graduation

a cap and a gown will not make you a graduate
they will symbolize what you can do
but say nothing about what you will do
walking across a stage and shaking hands
means your journey has just begun
now your real learning starts
and it will take you the rest of your life
before you can truly celebrate your graduation
as happy as you are today is only important
if you are able to be this happy every day for the rest of your life
as unrealistic as that may sound new graduate
ask yourself the following questions
will you make it on your own
or will you need help
have you learned enough to know the difference
is this the right career choice
and if it is not what will you do to fix it
and if it is what will it do to fix you
will your decisions bring you happiness
can you handle a lifetime of pain if they do not
can you change the things about yourself that you do not like
and are you strong enough to deal with those who do not like you
will you choose the right person to spend the rest of your life with
and will the person who chooses you add life to your years
will you be the parent you always wanted to be
or will you be the parent you always wanted
will your children bring you happiness
or will you choose not to have a child
will you help those who cannot help themselves
and will you understand how helping them will help you
finally realize that every question you ask yourself
will be answered on your time
not in an arbitrary four year period

The Beauty of Silence

Smooth as silk
Sweet like chocolate
As perfect as your first kiss
Warmer than blood
Pouring out of your soul
Is the beauty of silence

Simple yet more complex
Words come here to die
As glances steal headlines
And who we really are
Shares an elevator to hell
With those who dare to speak

Fate

a poor man walks past a mansion
as a tear streams from his eye

some are born with plenty he thought
wealth and fortune until they die

their lives full of riches and glory no doubt
with only success and fame

all I have is what I have with me
surely fate is the one to blame

as the pain in his heart continued to rise
the poor man began to sing

his song filled with beauty and heartfelt pain
that only his life could bring

and the rich man walked by and thought to himself
what an amazing thing

that fate could be so kind to this man
and bless him to be able to sing

Reflecting

As the wrinkled old man approached
His body weathered by life and by time
All around looked but very few spoke
Fearing for his peace of mind

His body had long since betrayed him
And now it would barely respond
His goal was to somehow repay them
For helping him to move along

Before him stood a strange image
Of a young man dashing and strong
Who moved in every way he did
Showing how time did the old man wrong

As those near him looked in confusion
The old man slowly did grin
As he finally solved the illusion
The image captured in time that was him

Life As a Movie

Picture your life as a movie
Where everyone you know has a part

You as the leading man or lady
And each scene as a fine work of art

The soundtrack is your children laughing
The sounds they make at play in the park

Finding your happily ever after
Long before the theatre grows dark

As hero you conquer the wicked
Who try to ruin every good deed

While restoring order to the universe
And tending to those who are in need

If only each life were a movie
Very little would need to be said

Yes life would be perfect truly
If only inside of your head

The Poetry of Life

When the unique word or phrase
Must now share the page
With the melancholy day
The man finally found his way

And introspective and insightful
Becomes depressed or delightful
Watching lost children at play
By old people with nothing to say

Meets the woman full of sin
As her life comes to the end
Who once heard the call
After never living at all

Thus is the Poetry of Life
Free from care and full of strife
Set to music of what is to be
From the song that no one can see

Yet despite what they may
They all long for the day
When the words can be free
Given life read under a tree

urbanation

she has
a rhythm
all her
own

a life
that
gives birth
to movements
and music

she is
politics
and
people

she is
the latest
style
married to
the oldest
tradition

yet few
understand
or can
master
her moods

and as
she slides
so easily
from elegance
to urban
energy

she sits
alone
waiting
for everyone
else to
catch up

Angels Among Us

The angels among us
Are always there when you need them
They know there are no coincidences
As they do the will of God

The Creator of all makes no mistakes
Angels know God has a master plan for us all
And they know they are a very important part
They do the will of God
They do the work of God
They serve the people of God

An Instant

Life is created
And lost in
An instant

Despite advances
In technology
A simple cell
Mutates and
Everything is over

Our bodies
Made in the
Image of God
Will end
When God says

Job well done
My child
Time to
Come home

NO POEM POSTED ON THURSDAY, MAY 3RD DUE TO ILLNESS. I WAS HOSPITALIZED AND  UNDERGOING MEDICAL TESTS AND HAD NO ACCESS TO A COMPUTER.

the battle

the results
of the battle
are easily
seen

blood
scars
and ruins

the results
of the war
remain
hidden

betrayal
anger
and pain

the reason
for your
freedom is
obvious

results
never change
as long as
you win
the war

Waiting

Learning to wait is not easy
To patiently sit until time
Will let us know to move forward
And take on the next thing in line

Some never wait for the season
Or a literal change in their mind
To challenge the next thing their reason
And master whatever they find

Maybe learing to wait is the wrong thing
To do while we wait for a sign
While fortune and fame and the brass ring
Go to those who did not wait in line

Searching For An Angel

Each day I search for my Angel
Who can replace the one that I lost
To guide me no matter how painful
And love me whatever the cost

Despite her loss I will keep searching
And hoping that she finds me too
For God rewards all those who serve him 
Maybe that Angel is you

statues

frozen in time and granite
set in stone for eternity
with graceful lines
carved from jagged rock
then placed on display
for all to see

the reason unclear
as time will turn rocks
to ruins leaving only
pieces of what
we used to be

while future generations
wonder was this
some sort of ancient
sacrifice to the
insecurities of the mind

more than mountains

if faith
can make
mountains
tremble
then your
love will
move them
more

the strength
of what
your touch
can do
causes
my knees
to shatter
and
my heart
to flutter

to move
me more
than any
pile of
rocks
all you
have to
do is
smile

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN ON FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT TO PUBLISH UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT. THIS IS NOT THE POEM FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012, THAT WILL BE ADDED LATER TODAY.

limited warranty

life comes with a limited warranty
where things we value never last
and things we throw away last forever

the love a parent has for a child is timeless
but the time with the child is limited
to the parent every second is precious

to the child life will go on forever
and so will the lectures and lessons from adults
until that child gets married and has a family

when the child becomes a parent
they realize how much time was lost
and what once had no value now means the most of all

learning to fly

the window opens
you crawl out on the ledge
you look down
and see an ocean of concrete
as you decide it is time to swim

you step into freedom
as the sky knits a blanket
of your life
all you want is to be warm
even if the heat is from your own blood

angry

anger and pain
are twins
with a language
all their own
we watch
and wonder
why they
are always
together

they argue
over who
is older
when they
are only
seconds apart
on arrival
they speak
while we
struggle to tell
one from the other

I was here first
anger said
with a sneer
do not fool yourself
pain replied
sure you are full
of emotion
but I am
the reason
they cry

naturally

sometimes things just
come to me
the answers occur
naturally
usually it is things
I never knew
and then I have the
answer without a clue

like the title to a book
that I have never read
or the line that someone
famous once said
or the age and name of
someone I never met
or the results of things
that did not happen yet

not sure why this happens
and cannot explain how
I just know the answer is there
with a wrinkle of my brow
and always I try to
explain it as a trick
when I know it is some
strange mental glitch

I never asked that this
skill come my way
but since it has it is a
thing that happens every day
until I find an answer
it is just a part of life
a small little oasis
surrounded by my strife

your gift

things I would
like to experience
a little bit more

to hold your hand
a little bit more
to see your smile

a little bit more
to hear you laugh
a little bit more

to kiss your cheek
a little bit more
and dry your tears

a little bit more
to understand why
a little bit more

you loved me so much
a little bit more
than I could ever handle

superheroes

in case
you ever
wondered
why you
never see
many black
superheroes

think about
all the
black men
and women
who go to
work each day
in a
system they
did not
create and
does not
reward what
they are
good at
doing

it takes a
superhero
to deal
with an
enemy who
is blind to
the evil
it does
daily

it takes
nerves of
steel to
be able
to deal
with the
injustice
of the
privileged

the family friend

with a love more precious
than life itself
the family friend
stands above all else

closer than a sister
or brother by birth
each day those friends
prove what they are worth

with gifts of love
they bring endless joy
and help mold the lives
of each girl and boy

always there
when the times are rough
the family friend
proves their love is enough

The Real Meaning of Life

once I thought the real
meaning of life was
to do good things and
be a good person

now I know that is
not enough
for good thoughts
and good deeds
are only part of the
reason why we are here

a good deed that does
not serve the greater
good may not be a
good deed at all
if it is not part of
God's higher call

The Creator Has A
Master Plan is a
song more
beautiful than many
will ever know

and yet we fight our
destiny and we deny
our God and question
why those so far away
are willing to die for
God and live their
entire lives with
almost nothing

The Creator Has A
Master Plan that will free
all our souls from the
burden of living a
life without meaning
if we only listen
love and serve God

together?

together we are
and always
will be
whether driving
in a car
or sailing
on the sea
my heart is
yours only
for you belong
to me
our love is forever
we were meant to be

you must let
me go
time for me
to see
whoever I am
this time
is for me
do not hold
me back
do not even try
do not hold on
time for me
to fly

Commit Meant

What you said and what you did
With all your lies and what you hid
Proved you were not worth my time
And all you said was just a line

What I thought was always mine
Has come to light so no longer blind
Now gives me the chance to see
How easy lies from your mouth flee

Things we do can never hide
No matter how you feel inside
Because your heart is made of stone
That is why you will die alone

What Could Have Been

To look in your eyes
Reminds me of what
Could have been

To touch your face
Brush away your tears
And listen to you sing

Are all reminders
That a life together
Forever is never promised

Now what haunts me more
Than what could have been
Is that I never knew what I had

Inspiration or Intelligence

Which is real
Inspiration or intelligence
Certainly the seed of creativity
Has to be the result of the mind
But is the fickle muse a product
Of her own creation or our own

Which is real
Nature or nurture
Are we only the products of
What we are born with
Or can we be taught to be more
Does fate give gifts to some
While others are left to forage for the tools of life

a little bit more

each day
your love
changes
a little
bit more
from blind
devotion
to burning
hatred
your love
becomes
a breeze
that fuels
all reasons
while
explaining
none
it is not
enough that
you love
for if it
were
the reason
would not
matter
it is why
you love
that brings
us both
together
and keeps
us both
apart

dirty little secret

their dirty little secret
was not kept very well
the family tried to hide it
so no one would ever tell

first it was the grandfather
the ruler of the clan
next it was his father
a model of a man

then it was his turn
their bright and shining light
they hoped it would end with him
then quietly one night

they found him
to their dismay
like the two before him
almost to the day

the secret claims another
what would people say
nothing said his mother
they all were born this way

Rest in Peace my beautiful wife
Joan Elizabeth Mitchell-Nelson
July 28, 1959 until May 25, 2006

Oh How Pretty

Your last words to me
Were Oh How Pretty
And no better words
Could ever describe you

Skin so fair and beautiful
In the most lovely shade of brown
Hair so silky soft and majestic
You wore it as your crown

No one will ever look at me
With the love you had in your eyes
And nothing can ever fill the spot
In my heart at night when I cry

I pray that God will one day
Let us once again be one
And give to me the chance to say
I am sorry for all the wrong I have done

sin

an erotic
kiss
that
leads to
sin

is more
than
just a
sign of
weakness

when you
surrender
to the
feelings
that some
consider
sin

you do
more than
awaken
a part
of yourself
that everyone
wants dead

you open
yourself
to knowing
that right
and wrong
are only
in the
mind

and
sin
only
lives
when
someone
says that
it
cannot

the day begins

the day begins with a kiss
as I gaze into your eyes
and wonder how lucky I am
to have found someone
as perfect as you

days together are
like minutes as I
plan our eternity and
dream of forever with you

the day begins with a wish
that I can make every
minute of your life
beautiful and magical
just as you have made mine

and then I touch
your hair and kiss your lips
as I celebrate my minute
of heaven at the start
of each day

Instant Destruction

In the instant it took
To ruin your life
I also managed to
Ruin mine

Not caring about
The outcome was
They key to
Our destruction

Now with the realization
That you were worth
Saving I cannot
Help myself

childhood memories

summertime
ice cream cones
family outings to
amusement parks
and Christmas trees
all make childhood memories

sunday school and
trips to the zoo
and songs on
the radio were
all a part of
growing up

hot wheel cars
and stingray bikes
and Saturday morning
cartoons made
being young
better than
anything else

Why You Are The One For Me

Your raven hair
Your dazzling smile
The way you care
Your sense of style

So pure of heart
With a love so true
Right from the start
It was always you

The day you died
I died too
And though I cried
I still love you

As years go by
My heart grows cold
What was once you and I
Is now my lost soul

wonder

when did
the
world wide web
replace
the
wide world
of wonder

places we
all once
dreamed of
going are
now a click
away

things we
all once
dreamed of
doing are
an entry
in a blog

and the
magic that
is imagination

the miracle
of wonder

is now
contained in
downloads
and applications

which slowly
kill our minds
a little more
each day

the dancer

oh ever was there such a sight to see
did you ever see such a sight
as the dancer with the two left feet
and the girl with the skin so white

they danced at night under the light of the moon
where no one else could see
it was the only time she could leave her room
when they could both be free

Made For Each Other

You both remember your first meeting
Under that moonlit night
You smile and you try to remember
When everything seemed to be right

Needles and Pins

Describe this feeling
This needles and pins
Said the doctor
Upon the exam

My head keeps reeling
And everything spins
Was my response
And so we began

My memory is fading
And my breathing is short
It hurts to get
Out of bed

My hairline is receding
My ulcers are bleeding
Hair is growing
Out of my holes

With a wink and a grin
The doctor stroked his chin
Smiled and said
You are just old

The Reason

Please note: I am currently out of town with limited internet access, so the April 2 post is 30 minutes late in making the daily deadline.

The Reason

There is a reason things get done
And only an excuse when they do not
Success at anything comes with a price
The lack of success comes with excuses
The reason for both is up to you

The uncertainty we face about
What happens next should fuel
Our lives not our limits
While making us better people
Not better at making excuses

Final Fall From Grace

the chance to
return to what
was once
a favored place

the pain of
seeing all your
hard work
laid to waste

these all are
a part of the
final fall
from grace

the days when
all that you touched
was gold
now is done

you look and
see the setting of
the sun
as you fall

no longer
will you see a
new day
as you land

this is the end

the changes

you make

will always

make you

the chances

you take

will always

take you

the things

you do

will always

do you

in the end

the things

you lose

will always

lose you

you realize

that in

the end

there was

no better

way than

try and

stay sane

and do

what you

did when

you wanted

to begin

What I Know

What I know is easy to say
But never easy to write
I know the things you do today
Will all be gone tonight

I know that words will stab and cut
At that thing you call a heart
And what you thought would always stay
Is the first thing to depart

I know the son that you once held
Will be a man someday
And live for the time when he can tell
You time to go away

I know that a mother will love
Each and every child
And forgive sins like God above
When that child runs wild

I know the pain of losing
The one you love the most
And the hard part of chosing
Not to give up the ghost

I know fame is an illusion
And fortune is a lie
That life is just confusion
When it is our time to die

Two Souls

my heart will always belong to you
but you have to share my soul
because having been born with two
there is something you should know

once before when I was here
things were left undone
this soul belonged to someone else
who never learned to love

the day that he was taken away
he did not want to go
his soul refused to rest that day
and the rest you now know

on the day that I was born
he needed a place to stay
into my brand new body he came
and never went away

each day now I battle
with one who is dark as night
who constantly tries to rule
the one who seeks the light

when what is inside of me
finally learns its roll
that is the day that we
can finally share my soul

until then I can truly say
that I will never learn to love
I pray for the day when he goes away
and finds peace with God above

Three of Five

three of five
is the middle

hidden from
up and down

how it got there
is the riddle

stuck between
sky and ground

Chasing Her

To those who say follow your passion

And all your dreams will come true

Think that by chasing an action

Good things will happen to you

For some it is easy and the fire burns bright

Others like us have no spark

Some passions make people shine like a light

While others remain in the dark

Passion the muse is tricky no doubt

Who only inspires a few

She gives to some and leaves others out

Like she did to me and you

So while some will listen to what others say

I will ignore them instead

The person who says follow your passion today

Will likely end up dead

Who we really are

a dead
teenager
ignites
a nation

that has
tried
to forget
what it
really is

some say
innocent life
taken

others say
justice was
served

the reality
is we all
lose when

any man
assumes
he knows
the intent
of another

without
knowing the
man
first

The Box

what
do you
keep
hidden
from others

locked away
so no one
other than
yourself
will ever
see

for some
it is love
because they
are either
unable or
afraid to
share

for others
it is a
fear of
failure while
many fear
success

whatever
the choice
realize that
what goes
in the box
can also
come out

Family Ties?

Some families are united
Others far apart
The rest remain somewhere
Divided by the heart

Each story is unique
While few may seem the same
And sometimes would be better if
They forgot each others name

Brothers who are hustlers
Sisters who are in debt
Still they are the families
We are not allowed to forget

What comes next is not easy
For many a difficult test
To walk away from family members
Who make your life a mess

Which Way

some
roads
are short
and lead
nowhere

we often
wonder
how we
got there

while others
are filled
with turns
and curves

that scatter
the mind
and scramble
the neves

but each
road is
yours
and
yours
alone

even if
those
roads
never
lead
home

so prepare
yourself
for what
comes
your way

and every
road you
face each
day

Thinking

Thinking that I thought I would
Then thinking it away
Thinking that I thought I could
Then making it okay

Always knew I always should
But never thought to say
Always knew I always stood
For doing things my way

Wondering if it ever will
While thinking that it wont
Wondering if it ever still
Will it matter if I don't

Maybe what we really choose
Is who we want to be
Maybe what we really loose
Is what we never see

A Chance Meeting

We met by chance
As the sun went down
At first my glance
Only made you frown

Your heart at last
Was open to me
Forget our past
It had to be

That waltz of two
Who dare not say
Could it be you
Who makes my day

So now we walk
Your hand in mine
We try to talk
And hope to find

A joy to share
So rare and true
And do I dare
Say I love you

One Day

one day
who you
are
will
matter
more than
what
you
are
or what
you
earn
and where
you
live

one day
you will
see
me
for me
and
not what
you
think
someone
like
me
should
be
or what
others
tell you
people
like me
should
be

one day
we will
look back
at today
and
wonder
why
we
did not
live like
this
everyday

You Will Find the One

Despite the problems that come today
You will find someone to love
The person who will chase your blues away
Will be sent from God above

You will know when the love is true
For your heart and soul will dance
They will do the same when they look at you
When you both give love a chance

The joy will flow from both of you
And we all will feel the same
For God will bring a love so true
Just have faith in his holy name

For the greatest gift from God is love
And it will last each and every day
You both will know it came from above
Just hold on to your faith and pray

Change

There is no need to ever change
Or even try and get better
The lives we lead are prearranged
And cast in stone forever

The need to try and rise above
With thoughts of a better way
Should be removed just like a glove
And in your place you stay

If you do take a chance
And manage to change your life
You will always have to dance
And live on the edge of a knife

Resolutions

do resolutions
made on your birthday
count the same
as those made on
New Year's Eve

and if they do
then why not
make a new resolution
every day

it would be
like having a
birthday party
that never ends

of course
that would mean
a year from
now

you will have
aged an
extra 365 years

you may not
live up to
all of your
resolutions

but think
of all the
presents
you will get

The Right Thing

Doing the right thing
Always comes with a price
Do what you believe in
And you should never think twice

I recently had to make a choice
That put that to the test
But I am not sure if I believe
That what I what I did was best

Two friends needed to know
Something the other thought
Neither would ever say it
So with my conscience I fought

Finally I made the choice
That put beliefs to test
And told one what the other thought
But it did not put me at rest

It seems as if loyalty
Is very hard to define
And may have cost me a good friend
Along with peace of mind

Amazed

There has never been a day
When you did not amaze me
Confound me and surprise me

Words fail to describe the way
You could make me happy
Make me healthy make me whole

And yet someday I know
You will leave me
Depart from this life we share

So my job is to please you
Care for you
Treasure you and protect you

Day at Dachau

I once spent
a day at
Dachau

over twenty
years
ago

and was
not sure
how I
should
feel

sad for
the loss
of others

when I
did not feel
for the loss
of my own

every
corner where
someone stood

was replaced
with the
ghostly image
of their death

which I
could see
but could not
feel

no matter how
I tried

when you dance and sing

magic happens when you dance and sing
as you bring the world to its feet
your style and sway is just your way
of showing us you are unique

we watch and wish that it was us
who ruled when we dance and sing
and each new move proves that it is just
a very special thing

that only a special few can do
by bringing joy to all
we all know that one like you
can please both big and small

in the end we know you my friend
will be among the best
we also know that as you grow
life will put you to the test

so be the best and let us all
see the best of your dance and songs
for we all wish that is was us
performing before the throngs

It All Comes Down to This

Whether or not I live or die

Now all depends on if I try

A regimen of medications

Or death from many complications

Most days I would rather try

Something else before I die

Maybe a different situation

To fix my heart palpitations

Or a treatment by another name

Will fix the problems with my brain

I wonder will the circulation clot

Take my leg before it rots

Hopefully plaintive wails and cries

Will restore the vision to my eyes

I will ask the doctor if he can tell

When my nose will be able to smell

Now is the time to take a stand

And restore the feeling in my hand

If I hurry and do not linger

It will cure my infected finger

Is the least of my many woes

The fungus eating at my toes

Should I bother with the wreck

That has caused this pain in my neck

realization

at some point
we all have to
ask if this is
all there is

for some
the realization
is not a problem

for most
the realization
is not
enough

no matter
the talents
or gifts it
is our nature
to want

more to want
better to want
different to want

the realization to
be something other
than what we have

because if not
then we are
only left with
what it is

Jazz and Blues

Jazz
and
Blues
were
on a
date
when
Jazz
said
baby I
like
your
style
and
Blues
said
honey
you got
soul

the
night
went
on
the
music
got
better
and
better

neither
wanted
the
night
to
end

so
it
never
did
and
it
never
will

the invasion

happiness once filled the land
and then the invasion began
the peace that once ruled the day
was quickly torn away

no longer free from crime
people knew soon the time
would come and sounds of war
would be heard near and far

would they all unite and stand
to protect their sacred land
from the evil on their shores
that now was beating at thier doors

or would they simply stand
and let the evil take the land
that kept the happy people pure
no one really knew for sure

Slowly

the staircase
that leads
to
madness
is descended
slowly

while
the rope
that leads
to
recovery
cannot be
climbed

the choice
is anything
but simple

while at
the same
time
hardly
complex
at all

the
result is
always the
same

slow
cold
painful
final
restful
death

Dancing with Death

The dance with death is many things
Because the lady is not shy

The music starts and then she sings
Why do you deserve to die

You think a while and then you tell
All your sins and lies

She smiles and with a knowing wink
Tells you say your goodbyes

Now I Lay Me Down to Die

Now I lay me down to die

Some of us make it, some don't try

The finish line I was about to cross

Ran out of time and the race was lost

Tried to tell the world my pain

Everyone laughed and said explain

At that point words failed to come

No success for all, just for some

What happens when you walk by

I gaze at you and catch your eye
You smile at me as you walk by
I think that I should say hello
Your glance away tells me no

I try to think that you are shy
Your fleeting smile was not a lie
I turn and hope you do the same
And as you do I say my name

You give me yours and you look away
And left us both with no words to say
What we thought when our eyes first met
Maybe we should just let it rest

The gifts of life go to the strong
The bold and brave who can get along
With every person that they meet
Even a stranger on the street

The Spell

there is no doubt
he was under the
spell of the evil witch

what he did not know
was what to do about it

the results of what the
witch had done was
obvious to all

still he did not know
how to bring it to and end

kill the witch he thought
would have to end her hold
so with sword and shield

he set out to capture
his life again

and with one swing
the head of the witch
fell but still the spell remained

so now for him the quest begins
to again make his life sane and end the hold
the witch had on him and live his life again

NO FRIDAY POST

There was no Friday post, so the goal of a poem-a-day for 2012 will not be accomplished.
This leaves me in an interesting position.
Should I continue?
There is no reason since a day is missing.

You decide.

my angel

Heaven got a new angel
When you went away
Losing you is a pain that
Grows worse each day

I am slowly losimg my mind
And my will to live
No life without you near me
But soon this pain will give

You went straight to heaven
As you sit among the clouds
My fate lies below the ground
Because I was not strong enough

The River of Blood

The river of blood marks the final battle
Where the inhumanity of one man to another
Now turns into a war no one will survive

We both look at each other and know
There is only one outcome and only one solution
One of us must die here and now

We battle on the beaches and banks of the river
The battle rages on and we move over valleys and fields
Driven by the one and only thing that will satisfy us both

To see the other dead and floating in the river of blood
Feeding the river the hate that has nurtured us for years
As I choke the life out of the unjust as I serve as judge and jury

The river of blood has many names and the tide refuses to ebb
As generations rise to give me strength to avenge the injustice
We all suffered at your hands because the day of reckoning

Is finally at hand and the river needs to be fed
There is no justice in killing you and it is more unjust to
let you live as a stand and watch the river swallow your body and soul

End Of My Rope

The lifeless
body
hanging
at
the end
of my
rope
once
was a
king
once
a scholar
once
a leader

now
the
last bit
of
life
drains
from my
bloody
fingers
that
snapped the
neck of
my enemy

I have
finally
reached
peace
knowing
the battle
that never
needed to
have been
fought
is
finally
over

for
my enemy
and
for
me

I Am

I am many things
I am nothing
I am a circle
I am a straight line
I am good days
I am the worst of times
I am a mountain
I am the bottom of the well
I am a hot summer day
I am a frozen winter night
I am the winner of the race
I am the runner in last place
I am all that you see
I am the darkness of your dreams
I am all that I am
I am all that I will never be

The Village Elder

The village elder sat by the fire and waited as each one came
To ask about the world entire before they set out for fame

Tell me elder will I find riches beyond my wildest dreams
The elder looked and said anything can happen or so it seems

The young one responded to what he thought had to be a game
Tell me said the elder tell me what is my name

Why you are the elder of which it is said
All things important are kept in your head

Many stories are told said the elder so true
But what is the answer of that I asked of you

Your riddles confuse me said the young to the wise
The elder said then how do you know the truth from the lies

The young grew restless and angered quite quickly
But no response came from the elder so sickly

You cannot be as wise as what they say of you
Learn truth from lies said the elder that you must do

One by one they approached and then all left in shame
For no one bothered to ask the elder his name

As he sat alone the elder had done his task
And said to get answers to questions all one must do is ask

my tribe

my tribe
has
many
colors
and
welcomes
one
and all
no
distinction
made for
whether
you are
hairy
or even
bald
slim
and fat
are
welcomed
so all
feel
free to
join
we all
will
band
together
in
my tribe
one
and
all

strong

the look on my face
tells a history of
men who were strong
when the world was weak

inhumanity to your
brothers is weakness
not victory and true
strength is mercy when you win

fear of God when you doubt
love for one another when
all teach you only to hate

the look on my face
still will always tell the story
of my father and grandfather
and their fathers before them

and that story will always be
victory in time of defeat
humility when we are on top
and generations of men who are strong

Black is

Black is
more than
a color

more than
a race

and much
more than
darkness

Black is not
evil
and it is
not angry

Black
is sexy and
mysterious

For some
it is
forbidden
and for
others
it is
the ultimate
seduction

Black is
basic
and elegant
and classy

For those
who both
love and
hate it

Black is
still beautiful

the one

whenever a child is born
the elders gather to see
if that child is the one

the one who was promised
to lead them all to a better
way of life

the one who would be
good enough to ease
the pain and suffering

the one who they could
all look to with pride and
know they would all overcome

and many have been close
to almost being the one
many have come close to the promise

most however fall short
of leading an entire people
out of darkness

especially when many
of those same people
hate the light

and now that the ranks
of the elders can count
me among them

again we all gather
anxious to see
if this child is the one

yet knowing inside
we all may never live
to see the day the one arrives

Love is more than words

The true definition of love
Will never be put into words
Because love is a feeling
That is spoken from the heart

Love is a look that says more
Than a thought ever will
And songs from the heart
Fall silent in the presence of love

the struggle

to all the brothers
involved in the struggle
realizing revolution
never sleeps
when somewhere
someone is doing
without

to all the sisters
fighting for their
voice to be heard
when they are
not singing
the revolution will
never end

together the
daughter of all
creation and the
son of the universe
continue to change
the world one
battle at a time

average

Just once I would like to be average
To know what it is like not to be looked at
Like I was either Superman or Public Enemy Number One
Because like it or not that is the way the world looks at me

When I walk down the street no one sees a father
Who loves his children and misses his wife
Many see a person who will try to harm them
Or a person who leaps tall buildings like some freak of nature

Being neither athlete or assassin I stand out
Only because that is how you see me
Just once I would like to be average
And to know how that would feel

The 75-year-old Black Woman

The sounds coming from your church Sunday morning
Are brought to you thanks to that 75-year-old Black woman

You know who she is because she raised you and your sister
She raised your mother while her best friend raised your father

Call her Mama, Madea, MaMaw or Aintee
You still know who she is and you know what she has done

She taught you everything you know and you act like
She never taught you a thing

She will outlive us all because she has always been right with God
And if our wives, our sisters and our mothers are lucky

Then one day they will be that 75-year-old Black woman
Who will teach another generation everything they know

Black and Red


black and red
shared
common beliefs
separated
by many lands
and seas

neither knowing
the other exists
until brought
together by
a shared enemy

both black and red
know
the earth is
mother
and spirits of
ancestors
are with us
always

both black and red
teach
time does
not control us
because
past present
future all
happen together

and black and red
knew
only
animals sing
alone

from generation
to generation
the legends
told stories of
what was to
come

black and red
united
to survive

the educated one

thanks to all who tried to teach me
never giving up and trying to reach me
for taking me places I have never been
and showing me in life you play to win

with less respect than a local preacher
you chose instead to be my teacher
with tattered books and broken blackboard
you said work for things you cannot afford

now you see one educated
world travelled man who graduated
who knows for sure one thing is true
none of this happens without help from you

what the slave cannot see

the slave sees freedom
with no idea of what it means
shackles are mental and physical
beatings like all physical pain is temporary
but without knowledge the slave is captured forever
long after the locks and chains have been removed

since the slave does not understand freedom
the end of slavery is not the end incarceration
it only adds to the confusion of not knowing
what it is like to live life without limits and chains and boundaries
to live life as the oppressor and not as the oppressed
to be able to determine your own destiny

the heart wants what it wants

I know you are not good for me
but the heart wants what it wants

no words can describe the pain
you have put me through

and despite all the sorrow
my heart still wants what it wants

my suffering only brings you joy
my tears bring out your worst

as I run from you screaming
I end up at your door

with my heart in my hands
for you to destroy once again

try as I might to hate you
the heart wants what it wants

time to rest

she worked hard all day
scrubbing and cleaning for others

she worked hard all night
cooking and caring for her own

she was tired and everyone knew it
but no one seemed to care

she told them all
it was time to rest

being the mother of all creation
can even wear the strongest woman down

as she rode the bus to and from work that day
she decided enough was enough

she was tired and everyone knew it
but this time she refused to get up

the runaway

you shackled
me
i broke
free

you tortured
me
i suffered
for
a moment

then
you thought
you did
me
a favor

by turning
me against
my
father and
mother
and my
sisters and
brothers

you
only united
us and
showed the
world
how primitive
you are

i shuffled
and you
thought
i
was
lazy

it was
so your
food would
be
cold when
you ate

you thought
because
some of
us
stayed
that we
all did
not
run
away

we
all ran
away
when
you tore
us from
our
homes

you
can torture
our
bodies
but you
can never
touch
our
souls

how to win the race

we all gather
at the starting line
each of us knowing
that we must run
the race
none of us knowing
how to win
the race

once
the race
went to the swift
then it went
to those who could
last

now
the race goes
to those
who know
someone
not those
who know
something

for those who came before me

this is for those who came before me
from Phyllis Wheatley to Nikki Giovanni
and everyone in between
my heartfelt thank you for breathing
soul into a beast that was uncaring

to James Weldon Johnson who taught us all
to lift every voice and sing to Paul Laurence Dunbar
who taught everyone true genius has color
to Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes
because elegance in words and life has meaning

I say thank you because those who
came before me are the reason
you are reading this right now
and those who will come after me
will give you reason to read on

the tree

there is a famous
photo from
Marion, Indiana
showing two
men who were lynched

a few years ago I met
the man who would
have been the third man
lynched that night
very late in his life

he was grateful he was
given a second chance
and he was determined to
leave a positve mark
and he spoke about that night

the years had faded
but his memory had not
and he recalled that night
when he was just a boy
and how he prayed and prayed

that he would be spared
and unlike the other two
he was let go
and continued to tell
of that night and that tree

grits and greasy greens

things you threw away
we used to get stronger

what you thought were weeds
nourished our bodies every day

efforts to give us scraps
made us bigger and faster

and you still wonder how
this happened

what you did not want
only made us stronger

now you do not want us
guess what happens next

Looking For a Leader

Whenever a Black person
Does something stupid

People will look for a Black leader
To explain what happened

Try looking at the stupid Black person
Who did the stupid thing

Instead of some Black leader
Who can only speak for himself

And has no authority to speak
For a Black man like me

the church in the basement

when I was small my grandmother
used to tell us about the time when
our church would meet in her basement

they had no where else to go
so she opened her home to others
the way God opens his house to us

and I would imagine them
singing and praising in the cramped
dark basement raising their arms to Jesus

all the time wondering how
the lady who was the rock of our family
could also be the foundation of a congregation

as I got older the lessons she taught
became the building blocks for my life
and her love is now my foundation

and all these years later
she is up in heaven singing praises
with God sitting in the pulpit

The Train to Freedom

No whistles or platforms
Or signs hailing towns

The greatest railroad ever
Moved the most valuable cargo of all

Freedom, the most priceless of all gifts
As rare as the cost of the many lives lost

And despite efforts to stop the train
The desire to be free continued to ring

At night when all is cool and still
The train contiues if you dare to ride

learning to read

back when
it was
a
crime
to teach
slaves to read
we
fought
and
died
for
the right
to
learn

now
the
crime
is the
children's
chidren
of the
children's
children
of the
children's
children

choose to
not learn
for free
what
others
paid for
with their
lives

Modern Middle Passage

lasting images
from the
Middle Passage

generations lost
to an
unforgiving sea

and a
more
unforgiving
land

nearly
five hundred
years from
then to now

nearly
twenty five
generations
of fathers
having sons
ripped from
their arms


current images
from the
Modern Middle Passage

generations lost
to an
unforgiving society

and a
more
unforgiving
system

nearly
fifteen million
fathers and
sons struggling
to know
each other

chains

chains around my neck and collar
forced to kneel and made to holler

shackled my wrists while you beat me
your attempt to try and teach me

to follow your rules and obey
it taught me how to run away

you may own my body today
my unchained soul is miles away

The Sound of Drums

the sound of the drums
is faint
now
barely an
echo

what started as
business
for them
was
genocide to us

their lust for profit
produced
something much
different

they wanted
muscle
we gave them
music
the wanted
devastation
we gave them
dance

the sound of the drums
is faint
but the beat
will
live on
forever