tomahawk poem
By Alice Lovelace
i want to write you
a tomahawk poem
to aid you in
your / our struggle
this tomahawk poem
will be sharp
will be treacherous
will be notched to your grip
will be singular in purpose
to extract the fangs of would be profaners.
i want you to wear it
this tomahawk
don't let anyone
get in the way
of our love poem
fondle these lines in the night
preserve it under your pillow
employ it to amputate poison
from hemorrhaging tongues
this tomahawk poem is yours.
carry it with you wherever you go
and if anybody challenges your
universal humanity
you yank out this poem
and axe that action
'cause this poem is your defense.
this poem is yours brother
when you being lover, friend
banker, craftsman, cook, provider
teacher, preacher, organizer
a tomahawk poem
to lacerate the skulls
of your enemies.
a poem you can
pick your teeth with.
grip the handle
mosaic wood
sculpted to your hands
a tomahawk poem
to split the wood
my brothers
to fuel the fire
of your audacious humanity
burning three hundred and sixty degrees
black
engulfing
black
soothing
black
challenging
black
affirming.
i want you to wear this poem
my brother
slung across your shoulder
like an uzi
loaded
cocked and
aimed
in your defense.
this is your tomahawk poem!
By Alice Lovelace
i want to write you
a tomahawk poem
to aid you in
your / our struggle
this tomahawk poem
will be sharp
will be treacherous
will be notched to your grip
will be singular in purpose
to extract the fangs of would be profaners.
i want you to wear it
this tomahawk
don't let anyone
get in the way
of our love poem
fondle these lines in the night
preserve it under your pillow
employ it to amputate poison
from hemorrhaging tongues
this tomahawk poem is yours.
carry it with you wherever you go
and if anybody challenges your
universal humanity
you yank out this poem
and axe that action
'cause this poem is your defense.
this poem is yours brother
when you being lover, friend
banker, craftsman, cook, provider
teacher, preacher, organizer
a tomahawk poem
to lacerate the skulls
of your enemies.
a poem you can
pick your teeth with.
grip the handle
mosaic wood
sculpted to your hands
a tomahawk poem
to split the wood
my brothers
to fuel the fire
of your audacious humanity
burning three hundred and sixty degrees
black
engulfing
black
soothing
black
challenging
black
affirming.
i want you to wear this poem
my brother
slung across your shoulder
like an uzi
loaded
cocked and
aimed
in your defense.
this is your tomahawk poem!
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