Two Hak-Ku*

July 16, 2013

By Hakim Bellamy

This first haiku is for a forthcoming book of haiku, I am publishing. However, current events have recently made this short poem very popular and very potent. Thank you to poet and friend Susana Rinderle and organizer, childhood friend and mother Tangi Lancaster for asking to use this poem as their mantra to grieve and get something that at least resembles justice in the Trayvon Martin case. The haiku that follows Black Poem for America is brand new, and titled Only in America.

Black Poem for America

I’ll stop writing about how Black I am when you stop reminding me

Only in America

Only in America are dead Black boys tried for their own murder

* Haiku + Hakim = Hak-ku … coming soon.

This piece was written by:

Hakim Bellamy

Hakim Bellamy was the inaugural poet laureate of Albuquerque and is a national and regional Poetry Slam Champion. He holds three consecutive collegiate poetry slam titles at the University of New Mexico and his poetry has been published in Albuquerque inner-city buses and various anthologies. Bellamy was recognized as an honorable mention for the University of New Mexico Paul Bartlett Re Peace Prize for his work as a community organizer and journalist and was recently bestowed the populist honor of “Best Poet” by Local iQ (“Smart List” 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013) and Alibi (“Best of Burque” 2010, 2011 & 2012). He is the co-creator of the multimedia Hip creator of the multimedia Hip Hop theater production Urban Verbs: Hip-Hop Conservatory & Theater that has been staged throughout the country. He facilitates youth writing workshops for schools and community organizations in New Mexico and beyond.

Hakim is currently finishing his MA in Communications and Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico. He is the proud father of a 5 year-old miracle and is the founding president of Beyond Poetry, LLC.

Hakim's photo by Wes Naman