Who Knew

Who knew we’d have foes
simply because of the way we wear our clothes
Kinky fros
Wide nose
But the very blood within us flows
The same
In vain
(in vein)
Because the skin that covers it isn’t the same

Who knew that melanin could cause such disdain
In this day and age
Eliciting rage
Disgust
Is that really enough
To separate us

The human race,
Who knew,
Only has room for one?
(Won)
A race
To be first place
Only to stand above another
Are we not people?
Did we not all come from a mother?
A sister, a brother?
But no,
Couldn’t be
 

They say

 You’re not the right color.

 

Shari Renee



Bus Boys And Poets Open Mic Feat. Rudy Francisco 5/27/14

Last night I finally made my way back to Bus Boys and Poets (14th and V) to take in a night of open mic poetry. It was the first time I'd been back in months and immediately I remembered why I love this place so much. The feeling of being in such a close vicinity of such creatively talented people is overwhelmingly inspiring. My favorite is when the most unassuming looking people saunter onto the stage and kill it. Rudy Francisco was the featured poet of the night and he covered a range of topics far removed from the emo 'I love you/ I hate you' poetry that we so often see at these type of events. He is definitely worth googling/ scouring Youtube. Please try to ignore my giggling throughout the videos. I couldn't help myself. If you ever find yourself stumbling into Bus Boys and don't want to partake in an alcoholic beverage. Try the 'Big Daddy' with vanilla milk. It's amazing. I had two and was wired for the remainder of the night.

( SIDE NOTE: The last post isn't quite a poem.. more so a drunk man rambling, but entertaining nonetheless lol. "Follow Your Dreams!" )



The Flirtation with Vulnerability

The flirtation with vulnerability

the wanton need to

delve deeper into self

and feel something...

starts with a conscious decision to allow oneself to go there

knowing that the outcome of such action

could prove

beneficial or detrimental

but also embracing that the lingering space in between

is filled with the beauty of adrenaline and hope

terror and anticipation,

falling or flying?

into the deep abyss or a field of daisies

defenses disabled,
you're out there

possibilities unknown
but the desire to find out
overcomes the fear

knowing that there's no other way to get to this place

than to jump

 

 

Musings x 4/17/14

"the truth remains under the bridge of lies it takes a lifetime to construct.."

shari renee

 

- a note from my journal that dates back to high school, but still proves relevant. There are times that I feel I knew so much more about life and what it truly meant to live when I was younger... before the textbooks and media began to cloud the mind.

 

It is up to us to unlearn and reeducate ourselves. Question everything... research, and seek out the answers for ourselves. Don't become a slave to the machine.

Take Me Away

take me away

to where palm trees

provide shade,

where sun rays radiate

a Midas' touch on my skin

reflection on my outer

of my glow from within,

wanderlust stricken

with no other cure

I feel like I'm stuck in this cocoon

of a room

drowning in familiarity

I need to break free soon.

feeling my last gasp of

 tedious monotony

ho hum hurrahs,

commonplace consistencies

will never be enough

to cure

this bore

that has taken over me,

I need to feel liberated

experience things I've never seen.

to strive to survive

outside of the box of desolate despondency,

these average expectations I will never see

because they will never be

me.

 

 

shari renee

 



This Love Isn't Convenient

This love isn't convenient.

I'm not going to love you because it's my birthday

when there's a holiday around the corner

or because you're pulling away.

This love is not selfish

manipulative

or immature.

I'm not going to fill you with false hope when I know that this door is too heavy to hold open any longer.

And I'm not going to love you to prove anything to anyone.

This love is not for show.

This love is consistent
patient
and unwavering.

And will be here through good times and bad.

I'll love you through the random texts and calls from my ex

because I know that if I wanted to be there

I wouldn't be here.

With you.

This love does not wane in the presence of my past.

This love is not opportunistic or shallow.

This love is honest.

Passionate.

Tried and

True.

This love is Me.

This love

.. Is Love.

And it's all for you.

shari renee

I don't know why it took me so long to start venturing out into the local art scene that DC has to offer. It seems like we always feel like other cities have so much more to offer without even giving our hometown a chance. On Tuesday I checked out a new open mic spot, The Dunes DC, which is basically a tricked out art gallery. The feature poet was Angel Nafis, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who was absolutely brilliant. I didn't get to record because I have completely run out of storage on my phone.. so I will link back to some of her work in a later post. I also had the pleasure to meet Pages, an extremly taleneted poet (pictured photobombing in the second to last photo), who swore that the next time he saw me he'd be sure to make me read one of my pieces lol. I guess I'll have to stay ready.

The Dunes DC hosts a poetry slam every Tuesday at 8pm.

( SIDE NOTE: I also noticed that I'm starting to recognize a lot of the same faces from poetry slams that I've been to prior. Does that mean I'm turning into a regular? )

"Thoughts on an Airplane Napkin"

So fucking noisy

The chatty 20-something's surrounding on this plane

Chatter on and on about their happy go lucky lives

Phil can't wait to surprise his girlfriend in Atlanta

And Kat just got promoted at her job...

The plane bounces along 

Engine roars outside my window

Sun beams in my eyes

But no sound louder than the thoughts clouding my mind

I hate feeling anxious. 

Only certain people have this affect on me

Or should I say person

The plane makes its bouncy descent down the runway 

We're up next

And next for me is reuniting with you

The same you who still has the ability to make me feel

after all this time,

... against my will.

Because my will isn't free with you

It's been nine months since I've touched your skin

And as I sit here writing this 

I can't help but wonder will it feel the same?

What will I say, 

What will you say?

Our conversations have been few and far between as of late

I'm to blame.

It seemed easier to run from you then to be sucked back into your web 

But here I am.

On this plane.

Waiting.

Walking a thin line,

knowing there's a chance I can get tangled up again 

Waiting.

to travel clear across the country

In search of a break from the reality that's overwhelmed me 

Because that's all it'll be

Distraction...

Or will it?

A taste of a fantasy 

long shot down 

a coma

But it's still breathing..

Lift off.