Heal & Other Poems
BY MELAINA WILLIAMS
Photo Courtesy | Melaina Williams
HEAL
Show thyself, woman,
to thyself and be made whole.
Write new scripture and
let the Spirit manifest in you
as creation dancing off
your titillating tongue
to grow limbs upon your heart
so, your love may walk.
You, the living Yes
that walks among rejection
and does not bow,
not even to dust her shoe.
You are, today, a god
among men disguised
in jeans and a milked stained t-shirt
with a pen and journal
to write the world
over again.
Photo Courtesy | Melaina Williams
GOODNIGHT
Can you sleep in the quiet?
I once needed the artificial light
of the television screen to put me to sleep;
allow some voice to raddle off numbers to call
or to pay installments of 29.99, 9.99, free
free
free
free
then I’d freefall into a sleep
that drew me deeper than any quiet room could.
In this quiet,
it is very dark.
I hear all the sounds:
the waves
recorded for my infant son,
a creak of the bed,
my body rolling and positioning
yet again under the sheets
and my thoughts,
my thoughts loud and awake against
the walls of my mind…
Did you do enough?
Are you enough?
What if this is all there is?
Grandma, how is heaven?
I wonder if she sees me.
Will I ever travel?
Travelling seems so big
with a family.
Will I be happy if this is it?
Did I give my all?
With all my heart?
You are being dramatic.
Does he love me the same?
Do you want him to love you the same?
Don’t we all need to grow, change?
It’s good to change.
It’s necessary to change.
Why won’t you change
and accept the change
and believe the change
was meant for you.
You are changing.
It’s scary.
It’s exciting.
Why is the world this way?
It is scary and
exciting that you have
something to do about it,
something to sing about it
and write about it,
and speak about it,
until you are free,
free,
free…
Photo Courtesy | Melaina Williams
SISTERS
I was born the only daughter
but I do boast sisters.
Though the universes we travelled
we’re named for different women.
Yes, I have sisters
disguised as cousins,
others masquerading as friends
when all the while our DNA
matches.
Says I belong to her
and she to me;
a bloodline of
“Can I tell you something,” a poem or
a love for the same song.
These women are mine
We braid each other’s hair
through the phone,
wipe each other’s tears
with a joke
and a prayer.
So you see, I could never be
the only one.
After all,
God has birthed us many.
MELAINA WILLIAMS is a poet, playwright, singer/songwriter from Inglewood California. She finds great joy in connecting with people of all backgrounds through creative arts, especially creative writing. Melaina studied Creative Writing and Theatre at USC. Her book of poetry, “Bless Your Sweet Bones” was published by the historical World Stage Press in Leimert Park. She also penned, “The Humble Commode” a chapbook. She currently lives in Los Angeles and spends her days writing and binge-watching Cocomelon with her daughter.