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The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work.
Erren Kelly reads his poem at its conclusion.
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“Gold Lives Inside You” by Vakseen
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Black Life
shouts and dances in church
and thumbs its nose at shame
covers its body in brand names
and doesn’t worry about the future
holds hands and kiss shameslessly
in public; they call it p.d.a
it’s no money down, 12 months to pay
and you go to vegas to gamble with the rent
it’s when you find faith, when you’re on
your knees in front of a cop
or when you’re pleading with them
not to turn your lights off
it’s seeing a woman with afros, cornrolls
braid and tig ol bitties
it’s watching brothas high five at a game
or a brotha double talkin jive, showing
a woman he has game
it’s seein a woman in heels, flaunting
the dress she wears
or a kid, spending hours cleaning his
sneakers cos he cares
it’s about not backing down, finding
the strength to be brave
it’s about freein’ your mind, never being
a slave…
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Listen to Erren Kelly read his poem
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Erren Kelly is a three-time Pushcart nominated poet from Boston whose work has appeared in 300 publications (print and online), including Hiram Poetry Review, Mudfish, Poetry Magazine, Ceremony, Cacti Fur, Bitterzoet, Cactus Heart, Similar Peaks, Gloom Cupboard, and Poetry Salzburg.
Click here to read “Under Quarantine” — COVID-era poetry of Erren Kelly, published by Jerry Jazz Musician
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Born in Athens, GA (1979) and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Otha Davis III (also known as Vakseen) is a self-taught, museum-exhibited artist and a multi-platinum music executive, producer & songwriter.
Click here to visit his website
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Listen to the 2019 recording of saxophonist Kamasi Washington perform “Show Us the Way” [Beggars Group Digital Ltd.]
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Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem
Click here to read “A Collection of Jazz Poetry – Winter, 2024 Edition”
Click here for information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
Click here to subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
Click here to help support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)
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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999
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