What inspired the poem:*
I had my first fight in my life at age 37 with a man that I thought loved
me. Several subsequent relationships revealed that there are some men with
inflated egos that are not deserving of my love. In honor of those who have
experienced domestic violence in any form, I penned this piece as a
reminder to myself and other beautiful women that we are worthy, deserving
and capable of being loved and giving love in return.
Yvonne is an actor, dancer, choreographer, and writer who has been in the performing arts for over 25 years. She has taught for After School Matters' Words 37 program, and conducted choreography for various theater companies. Yvonne is an avid poet-enthusiast having performed for Deeply Rooted Productions, the Guild Complex, The Moyenda Group, the Chicago Park District, Expo for Today's Black Woman, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Poetry. She has performed for local, national, and international entities, having first honed her acting and theatrical skills starting out on Broadway in Porgy & Bess. Mrs. Orr-El conducts workshops utilizing poetry and journal writing to build self-esteem for youth, and is a motivational speaker with clients served in Illinois, New York, Virginia, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Yvonne also founded YORR Consulting Group; a minority-based business formed to serve the nonprofit sector. She has consulted numerous nonprofit organizations, political candidates, and church groups with strategic planning, board development and management, event planning and youth leadership training. She is an avid supporter of the arts, serving as a board member with the following agencies: The Chicago Center for Arts Policy, Spoken Existence (an organization founded by youth to use poetry and spoken word to empower others) and serves as an advisor to Deeply Rooted Productions.
FEATURED SPOKEN WORD:
Guest Artist featured in Chicago, NYC, Atlanta and Florida. Multiple appearances at Printers Row Book Fair, Expo for Today's Black Woman, and Chicago Poetry Fests. Featured artist for: The Last Poets (NYC - 2013); The Chicago Park District's Annual Free County Fair; WordSlingers VOX Café; Park Forest Black History Month Celebration; the Chicago Public Schools, The Guild Complex; the Harlem Renaissance (NY). Deeply Rooted Productions 2007 Fundraiser and 2006 Fall Season & Tour. Published in several anthologies.
My mindset is balanced.
My temperament is too.
However, on occasion, when feeling
Offended, I just might come for you.
I just might be inclined to introduce you to
My whole self...just might Render you speechless, wanting to
escape from
My verbal atrocities being spewed.
I'll rip you a new one so tough
You'll be "colonically" renewed.
My advice is to advise your Self on
The protocols & consequences of
Putting down a Black woman
Because it's the only way your infantile mind
Can process your own insecurities.
I don't work in baggage claim so
Don't expect me to handle your baggage.
I'm not in sales so don't expect me
To sell you on the benefits of being with me.
I am an asset with unyielding returns.
I gain compounded interest daily,
So don't get lost in your illusion that
No one else is interested but you.
Between my experiences and upbringing alone,
I was global before you thought your
Worldly ways would be an addition to
My treasure trove.
There's a great need for you to understand
Your own daily motivation to be your best
Without you thinking that it'll come
By putting me down or highlighting my deficiencies.
For, you see, even with my self-acknowledged and
Recognized faults,
I AM AWESOME!
Consider this a message of re-introduction to
Me...
A bonafide jewel of a woman who was first called
A queen by my parents and just so happened
To be raised by a woman named Queen.
So, I've never needed nor felt that just because
Your enlightened self called me Queen,
You were doing something special for me.
Hell, I actually thought you were simply calling me
By my name.
And while I'm on the subject of royalty, please
Understand that any King is at his best with
A good Queen by his side.
Further, how do you even begin to know how
To teach me how to be a Queen when you've
Never ruled?
How do you consistently "teach" with
Venom on your tongue that is reaching no one
And nothing but air?
You're not a general over an army and
Your infantry consists of one lone soldier.
Yep, you're in a fight with yourself about as worthy
As amerikkka's search for
Weapons of mass destruction.
Though unnecessary and, most likely, falling
On deaf ears...it's my civil duty to inform you that
You're welcome.
You're welcome for being allowed a piece of me
Temporarily.
You're welcome for being given the benefit of
Having a good woman by your side.
You're welcome for being carried, when you were
As heavy as the mule and cart once carried by
One of my "Queenly" ancestors, otherwise known as
Harriett.
Frankly, I needed you to be my Chariot,
Not a charlatan.
I'm not your fitness trainer responsible for
Whipping you into shape.
I'm not some sidewalk preacher that's going to
Blame your issues on others, then claim to
Save you.
I'm not even your physical pillow to rest your head
On while escaping your misery momentarily in
My essence.
I am a gift that keeps on giving...
A sunrise after many dark nights.
I am The Equinox
That can and will be the warmth to your
Chilly attitude.
What I am not, is your floor mat to
Be stepped on repeatedly without even
Wiping your muddied feet.
So, let me be my own umbrella and
Shield myself from being caught up in
Your eternal internal storm.
Go rage and damage that which you claim to
Hold dear somewhere else.
I see vibrant rainbows in my future and
You can look from afar and rule o'er someone else.
This kingdom is under new rule and
You are trespassing on my land.
