Zora Howard - Before Bed (Live in London)

Performed live in London on opening night of The Strivers Row's UK tour, The Exchange.
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[@bribrirock24]

"I'm afraid you'll find my tarnished parts if you keep sneaking around the way you do. I'm afraid you'll find there's no land here left uncharted or uncharred. This was an emptier before they burned their fire, stuffed their flags deep in the soil, and claimed it as their territory. And when the earth was barren, dry they gave it back unholy. I'm no piece girl so when I love I give the whole of me. So when they left the least in pieces they also left these holes in me.

[@tatyananoble3637]

"Ur distracting I have a mouth full of pins and a bed time to respect..." Zora I also have a bedtime to respect... but this is too good to watch once..

[@ash86marie]

And though your core is gauged with God your hands are full of sin young man. My waist is not a garden maze for you to serpent your way in young man, we GOT TO SLEEP;)

[@whs201092]

She's standing in the mirror with her significant other getting ready for bed. They're going through the motions as she wraps her hair and she just speaks of how he loves her like she's pure but she has many impurities that she's scared he'll discover

[@christinael596]

I keep telling myself, "just one more time". It's now 1:13 am and I still need to study for my exams. I love this so much!

[@TIMAbyFK]

This poem still gives me shivers! I has to find it tonight before bed, I needed this creativity, this imagery. Thank you ZORA!!!!

[@sheridyntalbert6548]

Still here in 2020! 🙏🏾

[@brittaniawitter6424]

2023 and I'm still obsessed with this.

[@L3Asmile]

That's Jasmine Mans whoopin the loudest...I love that. Oh, I love the way she expresses herself.

[@jessemwakajumba9582]

After all the best been torn away, will you still want the rest of me?.... Sheeeeesh

[@EnglishWithMimi]

Zora is honestly my favourite "Strivers row" poet

[@DebriaLove]

Same and also the Jasmine Mans

[@Agape-Kay]

+Spoken Love miles!!! let me not name names, i love them all

[@DebriaLove]

+krystal howard he is pretty hot

[@prettyprincess8187]

One can only hope to find a love like this, not perfect but beautifully flawed.

[@brittneyedmondson2294]

"I am your block, i am your blvd, i am your bayou and baby i don't mind i don't mind i don't mind" MY GOD!!

[@JayTeatro]

Then you realize that your life sucks because you're not friends with her.

[@Tyrell4Real]

i love how she presents this.. so mature, and sexy, but deep on soo many levels. great write zora #sowewrite

[@ash86marie]

As though my hands see. My hands sorcery. My hands witchcraft...

[@jackiem3740]

ash86marie "A wire weaver who spins gold, threading a nest of precious stones" my favorite part

[@Smeezewitme]

Baby I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind.

[@guyanesechik00]

She reminds me of phylicia rashad

[@amberblock]

Being completely open to someone, being naked figuratively and literally, showing every imperfection; and still being fully accepted by the person that loves you as if you were flawless. Simply put, that's what I thought it was about.

[@xoAuthentiChick]

I got the chance to meet Zora Howard in the bathroom of my high school my senior year at Cooperative Arts in New Haven, Connecticut. How ironic we were both in the mirror by the sink and she was putting bobby pins in her hair. She told me her educational background, and where she was from...then she graced my school's stage spitting metaphors of her concrete jungle childhood, planting herself in one of the most prestigious schools Yale. That was the day I fell in love with Zora Howard.

[@damiansmith4958]

Im in love... my favorite spoken word poet

[@ambishay1]

I watch this everyday.

[@Tyrell4Real]

up there looking like a huxtable lol

[@nuenglish]

good poetry paints a picture, great poets paint master peaces. i love the way you paint. you took a bedroom scene and gave us those most intimate moments before sleep comes.

[@clementineinapastlife5718]

I come back here often. Zora this was amazing 😍😭

[@ftaiwoo]

idk man I listened to this alot about 6 years ago and coming back it hits even harder. What a performance!

[@jackiem3740]

"I've got 13 piercings and 2 tattoos you still look at my body like its brand spanking new, its not!" WOW

[@MsMinicooper85]

i have the audio on my phone.. I listen to it everday.. Zora is frickin brilliant.

[@jackiem3740]

Marsha Cooper how do you do this?

[@MsMinicooper85]

Jackie M i downloaded and converted the video from youtube to MP3

[@jackiem3740]

slay me...

[@jackiem3740]

really?....

[@canihelpyou9067]

frickin amazing, goodness woman.

[@deanwinfrey9300]

Everyone will pass here and what will they find

[@FeelinMe11]

Tht was everything!!! Love it!! It's like my 4th time listening to it

[@sugarplum9208]

I just Fricken LOVE her!

[@AE-jx5kq]

Still a favourite

[@jackiem3740]

my crown is fluff

[@HotEvolver]

"I hope you are the One.. If not, you are the Prototype.." 3000 voice

[@pryncess1634]

Speaks Volumes

[@marticar995]

Goosebumps ❤️

[@mimihdz527]

Oh Ms Howard...

[@zanade]

Zora gives me chills. An amazing and beautifully poetic woman. Keep striving!

[@Alluponit31]

THIS is what I call passion

[@Tre2011Y]

LoVe this Snap Snap!

[@carlaocampo4805]

One of my favorite poems... amazinggg

[@thatlittlezombie]

This poem!

[@laRoseee69]

this is fire.

[@jackiem3740]

yes gawd

[@calafya1]

Beyond wow! One of my fave poems!

[@JasminePerry]

Amazing !

[@ishmaeldavis7519]

DAMN!!!

[@deepissues2050]

pure...beauty

[@MrJaredocampo17]

love it, so beautiful!

[@PAWNB3YOND]

This is a poem about a woman as much as it is about a country. This is what Safia Elhilio was talking about.

[@foreverxo8693]

Prem Sawari can you explain further?

[@PAWNB3YOND]

She describes her body as a country

[@foreverxo8693]

Prem Sawari ohhh right.. i think it was in that one poem "what i learned in the fire", right?

[@XxxMuseluverxxX]

I found the line he was talking about when she was reading from her book for Button Poetry in the video: Alien Suite by Safia Elhillo.

[@lenaBesos]

its refreshing to hear this poem with this view of it in the back of my mind. It's love in it's original form, before it became muddled and mangled in the nonsense of this day in age. Love is a beautiful thing. Sometimes I wonder if it exists anymore...if there are those out there who haven't given up hope that love like this...and loving like this...has a value unlike anything else.

[@AriAri-wy1hg]

YESS ZORA!!!

[@tiffster921]

I watch this video every night before I go to bed and whenever I am thinking of my boyfriend. This poem makes me feel so comfortable about myself and at piece with trying to open up

[@AfrocentricLuv]

wow...she has grown up...My God...I still remember watching "Bi-Racial Hair" like it was Yesterday...Great work! You're Awesome...

[@nuenglish]

This was amazing miss Howard is one of those women most men wish they had but wouldn't know what to do with her is they had her

[@dennybick6011]

"You don't know how to eat chicken!" Lol. This part made me laugh so hard.

[@kidjayrock]

love but emotions before sex and how her body is so comfortable around that guy

[@mzzbreezie]

What do you all think Zora means when she says, "bobby pin crown", and having "a mouth full of pins"? Just curious! This is probably one of the most relevant poems about relationships, ever!! The words she speaks is how I feel verbatim! Zora is well before her time! Such class. Such poise. So humble. So raw. So beautifully damaged - as well all are. She puts her feelings and thoughts so eloquently. I have listened to this DAILY for YEARS! So beautiful.

[@Epinaj]

When you are wrapping your hair you hold the pins in your mouth, while you brush/comb/hold with your hands.

[@mzzbreezie]

Ja'Nina Scott ahhh!! perfect. I think I was thinking too deep! lol

[@thatlittlezombie]

I'd like to know what you were thinking.

[@smolivia]

i love this woman. this poetry is so beautiful. i love waffles as well.

[@numbah15123]

i love everything she does. it would be a pleasure to meet her one day

[@gavriellecave7660]

So glad I found this poem. I love this

[@janicerobinson5889]

Yes ma'am Yes ma'am Yes ma'am, is all I can say you did that my Lady!

[@ThatDopeChickErin]

This is real poetry. Ha, she was pulling at my heart strings.

[@beatclubcrew]

Amazing...always resonates something deep within...thank you Zora

[@tofly2011]

she is awesome! makes me want to date a strong black woman.

[@Tenita79]

This woman! Jesus I love her. I feel every word she speaks.

[@neeralipatel9510]

Shoot me. This is magnificent 🌹

[@mskool79]

Two snaps. But walking is still my favorite, keep on Zora

[@MIZZBOOMERRANG]

Yessss.... I poured myself into these words! Love this

[@amanda126621]

i've watched this SO many times... never gets old

[@beachbaby792]

I listen to this every night as I wrap my hair

[@JustTaraNicole]

I have been waiting for this one.

[@Journeyoftruthandluv]

one word... Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thatomataboge9125]

I watch this video everyday

[@epicarchaicpoet]

i was there ^_^ front row

[@NayaFaya]

Amazing Piece, I Love it.

[@tussherful]

my my my *snaps fingers*

[@antiveggiemonster]

THAT'S HER?!!! No way.

[@theebrownsugakitchen_987]

Chills man chills

[@Naturalrusticbeauty7]

Bravo! Love her always!

[@genes1sz0und]

Who disliked this

[@callmechuck93]

Yaaaaaassss!

[@AfrocentricLuv]

Yep sure is...

[@abenacharityy]

i am in love

[@Leirae92]

GOODNESS...

[@TheDasiaMarie]

I LOVE THIS!

[@dreamergurl93]

so amazee

[@samples2cool]

Amazing!!

[@AgentChanelAlmighty]

wow

[@antiveggiemonster]

Wooooow.