Poem of the Week: Pages Matam

  

register now for freedom

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so loud it leaves Jericho shakin' in its overpriced boots

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so late the rest of the world still wanna catch up to its wind

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so wet it makes the hydrants bow in a glimmering reverence

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so coarse a thick forest grows in its name

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so bright it could photosynthesize a heart

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so heavy done turned gravity into a tattle tell

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so fast it got enough horsepower to chariot the sun

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so agile it got its own two step, gave jazz a run for its money

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so dark make all of the brown mamas weep a gospel

ever seen the smile of a brown child
so luminous turns tragedy into a cluster of praise

ever seen the smile of a brown child
make you wanna write a poem

about it not being taken away? 

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Used with permission.

Photo by Yveka Pierre.

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Pages Matam is a multidimensional touring artist, residing in the D.C. metropolitan area, but originally from Cameroon, Africa. He is author of Heart of a Comet (Write Bloody, 2014), a playwright, a 2014 National Poetry Slam champion and holds various other awards. His passions are in the field of education, violence and abuse trauma work, and youth advocacy. As a teaching artist with the national poetry non-profit Split This Rock, Pages is a coach for the DC Youth Slam Team. Pages is a proud gummy bear elitist, bowtie enthusiast, professional hugger and anime fanatic. When he takes stage -- as a performer, educator, or activist -- be prepared to be taken on an experience of cultural, socially conscious, and personal discovery unapologetic in its silly yet visceral and beautifully honest in its storytelling.  pagesmatam.com