31 Jan POEMS by Paris Crayton III

 

Paris Crayton III is an award-winning playwright, poet, actor, and director. He has written over 40 plays, 14 of which have been produced around the country.  He was one of ArtsATL “30 under 30” and Atlanta Journal Constitution’s “Artist to watch.” Creative Loafing named him 2014’s “Best Local Playwright”  Critics have called him “a powerful dramatist” and praised him as “One of the most important playwrights of our time.” His plays have been presented and/or workshopped by Working Title Playwrights, Stage Door Players, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Aurora Theatre, Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, Beth Marshall Presents, Indianapolis Fringe Festival and more.

He can be found online at www.ParisCrayton3.com

 

 

 

WILLY

by Paris Crayton III

When I was a child

I had a bully who I’ll

admit

Was the cause of much

adolescent anxiety

Eyeing me from three feet

I was much taller than he

But in mind a giant dwelled

My personal cell

In my imaginary hell

I held my head down

And tried to prevail

By pretending

That it was ok

But I was too scared to say

Anything

and I let the days

Keep going

“Keep going”

Not knowing the outcome

Frequently I would run

Trying to avoid attention

That would be garnered

Everytime he would corner me

Backed up against the wall

I let all the punches fall

And I would stand and just take it

I didn’t fight back

I became complacent

In this childish combat

Where I tied my own arms

behind my own back

And let something so small

Continuously attack

It seemed as if he just

Kept going

“Keep going”

Now as an adult

My bullies are my thoughts

And my life is my fault

Because I don’t often

Fight back

Just like years past

I runaway from past fears

Instead of addressing the problem

I keep my ass here

In the midst of the turmoil

Crying a change is gonna come

But always coming up short

Like my bully in the fourth grade

who made my life miserable

But I decided to stay and endure

The pain

while the cure

was in simply changing my mind

Still now

I back myself against the wall

And complain how life’s punches land

Underestimating the fact

I’m being hit with my own hands

Creating my reality I pass off as fiction

Manifesting the mundane

A semiconscious addiction

‘Keep…

A change of thinking

Can keep you from sinking down

Where your bully dwells

You’re bigger than the problems you create

Change the state of your thoughts

And levitate

To different spaces of consciousness

Keep the faith

Your bully is only as big as you let them become

So keep going

“Keep going”

No need to run

There’s work to be done

Dreams to make true

And that starts with you

So don’t let your bully

Tell You what You can’t do

 

Manifest

 

I know I’m gonna make it one day

The bills aren’t paid

My rent is late

Staring at the finish line just to

Hurry up and wait

I’m tired of running

This never ending race

But although I’m exhausted

There’s a smile on my face

I know I’m gonna make it one day

Been told that I couldn’t

For most of my life

Been known to give up

Before I even try

But since I’m alive

I can still change my mind

Had to be on the bottom

So I could learn how to rise

I know I’m gonna make it one day

It’s never been easy

It’s been downright hard

But through it all

I’ve never let down my guard

I’ve stayed in the ring

I’ve stayed in the fight

Because I know in the end

It will all be alright

I know I’m gonna make it one day