I Will No Longer Sing The Blues!

I will no longer sing the blues,
drugs, I must never, ever abuse.
If I don’t love me and I know I do,
how can I say that I love you?

My child, my child, come here to me.
Let me tell you my life’s story.
I was born on the poorest side of town.
White folks would look me up and down.

They never knew what to make of me.
My skin tone was all they could see.
I was sent to a school so far away.
I had armed guards on that very first day.

They called me names that I can hear still.
I would be dead if looks could kill.
I tell you child, I done seen it all,
‘Colored only’ written in a racist’s scrawl.

I’ve seen the Klan burn a cross in my yard,
and many a Negro body, lynched and charred.
Oh child, they put that crack in my hand.
I didn’t know that in jail, I would land.

But I gotta stand up and fight for you.
Someday, I’m gonna make you proud of me too.
I’m gonna break these chains that have held me back,
and be proud that I’m your mother and I’m off that crack!

Written by,
Shelby I. Courtland
©2016 Shelby I. Courtland

Welcome To The Blues

Someone handed me a paper.
And I read the sad, sad news.
There’ll be more homeless folk.
Welcome to the blues.

I’ll tell you just what I was told.
“Never stay in one place long.”
And no matter what you do,
you will never again belong.

Here’s a shopping cart and a blanket.
And I’ll show you all the ropes.
We’ll dumpster dive for food.
And hope to find some winter coats.

Written by,
Shelby I. Courtland
©2013 Shelby I. Courtland

A fire without warmth,
is a fire that burns so cold.
The flames of indifference,
have never warmed a soul.

Written by,
Shelby I. Courtland
©2013 Shelby I. Courtland