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Poems by Sherry

In memory of two talented and beloved poets

Sherry P.

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(1946–2007)

Erik R. Nusom

(a.k.a. Finesse)

(1968–2007)

THE TIMES OF MY LIFE

The times of my life were varieties galore. I bathed in rivers of grandeur. I slept on barren floors. I laughed, I cried, I lived, I died. All jokes aside, on roars of waves I did ride and ride! I came ashore, I dove back in headfirst, I nursed the hurt of being me like the roaring of the open sea until I came upon a much desired tranquility. Peace and serenity became alive in me. The times of my life today equals sweet, sweet simplicity.

Sherry P.

LET FREEDOM RING!

From every hidden place where countless senseless lynchings took place, let freedom ring. Let freedom ring from every injustice, degradation, humiliation, castration in America’s nation and from the African slave ships where men, women, and children were brought over in chains, shackled to the floors— Let freedom ring! in every hallowed hallway like the one Amadou was shot in—41 times!— and killed for no crime...he never committed... Let freedom ring where every faceless, nameless KKK made its way to massacre our people. Let freedom ring in the courts where equal rights was for shit in the streets— no retreats—let freedom ring for every black man, black woman, black child. Let freedom ring for every white man, white woman, white child who engaged in equality. Let freedom ring for every child born in dope addiction, methadone, crack, and alcoholism.

Let freedom ring with deafening rage.

Sherry P.

MY PEOPLE! MY PEOPLE! MY PEOPLE!

My people! My people! My people! How long, how long, how long will you continue to do one another wrong? Can’t you see we’re supposed to be sister and brother?

My people! My people! My people! The steeple of justice is steep and it’s so damn deep Let’s no longer sleep— awaken! My people! My people! My people!— to a brand new day.

Please don’t let ignorance nor degradation, egotism, hateful loathing separate—My people! My people! My people! Cloud your view—My people! My people! My people—yes, I’m talking to you, so what ya gonna do? We need to come together like never, ever before in life— My people! My people! My people!

Let’s stop the strife amongst each other, let’s begin by not acting, but by being sisters and brothers to respect and love each other before it’s too late, let us conversate and lean on and support each other, for there’s strength in unity. My people! My people! My people!

Let’s be the great people we were ordained to be since the beginning of all time. My people! My people! My people!

Let us pull ourselves up from behind and blow the whole damn wide world’s mind— we’ll have the nations standing in line, we can be triumphant, not lethal— My people! My people! My people!

Sherry P.

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