From this — I got this — For the 30 pieces I performed on my TikTok platform, the family was like, “But Sis, where the rest at? These titles are as follows: Day 1: MISSISSIPPI Day 2: We Whisper Loud Day 3: What Tish Coulda … Continue reading And Then This Happened…
This year was freeing.
I think I have been able to become more confident in my own poetic voice, and own that voice!
I am proud of myself and the work I am creating. I am bringing the joy back to my art, and along with that— power.
I no longer fear my pen, and I used to. I used to be afraid of how angry I would sound sometimes — but it’s necessary.
Audre Lorde said that there was purpose to anger! And there is.
There are pieces in this cycle of poetry that are angry, because I was angry.
There are pieces in this cycle that are fun and happy, because I was happy.
There are pieces that are introspective and poignant, because I was thinking at my life so far.
This year, I feel so much lighter than I have in succeeding years. I feel like my feet are under me as an artist, able to stand up to criticism and silence my own inner critic.
I’m maturing as a poet. Growing as an artist. And accepting criticism and compliments.
I finally feel like a poet— I hope that makes sense.
Plus! My first poetry anthology is released May 12, 2024. How amazing if that!
Thank you for going on this journey with me.
JBH
I will be in the everywhere.
When I am
an ancestor,
when the weight of age
and body
are no longer
my trouble over these waters,
I will be in trees
and leaves
and grasses.
I will be thunder and storm.
I will be the truth
that is picked over
during dinners my hands
prepared and in the eyes
of my family,
and those we have heard of me saw me prepare.
I will be in the stares
of grandchildren,
creaking on the stairs
of old houses that
my feet once tread upon.
I will be cloud
and rain,
My truth,
will come from
their mouth
And I will be in dishes
Over glasses and
In the rumbling of laughter —
I will call
And I will be
called an answer.
-JBHarris, 2.12.2024
This will be in the upcoming work dedicated to my father, DADDY, I’M OKAY.
When I’m tired,
my mother tells
me to stop wiping
and holding my face
like my daddy did
when he was tired.
I think that,
even in those
neurons and synapses
That is my father,
reaching from the beyond
into me to let me know
that he still wants
to take care of me.
I want him so bad,
“Daddy, I’m okay.”
I know with you
being so far away,and
you being into the mystery, and
me eight years from
the point from
where your heart beat
For the last time,
I still want to say:
“Daddy, I’m okay.”
I won’t lie and say
There aren’t days
Where I ache for
your voice and
Rely on your grit—
It is impossible not to miss you.
There are days
I struggle to remember
all you were,
all that you are,
and what you meant to me.
In this world of grief and strife
it sometimes makes memory
so hazy,
that I have to struggle
to remember your voice.
I have now crossed
a threshold in this life,
I have been without you
more than I had you.
I understand if God be for me,
I will have more years
in front of me,
and that holds
the unique paradox
that I might forget you.
And yet Daddy, I’m okay.
I’m okay because
for whatever reason
you fit to give me
rock —and to speak to it,
to demand
I’m not let go of it!
That you endowed
this pretty Black girl
who is now
a strong Black woman
with enough in her
in 17 summers
to summon
when the storms of life rage!
Daddy, I’m okay.
I’m gonna be okay
until it’s okay
speak okay
Until a way is made!
And Daddy, I’m okay…
You can rest now.
I am reminded
there is no time limit
on how long
A father will
love his daughter—
even from million miles away.
I take solace that even on my dying day,
I’ll still be your babygirl.
Daddy… Immabe OK.
-JBHarris, 4.2024
He said
My mouth was slick,
And I was always
Poppin my shit!
You think that
Him knowing me
As long as
he knew
Himself would prepare
Him for me to
Always come
Ace High,
No chaser —
Hot.
Smooth.
And…
Thick!
Full-bodied
And smooth
…like he likes
All desirable things
He believes
Belong to him.
He brave enough
To say I, too, belong
To him—
Who am I
To argue when
…he be right?
-JBH, 9.3.2023
How to fireproof a Black girl in 10 easy steps:
1.) Believe in yourself when even it seems all is lost. You have more within you than they can ever be a cost. Do not abandon you because you is what you have and you is what you will leave with.
2.) Remember all the mammies are dead. You were never supposed to be one, and everything in you has come from victory.
3.) Peace is where you are, peace is what you deserve, and peace is what you fight for: peace of mind, peace of heart, and never a piece of a man.
4.) You have the right to love, and be loved and be loved who you want. You have the determination in your own self to arrest those who bring you no rest! You have to understand love is what brought you into this world, and it is LOVE that holds this place together, as we float through this universe of countless fascinations!
5.) You have the right to flip all this shit over!
6.) You have the right to feel, to be treasured, to be adored, and never fucked. Unless, that’s what you like.
7.) You have the right to cut your hair. Grow your hair! Dye it! Roll it! Frame it!
Slap it, flip it, and reverse it just like Missy Elliott told us to! You have the right to be and change just when and where you want to! You have the right to wear red nail polish now Black girl! With stiletto tip nails and shoes if you see fit!
8.) You have the right to your story—even to rewrite!—and always give the edits to He has sent you to do a great work.
9.) You belong to you. Your life is a gift, and you are needed here. Don’t die with any dream in you.
10.) You have the right to live your life as big as you want as you want as free as you want and who can stop you but you?
If you get confused, sometimes the matches get too close to go back to step one.
-JBHarris, 4.26.2024
I’ve noticed two crucial things
between these birthdays
And this education:
DEGREES.
my eighth grade science teacher
told me that water freezes at 32°
so as one who has had 42 birthdays
TWO DEGREES
and is a water sign
It is easy for this heart of mine
to become icy.
to push you away
when you do things
that I know will
ruin my day.
when I see that
you have nothing
on your mind
but time
And choose to
waste mine?
There’s no reason for us to converse.
There’s no reason
for you to be in my universe.
I have almost 50 rotations
around God’s sun
and I have no reason
to waste another one
on someone else’s son
who does not know
what he wants —
or believes that he can keep me
in a frozen position
while he figures out.
Where is hot and heat
and where he can go
Gather more sympathy from.
I refuse to be chilled.
Water freezes
when you neglect it.
when you don’t feed it.
when there is no water
and no oxygen to
keep pace with it.
It will go back to its original state.
Unfazed.
and yet—
What can the poet do
When her heart is frozen
except fight for it to be
Flesh again,
To be won again,
To remember that love
Still is—
And may always be.
Even if not with me.
-JBHarris, 4.19.2024
This will be included in the work DADDY, I’M OKAY.
My boy name was going to be Phillip,
The name given to the father
Of Alexander the Great —
Fitting for destiny
Lineage of a father
Who is also synonymous
With Kings.
And for humor
—perhaps for hope—
Divine prestidigitation
The brother I was supposed
To be,
And the sister I am,
Morphed into one.
The brother going
Before me
Me possibly a rainbow
What Daddy was supposed
To give him,
Big enough to
Share with both is us
I hold.
For the both is us.
Maybe this is why
In my second
Chief tongue
This name is
Given by my mother
Means—
Queen.
-JBHarris, 4.9.2024
Know me by
the deep things,
So we can
Do the impossible—
Today —
and Tomorrow.
-JBHarris, 4.2024
Note: this will be part of a ‘zine called LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM.
I slept through my alarm.
(Where is my mom?)
My kids missed the bus.
I don’t want to take them to school.
(I am hungry. I cannot find my husband or children.)
(We have no where to sleep. We cannot sleep!)
I don’t have time to make coffee—I’ll get some at work.
(I am hurt. Where is the water, I am thirsty…)
This traffic is horrible!
(I am losing my baby! I am in so much pain!)
I have to cook when I get home.
I wonder if there are any leftovers?
(Everyone is dead! How is everyone dead?!)
What a day!
I need to take a hot bath and sleep.
(When will all this be over?
We have nowhere to hide!
Does God not see?)
-JBHarris
#FreePalestine #CeaseFire
I Breathe Fire 