My Dream Her Legacy

She gave
Me every instruction
On how to be a man

She told me�
Open her door
reach
out
For her hand
And make sure
Her coat doesn�t
Get jammed
You shut her in

And heaven knows
It has been
Hard to close
Her casket.
Cause
I don�t want
Her soul
to get caught

she taught me
that the hardest battles
fought are
those you
can�t see
that�s why
we believe in
God

Now it seems odd
That she has seen
Me win competitions
And graduate
But won�t be around
To see me receive
My first degree

She always told
Me�
One day you may
Have to carry this
Body on� home
But as long as
You are chasing
Your dreams
I know my legacy
Will live on!

Don�t Sleep

Don�t
Just
Lie there

Your
Bed wasn�t
Made to
Live in

And since
You�ve been
Sleep
We�ve been
Grievin�
Your absence

We
Miss mornings
Picking ripe
Veggies from
Your garden

If you
Would slip out
Of your
Nighties
We could
Jam to LP�s
Upstairs
Like we
Used to
Do
Before spending
Hours making
Hot water
Cornbread

Cause� you
Always said
That I needed
Meat on my bones
And if I�d known
You�d stay
Sleep for so long
I wouldn�t of
Spent so much time
Away from home
Trying to grow into
Someone you�d be proud
Of

But pa pa always said
You looked
Peaceful asleep
So I�ll
Quietly shut off
The lights
And let you
Rest
In
Peace�.

(I love you grandma)

                                                                                                � Jayar Moten

Loch Raven Review Spring 2006 — Vol. 2, No. 1
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