Party over here!

It's a three day weekend! Time to celebrate and party with family and friends. As you party this weekend, I just have few questions for your consideration:

1) When was the last time you partied with the Most High?

2) When was the last time the guest of honor at your party was the King of Kings? And lastly,

3) When was the last time you got your praise on?

Today I offer up this poem...

Praise Party

copyright 2006

To praise means to commend the worth of

To glorify, to give adoration, kudos and honor

To pay homage to and extol

To be in reverence of, compliment and give accolades

There is none more deserving of this than GOD

So...

Do a little dance (to the left, to the left)

Sing a little song ("I feel joy in my soul")

Shout Hallelujah!

There's a praise party goin' on!

Praise Him for what He has done

Praise Him for who He is...

Prince of Peace

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

Alpha and Omega

Beginning and End

Healer, Provider, Debt payer, Sin Forgiver

Comforter and Friend

So...

Do a little dance (to the right, to the right)

Sing a little song ("I feel joy in my soul")

Shout Hallelujah!

There's a praise party goin' on!

Praise Him when you're in the midst of the storm

Praise Him when you are going through

Praise Him because your blessing is wrapped up in your praise

Your deliverance is wrapped up in your worship

Praise Him because you are beautifully and wonderfully made

Praise Him because when praises go up, blessings come down

So...

Do a little dance (to the front, to the front)

Sing a little song ("I feel joy in my soul")

Shout Hallelujah!

There's a praise party goin' on!

Praise Him! Praise Him!

He is worthy of the honor!

Praise Him! Praise Him!

He is worth of the glory!

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Because He is and He always will be!

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Because He is GOD

So...

Do a little dance (to the back, to the back)

Sing a little song ("I feel joy in my soul")

Shout Hallelujah!

Now YOU got a praise party goin' on!

Poetry set to music

Ok, this something a little different than what I normally post. But I had to share this. I believe song lyrics are poetry set to music. So check out this poetry paired with a wonderful beat and a video displaying a powerful message. Are you ready?....

Writer's Block Wednesdays (#3)

Welcome to week 3 of Writer's Block Wednesdays. The word for this week is SHADOWS. So without further ado, I offer up this poem:

Shadows

copyright 2010

Memories of our life together are in every corner of this house

casting shadows on my heart

burdening my soul

I move things around

re-decorate... re-purpose

Throw things out still holding your scent and

forcing me to remember and re-live your touch

You're gone

Left some time ago

But you forgot to take the memory of you

You left me in the shadows...

lingering in the past

Tuesdays with Nikki... even though it's Wednesday

Ok, ok... I know it's Wednesday and I should be offering up a poem or a piece of writing for "Writer's Block Wednesdays", but this week.....I GOT NOTHING! Whitney did his part. He texted me the word on Monday. But I have yet to come up with something. Simply put, I haven't had the time this week to sit, reflect and write. So here is my solution...a poem by my favorite poet. The poetess who inspires me. The poetess who makes me smile, laugh, cry and think. To acknowledge the poet who's writings screamed at me at an early age and continue to holler at me at mid life.....I offer up "Tuesdays with Nikki".

Each Tuesday I plan to share a poem by the talented, wonderful and beautiful, NIKKI GIOVANNI. Take this chance to get to know her...

Poetry

By Nikki Giovanni

Copyright 1975

poetry is a motion graceful

as a fawn

gentle as a teardrop

strong like the eye

finding peace in a crowded room

we poets tend to think

our words are golden

though emotions speaks too

loudly to be defined

by silence

sometimes after midnight or just before

the dawn

we sit typewriter in hand

pulling loneliness around us

forgetting our lovers or children

who are sleeping

ignoring the weary wariness

of our own logic

to compose a poem

no one understands it

it never says "love me" for poets are

beyond love

it never says "accept me" for poems seek not

acceptance but controversy

it only says "i am" and therefore

i concede that you are too

a poem is pure energy

horizontally contained

between the mind

of the poet and the ear of the reader

if it does not sing discard the ear

for poetry is a song

if it does not delight discard the heart for poetry is joy

if it does not inform then close off the brain

for it is dead

if it cannot heed the insistent message that life is precious

which is all we poets

wrapped in our loneliness

are trying to say

And now Matt Lauer?

The other day I read that Matt Lauer, the co-host of the Today show, has joined the "Cheating Spouse Club" along with Tiger Woods, Jesse James and Tiki Barber (to name a few). Matt Lauer has released statements saying that there is no truth to the rumors. I don't know and I don't care if the rumors are true. The Lauer marriage is not my business nor do I want it to be. BUT the issue of infidelity has been prevalent in the news lately and as a married woman, I think it's worth talking about.

In my opinion, cheating is not the first sign of trouble in a relationship. I think it is an unfortunate consequence of the presence of unresolved issues between a couple. Perhaps it's a communication issue, a self esteem issue, a financial issue, an unfulfilled needs issue...who knows? What I do know is that adultery is a sin. Period. Point blank. And by the way, it doesn't matter if there is a so called "sex addiction" that needs to be treated, it's still a sin.

Maintaining a strong, healthy, happy marriage isn't easy. It takes two. So today, I offer up these two poems:

I Wonder...

copyright 2000

I wonder...

If I walked out the door at 8:00 in the morning and came back at midnight,

would you notice I was gone and question where I had been?

If I laid in bed all day,

would you fluff my pillow, pull back the covers and join me?

If I said, "I'm tired",

would you cook dinner, wash the dishes and rub my feet?

I wonder...

If I said, "I'm not happy",

would you try everything in your power to change that?

If I start to cry,

will you kiss away my tears?

I wonder...

If we didn't have a child,

would you still be here?

Would I still be here?

I wonder how something so good one minute

can fill so empty the next.

I wonder if you knew I was wondering about all this... about you... about us

would you even care?

Would you admit that you were wondering too?

Sometimes

copyright 2000

Sometimes you frustrate me so much

I wanna grab my keys, walk right out the door, get in the car and drive.

Drive... drive... drive. All day long.

Just so I don't have to see your face anymore.

Then I remember there's no gas in the car.

Sometimes I wanna tell you that you make me sick.

Yell at you... call you names...

LAZY... SELFISH...NERVE RACKING

Then I remember that the game is on

so you wouldn't hear me anyway.

Sometimes I want you to walk in the door, put your arms around me

tell me I am the best thing that ever happened to you...

Your sun... your moon... the air you breathe.

Then I remember

that's exactly what you did yesterday.

Writer's Block Wednesdays (#2)

Welcome back to Writer's Block Wednesday!

This week's word is "BECOME".

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of "become" is:

1 a : to come into existence b : to come to be

2 : to undergo change or development

When I got the text on Monday, I had to smile. It is the first word Whitney has given me that is not a noun. I have lots thoughts about this strong and powerful word. The poem I offer up tonight is the first one that emerged and made it's way to paper. (Yes, I still write things down...it is the classic form!) There are others half written and waiting to "become" finished products and complete thoughts, so stay tuned. Tonight I also offer my poem on last week's word: ROBOT

What will become of this?

Copyright 2010

The first look

noticing you and you noticing me

The first sly grin

oozing with desire

The deliberate movement across the room

to get a little closer

The smell of your cologne

strong yet sensual

The feeling of excitement growing inside

as our shoulders slightly touch

Words of introduction

"nice to meet you..."

The offer to dance

our bodies swaying

moving as one

The stealing of a moment

Talking... laughing... flirting

The heated anticipation of a kiss

on lips full and inviting

The fear of asking...

Both of us wondering...

What will become of this?

The Replacement

Copyright 2010

I don’t understand

This doesn’t make sense

Hearing words I didn’t expect to hear

This wasn’t the plan

Didn’t you see the blueprint?

It was written clearly “HAPPILY EVER AFTER”

You can’t ask for early retirement from our life together

You promised me forever...

long nights of love making

never ending smiles, laughter, support

You promised to take care of me

provide, walk beside me, hold my hand

We are the dynamic duo, solid partners, a pair

I’m not suppose to fly solo

My wings aren’t strong enough to carry the load

I don’t understand

This doesn’t make sense

How can you just stop loving me?

How can you just stop caring?

How could the man who kissed the hurt away

suddenly have no feelings or emotion?

I want my man back

I want my friend

I want my lover

The original one....

not the replacement wearing the original’s face and

filling the original’s mouth with harsh words and broken promises

I don’t understand

This doesn’t make any sense

Simple Pleasures

I know I am a day late, but Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommas out there!

I spent this Mother's Day with my Momma. A talented God fearing woman with a laugh that is loud and distinctive, creativity oozing from her very being and hands so warm and soft I want to hold them all day.

Being "back at home" with my momma, my daddy and my little brother, helped me remember to embrace and acknowledge the simple pleasures in life: waking up in a house filled with support and encouragement, seeing and feeling the love my parents have for my children and watching my brother do his "thang" like only he can do.

And so, I offer this poem....

Simple Pleasures

copyright 2000

A piece of white chocolate macadamia nut cheesecake

An ice cold glass of Dr Pepper sipped through a straw

Taking a hot bubble bath by candlelight

San Francisco in August

A king size bed with a pillow top mattress

A well worn pair of jeans that still fit after 2 years

A poem by Nikki Giovanni (I'm not lonely, You came too & Nikki Rosa)

A song by Stevie Wonder (Superwoman, As, & Knocks me off my feet)

Cosby Show and Different World on NBC

Talking to my Momma...woman to woman

Holding my Daddy's hand

Looking into my husband's eyes

Hearing my son laugh

The presence of the HOLY SPIRIT

The joy JESUS brings

The grace and mercy of GOD

Writer's Block Wednesdays

"Writer's block is a condition associated with writing in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task in hand. Writer's block may have many causes. Some are essentially creative problems that originate within an author's work itself. A writer may run out of inspiration." ~ Wikipedia

For the last few months, I have suffered from writer's block. I truly believe the cause of my "condition" has been lack of creative inspiration. My friend and fellow writer, Whitney D. has been helping me cure my condition and find some creative inspiration. Every Monday, Whitney texts me a simple word. I think on this word and write whatever comes to mind. As a shout out to Whitney and as an adios to writer's block, every Wednesday I plan to share Whitney's word along with what I have written. This week he texted me ROBOT...I'm still thinking on that one! A few weeks ago the word was BREAKFAST and last week the word was RAIN. Here are my "first draft" works on these words...

And in the Morning for Breakfast

4/6/10

Copyright 2010

Sometimes at night, I hear Momma and Daddy laughing

And in the morning for breakfast, Momma will make pancakes

Other times at night, I hear Momma telling Daddy, “Right there, right there.”

And in the morning for breakfast, Daddy will make his famous eggs and tell us not to wake Momma

Last night, I heard Momma and Daddy yelling and something break in their room

And this morning, there was no breakfast.

Only Momma at the kitchen table smoking (even though she promised to quit) and Daddy’s car gone from the driveway

Tonight, Daddy came home with Calla Lilies, Momma’s favorite flower.

Momma smiled.

Daddy said “Sorry.”

They went upstairs.

I wonder what’s for breakfast tomorrow...

Rain

4/29/10

Copyright 2010

Nothing grows without a little rain

Let the rain drops fall on me

Not a storm or a downpour, just rain drops

No thunder or lightening ...they scare me

They scare me so much that I become paralyzed

It is hard to grow when you are paralyzed with fear

With growth come change

Turning away from things holding me back

Stunting my growth

Keeping me from my full potential

Things like laziness, procrastination, ignorance (real or imagined), negativity and self doubt

Let the rain drops fall on me

I desire growth

Growth in faith, patience, love, acceptance and understanding

I want to look in the mirror and love what I see

Realizing I am child of God

Daughter of the Most High

A member of the Chosen Generation

Blessed and Highly Favored

Nothing grows without a little rain

Let the rain drops fall on me

Kentucky Girl..shout out to Lou-a-vul

It's Derby Weekend! The Kentucky Derby is today at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky...my birthplace. The home of the University of Louisville Cardinals(Denny Crum, Darryl Griffith, Pervis Ellison...where you at?, Indy's Chicken, Kroger's, Whitey's corner store, Kentucky Kingdom and Chickasaw Park.
But this ain't the Louisville you see when you watch the Derby on TV. On TV you see the ladies in the huge hats and men in suits smoking cigars. It looks like Churchill Downs is in the richest neighborhood, but it's not. Go down a few blocks and you'll find ladies with gold teeth and hair extensions and men smoking something a wee bit smaller than cigars. You might even run into the neighborhood church where my cousin Lil Tim used to play the drums. This is the Louisville that this Kentucky girl knows and loves.
For my family, Derby weekend wasn't about the horse race. It was all about throwing some Big Red in the cooler, some meat on the grill, turning the radio to WLOU and inviting the fam over for a cook-out.

In honor of Derby weekend and my childhood in Louisville, I offer this poem. It's dedicated to my grandmother, Ella "Granny" Perkins who just celebrated her 81st birthday on April 23 and to my cousins, Sharon and Patrice Perkins.


1362 Olive Street
copyright 1999

11 kinfolk living in a 4 bedroom 2 story house
3 young cousins climbin up the stairs and runnin back down
Uncles pickin out afros, gettin ready for Friday night

Granny pressin her hair in the kitchen--hot comb layin on the gas stove
"Ya'll stop runnin in the house!"
Cincinnati Reds game comin from the small transistor radio
The smell of Vegetable Beef Soup Starter fillin the air

Boys from across the street comin over
"Ya'll wanna come outside and play?"
Cousins beggin, braided heads bobbin'
"Oh Granny, please can we go outside?"
Greasing her scalp, "Be on the porch when the street lights come on."

Playin' Hide and Go Get it...boys against girls
"Girl, Michael is sooo cute! He can catch me anytime!"
Stealin kisses in the alley...
..."Boy you bet not tell nobody."

Catching lighting bugs
Using their lights as shiny diamond rings
Puttin 'em in glass Miracle Whip jars,
Pokin holes in the lid

Street lights beam----time to go home
"See ya'll tomorrow"
Summer nights
Growin up
1362 Olive Street