Limitless

Dedicated to Amiri Barakas

Educated by a man speaking,

and talking, in a rhythm...

kind of old but smooth.

Kind of simple but complex.

Kind of fun but deep.

He seemed limitless.

Each time I heard the logic
behind his scene,
my head nodded.

He directed a scene of poetry.

He shot the angle he wanted
and when it was right,
the people could go home.
He seemed limitless.


Percussion is my thing
so when he started tapping his hands
I'm thinking i could spit to this.
His soothing and abrupt rhythm
made me feel the cross of his "T"...
or maybe the velocity when he pressed the key.
He seem limitless
And I powerless.
cause every time I hear another poet speak
I have no power, until their done.
I like this feeling.
It seems my limit is less.
When he finishes
my mind can see all the words to make my next sentence.
When she finishes
I know that's the kind of woman I need
behind my scene
to push this next power
to one man's destiny.
I am limitless.


There is no box to put me in.
There is no cap to screw me under.
There is no category to shove me in
unless its...poetry.
Unless its artistry.

Unless its limitless.
I watch to learn and I hear to be educated.
I'm high because of the grace
giving to words to continuously speak to me.
I'm glad I read his work, heard his work, and responded to his work.
Now I have something else
to add to my voice in color.
I too, am limitless.

Copyright 2011 By Jastin Batts