Get with the Program (Poetically Speaking)

By Butterfly Thomas

In this, her fourth volume of poetry, Butterfly Thomas offers us her customary buffet of clever rhymes, plays on words, double entendres, reflections on relationships of many sorts, and sharp social commentary.

“Speak Life” tells of the value of kind and positive words to others, while “Ain’t I a Woman” speaks boldly of a woman’s right to her own opinions and her expression of them. “Corner Store” is an upbeat display of both Black dialect and friendship, while “Strumming,” “Nawlins Heat,” and “That Sax Though” are unabashedly sensual. The haunting cover image of the moon and clouds was inspired by “Even Darkness.”

Seven of the poems, in the section Opening Remarks, are addressed to children who are growing up fast. There are also wrenching reflections on the mortality of both old and young. Just a sample of the variety the reader will find here: “The Meaning” talks about Christmas, “Crown” celebrates the diversity of Black hair styles, “Twisted Ladders” explores genetics, and “Detox” has a very surprising ending.

Google will be your valued companion as you seek the meanings of what will most likely be new words, names, and expressions for many. Those include chark, orishas, kete, oubliette, Anuket, Kemet, and on fleek.

But what is such deeply personal poetry if not an invitation to exploration? That’s the point of it, its aim. Here, as in her previous books, the author not only invites you into her world and soul, but also into the wider world of reflection upon how her views and experiences align or contrast with your own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Butterfly Thomas
• Release date: Mar 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215798850

Book preview

Welcome

Dedication

Here we go again

What’s poppin’

Brand new book

New topics

This one is for

My moonlight

My sunshine

My Marshmallow

And my GG KeKe

Invocation

Black Goddess Energy

Chocolate Essence

The essence of this woman is one of a kind

There are many levels to her, watch how she shines

She is ever evolving like a butterfly always transforming

She is purpose driven consistently out performing

The sensual side of her…

Smooth and dark like chocolate, sweet and enduring

Submissive and defiant

Oppositional and compliant

There are many sides to her, like a jewel she’s multi-faceted

Her rhythm and blues draws you in, she’s captivating and passionate

A nurturer and healer at heart, her beauty is reflected

A seeker of knowledge and truth, her opinion is respected

She holds tantric secrets and others… she is mysterious and enticing

Her love runs deep and fierce, protective and sacrificing

You see her, she sees you, her spirituality glows

She builds and encourages, the sense of community grows

You hear the beat of the drum in her laugh

The history in her words

You see the motherland in her movement

The future as she serves

The essence of this woman is one of a kind

I am she

She is me

Watch how I shine

Anuket

A Nu ket

I knew that

There was something about you

That called to me

Kemet Queen

Elephantine

Entity

Deity

Of fertility

Divine femininity

Protector of the source of life

Speaks to my advocacy

Because that means women to me

The water of the Nile,

The water of the womb, indeed

Motherly embrace

Or strangling grip

Don’t trip

Such grace

Such power

Allows her

To be generous

With the harvest

To make sure her people don’t starve

Goddess of the hunt

Of childbirth and lust

And all that stuff

For safe passage

You must

Pay homage

And trust

You’ll survive

Through floods and wind gusts

And at the end of the day

Let’s say, dusk

You’ll know who your protector was

The Mantra

This is the mantra

I am the prayer

The question

The whisper

The request

The demand

The primal scream

For more

For respect

For legality

For change

For restoration

Of our foundation

For