The Black Sonnets

III:I

I left a gift in my love’s swollen tum,
But for what good end, if he has no dad; 
the boy’s fate is set and has yet begun,  
These issues forced upon our kind is mad! 
Mom can do very much alone, except 
Teach a boy to be a man rightly groomed.
She will do the best she can, so respect
The will of the black mother’s warring womb.
But of truth, the boy’s doom is in check mate
He’ll fall the victim of false claims, or worse
He’ll end up slain killed off by bullets spate 
Or join a gang for love lost back pop’s hearse; 
But they don’t see the effects and dreams stole
When they lock up and kill off Father’s soul. 

III:II

Woe be if the girl is black, she’s just meat 
Tossed in the lion’s den of the man’s world. 
She lives in constant fear looked at as treats
For the man to have his desires unfurled.  
Our daughters are our future but get robbed
Of equal guaranteed rights for each, save
When it’s about skills in maternal jobs 
Or standing up for black men all the same.
Her beauty varies as grown floral fields
But social standards speak a different tune,
Of roses thinly stemmed with curved appeals
As trophies shown in gardens to be swooned.  
If we’d appreciate our sister’s soul; 
We’d reap more in return than we could sow. 

III:III

The common folk accuse us of false crimes
Withdrawing our rights, the small few we had, 
the second part of the Thirteenth’s veiled lines 
A compromise to make the white folks glad.
With little resource the times grew bedim
As most trekked back to slave work for a wage 
At least we weren’t in metal chains again 
And yet still came complaints and bouts of rage;
Yeah, some thought they’d be better off enslaved 
“At least we had a place, and food to eat.”
The bondage lock of mental chains remained.  
They knew not what to do, ‘twas bitter sweet;
The pain of watching brethren give up hope    
Was much worse than fear of those old noosed ropes.  

III:IV

Let’s forward time by only a few years    
When life on the plantation, is called jail  
And blacks can vote and pursue their careers
While the hot summer sun burns skin so frail.
Our leader is disliked, here some, there some;
Some like him, but that’s neither here nor there.
We are free now, what’s good for us to glum
Is not such freedom free of sweet despair? 
You would start to believe such wondrous quotes,
‘til social media posts siblings slain. 
The news paints views if its black on black folk 
But hides a few truths that conceal our pain.
Of sure, our ethnic groups have killed within
Ah, but they’re robbed of life and told to win. 

III:V

Of matters deeply thought I asked my girl, 
How does she feel about black people’s state? 
But hungry voiced, our stomach’s speech unfurled,  
So, I picked her up hoping food would sate.
As I drove my car, lights flashed blue and red 
I was pulled over but I’m not sure why.
They said I fit the script ’black man with dreads’ 
With guns aimed I said to my love, “don’t cry.” 
They tied my hands with deathly a firm grip  
Bagged my brown head and damn near dragged my legs.
When they stopped, there stood strong boughs dipped 
With a noose tied, alas, for life I begged!
As my legs wobbled off that wooden chair,
 I dangled and gasped my last breath of air.

II:I

Before soon, came word stating slaves were freed 
But in the sense of sheep released to dogs, 
Out of chains, into bondage like chewed weeds
In Summer time garbs made from cotton togs. 
Announcement’s came so late to our slum town, 
By then we were run down bathed in lament. 
Were we free or was this a scheme gone ‘round 
To catch among us traitors, worth few cents?
Could the new law replace the damage honed? 
Thy sons torn from their mother’s warm embrace,
Thy daughters raped—portend skins lighter tones
By the excuse we’re of a feeble race. 
Thirteenth amendment had writ its decree;    
Slaves were no more, unless crimes beckoned thee.  

II:II

Such liberty is nothing as we dreamt,    
Our items fit on knapsacks tied to sticks  
We wear around like harnessed beasts.
In droves we wander for a place to kick
Up our legs, top oak tables near fire’s hearth
Or homes warmed, to rest ‘lil babes’ weary feet.
We formed as one these freedom towns, where birthed
Our youth—fresh brown soiled skin of beauty sweet;
They were taught lessons of life like don’t stay
Out passed dark; always buddy up when you 
Leave; don’t meet the white gal’s eyes—Shoo away!
Too many folks been caught by the jungle blues.
Yet still, you’d see a soul hung from a tree 
And have to cover the eyes, not to see.

II:III

In our sweet little town of Bethlehem
That’s where I met this brown eyed gal, 
Her velvet skin like cocoa bean phlegm,  
A foxy lady with great sense of style.
As she passed by, each and all tipped their hats
And spoke “well howdy ma’am, good eve to you,”
But I stood out, I spoke not words like that 
I right up told her I loved her— ’twas true.  
She told me I was crazy—I agree, 
“A little crazy by new passions bloomed,”
My words made her smile, she too felt the glee, 
The spark, like when light enters a dark room.
In our poor little town, love made us rich,
It was all we could hope, dream for, or wish. 

II:IV

One date night we left a blues club event
To be met by cops, posted right out back. 
We tried to ignore, but that woeful went   
As they stopped us, I reckon, cause we’re black. 
“Y’all are out awfully late,” the cop spoke, 
“I guess the ole blues kept us passed our stay,”
“Oh, you must think this is some kind of joke?” 
“No sir, we just want to be on our way.”
“Well you know the rules boy; you should be chained,” 
He pistol whipped me ‘pon back of my head   
Then threw me down, evoking crimson stains,
But I thought only of my girl instead. 
They sweep through our towns treating us like dirt
Ain’t much we can do but cry ‘til it hurts.

II:V

I wish my troubles ended there, but nope!
The next night bricks flew through our window pane
With threats of death “you niggers need be roped!”
How were we to sleep at night stressed of bane? 
But sure enough my fate was sealed the night
The cops harassed me by the old blues house;
I left my den to see guns aimed down sight 
I whispered I love you to my ole spouse.
They tied my hands with deathly a firm grip  
Bagged my brown head and damn near dragged my legs.
When they stopped, there stood strong boughs dipped 
With a noose tied, alas, for life I begged!
As my legs wobbled off that wooden chair,
I dangled and gasped my last breath of air.

I:I

The sun blazed like a pot of boiling grease 
As master worked us twice as hard it seemed,
A soft wind blew a soothing tune of ease
That gave us strength when black’s sang songs sun gleamed.  
We coined a secret language of pangs peaked, 
And we spoke one to one each other’s eyes; 
They shunned our talk they ain’t want us to speak 
So, by our chorus’ voiced, therein truth cries. 
‘Twas time; the sweet words lulling us came through,  
These warbled tunes passed ‘round like guiding lights 
‘Tis why when we heard those sweet words we knew,
To steal away in the dead aisles of night. 
Not everyone aspired to freedom’s lure,
The risk remained by ole house slave’s demure. 

I:II

The day we heard the songs of freedom rise,
You best believe we threw a mighty feast.
We hid all our excitement, so as not despised
By master when he saw a happy beast.
Lord knows we ain’t have much to eat but thanks
Be to the empty mouths who sacrificed
Their portions the night our brave moved in ranks,
For the long journey a full tum sufficed. 
The pig scraps master ain’t want, he gave us, 
if we just ate that, we’d been dead long ere, 
So, we grew our own veggies with no fuss, 
Nay collards, corn, or turnips spared.
Too much of our food will right put you sleep
But is good for the soul aft worked by heat.

I:III

When sun rose, we rose, when sun fell, we fell
But none fell to sleep, this night we stood by
For cues that would deliver us from hell,
Sweet carriage of fire, carry us yon high. 
But sure enough, ole master kept close eye
On every stable and slave quarters house
For who could deny, the moon loft in sky
To cause sea and man both to arouse.
Then came the lyrics knocking on our doors 
Oh, steal away I heard, like waters loosed;
Only take what you can carry, nothing more, 
We’ll live for freedom or die by the noose.
Some stayed behind but dared not be a snitch,
I’m mostly talking ‘bout few slaves bewitched. 

I:IV

Like silent dew lights ‘pon grass, our feet too,
As Hebrews so escaped of Egypt’s wrath.
Make sure to keep the bright star in eyes view
For it will guide you down the northern path. 
Wade in the water where free rivers run, 
To mask the scent of hounding dogs that trail,
When spotted, run zigzag of firing gun,
I sure hope you washed off your rancor smell.  
The Trails helped us to freedoms cot
Thy skiffs to row, thy hiding rooms concealed
Thy rations kind bestowed as entered lots,
For the tired to rest and for wounds to heal.
We traveled many hours non to cease
On feet or row, with nay food to please.

I:V

“I looked passed Jordan,”—rivers we must cross
Passed nasty towns, where blacks were killed as sport.
To our best we kept safe to shade like moss,
But was spied by a lad and girl he’d court.
They both ran to alarm each soul in cries
As we dashed in fright for what’s next to come.
The men mobbed forward to chase us but I—
I let them catch me so the group could run. 
They tied my hands with deathly a firm grip  
Bagged my brown head and damn near dragged my legs.
When they stopped, there stood strong boughs dipped 
With a noose tied, alas, for life I begged!
As my legs wobbled off that wooden chair,
I dangled and gasped my last breath of air.

Jamal McCray is a young African-American male, a poet, essayist and novelist living and working in the DC Metro Area.