Broken

By Iyawna Burnett (2016, tenderness)

I sit in silence as my city riots in a silent but deadly stampede
Broken, breaking barriers breaking down doors
Broken glass breaking Windows
just to let some air in suffocating barely breathing
Breathtaking how life can be sometimes or all the time most of the time
we are searching seeking thinking
something has to give giving everything for nothing
begging pleading snatching stealing any and everything
just to find something to live for to die for to be remembered for
even if its all for nothing
blinking staring off into the distance wiping running water from my eyes
gulping choking down pain like thick medicine
a taste of our own medicine

beef threats clap back fists thrown guns aimed shots fired
retaliate retaliate retaliate war
lives lost children lost my generation lost
an eye for an eye – we’re already blind – it’s too late
Broken hearts homes families broken
breaking news murder shots fired
a shooting here there here everywhere
which way is no where? You’re standing in it
Frozen, heart beating eyes leaking mind racing running chasing running chasing life chasing dreams running the streets running from beef or running to it
with thoughts of dying for respect guns blazing
blazing summers and mothers’ tears for another lost Son
my life your life
I sit in silence screaming as my city riots in a silent but deadly stampede
stop the violence marches and statuses speeches and preaching
but nothing is sinking in
its a lose lose the system will forever win
R.I.P over and over and not many over 23

if you ask me where I’m from
ask me where young men go to die
rep streets give their life for respect and sets
ask me where is nowhere

Breathtaking how life can be sometimes or all the time
most of the time we are just searching seeking
thinking something has to give!
giving everything for nothing begging pleading snatching stealing any and everything just to find something to live for to die for to Be remembered for
even if its all for nothing in the middle of nowhere
I’m trying to find hope in a city so broken
hoping to get somewhere before it’s too late !

Split in Two
By Iyawna Burnett (2013, Fo n’ale)

If time stood still
I could divide myself in two
I could be both me’s
in both places
at the exact same time
leaving one home behind
while running to what's ahead.

I know where home is
Both beds have let me lay
Blankets and pillows,
and all that hold my past and present
and all that holds my head at night
when I cry

So I will be both places at the same time
aching for home when here
aching for home
I divide myself in two

I can be both me’s in both places at the same time.

time stops
And I stand in the middle with my bags packed,
dividing myself in two
so in both places I stand at once,
neither here nor there.

Yearning for a fresh start
and aching for the familiar
leaving my self behind
to find what's up ahead.

I’m torn, with bags packed
Muttering, under heavy breath
“I'm going home.”

And then, at that same time
in both same places, I begin to go, to leave
And at that exact moment,
crossing myself,
I walk right by me,
heading to the place I left,
going to the place I'm leaving.
I arrive, and it's as if I never left

but I will always go back,
To unpack
To stay,
To leave again, with bags packed
and head home
to unpack the love.
My home is where my heart is
and my heart is split in two.