Rivers
- rabihahmed
- Feb 1, 2017
- 2 min read
This is a piece that speaks to the emotional fluidity of men. The inability to be emotionally transparent with your brother due misconstrued concepts of masculinity. This is a letter to black boys urging them to express their love for one another before its too late.
Black Boy
What a blessing you are
What a beauty you’ve become
How joyful you have grown to be
No soul should have to carry the weight you do
No body will train till grief becomes an unknown chemical to your body
And since Black boys don’t cry
They will have no choice but to cry when you’re dead
When the man made metal pierces through your skin
They’re eyes will begin to water
When the collision of two automobiles
Turns your seat belts into angel wings
They will hold their faces in such disbelief
Dear Black boys please learn to swim
For your destinies will require this life skill
You will have to swim in the sorrows of the brother you loved
But never got the chance to use those three words
To affirm his being
Affirm his body
Affirm his spirit
his smile
He told me that he loved you
Like you were one of his own
He told me he loved all of you
Like you were his kin
His bredren
Gone…too... soon
For anyone to recollect the memories of middle and high school
Each reunion is around the one who couldn’t make it
Swollen eyes,
Reminiscent smiles,
Coupled hands in prayer for the deceased.
He is still in disbelief
His faith is running on E
Begging and asking Jehovah, God please not another one
“Brother forgive me
For not crying out my love for you
For the rivers of my tears
May have saved you from destiny’s desire”
Black boys please understand your body needs watering too
You might save one another
It will save you from the guilt
The could have’s
The should have’s
The questioning of God
The why’s
The vengeance
The denial
And the realization
That yet another one of your beloved brothers
is gone