Kalena Bovell
Conductor
Described as "hauntingly unapologetic," my poems are a representation of the human spirit. I penned my first poem in 2003 hoping to create a platform for the voices who felt they weren't allowed to be heard; I write for each of them. These are my thoughts, these are my words, this is my soul.
Tethered Voices
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Click below to purchase your PDF copy of
"Dear Soul..."
Watch until the end for a very powerful spoken word piece and musical performance.
Black Widow
Text by Kalena Bovell
Music by Quinn Mason
Negrita
Soy una mujer Negra
que habla expañol
Nací en Los Angeles
y tengo un accento
porque yo soy Panameña
Soy bella
Pero cuando el mundo me vio
vio una negra fea
Ellos me llamo fea
Regardless of my background
my heritage and my being
I am black
I am a woman
Soy la negrita
​
Toby
Southern trees
bare that strange fruit
Blackened embers from the fire
illuminate the noose,
Blood, sweat and tears
keep falling to the ground
their different shades of brown
Those strange fruitful souls
floating just above the ground
Darkness
Scents of frustration
are pouring out of me
like the scent of liquor
pours out of a drunk
Masked impurities of anger
are veiled by the façade
a smile, a nod
the loveable precocious laugh
yet these people passing by
are so oblivious to the obvious
They can’t see the fire
that lives behind my eyes
because they ignore the flames
that are dying down inside