Brother

notice how your mere presence scares them
watch how they scatter when you enter the room

see how they can't even look at you
without their heads lowered, voices hushed and muted?

they know all about your history,
how your veins flow freely with the blood of kings and queens

some men try to duplicate what you have, but they never could
it doesn't even come in all sizes, cannot be bought in a store

it's the way you move-even through the doorway,
your confidence entering the room before you do

and I don't expect to understand
how it feels to be a black man, I know your eyes have seen more than I have in my lifetime

even though your skin shines coconut brown like mine
even though your hair ropes and twists like mine

it seems as though you arrived here long before your time
a staggering stature, the pure definition of swagger


you are the kind of man all women look for
the one we'd all choose to spend every waking moment with

you will always be the one, over all others we will choose
when we close our eyes at night- we even dream about you

a history of tragedy, upsets and nonsense
has left you guarded, always on the defense

you may be misunderstood, but your heart pumps strength
strength that stretches beyond the norm

so the next time you don't believe the strength you have
and how much power you exude?

notice how your mere presence scares them
watch how they scatter when you enter the room