Hey, All. How'd you like the new layout? One thing about me--I can't keep a layout for TOO long. I get bored and in everything I do, I've gotta change things up to keep the heat going.
Continuing on...
April is National Poetry Month and since I'm just now getting back to the swing of things here on Blogger, I figure I throw one up. Who cares if Im towards the end of the month? lol
This piece isn't even finished...I don't think. But here's what I've got so far.
**Click the PLAY button to hear the song for this blog below (also - you may wanna PAUSE or STOP the song playing on the blog over on the right too :) )
I wanna feel the wind come up from underneath me Wrap itself around me Take hold of me And lift me up
High above the ground effortlessly Gracefully And like a bird in the sky, I fly Like TinkerBell. Perhaps better. Like Mal.
I wanna find that permanent grin that's hidden Ever so clever-ly within the molds of my face And finds cover within the depth of my soul I'm prepared to hunt it down, like in a treasure hunt But I know it can't be forced
Pushing all the obvious attributes aside I realize that I've gotta find it deep inside For within me, so deeply it hides My latest tat reminds me daily I know its in there somewhere
I wanna dream big in a realistic fantasy Without barriers Or worries It'd be nice to also be void of responsibility or priority
Close my eyes and fall into a slumber And dream a dream so real I believe it's real Even though my mind's been reeled into the beauty of such a cosmic lie That I eventuallyl wake up and whisper, 'I can'
It's 2am and I've gotta be up at 5 yet.....there isn't any part of my body that is sleepy. At all. I swear I'm beginning to think that this particular bout of Insomnia is only getting worse instead of better. I have my own ideas and theories of why that is but....ah well for now I guess...
Anyway, I'm in my mind tonight and I'm thinking about a plethora of things. I realize also that I haven't written a haiku in years. I "quit" writing them because I reached a point where I felt like the complexity of haikus were both simple yet complex at the same time. They were simple in that they were only comprised of three lines and very few and rather simple words usually. Yet they were complex because (at least for me), when a haiku was written, I never felt like I had enough down...yet, by definition and 'rules' of the haiku, I did.
However, I was talking to one of my homegirls who just so happens to have a blogspot too, VerbFashion, and we got to talking about haikus, so I said I'd throw one up here to reflect my present state of mind. Here goes:
Way back in the day (read: two months ago) when President Obama was officially elected, I wrote two blogs: The Mass Agree Part 1 and The Mass Agree, Part 2.These blogs were basically reaction blogs to what had transpired on Tuesday, November 4th.All of the emotions, the feelings, the traffic—all of it.I had also started a poem a few days before he was actually elected…but never finished it…until now.
It has never taken me so long to finish a poem. Ever.I started it on November 2nd and up until last night, I had only written a line or two at a time, changed some stanzas, did some deleting, critiqued what I had at the time, changed the entire feel of the piece, and just procrastinated pretty hard.I think I just wanted it to be really, really good.I wanted to put my all into it, however one thing I learned from that attempt was…..my best pieces are created when I’m right in the moment at one time…not when I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to perfect it.
Before I present it though, I must give a “shout out” to my homie, Ronnie.For two months, he’s been encouraging me to “kick it in high gear” and get it done.He’s even helped me with the organization of the piece.And when I was particularly not feeling like touching the poem at all and started writing other pieces, he’d remind me, “Yo, Mal….you know you gotta get that Obama piece done…right?”Point blank: he kept me on my toes and made sure I got it done.
You may not even think it’s all that great…and that’s fine.But I’ve been “working on it” for months (literally) and I’m proud of it. I so rarely show my pieces but I think this deserves a showing.
So…without further adieu, here is….The Mass Agree, Part Three.Enjoy:
The Mass Agree, Part Three
Dreams are considered imaginary figments
That mold and develop within the minds of every pigment
While some aren’t meant to be, others stick together like dried cement
But it isn’t the dream itself that holds, it’s the dreamer beneath it
In the segregated years
Shadowing deep angst and mass fears
Blanketed all by lines defined by color that refused to be smeared
So sat in the place of good were a bucket load of tears
MLK marched and had a Dream that color lines were as vague as they are today
And no doubt, he was an integral part in paving the way
There’s still a battle to be fought, but not taking his effort for naught
Without his dreams and sacrifice, the country may be in a deeper state of dismay
Through the emotional rain, there lay a dream big as can be
A dream systematically greater than “the best”--the average Joe & Jane--you and me
Let’s see.How’s a thing so great to be?
The struggle for a remoteness in social equality
The road to change has been paved for ages
And through the years, the tough times, the sacrifices, the many stages
Many said we’d stay lost--say we’d never make it
And were told to chalk our efforts up to trial and error within the black historic pages
Until one man fought against the grain and broke through seemingly unrealistic barriers
And as he continued to look ahead, onlookers became scarier
In fear of the progression that resulted and the trust that was awarded
But as the end drew near, the anticipation became merrier
Gone were the blatant lines drawn, uplifting segregation to the highest level
Temporarily null were the snickers and the stares given that kept blacks in between poverty and unrelenting success—an invisible vestibule
What seemed to vanish were the color lines—the “Black”, the “White”, the “Asian”, the “Hispanic”, and…the ”Other”
No boxes to check; we are one group, one nation standing together
…even if it was just for a moment
This is…a moment of reflection
To relish in the much needed change of the country’s direction
To note our collective struggles, no matter the skin’s complexion
To realize the battle isn’t over and part of the strength is finally awarded…that’s the connection
Some feared change and wanted to relish in the methods of the past and present
Others knew the time had come but in their minds, they were still quite hesitant
In the end, the mass agree with what was truly Heaven Sent
The dream that came true—the coming of our 44th President
Okay. Below is the poem I promised. NOTE: I so rarely show my poems to the masses it's ridiculous. Anyway, I wrote this about a year and a half ago. The inspiration revolving this is pretty obvious...but the story is too long to share. Enjoy.
This week is clearly an Art Appreciation Week for me.
I saw this a super long time ago and I was actually pleasantly surprised.Though I find Kanye to be a very talented artist, I wouldn't say that he's the best lyricist or rapper (even though I really do love Ye from the top of his head to the end of his pinky toe).He's an artist, an entertainer, a rapper.And even though rapping can arguably be considered poetry, I really didn't see Mister West as a poet.It wasn't until I saw this clip that I entertained the idea, "hmmm….maybe Ye can do this whole poetry thing…."
Enjoy, folks.
Kanye West – Bitter Sweet
In the same evening of YouTubing, I saw this clip of Common's work.I LOVEthis piece. I mean as much as I love Common's stuff musically, I strongly believe that even if he wasn't a rapper, had aname of himself an all of that, even if he was just a regla' Joe Schmo getting up to the mic on Def Poetry Jam spitting this SAME piece, I'd still swoon and say, "Move over, Serena. That's my hubby right there!!!"
I think part of the reason I love Common so much (besides his physique which is complimented by the most beautiful almond eyes, and…..) is because he is truly a genius in my eyes.He is super intelligent. I am in love with intelligence.His use of metaphors in his work is just pure genius.He is still pretty slept on in my eyes, but I guess it's true what they say, "ain't nobody interested in learning, but the teacher" –Sister Act 2, lol
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