Love Poem: Before I Take This Walk
Jamal Gordon Avatar
Written by: Jamal Gordon

Before I Take This Walk

Before I walk 
Dear Lord , before I take this walk 
Can we have a talk 
You see I’m afraid for my safety as I walk down my street 
I have the countless scenes of black people dying on repeat 
As I walk I see their faces in my head 
Sometimes I wonder if it’s even safe for me to get out of bed 
Dear Lord before I take this walk 
Can we have a talk 
I’m tired of people telling me to cheer up and smile 
Do they not understand at times I’m scared to walk a mile 
I fear what to do if I ever encounter a cop 
Those thoughts run through my mind non stop 
Dear Lord before I take this walk 
Can we have a talk 
Give me peace and protection the best way you can 
Because the odds are against me since I am a black man 
Shouting Black Lives Matter is almost getting tuned out from all the other chatter 
Dear Lord before I take this walk 
Can we have a talk 
Thank you for blessing me with a strong black mother 
She put her all into raising me and my brother 
She taught me to put you first and no other
Let her know that she raised a strong black man 
Let her know what ever happens to me is part of your plan 
Dear Lord before I take this walk 
Can we have a talk 
I know that progress and change we will all soon see 
But Lord before I take this walk , 
Can you walk with me?