poetry

Swallowed

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

On that day

In September

We threw Momma in the water

She was scattered

I knew I was a thief.

The waves went

In and out

In and out

Swallowed her up

Entirely,

Without a thought

As often waves do.

She was once there

She was no more.

I died.

 

2017 Nikki DuBose

Momma Sez

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, I was heavily influenced by the Gullah culture. My momma spoke Geechee, as we called it, which is a dying mixture related to Bahamiam Dialect, Barbadian Dialect, Belezian Dialect, Jamaican Patois, Trinidadian Creole, and the Krio language of Sierra Leone found in West Africa.

When my momma was angry or excited, she would often switch from English to Gullah, or the “Sea Island Creole” language. It can be very difficult to understand, and I am passionate about preserving the culture. I hate to see the culture disappear because of tourism and other reasons. I hope through my poetry and future books I can help to educate and preserve this special language.

Nikki_DuBose_Poetry_Gullah

My Eternity

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

Good evening
I love you,
Now bow to the moon.
Go to sleep
Rest your eyes
Dream of our love.
The possibilities
That can arise
Only in Heaven
A breath, a sigh
Then we are back
Here, now.
Good morning
I love you,
Let us bow to the sun.
Your eyes glisten
Through them I see,
My dreams, my eternity.

©2016 Nikki DuBose

Haiku by Tony

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

Sitting in a room
Unfamiliar to me
Sidetracked by daydreams

Her skin’s smooth terrain
Traveled by my fingertips
Again and again

Brown eyes shine brightest
In the absolute darkness
Of a tortured soul

I built a new soul
Using the remaining pieces
Of my broken dreams

I always wanted
You to fall in love with me
But did not know how

Spirits pass through me
On the same wind traveling
Over my body

The road I travel
Can’t know my destination
But it supports me

I get close to you
You lean forward with a smile
Our eyes close to kiss

Moonlight and midnight
Walking downtown boulevards
Under neon lights

Under troubled skies
People scurry for cover
Leaves dance on the wind

Sometime memories
Reappear in night’s quiet
And I can’t escape

San Francisco night
Two birds fly past my window
Your face in the fog

Lovers in search of
Barren, isolated places
To hide broken hearts

A lie silences love
As an empty heart echoes
Sobs of betrayal

I know what I’ve found
Every time you’re around
Sight, touch, taste and sound

You lost one lover
You thought it was all over
You ran for cover

The night air crackles
A footstep breaks the silence
We are on our way

Naked emotions
Am I only what I feel
When I look at you?

The small of your back
A sweet spot for massaging
S-shaped oasis

We walk through a dream
Two shadows from one moonbeam
We’re not what we seem

I awake at dawn
A lonely companion
To my surroundings

Wild nights by firelight
Smoke and sparks jumping upward
To a cool climax

We meet on the street
You put your arms around me
We walk hand in hand

Rain on the windshield
Rainbow in rearview mirror
Black cloud overhead

Without a shadow
Love can stand unrecognized
In the light of day

I’m on the outskirts
Is there a map to your heart?
A road paved to love?

Wake me up slowly
As the darkness disappears
Around you and me

I sit in silence
Listening says, “I love you.”
Louder than my words

An inner vision
Only when you close your eyes
And see past the dark

 

Thank you, Tony, for sharing your Haiku.

Find out more about Tony’s work here.

Submit your art to nikki@nikkidubose.com

 

Poison by Amanda M.

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

“The air I’m breathing is toxic. As soon as it enters through my nasal airways, as it goes down my esophagus entering into my lungs, it turns into poison. Filling up the emptiness, the hallow spaces in my stomach. My chest. My heart. My veins. It’s as pure as innocence of a child at first. Until it meets my thoughts. Until it meets my inner demons. As soon as it touches me. As soon as it enters me. The pure air never leaves pure again as I exhale. It has been poisoned. I have poisoned it. And I am filled with sorrow and panic when I feel the air fluctuating through my lungs. My body is working so hard to keep itself alive. While my mind is trying to kill itself. It’s quite the irony you see. Both ends fight just as hard as the other but I feel both ends exhausting more and more at each end of each day. It’s a race to see who’s going to get to the finish line first. One step in front of the other.”

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Enchanted Holiday

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

Golden beams dance across my bed
I arise, in wonder of the day ahead.
Carolina wrens flutter at my feet
offering kisses as we meet.

Cinnamon and pumpkin
fill my nose
as I fantasize about the magic
that awaits in mommy’s oven.

“Daffodil, hurry!”
“Harriot, at once!”
snowy feathers and gold dust
surround my heart
and carry me to the sky

I soar
like a fairy
in the house I am weightless, free
I observe the family below
in holiday bliss
singing Christmas carols
talking about Ol’ Saint Nick

I squeal with glee and wiggle my toes
as Daffodil and Harriot
Release me safely into mommy’s arms

I gaze back into the night
a thousand stars
are winking
waiting
Until we meet again.

©2015 Nikki DuBose

Merry_Christmas_2015

Christmas Poem for Momma

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

 

It’s not all the times

when I hear children laughing,

watch families embracing

across a wintry park

or see lovers holding hands

in a busy cafe

that makes me miss you most.

It’s not all the times

when I hear a sad song,

your song

any song

that makes me miss you most.

It’s every time

that I want to

reach out and tell you

how much I love you

or simply that

you’re my angel

that’s when I miss you most.

©2015 Nikki DuBose

In honor of our late mother, Sandy Cargile.

We love and miss you mom.

Love,

Nikki and Anthony.

 

Love Song

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

We went swimming

on those distant shores

azure waves

carried our love

to the birds

Every morning

we returned to the birds

a love song birthed

captured in time.

Now you are in the sky

with the birds

still I return to the

distant shores

azure waves

carry my heart

to your soul

as we play

in a kingdom come

mother and daughter

a love song birthed.

©2015 Nikki DuBose

Happy 48th Birthday to our beautiful mommy in Heaven, Sandy Cargile. This poem is dedicated to you. We love and miss you more than you can ever know. We take comfort in the times we had together, and knowing that one day we will all be together again. Thank you for all of the memories.

Artwork by my mother, Sandy Cargile.

 

High Above This Tree

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

From high above this tree mom
I can do anything
I can soar with the birds
Sing their melodies
I am one with nature.
From high above this tree mom
I am able to conquer
my deepest fears.
From high above this tree mom
I am exactly where
I want to be
In your arms
protected.

©2014 Nikki DuBose

We love and miss you mom.

Love,
Nikki and Anthony.

Face of Fear

Posted on by Nikki DuBose

Moving in the face of fear

drowning in a sea of devils,

I saw hope all around me

pushing me forward.

I suddenly felt courage

like never before.

‘Who are you?’

The devils sneered,

‘How dare you try to pass by.’

Dripping with uncertainty I glanced down

With one hand I gripped my fist,

pointed my finger in a demon’s eye

and screamed,

‘Who are YOU!’

blowing them away with one breath,

laughing as I passed by.

©2014 Nikki DuBose