freedom is coming
so let me shed my skin
delicately
  peel away this barrier
  that separates me from my destiny
lift off this veil
  that conceals and smothers me
now can you see?

because i cannot do this freedom dance
  with the weight of my eyes
they have seen too many tragedies
  and cried too many tears
they tell me that i am limited
  and have too many fears
and these lips
  oh how they've betrayed me
by speaking all of these lies
  whispering
  that freedom is not mine
my tongue
  told my feet to stop dancing
  and my hips to stand still
and these ears heard it
  heard how my spirit was being killed
how this life can imprison for eternities
because my fingers wove stories of agony
  when instead they should rejoice
if only these arms could rise up
  rise up because freedom is coming
these limbs
  don't speak revolution
and these hands
  can no longer form fists
while playing with the wind
of this freedom song
that echoes through my bones
feeble and fractured under this weight
so let me simply do without this frame
let me flow beyond my boundaries
and dance in ways that defy gravity
expand beyond limits
  and claim what God created initially
  now can you see?

freedom has returned for me
so let me shed this skin
so that freedom can now let me in
freedom is coming
freedom is here
no, freedom was here all the time
and beyond the shackles of this mind
i now understand that freedom is mine

--antoinette bumekpor
  (copyright 2012)  

my vision is a world that is inspired to create, and with conscientiousness and awareness, find infinite freedom through voice. 

to bring my vision in to reality, I transform passion into purpose by:

• sharing the literary arts with diverse communities through published work and spoken word;
• using the literary arts to educate, empower, enlighten and entertain the people; and,
• participating in events and partnering with organizations committed to the power of the word.
  

antoinette bumekpor, one of the most profound teachers and writers today, is a poet from jamaica. she grew up in the new york city housing projects, and began writing after she moved to oakland, ca. her poetry is poignant and transformational because she takes her influence from the very depths of the soul. antoinette has been internationally published in baobab: south african journal of new writing, featured on berkeley's kpfa radio, performed in the black repertory theatre's production of for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, and graced many stages and venues singing with the internationally acclaimed oakland interfaith gospel choir. antoinette is also a member of the bay area's premiere spoken word organization hot water cornbread.