YOUNG KING

A poem dedicated to my new found nephews.
And my brothers.
And my friend’s sons who’s skin shimmers golden in the sun.
And all the uncles, friends and all our fathers.
And all the ones who didn’t make it.
We love you. We honour you. We see you.

Young King, I see you.
I see the wonder and expectation in your eyes, like
the world is your oyster, like
anything is possible, like
all the potential on the inside of you is just waiting to be nurtured, called forth and brought out.

Young King,I see you.
I see the horror in your eyes when
you first hear the story of a
Black boy harassed, a
Black boy overlooked, a
Black boy bullied, a
Black boy hurt, a
Black boy shot.
I hear the questions raging through your mind, the
doubt beginning to creep into your soul,
clutching your heart.
I see the cloud that sneaks its way into your heart when
you look around, and see the lack of care and opportunity for boys like you.

How could your life ever look any different?
Why would your life look any different?

Young King,I see you.
I see the options scrolling through your mind, the
temptations to achieve a ‘better life’ quick, the
risks you are willing to take.

But hear me, young king: I SEE YOU.

Our ancestors see you.
The fore-fathers and fore-mothers who have gone before,
fighting to give you a better future,
sacrificing so you would have shoulders to stand on.

Young King, THEY SEE YOU!

Our God sees you.
The one who gave our ancestors the strength,
to prevail through the most dire of times,
the most hopeless, unjust and violent of lives,
Young King, HE SEES YOU!

Young King,
I see you.

Hear me, Young King, it won’t be easy, I can’t lie.

You will have to fight harder than others,
Be better than your peers -
and still there is no guarantee.

No guarantee but generations to come
and
honouring the sacrifice of our fathers and mothers.

And maybe, just maybe, Young King,
we can shape a better world together.

Young King,
I see you.

You are strong.
You are beautiful.
You are full of dignity and light.
Your passion and emotion is good,
and your fire shall never stop burning.
You are gifted and kind
and your future is bright.

Young King,
I see you.

And I will tell your story over and over,
will shed light on the great and the good,
give my life to bring about change,
so you might get to live the life you deserve.

Young King,
I see you.

written by Jess Mally (@_jesswrites)
Special thanks to Kenrick Jobe who created this incredible image. Used with permission by the artist (Kenrick Jobe - instagram: @kenrickjobe)