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Alicia Keyes POW - Def Poetry

December 14th 2007 01:48

Alicia Keyes POW - Def Poetry

Def Poetry Logo

Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry is an HBO series that provides underground urban poets with a platform to voice their verses. The programme also showcases legends of the medium and a variety of performers sharing their own written compositions.

The show is hosted by rapper Mos Def. The powerful words from guests echo truth about the plight of the modern civilised world. It conveys introspective emotion and passionate personal feelings that observe the state of society and of self, inspiring thought.

From Smokey Robinson to Dave Chappelle, Carol King to Jamie Kennedy an eclectic array of famous faces and talented underground lyricists grace the stage over the course of the series

One that stood out for me was Alicia Keyes effort titled P.O.W which has a raw and fearless exploration of fear and self doubt. You can read the poem below or click on the video to see Alicia orating speak easy style.

Alicia Keyes

P.O.W
By Alicia Keys

I'm a prisoner
Of words unsaid
Just lonely feelings
Locked away in my head

I trap myself further
Every time I stay quiet
I should start to speak
But I stop and stay silent
And now I've made
My own hard bed
Inside a prison of words unsaid
I am a P.O.W.

Not a prisoner of war
A prisoner of words
Like a soldier
I'm a fighter
Yet only a puppet
Mostly I only say
What you wanna hear
Could you take it if I came clear?
Or would you rather see me
Stoned on a drug of complacency and compromise
M.I.A.

I guess that's what I am
Scraping this cold earth
For a piece of myself
For peace in myself
It'd be easier if you put me in jail
If you locked me away
I'd have someone to blame
But these bars of steel are of my making
They surround my mind
And have me shaking
My hands are cuffed behind my back
I'm a prisoner of the worst kind, in fact
A prisoner of compromise

A prisoner of compassion
A prisoner of kindness
A prisoner of expectation
A prisoner of my youth

Run too fast to be old
I've forgotten what I was told
Ain't I a sight to behold?
A prisoner of age dying to be young
To my head is my hand with a gun
And it's cold and it's hard
Cause there's nowhere to run
When you've caged yourself
By holding your tongue
I'm a prisoner
Of words unsaid
Just lonely feelings
Locked away in my head
It's like solitary confinement
Every time I stay quiet
I should start to speak
But I stop and stay silent
And now I've made
My own hard bed
Inside a prison of words unsaid

Here is the Alicia Keys reading on Def Poetry

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: American

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Comments

15 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Anonymous

February 22nd 2008 00:04

like this poem, because like the words i am prisoner of my own words. trapped lonly feelings, so many words un said

Comment by alexandria

February 29th 2008 00:11

i love you.

Comment by ahmani

March 19th 2008 05:54

omg.I really love your poems , its as if you are speaking for me in your lyrics ,song,and poetry.But i guess when you keep quiet the good god feeds you a testimony ,you know...but when you keep quiet you become someone else like you said a puppet ,only you know when to speak but when is it my turn?

Comment by Dexter

March 19th 2008 06:09

Hi Anon,

I found I related tremendously to this one, as a writer who still only has the guts to review others work rather than create my own original poetry..

Comment by Dexter

March 19th 2008 06:10

Hi Alexandria,

Is that a love of Alicia Keyes or the selection?

Thanks for the compliment, regardless of the target.

Please visit again.

Comment by Dexter

March 19th 2008 06:12

Hi Ahmani,

I only review in prose, the original work in this case is all Alicia....I wish they were my words....

Thanks for visiting and come back soon

Comment by Anonymous

May 26th 2009 18:01

great great great times great great voice,soul,words,and poem! love u alicia!

Comment by ZAC

June 25th 2009 02:45

THANKS 4 THE COMMENTS SO I COULD COPY THEM AND PASS MY ENGLISH. THANKS

Comment by Michaela Smith

August 2nd 2009 21:37

This is my favorite poem. It reminds me of myself in many ways.

Comment by Valentinewordz..gspoet

October 22nd 2009 12:45

i like this poem it is very meaningful i was glad when i watched her perform this on def poetry jam

Comment by ilaishah:)

December 2nd 2009 06:09

Your text goes hereYour text goes hereYour text goes here
this p0em stuck 0n me f0r idk h0w many times i read it! it did t0uch my heart! im glad she wr0te this!

Comment by Talieya

August 26th 2010 02:29

I'm a prisoner of words to. I feel like if i speak my mind then i would just lose myself. I like to keep my feelings inside, but i know one day im just going to explode into tears because sometimes it just gets to much to bare.

Comment by Iggles

January 25th 2012 21:22

[COLOR=Fuchsia]Omg I <3 Alicia's poetry and lyrics...I remover when I wanted to be just like her...and I still do! You inspire me Alicia!

Comment by Anonymous

May 2nd 2012 17:28

I love the way Alica repeats the things that are important to hear. If you don't get her message the first time, you will get it the second or third, because the things she writes about pertain to everyone-nobody can deny that.