NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, DAY FOUR

(After Ollie Woods's day-three poem "Free Write for Queendom")

BLACK LITERATURE 

You're my favorite free verse
Been studyin' you my whole life
Amazed at your levels of fortitude
How you wield your brilliant mind
Over so many matters
Ones that have killed others
But only made you stronger

Been watchin' you work that secret ingredient
In your DNA
Making you phoenix
Hugely sought
Flavor and favor unlimited
They all want it
But it can't be bought
You're no longer being sold
You're a free verse
Striding uninhibited through life
Sporting your melanin
Like the finest African couture
Telling the kinds of stories you want
With the endings you deserve
Baptizing souls with your zest
Stardust, they should call you
Cuz their systems call for you
Cry and reach for you
Yet they can never get high enough
To reach your heights
Can't get your potent effect
Anywhere else

Neither can I

Your embrace
Organic
Robust and consoling
Pure in its intention
To showcase love
Your gentle graze a light sweetener
Your aroma arousing my senses
Your steady breaths
A mood elixir
I wanna savor
So my pores sip your clutch slowly
Consume all your medicinal properties
Make sure my spirit is quenched and healed
Before you're gone

Your laugh
A djembe rhythm
Pulsating in your throat
Powered by generations of triumph
Ancestors Zulu dancing
In your belly
Stomping out your stress
Making your roar
That much more vibrant
Your joy contagious

Your smile
An eighth-grade dance
Filled with mystery
Mischief
Chance
Serving me all the feels
Giggles and butterflies
Baiting me
Luring me closer
Urging me to relax in your space
Your eyes
Strobe-lighting my path
Inviting me to engage
In your lively offerings
And enjoy my stay

I accept

You're my favorite free verse:
Uncensored
Unpredictable
Perfectly unstructured
With a message of omnipotence
Made clear

©2018 Charlene E. Green
You Betta WRITE!

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, DAY THREE

THWART

Always bring love to
a hate fight; shift bitter hearts
with spite Kryptonite

©2018 Charlene E. Green

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, DAY TWO

SURROGATE

Nourish your heart via
mine; feed on its beats when yours
needs strength to push through

©2018 Charlene E. Green

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, DAY ONE

GARDEN

Scorned my growth process,
now wanna reap my beauty
and favor? DENIED!

©2018 Charlene E. Green

TIME CHANGE—HAIKU

Spring forward from their
dark views, spite. Slay, prolong your
light. Make them fall back.

©2018 Charlene E. Green
from my upcoming book
You Betta WRITE!

INAUDIBLE

Love self out loud like
parade: joy and high volume
drown out disruptors

©2017 Charlene E. Green
from my upcoming poetry book
You Betta Write!

GOT MY CD YET?

Here's how you can get my poetry CD, She Is Poetry: Use this link She Is Poetry CD to pay $10, and you'll receive the download link via email (no physical copies at this time). SO simple! Don't have Paypal? No worries! Just choose the option to pay without Paypal!

Here's some of what has been said about it:

"I am enchanted with this poetry CD! This is my first thorough introduction to Charlene Hustle Diva Green and I am in love with her narrative approach to poetry. This collection of poems is spun with intriguing everyday stories that will resonate with the listener like a family painting, familiar and warm. People with a performance poetry ear will enjoy this body of metaphors." ~Nikki Skies—Author, Poet, Actress, Playwright

"I enjoyed the full-bodied work with its melodic comfort, a swig of funk, with a small touch of futuristic aromas. 'Confidence Within' is calm and collected, which was one of my favorite tracks!" ~Shay Ensley—Author, Artist, Entrepreneur

"Hustle Diva speaks with authority. She has a special way of encouraging and nurturing through her poetry, all the while being transparent about her own life lessons." ~Audra Bryant—Actress, Comedienne, Singer/Songwriter 

"I really enjoyed it very much. Your CD reeks 'confidence' and very much a woman who knows what she wants, what she is, and who she is. Happy I purchased. From one poet to another, keep up the good work in spreading the 'word.'" ~Quanda R. Graves—Author, Poet, Entrepreneur

*Includes my signature poem, "Misinformed (If the Shoe Fits)," which you can sample here, if you haven't heard it:

https://www.reverbnation.com/hustlediva/song/2871776-misinformed-if-shoe-fits-produced

START YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH ME!

Hey, everyone! I hope you're all doing well and that your holiday season is starting out right! 

Speaking of holidays ... it's that time of year again. The shopping season is among us, and as many of you know, I have plenty of ways for you to gift people. One of my main products right now is my new line of T-shirts. They're fun, inspirational, and unique. There are two sections: Empowerment Quotes and Haiku. I invite you to peruse the options, and if you haven't already purchased one for yourself, I encourage you to do that, as well as grab something for a friend or loved one. Now is the perfect time to order, as shipping times will increase significantly the closer we get to Christmas. 

BONUS: I've had requests for custom-text shirts, so if you'd like to place an order for a T-shirt from today, 11/5, through Thursday, 11/10 (11:59 p.m., PST), and you'd prefer your own text on it, I'll do it for the regular shirt price from my site (all shirts are the same price) instead of charging the extra fee of ten dollars. Send me a separate email with your text request and font color, and I'll send you a special invoice reflecting your order. After 11/10, you can still order custom shirts, but the extra fee will apply. Here's the direct link to the shirts: http://www.hustledivaspeaks.com/Pages/TSHIRTS.aspx

If you'd rather lift someone's spirits with some great reading material, then by all means check out my selection of poetry and self-help books. Who couldn't use a dose of inspiration, right? Here's the direct link to the books: http://www.hustledivaspeaks.com/Pages/purchase.aspx

Start checking people off your gift list early! Shop with me and avoid the terrible lines and cranky people at the malls, and those overpriced items! If you know people who might be interested in this information, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Enjoy your season, everyone! And thank you, in advance, for your support! 

HIDDEN TRUTH

Your innocent words press heavily
Upon the nerve you hit

The sting of the truth you are unaware
That you have thrown in my face 
Cuts me deep—
But what can I say? 
The truth is the truth....

Funny how a moment of idle chatter and fun
Can suddenly turn into a life-altering epiphany
For one who has so many lessons to learn
Old habits to break
And inner work to tend to

Distracted and disturbed by the sound
Of your voice ringing in my head
Waking me to the error of my ways
Yet shaming me of them, too
Makes my heart feel weighted
Leaves my eyes blurred with tears
But makes me glad you said so
Cuz the bitter dose of reality you fed me
Clearly my life must have sought

Because pressing at the forefront of my brain
Were those same mashed thoughts—
I held them of myself—
But I just said they were mashed—
By excuses, by fear
By a million erroneous beliefs 
That make my head spin
Make me dizzy
Make me damn near insane
And in the end
Debilitate and paralyze me...
I can barely move

It’s hard to breathe when your mind
Is enslaved by the devil’s voice
And your hip is numb and sunken into
The permanent concave imprint
Left in the middle of the bed
Where you lie...
Spiritually dead
Not even enough hope 
To fit underneath a fingernail

Hope
Such a small word
With even bigger meaning
And sometimes I have none

Right now
I can clearly see
The value you will have in my life
Because true friends speak the truths we hide
And force us to grow
Change
And be better
And better I will be 
Because of you

©2005 Charlene E. Green
From Me to You ... Through Mine Eyes: Visual Expressions
www.hustledivaspeaks.com

BLUE HEAT

After Korlah Camille Kafele's post on Facebook:

"Brothas...
Get those engines checked when the light comes on...
Don't procrastinate that tune-up on that truck...
Keep oil in your car and air in your tires...

We need you to make it home...

#terrencecrutcher"

Black men

We need you

We need you to make it

Through these unpromised days

With ease

Smiles on your faces

Goals on your minds

Plans for achievement

In the forefront

Your mental strong

Your will impenetrable

Pushing you to see the light

Be the light

At the end of a tunnel

Filled with

Tricks

Traps

Detours

Injustice

Treacherous heat

In your face

On your back

And I don’t mean the sun

You already know

This kind

Far too well

That Blue Heat

Oppressive 

Toxic

Ill-equipped

To replenish

Nourish

Comfort

Your black skin

Only warmth

You'll ever get

From this heat

Is that

Of your freshly drained blood

As it rivers

From bullet wounds

Drips

From your pounds

Of innocent flesh

Like tears

Pools remorsefully

Around your

Hands-were-up

Mouth-was-closed

Full-compliance

Body

Soaks up your soul

Yes

This is

A sob story

Colorful

Unpretty

A black

Blue

And red story

About how

Every day

No matter how well

You protect yourself

Your armor

Is moot

How

Whenever you make a move

Outside your four walls

It’s clear

That the game

Is rigged

The rules are skewed

You have no control

Over your opponent

Your life

And it’s never really

Your move

Yet it seems like

It’s

Always

Your

Time

We will

Say its name
Blue Heat

Like it keeps forcing us

To say the names

Of all your fallen brothers

Hold it accountable

Shelter you from its wrath

The best we can

Never cease attempting

To extinguish

Its blaze

Black men

We need you

We need you to make it

Home

From these dubious days

Off the game board

Into our arms

Without getting burned

©2016 Charlene E. Green

IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WRITING

I'm a writer first. When people ask me what I do, that's my response. Then I tell them I'm also a [performance] poet, an editor/literary consultant, and a life consultant. People wonder how I got into all the other stuff and how it connects to my writing, and I tell them: Everything I do outside of writing was borne from my writing. I gotta write the poems before I perform them; and I've always been a performer, though not everyone knows that. I went to acting school in the 90s and have always had an interest in public speaking. Editing and literary consulting came after I wrote my first novel, One Man's Treasure, and was an intern for Rosie Milligan and Maxine Thompson between 2004 and 2006, both of whom are accomplished authors and publishers here in Los Angeles. I started my editing business in January 2006. My life-consulting services are based on and constructed from three of my self-help books. It's all a spin-off of writing. It's the trunk of the tree of my career. Everything else ... branches. Were I not in love with writing, none of my other ventures would exist.

You can check out the many ways I can help you, below:

www.cegliteraryservices.yolasite.com

www.hustledivaspeaks.com

www.honorthespirit.com

AFFLICTION

My name
Is Regret

I’m the slickest

Trickiest

Manipulator alive

You think I reside in a space and time

Separate from you

But ohhh, silly rabbit

Didn’t I just say I was the trickiest?

And I ain’t just for kids

My game is tight

I run it on all of you:

Women and men

Boys and girls

I don’t discriminate

My job is to wreak as much havoc

On your psyche

As many times a day

As I can

See, I live in the backyard

Of the intuition you refuse to heed

Where I buoyantly wait

For your train-wreck decisions to play out

Like a string of box-office flops

I’m always packed and ready

To make my ascent

To the height of your emotions

Pitch my tent

Camp out in your cognizance

Hike the trails of your thoughts

Hunt for the frailest of them

Lie in wait …

Then pray

I pray so hard

For you to second-guess yourself

Give in to the pressures of people

And life

And slip into the abyss of situations

That will be the death of your sanity

I bank on you being steeped

Chin deep

In your insecurities

Depleted self-esteem

And lack of faith in your ability

To navigate your storms

Like the uncontrollable force

Of quicksand—

Your financial fears

Need for acceptance and love

Craving for material things

That you mistakenly rely on for joy—

They squeeze you breathless

Sink you

Into a state of panic

Where you can't picture

A healthy way forward

Where you believe you have no choice

But to surrender to inferior options

I'll cheer as you tumble
Down the dark hole

Of sleepless nights

Random outbursts of unruly sobbing

Churning-stomach syndrome

Fear of retaliation

Longing for second chances

Mental and physical tumult—

OH!—

The thought

Of your constant misery

Self-hatred

And endless discomfort

Makes my glands all waterfall

Has me salivating

Like a ravenous wolf

Fangs bared

Anticipation dripping from my tongue

Like fresh tree sap

(((shiver)))

I can

Taste

Every drop

Of the remorse that will hemorrhage

Through the bitter tears

Whose streaks will tattoo your cheeks

In the boldest font

So that every time you look in the mirror

You will be forced

To remember the scenarios you chose

That backfired
The times you cocked your mouth
Emptied its chamber
And annihilated people
With words you can't take back

How you betrayed yourself

Forfeited your happiness

Repeatedly

Cuz cowardice is your addiction

The crack in your brain’s pipeline

Decomposing your faculties

And I will roar in amusement

Beat my chest with arrogance

Revel in the ease of my accomplishment

In the depth of your weakness

Then I will

Smugly make my way

Back to the yard

Where I will kick my feet up

And slumber peacefully

Delighted that your life

Has yet again

Reached a new level

Of inescapable hell

©2016 Charlene E. Green

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH |2/30|: RUNNER

i see you

laid out for him

in your full-length glory

extending yourself

across his foundation

protecting your coveted space

so inviting

so perfectly situated

for him to use you

like the accessible
trusty door mat 

that you are

i understand you

and my soul cries for you

because the thing about being a runner is
you're never positioned
to elevate
from the ground floor
of his world

always faithfully there
at the entryway
waiting for him
to return
hoping to glean
from the vibration
of his footsteps
where he's been all day
without you
his feet
the only parts of him
you can look forward
to connecting with
the rest of him
belongs to a life
he will never
think enough of you
to let you experience with him

you must know your place
stay
in your place
at all times

do not ask to be moved
to a spot
where people will know you exist
where you'll be seen in the light of day with him
like you are in your torturous dreams

you do not get
outdoor privileges
ever

your job
is to be there
in the darkness
when he arrives
prepared to let him
wipe the ambiguous remnants
of his fulfilled days
all over your curiosity
days you best not question
days you needn't concern yourself with
days you'll spend every night
inserting yourself into
through your fantasies
where he'll introduce you
to his people
finally give you identity
where you'll watch him smile
as your nectarous flavor
leftover from his morning feast
clings to his palate
like wildflower honey
enraptures his taste buds
oozes from his mouth
dangles from his lips
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
where you wish
your name hung
like customized decor
for general viewing
where you wish
he praised you
where you wish
you could hear his secrets

where you wish
you weren't housed as one

where you wish
you could press
your lips
in a public display of affection
where you wish
he would say
i love you
afterward
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
but the thing about being a runner
is
deep down
you already know
the most attention you'll ever get
is when you're not properly secured
to be walked on

©2016 Charlene E. Green
From my upcoming poetry book You Betta Write!
www.hustledivaspeaks.com

Hustle Diva at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

Here's the video of my performance at the 2015 L.A. Times Festival of Books, April 19, as their Inspire Us poetry contest winner. Thanks to all who came out to support me! It was a huge feat, and with the special circumstances I was dealing with (see video for details), it was even more important that I not only be there, but also give a top-notch performance. Enjoy!

Featured Performance at L.A. Times Festival of Books

THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

Not many people know this, but I've wanted to do voice-overs for a long time, probably since my early 20s. I always had this fantasy of doing the voice on a cartoon or in an animated film. Later, the urge escalated to wanting to do voice-overs for all viable media elements. I never really talked about this particular dream; I just kind of said it to myself and knew I meant it, and then went on about my writing business. It wasn't until I started performing my poetry that the urge grew, and I found myself thinking about it on a fairly regular basis. I've always been adept at disguising my voice, though not a whole lot of people know that, either.

Amid my various writing, publishing, and performing activities, I've searched here and there for ways to break into the voice-over biz, and I've even applied for quite a few VO opportunities. The problem I always came across was that I didn't have a VO reel ... and I wasn't sure how to get one started with my limited resources. The other night, after I sent off another reply for a VO opportunity (this time, they actually wanted more of a poet), I realized it was time for me to make a concrete move toward accomplishing my closet dream of being a VO artist. So, with my writing, performing, and voice-disguising talents in place, I decided to make some samples that showcased my abilities. I made up faux products, wrote out the faux scripts for them, and then recorded them using my laptop's app. Hey, you do what you can with what you have. This project is a work in progress, as my plan is to build a decent sized portfolio, but here's what I have so far. I'll continue to add to the pot in this post. If anyone out there reading this knows of a way for me to use what I have to obtain agency representation, or if you know of any freelance opportunities, then please let me know. Thanks in advance. By the way, those who know me or have heard my voice know that my reading in "Mystic Chef" is 90 percent my real voice. Of course, it's got some "tweak" to it for effect.



MYSTIC CHEF SLOW COOKER VO SAMPLE

ZAPIT COLD & FLU FOR KIDS VO SAMPLE

GREATER AGE VITAMIN BOOST FOR SENIORS VO SAMPLE

MY APOLOGIES TO THE WAR HEROINES

*Inspired by the last line of Mahogany Browne's poem "Working Title": I'm so afraid to have a son.

Dear [Black] Mothers,


I will now
refer to you as
Warrior
since you're at war
with your faith
in peaceful days
cuz you birthed black boys

I'm sorry
every time your black sons
walk out the door
you picture mine-filled streets
ensnaring them
bombs donned in blue
with loose triggers
suspect intentions
precise aim

you dread their steps
knowing it doesn't matter
how lightly they tread:
their existence
is the only weight needed
to split the thin ice
they're skating on

I'm sorry your hearts
are too fragile
for simple good-byes
see you laters
be right backs

I'm sorry they're no longer simple

they sound like lies
your sons have no clue
they're telling

fear pillages your heartbeats
dines on your breaths
siphons the hope from your soul
when you hear them

I'm sorry
that in your world
sending them to the store
is synonymous with sending them
to their grave

you weep
pray
second guess
before saddling them
with that lethal task
cuz these days
they're more likely to survive
a freeway pileup
than the trip there and back

I'm sorry you wake up every day
choking on the stench of fatality
the knowledge that your sons
no longer have to be incarcerated
to incur a death sentence
that their melanin
is the revised definition
of "dead man walking"

I'm sorry your love
will never be
big enough
strong enough
mother enough
to protect your sons
from blue-clad bombs
explosive-teemed clips
excuses
tales
jurors
and the rigged system

I'm sorry
there's a war on your sons
you haven't been prepped
to defeat

©2014
Charlene E. Green

Hear Mahogany's poem here: http://youtu.be/ygWnVzFbrN0?list=UU5DH3eN81b0RGJ7Xj3fsjVg

SHIFTING GEARS

Because I work with words in different ways in my career, what I notice is that sometimes, when it's time for me to help people in a certain way, I'm led to a focus shift. Sometimes I'm in poetry-writing mode, sometimes I'm in self-help-writing mode, sometimes I'm in poetry-performance mode, sometimes I'm in novel-writing mode, and sometimes I'm in editing and consulting mode. I don't plan the shift; it just happens. When it does, it's always very comfortable. I don't feel like I should be working on a different part of my literary career or feel a longing for or separation from the other elements when I'm immersed in a shift.

Right now, I'm in editing and consulting mode. In the past few weeks, I've had several projects come to me pretty much on top of each other, and it's been really enjoyable. Clearly, right now, my services in this realm are needed, and I'm grateful that people are choosing me. That said, if you're working on a book, thinking about starting one, or if you've just finished one, or if you have another type of project, now is a great time to get with me for whatever services you need for your work: novels, short stories, resumes, letters and general documents, and more. 

I invite you to let me help you in your literary endeavors. If you're interested in learning more about what I do, please click the link below.

www.cegliteraryservices.yolasite.com

YOU Again?

If entrepreneurs of any kind are not the McDonald's or Starbucks of their industry (not a household name and/or folks aren't tripping over themselves to support their biz), and they actually care about growing and exposing their brand so they can reach that status, then it's their job, literally, to promote themselves regularly, daily, if possible. Biz promotion comes with the territory, and unless their biz is more of a hobby than something they plan on making a living at, then they would be wise to promote often, regardless of what people think of their "constant posting about their stuff."
 
If you're not a biz owner, artist, etc., and you work for other people, you may not understand the importance of our mass emails, daily social-media posting, inboxing for support, crowdfunding campaigns, hourly Tweets, on and on. You may find us annoying. In your eyes, we may be seen as "always asking for something." Um, yeah, we are asking, cuz it's our job, since this is our life's work, not some silly pastime or a phase that'll soon play itself out. When you go to work for someone else, you're generally out of touch with the reality of what it takes for your boss to keep his/her biz running so you can get paid. We, on the other hand, are our own bosses, and we know all too well what goes into rounding up clientele and sales. It's not always easy or fun, but it has to be done if we wanna thrive in our careers.
 
Social media is "the way" these days to get the word out about a biz or product, so for all of you who don't have one or both of those, I invite you to remember that when you see our flurry of posts about our nine products and services, we're doing [a major part of] what we're supposed to do to succeed. It takes time, thought, and innovation to come up with fresh ways to catch the public's attention every day. Posting the same spiel can be a turnoff, so some kind of creativity with our advertising is necessary. That's a job in itself, people, a challenging one sometimes. Closed mouths don't get fed, and we gotta eat, just like you.

©2014 Charlene E. Green

READY OR NOT

Staying ready for the opportunities you desire, even when it looks like nothing is happening, sends a message of anticipation and seriousness to the universe, which is the prerequisite for the opening of doors. You don't get ready when folks come knocking; you prep daily so when they do knock, you can calmly answer with all your ducks in a row. Don't be fooled by the silence ... it's only a test. Are you  prepping among the quiet of your dreams' unfolding? If you're not, and you're sitting around whining, waiting idly, and being mad about others getting theirs, then you're not serious. Can the silence be frustrating? Sure. But will it keep you from moving forward? You decide ...

Ever since my book deal with Kensington Publishing, for my novel One Man's Treasure, snuck up on me back in 2008, and I was ready, cuz I anticipated it, I got to see first hand how fly it is to keep pushing through the silence, even when you have no clue when your dream(s) will be realized. When my agent called me in December 2007 with the news of possibly being picked up, she asked me if I could get my manuscript to her in two days. I had that mug in her inbox that same day, thankyouverymuch. I was so grateful that I had enough faith in my dream to stay ready, and it was then that I vowed to continue along that path, in whatever new endeavors I took on. 

No matter what the situation looks like or how challenging it is to muddle through the unknown, I prep every day for my dreams in some way, even if it's just making a small change to my web site or spending time thinking about what to write next. There's not a day that goes by that my brain and body aren't in mission mode. I know how this works. And I refuse to get caught with the deer-in-headlights look on my face when opportunities show up. If I've got my eye on it, I'm working on it.

And by the way, they offered me a 2-book deal, and I was ready for the second book cuz I was only 4 chapters away from finishing the sequel to One Man's Treasure, And They'll Come Home. HA!

Good day, Dreamers!

©2014 Charlene E. Green

CURFEW: FOR OUR NIGERIAN GIRLS

I wish this could be as simple

as broken rules

about

the street lights are on

and you’re late

about

git’cho butt inside

it’s dinnertime

come clean up this room

finish that homework

as easy-peasy as fed-up mamas

snatchin’ back curtains

throwin’ windows open

hands on hips

peerin’ down the block

to growl your name and shout:

“I’m not gon’ tell you again!”

while you whiz by on your bike

plead for just five more minutes

and she smiles

chuckles

shakes her head

remembers her youth

her pleads

her eyes soften

and she lets you ride

would do anything

for it to be as “uh-oh”

as fire-breathin’ daddies

sportin’ shiny brass knuckles

waitin’ impatiently at front doors

for never-be-good-enough boys

to bring you home from first dates

that their mouths blessed

cuz you begged

but their hearts didn’t

would much rather this be about

200+ mischievous girls

quietly convergin’

and sneakin’ off

on a secret forbidden journey

fingers strung together

like paper-doll chain

squelchin’ the high-pitched giggles

ticklin’ their ribs

runnin’ free

wind coolin’ their backs

sun meltin’ the cares in their hearts

trekkin’ with no fears

gon’ be right back

gon’ be all right

cuz they got each other

but these wishes are in vain

the street lights have been on for months

and still

none of you are where you’re supposed to be

cuz you were force-fed this broken curfew

into the Sambisa

into marital slavery

and you’ve been gagging

on the bane the forest’s bowels

on coerced $12.00 vows

trying to unbind the silence in your throats

to find enough voice to scream for help

for directions to lead you home

from the detour of Haram

the government’s search has ebbed

and we will not rely on them

to continue to care enough to find you

their time may have been cut

but these clocks in our hearts

will remain ticking

  

we

are your spiritual search party

at night

in our uneasy sleep

our snores

are surveillance helicopters

fueled by the inferno in our blood

that keeps our tanks from running dry

our rapid-eye movements are searchlights

in the murk of our dreams

powered by determination

to illuminate your path

show you the way to freedom

and they will never burn out

no matter how long the nights

how hard the days

piece by piece

we will link the jigsaw of you

back together

rip you from the filthy grips

of the insurgents that body-snatched you

from your rights

from your school

from your learning

from your homes

and we will annul you from your captors

interlock your fingers

to remind you of oneness

of sisterhood

of love

of safety

of strength in cultural numbers

and lead you to your dwellings

where the street lights will beam

and mamas and daddies will be waitin’

impatiently at front doors

to envelop you

inhale your scent

stroke trust into your faces

nurse your spirits back to certainty

revel in your touch

tribal dance in your smiles

to exhale

to live again

©2014 Charlene E. Green
To listen to audio of "Curfew: For Our Nigerian Girls," click here