Not Common yet Strange Fruit

February 15, 2010 /

Young lady where have you left your honor
Your respect, your dignity?
Do you realize that you are descended from Kings and Queens?

Not common yet strange is the fruit you produce
Your sons dress as you and your daughters like dudes

Angry words you fed into their souls
Wounds left open from daddies that only planted their seeds like weeds into your fertile bitter soil

Mothers don’t look at your children’s faces in disdain for what you did;
Naming them out of your pain

Now common yet strange is the fruit you bear
Weighed down limbs, rotting roots
Its time for you to be pruned

Renew your mind
Before more generations are affected by your blues

Not common yet strange fruit…

(c) 2010 Lela Jefferson
– http://www.poetryofablackgirl.com

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Lela Jefferson Fagan

Lela Jefferson Fagan is the author of the book “Poetry of a Black Girl: The Darkness and the Light” and lead blogger at “Memoirs of a Black Girl”. Lela is an avid reader “A Real Bookworm” of all things in print. She finds joy in sharing socially and blogging about topics that matter the most to her. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Lela now lives in Houston, TX with her husband Oji, an educator and Football Coach. @LelaJFagan - See more at: http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com/