Poetry

It’s all self-reflection

Don’t Call Me Nice
(By Rocherr Landrum)

People been calling me “nice”
All of my life…

But—
Nice?
I’m not nice.

I learned my Ignorance can lead to your own demise.
And no matter how much I swore
I’d never be anything other than “nice,”
You showed me otherwise.

So now?
I’m taking my own advice.

To be foolish…
Is to be nice.
I’m not nice.

Nice left me no with no boundaries,
Used and accused
By the friendemy,
Wide open
To the enemy—
People-pleasing souls
With no empathy.

Don’t call me nice.

Here’s what I got for you:
A you gon’ be okay,
A push through,
A God’s got you!
A listening ear,
Maybe a tear,
A kind heart,
And a reminder:
Girl, God didn’t give you the spirit of fear.

Ignorance?
no longer reside here.

I’m not mean.
I’m not rude.

I just had a reality check—
And I’m no longer
The same fool.

I’m not nice.
Not at all.
Think twice
Before making me
Your first phone call.

My level of altruism?
All used up.
So now,
You gon’ have to be tough.

Long are gone the days when Ro poured from a half filled cup
I’m done
Being an enabler—
Cause I can’t save ya.

I am kind.
But I am
Not nice.