I say,
And asking me
To shut up?
(Beat)
Bruh, aint no way.
-JBHarris, 4.2.2024