Poetry by Raque Burkeholder

I Cried Today
By Raque Burkeholder

I CRIED TODAY…
when justice fails
the courts prevail
when the system attacks
the victims are black
there’s no time to relax
we’re fighting from our collective backs
with no money to tax
we’re left with scraps how would you react
if your life was stolen like that?

I CRIED TODAY…
I don’t tell my story for re-tail or to re-sell
I’m seeking re-lations
I tell my story for help with these hardships I’ve been facing
my story is your story
His-Story
A story in a story
I wonder, how many of you I am boring?

I cried
they smiled
I yelled
they held
locked in cuffs
with no one to help,
I cried
they lied
a stolen life
waiting to die!

I CRIED TODAY…
these tears do not come from fear
they come from here (pointing at heart)
these tears keep falling like the years keep falling
one year, two years, I keep losing count
I’m trying to understand what all this lost is really about.

I CRIED TODAY…
I crashed
they laughed,
can someone tell me what happened to
“Thank God Almighty, I’m Free at Last?”
I’ve been fight for so long
in pain for so long
I’m wondering when I succeed and get free
will that freedom last?
I’ve somehow managed the damage,
but will I survive my damaged past?

I CRIED TODAY…
as grey hair sprouts
I scream and shout
I look at my skin
and ask, when did it thin?
my bones are beginning to ache
I question how much more can I take?
as the days pass by
you wonder why I cry
I cry because I realized
I’M DYING!
Dying within a lie.

That is why I cried today
I’m glad I am alive today
as I look around I see faces hard as stone
yes brother I cried
yes sister I cried
I’m just wondering, why I cried ALONE?

Heartbeats and Soft Speech
By Raque Burkeholder

Through heartbeats & soft speech I ask a question
What do you see when you look at me?
Do you see the representation I see in myself which is a fighter for myself and everyone else? Or do you see a Lifer serving Life with no right to ANYTHING, not even his own life?
I gave you my all, I’ll fight for your cause, but if I show you my scars would that be going too far?

Through heartbeats & soft speech my pain seeps
Do you want the whole me or just a piece of me?
But what if the key to me was accepting every piece of me, because if you take this piece…and that piece…you may leave the very best piece of me…And how tragic would that be?

Through heartbeats & soft speech my heart speaks
I was told; “Tell us who you are, but leave out your innocence.”
The benefits of me speaking about my innocence is to show you I’m not suffering from indolence, or should I give it to you in increments while hoping for someone that is heaven-sent to help free me from this circumstance?
I’m standing for change, so you’ll yell out my name, but when I show you my pain, why do moods begin to change?

Through heartbeats & soft speech my soul weeps
I’m sentenced to die, I wish this life wasn’t mine like this crime wasn’t mine…Sometimes I cry while looking in the sky asking God why, praying I don’t die before I overturn this lie.

Through heartbeats & soft speech the truth leaks
I remain strong but my soul aches and it seems all I get is high fives and handshakes.
I’ve gotten so many handshakes my hand aches…. And what’s a high five to someone sentenced to die?
Some say: “I see you, keep pushing, you’re doing well”, but am I doing well? When I leave here I’m going to lock back into a cell.
Or I hear, “I like your poetry”…Guess what, she does too…“I like your writing”…Guess what, he does too…I would like freedom, and guess what…He does too..He does too…Matt, what about you?
If you like me as a person why not help me overturn…no, overcome…the real reason why I’m hurting?
This here is a call to..What happened? But remember love isn’t love without action!

Through heartbeats & soft speech my body speaks…And it’s yelling…FREE ME!