Writer's Block Wednesdays (#8)

The word for this week's Writer's Block Wednesday is COLDEST. Here is what I came up with. Reflect and enjoy...

The Coldest

Copyright 2010

Cool is

not the same as

Cold

both are

feelings

emotions

states of being

but

they are 2 very different things

Cool is...

• what you allow brownies to do fresh out of the oven

• a breeze that sneaks up and embraces your bare legs

• the other side of the pillow on a hot summer night

• Billy Dee Williams in Mahogany... "Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with..."

Definitely, he was the COOLEST

Cold is...

• T-bone steaks from the freezer that must be thawed before cooking

• what you rush into the house to escape from during a winter snowstorm in Chicago

• an illness that makes your nose run and your chest tighten

• your side of the bed on any given night... I guess my success is nothing

Definitely, you are the COLDEST

Tuesdays with Nikki (#6)

Today's poem from the wonderful and mighty Nikki G. speaks of choices.

Sit back and reflect as Nikki speaks...

Choices

by Nikki Giovanni

Copyright 1978

if i can't do

what i want to do

then my job is to not

do what i don't want

to do

it's not the same thing

but it's the best i can

do

if i can't have

what i want then

my job is to want

what i've got

and be satisfied

that at least there

is something more

to want

since i can't go

where i need

to go then i must go

where the signs point

though always understanding

parallel movement

isn't lateral

when i can't express

what i really feel

i practice feeling

what i can express

and none of it is equal

i know

but that's mankind

alone among the mammals

learns to cry

Writer's Block Wednesdays (#7)

It's Wednesday! Time for the 7th installment of Writer's Block Wednesdays. The word this week is DESERT. This word made me think of being alone and empty. So today I offer up this short poem:

Empty Ecstasy

copyright 2010

you got me

you got me good

smiles, laughter, anticipation

heavy breathing...ooh baby, ooh baby

and ecstasy

woke up this morning to

a note

on the nightstand

beside the lamp

you left me

you left me alone

tears, confusion, regret

deep sighs... why, why me

and emptiness

Tuesdays with Nikki (#5)

Welcome back to Tuesdays with Nikki. Glad you could make it! Today my Nikki offering is Untitled. As a poet, I have yet to have an untitled piece. In my writing process, the title comes to me AFTER the poem is written. I imagine that as I keep writing, one day I will have an untitled piece. In reality it is not the title, but the content that speaks volumes. So you may need to turn this piece down cause it speaks loudly....

[Untitled]

By Nikki Giovanni

Copyright 1972

there is a hunger

often associated with pain

that you feel

when you look at someone

you used to love and enjoyed

loving and want

to love again

though you know you can't

that gnaws at you

as steadily as a mosquito

some michigan summer

churning his wings

through your window screen

because the real world

made up of baby

clothes to be washed

food to be cooked

lullabies to be sung

smiles to be glowed

hair to be plaited

ribbons to be bowed

coffee to be drunk

books to be read

tears to be cried

loneliness to be borne

says you are a strong woman

and anyway he never thought you'd really miss him

My Baby Daddy

Happy belated Father's Day! I meant to post this yesterday, but time slipped away. I wrote this poem for my husband and I pray others can relate as well. Enjoy...

My Baby Daddy

copyright 2010

This goes out to my baby daddy

my man

my husband

my boo

the father of my children

my lover

my partner

my friend

“ain’t nobody dope as him

he’s just so fresh and so clean clean...”

Strong enough to provide, build, protect, shelter, and defend my honor

Gentle enough to laugh, cuddle, wipe away tears, play dolls and sing lullabies

Handles his business at work 10-12 hours a day

Comes home and

handles his business

He puts in work

and in case you didn’t know this

please take notice

I am quite satisfied

You see

to me

he is

an encourager

pushing me to pursue my dreams and conquer my fears

holding my hand every step of the way

To his son

he is

a coach

of basketball, football and this game called life

teaching him to be a responsible and God-fearing man

To his daughters

he is

a nurturer and model

showing through his words and actions how real men treat and respect women

letting them know they deserve nothing less than the best

He is

the head of the house

King of the castle

the final say

The one who sets the thermostat

and gets the

big piece of chicken

He is not ashamed to cry

To get on his knees and ask God for

guidance, direction, strength

This goes out to my baby daddy

my man

my husband

my boo

the father of my children

my lover

my partner

my friend

“ain’t nobody dope as you

you just so fresh

and so clean clean...”

Happy Juneteenth!

It's June 19th! Also known as Juneteenth: a day to remember June 19, 1865 and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation giving freedom to all slaves. In honor of this historical day, I offer this poem:

Rejoice

Copyright 2008

To REJOICE, we must first

REMEMBER...

Remember the cries of our African Ancestors

forced onto ships sailing away from their homes, families and daily routines

Traveling for days, weeks, months into a foreign country to become someone else's property

simply because of the dark sun kissed color of their skin.

Remember and RESPECT

Respect the struggle, sacrifice, strain, strife, suffering, sweat, shackles, scars, strength,

spirituality and solidarity among the slaves

Remember, respect and RECOUNT

Recount the facts

Blacks were watched, whipped, raped, ropes wrapped round trees to hang grown men

robbed of their freedom

Remember, respect, recount and RECOGNIZE

Recognize from where we've come...

slavery to freedom

segregation to integration

racial divide to racial equality

grandfather clause to the right to vote

George Washington to Barack Obama

Remember, respect, recount, recognize and RECOMMIT

Recommit to supporting one another

strengthening our bonds

empowering each other to succeed and

loving ourselves as God loves us

Remember, Respect, Recount, Recommit....

RENEW, REFLECT, RELEASE, REFRESH, RECOGNIZE and REPRESENT

Then

we can

we shall

we will

REJOICE!

Writer's Block Wednesdays (#6)... even though it's Thursday

I'm late on everything this week. There is a good reason for it, but taking the time to explain it would just put me further behind.

So... on to Writer's Block Wednesday. The word for this week is CRASH. Yep, CRASH. Great word, except once again, I got nothing. I tried to write on it. I played around with a few thoughts, but it all felt forced. And one thing creativity is NOT is forced. "If it don't fit, don't force it... just relax and let it go."

So, today I offer this simple poem I wrote a few years ago called Writer's Block.

Writer's Block

(for K.Sykes)

Copyright 2007

You're blocking my write

I see you when I'm not looking

I feel you when I'm not near you

I dream you when I'm not sleeping

Could it be

Your lips... soft, full, inviting

Your hands... black, strong, nurturing

Your eyes... sensitive, sexy, alluring

You're blocking my write

And it's alright with me