Nicia De'Lovely

Deatrice Benicia Williams aka "Nicia De'Lovely"

TARGETED

Like Pro-Black and darts
We are X marked the spot
The coon
The piccaninny
The nigger
We are bigger targets than the retailer
And they want us sold-out
Not as in auctioned; that aint what it’s about
They just want us gone
Annihilated…
Exterminated for no reason
They gun us down like it’s a constant Black man hunting season
Our streets are riddled with more bullets than the range
Our bodies the same
We’z free only of chains
But the oppression remains
Our protest has yet to cease
And with achy, tired, swollen feet
We’ll continue marching for years
Dehydrated and damp from the loss of our sweat, blood and tears
A dollar can’t heal these wounds
Fancy cover-ups can’t even touch this
Because we’re sick and tired of being besieged
We need to some therapeutic justice
The revolution doesn’t have to be televised
It’s a recurring struggle in our daily lives
We protest for justice; we fight to be free
We die of our color and susceptibility
Our young adult lifespan is less than that of our grand’s
We don’t die dignified
We’re murdered by the hands-of-man
We are treated worse than spoiled meat
While half of our people hardly earn enough to eat
We are disappearing like vanishing acts
By the dogs that attack us like black alley cats
I write and pray so that soon someday justice will exist
Until that day I’ll continue to pray
With faith, pen and fist

-Deatrice Benicia Williams

BY GOD, I’M PREPARED

I saw the clouds forming
Felt the winds warning
Realized the waves swell and naturally became scared.

I smelt the harvest spoil
Heard the lava boil
Tasted fear on my tongue, but by GOD... I was prepared.

I’ve witnessed mountains rise and statues relapse
I’ve seen leaves die and trees collapse
Experienced famine, floods, tornados and quakes
Survived births, deaths, rewards and heartaches

All of these things struck suddenly
Like the rumbling of thunder and strike of lightening
And I’d be a lie to claim never scared
Each time I was anxious, but by GOD... I was prepared.

When my lights were turned off leaving me without sight
I had flashlights at hand to make it alright.
When my job was terminated without consideration
I began executing my plan with no hesitation.

Because one thing I know without question or blame
Expect the unexpected; nothing stays the same.

So now when I recognize the signs shift
Whether the change will be gradual or swift
I don’t fret or run around feeling despaired
I’m only human, but by GOD... I’m prepared.

- Deatrice Benicia Williams

It's Time

Tired of being stuck in a place of omission
Need something real to heal this condition
Find me a place where I can rest
My bags of lonely and emptiness
Got to find serenity and a peace of mind
I mean
Another piece of myself I need to find
Feels like I’m running out of time
Where family can’t help, they say friends will
When they won’t and they don’t
I seek a higher thrill
Not dope, but hope
Not the pill, but self will
Got to find an oasis
Pain and shame I must kill
Learn to live each day like it’s my last
Appreciating my present
Honoring my past
Recreating myself
My essence is value
Morals, Faith, Knowledge is virtue
Done with existing, I’m trying to live
Escaping from trials and tribulations
Allowing only God to steer my concentration
Self Love, Self Respect
Self Esteem, Liberation
The time is now for self-renovation
I owe this to myself
Self-Dedication
If I love you, Shouldn’t I love me?
Shouldn’t I be prospering significantly?
Not a question
But a logical statement
Time to come alive
And stop living latent
Tired of always having to compromise
Time for a revival, I need to revise
This life is short, tomorrows no guarantee
Time to release inhibitions
And love me for me

- Deatrice Benicia Williams