I Write
By AL aka Black Messiah
I write to mentally open
the eyes of the blind,
for the “love” of all people
so no child is left behind.
I write for single mothers and
fathers struggling to get by,
for the ones battling addiction
and the urge to get high.
I write for those who vote
and hope for change,
for the homeless vets on the
corner begging for pocket change.
I write for the women not
allowed to read or write,
for the individuals who can’t
see past black and white.
I write for the children just
wanting a safe place to play,
for the parents who wait by
the phone and pray.
I write for all races no
matter what you’ve been through,
so, when they ask why I write
I tell them for you.
24 Comments
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
AL,
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us! Your rhyme and rhythm shows a mature poetic style. Your message is equally inspiring. Never let anyone silence you.
Keep writing!
AL, I got chills reading the last stanza of this poem. This is why poetry, and the skillful way you use it, is such a strong form. You can say so much in such a short amount of time. The central image of your poem, of everyone being connected and being a part of this web, the people you write for, was really impactful. Then, in the final stanza, you made it personal and brought the reader in (“I tell them for you”) really brought it all home. It’s almost like you’re saying your poetry is the care work you provide for the people in your poem and the reader. Thank you for writing, please keep doing it, from one poet to another. Blessings and love to you.
Hi AL! I love this poem and the way you’ve structured it! Your descriptions of different kinds of people that you write for makes me think of specific examples correlating to each kind of person, which is awesome because that means you’re able to make the reader relate or connect to your poem. The very last line is particularly striking because it’s first and only time you use the word “you” and it leaves a powerful impact. Thank you for sharing your words/thoughts–I really appreciated it!
Amazing! This flows incredibly and your words are very impactful.
This is so beautifully written! Every line is impactful, and I’m sure readers like myself can identify themselves or situations they’ve seen around. These lines “write for the women not
allowed to read or write” resonated with me the most, as even in my home country there is a huge divide between women’s education being a priority. So lovely! Please continue to write and voice out for people who may not be able to do it for themselves.
Hi Al. I think you write to touch hearts deeply. You have touched mine. Please keep writing. Shanise
Thank you for writing openly and indiscriminately for those “….who can’t see past black and white.” This is a beautiful piece and we look forward to reading more poetry and writings from you.
This is so beautifully written and has such a nice ending
This poem has a good message. It was very nice to read because there is a lot of people out there that can’t write for themselves, let alone speak for themselves and this poem provides those all groups a voice. I like how you repeat “I write..” in this poem because it gives the poem a sort of rhythm. Also, the images that you use to depict each group of people is very descriptive. I enjoy the final stanza of the poem because it summarizes your poem and it is very inspiring.
I can feel your empathy through your language. It is so inspiring to read a poet who so clearly is able to feel the world around them. Your rhyme scheme is so well executed that your poem read as smoothly as song lyrics. It takes a lot of work to maintain a consistent pattern throughout a poem, so you clearly have a gift for poetry.
I love this poem! The ABCB rhyming structure caused every stanza to flow so naturally and I appreciate the consistency in line length. Overall, a very great message throughout and a heartfelt last line. I feel like a lot of people today would be able to relate to this poem because we can all use some love, acceptance, and understanding. Thank you for writing this!
First and foremost,
Powerful poem, you did great!
I really enjoyed the flow of this poem, I could probably credit that to the rhythm and wording.
Reading this as a young black man gives me hope for humanity. This type of writing that is displayed for many eyes to see can possibly spark that one mind to change or be better. And that’s exactly what we need today. Thank you!
This poem is a wonderful tribute to the people you write for; people who I think we all can identify in our lives. I think it’s very important you bring attention to those who are not given the space to raise their own voices and speak for themselves. I really liked the consistent rhyme structure throughout. The last line, “so, when they ask why I write / I tell them for you.” gave me goosebumps. Such a beautiful piece!
This poem is by far the best one I have read. It is so inspiring and uplifting. Your poem bring hope to the world. Keep up the good writing!!
I am at loss of words. Your poem is so beautiful. I especially loved the last line because it made me feel like you were the mic projecting unheard voices. I truly thank you for this poem.
This piece was incredible.
You DO write for those who cannot. You write for those who don’t have such a platform. You write for those without a voice. You write for those who don’t know how to string together words in such eloquent and beautiful ways like you can.
The repetition of “I write” is great because it brings us back again and again to what you’re trying to convey to us.
The last lines are so lovely: “I write for all races no / matter what you’ve been through, / so, when they ask why I write / I tell them for you” – it feels like an older sibling or a parent talking to someone younger than them, that they love.
This is such a lovely piece. Thank you so much for sharing it, and never stop writing.
Best,
A
AL,
Thank you so much for sharing your work with us! The rhythm and rhyme you wrote with made it symphonic. Beyond that, the intent of your poem is so powerful. Your use of repetition when you say “I write for” is very captivating, and it made me feel very connected to your writing. It made me feel included as someone you “write for”, and I could not imagine anyone who wouldn’t feel connected to this piece! In a way, you are advocating and showing compassion for anyone who lays their eyes on your words. Your entire last stanza was extremely effective. While I felt privileged to read this, you made me feel that I belong. “so, when they ask why I write. I tell them for you.”. Very beautiful. This is such a charming poem, and you should be proud of your accomplishment. I hope to see more of your work soon! Best wishes.
Dear AL,
Thank you for this poem. It is very inspiring for to write for all these people, many who may never know that they are in the minds of people they’ve never met. Thank you for sharing your poem and know that I will think of you when I write.
Danielle
I love how in your poem, you start with ‘I write’. That line makes a lot of emphasis and helps make your poem even more impactful. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.
Beautiful! This is definitely memorable and inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
This was a really great feel-good poem! It perfectly expresses a way to show the power of faith in other and that can truly be a powerful thing. It was just the kind of pick-me-up that I very much needed nowadays.
Hey AL,
I enjoyed the format of your poem and found it very inspirational. Thank you for sharing with us!
-liz
Dear AL,
Your last stanza was incredibly impactful. This poem is very powerful and full of purpose. I love that you are proud for writing for those who may not be able to find the expression for themselves, for those who can not share their story. As I read your poem, I can feel how important writing is to you and how equally important it is to share your writing with peers. Writing is incredibly powerful and connects us all to each other. Thank you for sharing your work!
Best,
CB
Hi AL aka Black Messiah,
I really enjoyed reading your poem. The word choice was very prominent and showed you took a lot of time to carefully chose the right words for the message. I also liked the structure of the poem, and how it had a rhythm and flowed very well. Thank you for writing for these specific people; it’s very important. You are their voice. I hope to read more from you soon.