Ready For Battle

                        by Alieux Casey-George

u

occur but once

and having occurred

fall into dust

and occur not again

we

exist in soul

but speak only

of time and space

and the words fly off

to nowhere

look

at us now

the clock races on

time prepares itself for battle

pages turn

heads are bowed.

Watch Sonia's Lips move

Day ONE: 10/1/00

enters Sonia,

shutting the door behind her.

She removes her full red lips

To tell me in confidence:

“I’m so glad they finally hired a

brutha here! You the only nigga that’s been in this building besides the UPS guy!

We gotta have each other’s back.

 If there is anything that you need,

nigga,

please don’t hesitate to let a sista know!”

then she quickly leaves my office

after putting her lips back

where they  remained

from my first day

through to my last;

attached

to

every

white

male

ass

in

the

company.

--alexgeorge

I will remember

When things get better, 

when my money gets right

 &

 I can exhale again, 

I will remember those who cared enough

 2 

check in on me

 when I felt like

 I 

couldn’t 

afford

 2 breathe--

alieuxcgeorge