Atlas of Consciousness

By Kameisha Jerae Hodge

dwelling in the south side of D.C. for the majority of my life, i have witnessed many of the struggles and complexities of urban living; however, while i did not let my living environments affect me academically emotionally and mentally, this world around me took its toll. im more than my society tells me i am.

and so are we.

we are rebellious youths, but we are not insubordinate or unruly. we are angry, but we have just reasons in a society that constantly tells us that were not worth investments (i.e. a decent educational system, music that uplifts rather than further oppresses it, sending people to prison without a proper rehabilitation regime).

we think about more than money, sex, and drugs.

this is the atlas of our consciousness, so brace yourself for the softest of the trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 10, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453579107

Kameisha Jerae Hodge

Kameisha Jerae Hodge was born on November 1, 1989 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.. Graduating first from Friendship Collegiate Academy: Carter G. Woodson Campus in June of 2007, then from Lafayette College – one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges – with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Writing Concentration in May of 2011, Kameisha has already made her mark on the world by being published in the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives (2009), as well as winning one of the International Academy of the Visual Arts and the Communicator Awards (2008), the Poems and Poets of the Year Award (2008), and two consecutive Editor's Choice Awards (2007, 2008).

Book preview

ATLAS OF

CONSCIOUSNESS

Kameisha Jerae Hodge

Copyright © 2010 by Kameisha Jerae Hodge.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2010913904

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4535-7909-1

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4535-7908-4

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4535-7910-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

86769

Contents

FOREWORD OF THANKS

PART ONE: THE ID, UNSCRIPTED

THE PIANIST

NOBODY

WHEN I USED TO LOVE YOU

THE WAY

IGNORING THE SIGNS

UNTITLED #87

SPOKE IN WORDS:

ODE 2 U

TAKE ME BACK

(TO THAT PLACE)

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A RANDOM PAGE

PART TWO: THE EGO, COMPRESSED

A CERTAIN KIND OF LOVE

WANT AD

YOU WILL BE MISSED

HIP HOP IS DEAD

UNPREDICTABLE

INSPIRATION

AMENDED HEART

PLAY ON, WORDS.

SOMETHING

(NOT SO SPECIAL)

BASIC MATH

DAYDREAM

PART THREE: THE (SUPER) EGO’S SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS

LAST NIGHT I CRIED

FOREVER

HAIKU

FOR A YOUNG BLACK GIRL

HAIKU

FOR A YOUNG BLACK BOY

HAIKU

FOR A DISENFRANCHISING OPPRESSOR

MOCHACHOCALATTE, FRAPPACINO SPICED I

MOCHACHOCALATTE, FRAPPACINO SPICED II

JOURNEY TO FREEDOM

IGNANCE IS BLISS

THE GOOD OL’ USA

(AND NO, I’M NOT ANTI-AMERICAN)

BRAINWASHED

A FOOL ONE TIME

TOO MANY

BIT HER SWEET CAVITIES

AS COUNTED

GLAMOROUS LIFE

P.S. STILL NOT OVER YOU

DEMARK B.

(AN ODE TO THEE)

RE: LOCK AND KEY:

FLESH AND WOUND

COMPLETELY

THE SAINTFUL SINNER

GOOD MOURNING

SO HUMAN

BY DARNELL VALENTINE

I CRY ON THE INSIDE

BY CHANTELL LEAK

WHY?

BY HANNAH SMOCK

HOW DO I GET TO THIS PLACE

BY KARIMA SCOTT

FEAR OF LOVE

BY LAQUAN LIGHTFOOT

125.JPG

FOREWORD OF THANKS

first and foremost, above all things, i want to thank the Most High for deeming me worthy of being created in His image. i know that i was not created out of mere consequence or circumstance. i was brought to life through the womb of my mother, Sabrina Latriece Hodge, because He foresaw something in me far greater than i will ever, and can ever, see in myself. thank you, even though that will never be enough.

secondly, i want to thank my mother for all of the struggles and pain that she endured for our family. without your innate strength as an independent black woman, and unfathomable determination to teach your children to take care of