Metamorphosis

I am a full grown butterfly
After going through all the circles of life
The designs on my wings show my experiences:
Encompassing all the pleasure, and all the pain
But there is no time to yield to hurt
As an adult I think I must feel no pain
Yet, still something is missing, the emptiness is disturbing
And my life seems incomplete.
As a caterpillar I needed help
Even with my many legs I couldn't walk on my own,
Sometimes I still feel this way, yet I think I am a failure for needing help.
I thought I could be called "Camara,"
"one who teaches from experience"
because of the things I have been through...
But what if I haven't learned from them--
if that is so, then I cannot teach
what I have not learned.
So even with all my days
My wings mean nothing--they just show physical age
Mentally and spiritually I have a long road to travel,
and I realize that I am still a caterpillar.
Still reaching, still learning...still growing

Soror Kenya Smith
Omega Chapter, Winston-Salem State University
copyright 1999
Use this poem as you wish, just give credit...thanks.

Unity

By Soror J'Vonnah Griffith
Mu Nu Chapter Wichita State University

We must always strive to get along.
Our different attitudes and beliefs make us strong.
We are all connected through thick and thin.
We will not let ourselves fall once again.
No one person is always right.
If you want your opinion heard,
You must put up a fight.
Conflicts and turmoil we will always face.
We can deal with them directly or with disgrace.
We must always try to work together,
For within this bond no one is better.
No one person can handle everything alone.
That's why our bonds should be solid as stone.
One crack or chip will keep us humble,
But too many and we shall surely crumble.

Do You See What I See?

Soror Tiare S. Woods
Graduate Member-at-Large

We people
with our hair,
nappy, straight, afros, curly, dyed.
Broiled, baked, boiled and fried.

Cadillacs, beamers, geos and trucks.
No cash, small change, big bucks.

Bougie, uneducated, genius, dumb
Mansion, small shack, not even a crumb.

Our skin, chocolate, caramel, french vanilla, bronze even cream.
Some having no luck others having phat dreams.

Singers, rappers, writers, poets, accountants, doctors, lawyers, gangsters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, housewives, ceo's, presidents, congressmen, leaders and the low down.

Fine clothes, fine shoes, fine body, fine hair.
Living high on the hog, with not even a care.

Struggling, hustling, trying to make ends meet, being so poor.
We are all of this and much more.

How fair can it be defined by another?
Don't you know, you and only you, can define you my
Sisters and Brothers.

THE STRUGGLE

Bro. LaMont E. Thomas
Zeta Lambda Chapter, Univ. of New Haven

I look out upon the ocean and see the freedom that is there
But I'm chained in these shackles and for that I can only stare.
I was stripped of my land and my culture too
So that I could learn about nothing but you.

You've stolen my people to embark on a trip
When my people didn't listen you used your whip.
You kept us enslaved to keep us down
Because you only wanted whites to control your town.

We overcame that struggle and we taught ourselves
We read any and every book that we saw on the shelves
When you heard of this you didn't know what to do
Because it was to late and we where coming for you.

Abraham Lincoln set forth the Emancipation Proclomation
But people didn't understand it's real summation
It was to set some free and keep some enslaved
He wouldn't let us all go because he wasn't that brave.

As time went on my people still had to fight
But as strong black people we learned to unite
I'm a man that has acquired great knowledge
And it will pay off for my child will go to college
In todays society we still have to grow
But if we learn to stick together there's no telling how far we can go!!!

EDUCATION = KNOWLEDGE + ACTION = POWER

LaMont E. Thomas

Feel free to share my poem as long as credit is Given.........

Blue Love
Bladow93 #7 spr 93

Endangered Species

By Soror Leeya Pinder
Psi Eta Chapter at the University of South Carolina

I thirst for an endangered species - you know the black man.

To stand by my side so we may rule the land

I searched and searched to only find, brothers lost or trapped in time

Emprisoned physically, mentally, and spiritually, doomed and destined to repeat the black man's history

Lost in the system or locked behind bars, brainwashed into thinking the prize is a white woman on his arm

Denied a job, denied an eduaction, where does this lead? only to self-annihilation

They lose faith in God and that s where it all ends, our brothers are killing brothers, so the white man wins.

I searched a little farther and saw out there, those who only survive by their mother s prayers

The wander without direction, in a state of insurrection, with no way out, so they turn to obsessions

I search for an endagered species out here in the wild, to stand by his side, help him develop pride and rejoice when I see him succeed and survive

Help him renew his faith, help him take his place, and therefore erase the pattern of our black men going to waste

I'll continue to search for a black man, for I know what lies ahead, a generation alive, not going dead,

Using their head to succeed in life, despite the toil, the struggle, the strife 100% endangered because they are so rare, examples of courage, and strength despite the load they bear

I thirst for the endangered species so together we may stand, together in unity

Black Woman, Black Man

What is Black?

What is Black, the color of my skin, my skin is brown but the Black is within.
You see Black is an attitude a certain state of mind, being Black in America is a struggle for pride
a struggle for respect and dignty, do you know how it feels to be Black like me?
Because your skin is dark does that make you Black, when you sell out your people for money in a sack.
Black is a culture a certain way of life, sometimes it hurts like a double edge knife.
Black is not a nigger for thats a ignorant fool, but we call each other "nigga" and to us its cool.
I call my Black friend "nigga" because I know he can relate, not just to my skin color, but the way I think.
About how we are treated in these United States. The red for blood shed, the blue for the bruises, the white for the oppresor who used and abused us. But don't blame just the white, cause we helpd in the fight, who needs the KKK if we kill each other by the knife, the gun and crack, does that describe Black, I would hope not because I'm not that. I'm strong, I'm proud and full of history, when I think of Black thats what I see. Black is the night when the stars don't shine, we came a long way, yet were still far behind.

That is Black at least to me, just open your eyes and you to can see.

Brian K. Anglin (Absolut Fall 95)

The Day

The Day shall come when we, as a people, will open our eyes.
We will see this world for what it is and ignore the lie
The Lie that has shackled our feet as well as our minds.
We will stand for what we believe and fight for what is ours.

Our people are of stature and mite, believe me not, look in my eyes see my fire
This fire is and old flame, lit since the days of Imhotep and Mur.
These icons of the Black in my skin, show the true power that we posses.
Let their greatness not stand as the trophy to what was taken.
Let it be a symbol to what was and will be.

The Day will come when our young will take pride for who they are.
Dealing drugs to and killing their fellow man show their mirror of hate.
Open your hearts and open your eyes, you can't run from you destiny.
The crown is already on your head, open your eyes and you will see.
LET NOT!! It be taken again.

The Day is upon us! Do you know what to do?
Reach out your hand to you fellow man.
Touch them; hold them; love them.
If you don't, who will?

Terrell Campbell
Email: BenoBluPhi@aol.com
Fall '94
Zeta Lambda Chapter
University of Hartford

Respect

From men,

I get no respect.

From women,

I get no respect.

On the basketball court or in the classroom,

I get no respect.

In the library or in the bedroom,

I get no respect.

Soon I will get no respect,

from the person who respects me most.

"Myself."

Justin E. Cloud

Rho Gamma Chapter, UNC-Charlotte

Email: jecloud@ix.netcom.com

"Let Me Be Your Friend"

Take a walk with me
Let me show you where I've been
You can tell me where you're going
You can let me be your friend.

Nobody wants to walk alone
Not even in stormy weather
But if you let me be your friend
We can always walk together

Don't worry about falling off
I'll be there to hold your hand
Never think you'll be miusunderstood
'Cause I'll always try to understand

I will never let you down
I will never run away
And if you ever want to leave me
I will always try to make you stay

But if you decide to leave me
You may forever return again
I will always bee there waiting
I will always be your friend.

Azul Phi! Tu lo saves! Blue Phi! You Know!
Look not at my words. Look within them. Grace and Peace.
"Culture for Service and Serice for Humanity"

Bro. Christian "Papi Chulo" Gonzalez
Alpha Upsilon Chapter (formerly) Theta Gamma Chapter

WHAT DO YOU SEE...

What do you see, When you see me?
Born at the bottom.
Yet I strive to reach the top.
You watch me like a cat watches a canary
Waiting for me to drop.

Born in color, the opposite of snow,
the longer you watch me,
the darker I grow.
My darkness is a threat to you,
why I never know...