Poems by Steve Lewis (a.k.a. Latin Gorilla

DESIRA

One day when One day when the skies open the sun shines and the birds sing. One day when One day when Man will come to the understanding… We are human and will learn from our mistakes. Shame. One day when One day when, before we walk we will see, we will eat from the same dirt, come to the understanding from the same tree speak the same language kneel to the way of life… One day when One day when I will see your smile at the crack of dawn, complete myself with your light, the warmth of your aura. Never ending, forever. Te Desira.

I AM A MAN

Who am I? Who am I? I am him.

I am a man, born of an unforgivable birth. I am a man, born into the world with no love or happiness. I am a man who lives the best of life. I am a man who spent most of my days On a modern-day plantation, within bars. In am a man, a provider for his family. I am a man who is no good for his own soul. I am a man who has a love for life. I am a man, a man who cries in the shadows alone. I am a man of patience. I am a man who prays for a better tomorrow.

I WROTE

I remember the first time I pushed this pen in between these lines It was my thoughts of frustration Why had He forsaken me? Allowing the man to place me on this modern-day plantation So I wrote while looking into the night At the stars so bright that would guide me home I wrote about dreams while playing in the belly of the beast I wrote about the animal within that people seen but didn’t understand Who was really a shy little boy that was not allowed to play. I wrote about the passionate things I would do That nine times out of ten left me in the men’s room getting in touch with myself. So now I write about today’s ignorances Of capers and stories of thugs from blocks How shorty bobs her head because she knows no better. I write of my addiction Sex, drugs and Hip Hop I write to you and hopefully you would acknowledge me And hopefully they won’t understand Why I write.

I MISS YOU

Here I go again… I miss you… like day with no night like a bird with no song or an ocean with no fish

I miss you… like a fat kid would miss cake like rice and beans and no pollo like a peanut butter sandwich and jelly sandwich and no bread like a Sunday morning breakfast of hominy grits with eggs and cheese and turkey sausage but no momma butter, milk, Bisquick. I miss you… like a smile with no one to see like a tear with no one to cry for like a rose and no one to give it to— I miss you.

THANKS

You, who the unseen allows me to view (That’s right, me.) While in your pure illuminating state of blessings That he bathed you in Your fragrant intoxicating My soul weeps because you allow me to be the thought In your daily plan you write your secrets in Oh my sweet enchanting, Whose wings were clipped So I could walk beside you As an equal And you I. My heart praises the day of the 14th and the second month of the year At the same time, I curse the son of Venus For placing a hex on me By piercing my heart with his arrows That are dipped in Love Potion #9 That naked winged fairy? Your smile reminds me of the loss I would lose If I didn’t praise him every time I looked into your eyes and said “Thanks.” I also thank him for allowing me to embrace his creation At the dawn of light So I thank you, my Eternal soul.

I’M WAITING

I’m waiting to wake up in a perfect world next to a perfect mate I’m waiting for the truth to be told right and JUST would take off the blinders over her eyes I am waiting for the man in the moon to stop laughing at me because I cry, due to the re-enactions since the beginning of life. I am waiting for the understanding that blood is blue before red and that makes us all the same. I am waiting. P.S. As long as we have numbers, we will never be free.