Black Poets Society: Why Not You?

Janet Tumusifu
By Janet Tumusifu The Black Lens

You look around,

The world is filled with many people,

Some look happy

Some sad

Some healthy and others sick

Some poor and some rich

Where do you stand?

You might know and might not know

But why do you have to stand somewhere?

Why do you need to belong on one group or the other

Are you really any of those?

Are you happy?

Sad?

You don’t know

At least you claim that you don’t

That you don’t care

And that it doesn’t matter

To fit in

To belong somewhere

Where do you belong or stand?

You haven’t forgotten where you belong

But since you are somewhere else

You can’t help but feel like you never belonged

You want to be somebody to someone

You want to help

You want to be seen by someone

You want to belong somewhere

What about you?

Are you anything to yourself?

You are a friend to many

What about being a friend to yourself?

Ever look around and realize you are rushing

But not for you

For others

You make it about them

Sometimes you give it your all

But at what cost?

Why not you?

Why listen to others

But never get heard?

Why be the friend today

But the stranger tomorrow?

Why stand by

While getting eaten away

Bits by bits?

Your time, your help

All go to waste

You look around again

Some are happy

Others are sad

Why not you?

Why don’t you allow yourself to be happy

To be the happiest

Why suppress your happiness

What are you afraid of?

Judgment?

Exclusion?

Why don’t you allow yourself to be sad

To cry

Why not you?

What are you afraid of?

You know better than anyone that things pass

You’re right that the right people exist

Don’t you ?

The world is filled with many different people

Don’t you think worrying about the those that make you afraid

Is it a waste time?

We only have so much after all

Why don’t you be you

Why don’t you do your thing in the meantime

The right people always know when to show up

Just live life

It is a gift but it will take some time to understand

But one thing to know is you gotta live it to understand it

Always remember

Why not you?