Poetry by Darrell Herbert

Cantus Firmus 

I understood that society had no room for me, and I had no room for society, I never have
To go to the respectable dreamy like society, to the nocturnal side
Was like changing sides in a war
It's like the blind leading the blind

So empty, so phantom empty
No, a revolver has a drum that revolves
In the throats of love, I was weak, no match for her
But, the goodbye was sad, strangely unforgiven




Straitjacket

I had a lover
I dated her back when she was counting change
Se saw me a year ago and seemed taken aback by my confidence
We hooked up and she judged my body
And me, I was angry
For a while actually
Now I sit here smiling for the strength of my love and resiliency lives on and on
I was angry for years. I was angry for many things, from many people, and many experiences
My anger burned multiple holes inside of me
I know now. I know how to fill these holes back up again
Strength and resiliency lives on and on
You can't be peace and love if you haven't tasted hate and anger
You can't love yourself if you haven't sat with the looks of your many faces
So my fellow humans, we are dual
The pain we have shapes the beauty we create
Insecurities hidden around false pride will get you nowhere
Know that

You're as insane as I am



Dis

I struggle with wanting to know why
I notice, that it seems people I know treat each other better, and are closer than with me
It really bothers me to be treated differently and distantly
Of course, no one will ever admit it, or tell me why
I've been told several times that I'm too nice, too good, too honest, and that is boring
I was shocked by that
These are some things that has made me increasingly disappointed, and untrusting of people, and why I withdraw from them

I am indifferent, I guess that's what happens when cracks become too deep
When wounds become harder to heal, when flames burn and insigne grate
So for now I use these spells to keep sadness away
Remember that moment becomes the stories you do not share
There is kindness somewhere
Our lives repair those in despair



Bio: Darrell Herbert is a recipient of a national silver medal and gold key, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2014. He is also a recipient of the 2016 Scythe Prize, and the 2017 Scythe Prize. He is a recipient of the NY Literary Magazine's "5 Star Writer Award." He was one of the winners in the second North Street Book Prize competition. His fiction and non-fiction has appeared in the Utica College Ampersand. His poetry has been featured in the likes of the "Best Teen Writing of 2014," by Hannah Jones, NotMyPresident Anthology, Writers- Black Artists Connected Blog, A Shared Format 4 Poets, Yellow Chair Review, Poetic Treasures Magazine, Section 8 Magazine, Blacktopia: Black Utopia Society Blog, Works in Progress newspaper, Woman of P.O.W.E.R. blog, Media Blast Press, Madness Muse Magazine, cocktailmolly, New York Rising Blog, thisis50.com, Supastars Magazine, downsouthhiphop.com, Beat Yard Magazine, All Black Entertainment Magazine, Southeast Hip-Hop Magazine, Poets & Writers Magazine, UC English Corner, Utica College Ampersand, Children's Screams are Whispers, Tuck Magazine, Wild Sound Festival Review, Dwartonline, Zoomoozophone Review, The Naga, Scarlet Leaf Review, Free Lit Magazine, The Basil O' Flaherty, Whispers in the Wind, Excavation, PPP Ezine, as well as in HangTime Magazine and The Lemonade Stand Magazine.