In The Nude

C. Alexandra Allen delivers an impressive collection of poetry and prose that embraces readers from all walks of life. She writes with a brilliant fearlessness about politics, hip-hop, loss of innocence, spirituality, and matters of the heart. This introspective piece is about celebrating who you are. It is about learning life lessons. Moreover, at some moments, In the Nude is an ode to redemption. Excerpt from In the Nude Black Boys Forever ain’t as long as it used to be Seen too many mamas on church roll On bloodied knees during alter calls praying for miracles Screaming don’t put no white sheets over my baby please Like the devil got hold of their soul Foretelling the future of the XY chromosome with cries Cuz son’s lives were stolen during papa’s erection Prior to mama’s conception Still streets fill with untrained brown soldiers marching across an urban landscape masquerading as civilians Class third rate Uniformed in bandanas Building mafia style camps like Montana’s The image of boys Never men As enforcers look for boys gone MIA using money and power as decoys Carrying out an organized hit on black boys Copyright circa 2008 by C. Alexandra Allen