beyond capacity from ghetto grimoire by ayodele nzinga

there are places you may never see
out beyond the end of the known
past the safety nets where the air thins
the ground is rocky
there is no path
all roads
are uphill
where life
stretches you
like a rubber band
it's the tension
you find traction
to go forward
propelled from
godz hands
seeking destiny
walking faiths tightrope
eyes on the time when we cross over the abyss
gaping below like a hungry thing
waiting for
our failure
there's only one choice to be made
at the end
of capacity
the choice is
go forward
go forward
pass the boundaries
the walls
over the pits
the places
where the bricks
are missing
the cracks
in the sidewalk
the short falls
they're not enough
they're not for you not now not ever
bend to the wind and go forward
push the edge back
dance on it
become the one who draws the line
ignore the line
go where the tightrope leads
become the rope

• Spoken Word
• poetry
• poetry and music
• Oakland