A Collection of Collections

Black American Poetry

John F. Dilworth II

• Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9780872868113
• eBook ISBN: 9781631956621
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Poetry
• Index: Literature

A Collection of Collections is a volume of poetry by John F. Dilworth II that explores the author's experiences maneuvering through life as a young Black man in America in this tumultuous 21st century.

Through his poems, John motivates people to be passionate about their purpose and open to sharing their perspective. He captures the beauty and purpose of people hurting and striving. Some of the words may trigger a variety of emotions, but that is where the healing can be found.

LOVIN’ AIN’T EASY

In a Place Where (Lovin’ Ain’t Easy)

Hard times

Take tolls on soft bodies

Soon to be calloused

By experience

By tough love

Found solely in the streets

Of midnight madness

Daytime drama

Police lights

Junkies high as kites

Kinky-haired single mothers

Who came up on the same block of concrete

Where

Lovin’ ain’t easy

But it still gets done

Even though sometimes you gotta run

Sometimes you gotta stand your ground

In the place that makes the sun frown

And the moon cry

Tears of joy

Because it’s still getting done

In a place where hot hearts

Turn cold

At thirteen years old

The businesses close early

Or stay open all night long

One extreme to the other

In a place where ashy legs

Patrol sidewalks

On worn soles

In a place where

Dope boys ride the cleanest

In an effort to inspire

The youth

And attract the hungry girls

In a place where

Lovin’ ain’t easy

But it still gets done.

Clockwork Hotfoot

Exit the MARTA rail and take a left towards the worksite

Did things a few hours ago that shouldn’t be done on a work night

But still ready to take on the new day just like yesterday

Heard the crew say they can’t take anymore

This job is a revolving door

Everybody’s a minority except for the employer

Walking to work to clock in right past the lawyer

But Hotfoot won’t complain

Out loud

Hotfoot stand out from the crowd

Arrive early leave early

Got moonlighting to do

Elbow grease and midnight oil too

Want different do different

Do more and say less

Like clockwork with the dreams

The superiors ain’t supreme

Focus is

Determination is

A made-up mind is

Making heaven out of hell

A right from the worksite right back to the MARTA rail.

Time has Wings

My oh my

How Time does fly

My granddaddy told me

I would understand better by and by

So I try to cherish every moment

And appreciate the little things

Because one thing I can’t deny

Is that Time has wings

And she spreads them in steady flight

Time never stands still

She’s constantly giving birth

But look at all she’s managed to kill

Vivid dreams and mighty kings

Have seen the edge of her sword

Taking Time for granted

Is a luxury none of us can afford

Underestimating her prowess

Is a sure path to defeat

But making her an ally

Makes you so much harder to beat

They say time heals all wounds

And she outlasts the many moons

And outlasts the sunshine

She’s seen so many noons

And been the topic of so many tunes

The elephant in so many rooms

She thwarted so many attempts

To be swept away by so many brooms

And my oh my

How Time does fly

My granddaddy told me

I would understand better by and by

So I try to cherish every moment

And appreciate the little things

Like an angel in the sky

Or an eagle flying high

One thing I can’t deny

Is that Time has wings.

Sacrifice

I never claimed to be a philosopher or intellectual giant

To be politically correct or politically defiant

But somehow or another I’ve come by some information

To perplex and confound this system’s education

Of misappropriated priorities and brainwashed imagination

It’s a supernatural anomaly an unsolvable equation

The most important thing I’ve learned in my development and maturation

Is that sacrifice is love’s greatest manifestation

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son”

Abraham was ready to offer Isaac just to see God’s will be done

I never said I was a genius or the wisest one in all the land

But when I learned this lesson, I truly learned to be a man

Sacrifice is required when I must truly prove my love

If they’re not willing to sacrifice for you, they weren’t sent from above

So when you don’t know if it’s real and you need some authentication

Consider this: sacrifice is love’s greatest manifestation

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son”

What would you do if God asked you to give up your only one?

I never said that I was perfect or have it all figured out

That’s never been my style, that’s not what I’m about

But somehow or another I’ve come by this information

That somehow or another has evaded the general popula...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• PREFACE
• LOVIN’ AIN’T EASY
• MESSAGES OF LOST HOPE
• BLACK SONGS
• REVERSE ENGINEERING MY DREAM
• 19 CHRONICLES
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR