Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns

The Darkest Shadow of Racism

An act of ignorance given birth within a culture.
It slowly develops through association.
It's usually silent in words but loud in action just
like a newborn baby.
It's sometimes influenced like a teen pushed to get
high by other means than natural.
There are names often used that scar the essence of
one's character if allowed.
A perfect picture of confusion at its very best.
So many pretending souls as the days pass and the
seasons change.
There's a desire to be a part of another group until
convenience is necessary when it comes to one's own.
A strong avoidance of the root or core of what's really
planted.
Many stereotypes labeled based on what one expects of
another individual.
Like daffodils, racism is here to stay.
In fact, death has no record of its name.
And in essence to all of its many faces, no matter the
number of corners you turn, avenues you travel, and the
alleys you encounter in your lifetime, the darkest shadow
of racism is that of denial.

Human Musician

From a distance, my ears heard
a harmony that allowed for a
mental moment of sensation.
Like a dog follows a scent on a
K-9 investigation, I followed the
sound.
To my surprise, beneath the shade
of a building there played music.
He was the essence of light honey
brown perfectly touched by the sun
with eyes to match.
There he stood making music with
the body parts given to him by God.
He mixed in harmonies with his voice
and pats on his legs from hand-to-hand
to his chest.
Back and forth, up and down, rhythm
just riding on his course.
While bass exhaled from the stomp
of his feet.
In the midst of my eyes, I experienced
the passion in coordination and the
taste of heart and soul and smoothness
of a human musician.

Dance with Me

Dance with me.
Dance with me into the paleness
of the moonlight.
Take my steps and collide them
with yours for us to slip into a
state of wonderland.
Spin me around like the earth.
Make me see planets that don't
exist but would want to after we're
finished.
Dance with me.
Show me the true meaning of fast
and slow.
Teach me grooves I thought I knew.
Let me linger within the 360 degrees
space of you that turns many heads
and hold hostage many eyes leaving
minds mesmerized two weeks after
seeing you.
Come on, release yourself and connect
with the inner essence of me.
Show me your rhythm.
Help me to understand the true definition
of soul.
Take me to "HEAVEN" with your embrace.

Cover Design: Joseph McNair