A thought or excuse for no new posts

Sometimes poetry is found
in living and loving
being in the moment.
Sometimes
words
cannot describe.

Untitled

She’s not heavy
she’s my sister
and I would carry her across distant lands, over the burning sands
for one chance in her life
to enjoy a cool drink, a gentle breeze
under the solitary palm tree
that’s been pushed so far back now into her reverie
that she can’t remember
the last time she had it easy
the last time
life didn’t have her against the ropes
wielding deathly body blows-
an all out attack against her spirit, trying to hinder it,
to vanquish her hopes and who she fashions herself to be.
She’s been injured, badly and
the blood flow seems never ending
but she won’t throw in the towel.
Daily, I see her bob and weave
trying to cleave to a life
that she calls her own
but it isn’t-
it’s theirs, it’s ours, it’s mine
and so, I’ll carry her
and hold her seemingly futile, but relentless
feeble dreams in my hands.
They’ve grown weary, and why wouldn’t they?
But I’ll keep them
hold them close to my heart
skin to skin
wash them with new morning kisses and prayers of peace
sing songs of grace
and God’s enduring mercy into her ear
keep her
hold her head while she sleeps in my lap
catch each tear that clouds her eyes
collect them, lock them away
in a treasure chest
because for every one He is sure to repay.
She’s not heavy
she’s my sister
and I will carry her until her burden is light
and her feet are free
to dance in the morning sun-
not because of friendship, or debt, or love
but simply because
she has already done the same for me.

Friendship

I'm currently working on a poem about friendship and/or the lack thereof. I started off talking about my really awesome sister but then had to share somethings about a "friend/enemy". I like it but am feeling a little sidetracked. If you have any poems about friendship or the alternative, please feel free to post. Much love, L.

senyru #1

a friend's rejection
when times and life weighs heavy
makes one question "love".

Sonnet #1 - Group Writing from "Rewriting..." Workshop

I am the darker sister who stood up
'gainst the one who robbed me and my fam'ly
said we weren't worthy to drink from the cup
but I am human though I stand quietly.
I got pushed back down when others came near
stood back up once I knew I couldn't fail
rising above what I have always feared-
my happiness and faith no longer jailed.
Joy fills my soul today forever no tears.
Now, listen to me dance, shout, sing, and praise.
For they cannot rush in and crush my cheers.
My spirit uplifted, my heart I raise.
To the heavens, Hallejuah, I shout!
I am the darker sister. That's no doubt!

Written by Esuvat, Heddy, Becky, and Linetta

Poem in process

some things
get better with age
like wine and wisdom-
your myopic views on life
suddenly spread themselves wide
making room for historical and social contexts;
a universal perspective
and you see
for the first time
the woman you have become
walking forward
but every stop weighs a ton
and your list of woes
and regrets
shortcomings
parade behind you a mile long...(unfinished)

October 3

Okay, so I have been rebooted and I am returning to the original purpose by which this blog was designed. This is my inspiration and hopefully inspiration for others to write, to create something new on a consistent, if not daily basis. I am not going to harp on how easily words used to flow through me, because for whatever reason, those days are gone. Instead I will focus on my own strategies and others that I have picked up along the way to get my Kuumba flowing again. The plan is to post something daily, be it poetry or some type of rant. Either way, I'm writing.

I have changed some things about this blogspot. First, I tried to make it a little bit more appealing. Next, I linked it to my twitter account. I will use that to post free writing topics or writing prompts to get things going. Feel free to follow me on twitter as well if you like.

Finally, I would like to encourage all viewers of this blog to please follow the blog. Sign in and give feedback on any of the pieces or post some of your own to the site. Who knows what will become of our work here together, but either way, it's all good because it's all poetry.

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I am no longer a poet
you have stolen my words
but considering that I believe that the only power you have
is that which I gave you
then I must admit
that my words were already up for grabs
that I had left them carelessly
piled upon a stack of forgotten dreams
hidden behind hopes
and enchanting daydreams.

I had already given up on my self
by the time you came along
you just sealed the deal
pushed me beyond the point of no return
separated who I am and who I wanted to be
as far as the east is from the west
threw me into the sea
of forgetfulness
renamed me less than who I am.

But don’t think yourself supreme
greater than you are
destroyer of who I was made to be.
Because
before you came,
I had already done this
and more
to myself.

Words

There is something hidden
behind the phrases we speak to each other;
words left unsaid
that guard our mouths
and stand like lily white picket fenses
in upper middle class neighborhoods
put there to keep the "peace"
to be sociable
to make good neighbors
because
no one really trusts the truth.
It's like
wide open range words
rogues, rebels
that aren't afraid
to roll down hills or play in tall grass
in somebody else's yard
getting lost among the weeds-
That truth maybe forgotten
but doesn't lose it's color
even when the weather
is no longer fair
and time tries to fade its meaning,
its intent.
These words stick and stand their ground
whether we choose to speak them
or not.

Playground

Africans, Spaniards, Europeans
descendants of warring countries
Religious or otherwise
Come together in innocence
Unaware of history's precedence
and instead of bullets and hate
they throw sand
and laugh in the sun
undaunted by mosquito bites
and their imminent futures
because we know such things
as playgrounds and innocence and inclusion
don't last forever.

7.28 entry (unfinished)

I don't want to be married anymore
tied down
by words and phrases
that lost their meaning a long time ago
I don't want
obligated devotion
requirements
duty
to be the foundation
of this peculiar institution
no more convenience
on schedule kisses
quick, empty embraces-
staying together
for her
for hope
for what may come

Untitled 1

No
words...
just splices of light
pushing through
shaded blinds
cutting the darkness
to find a flat surface
to
lay open
to
place motionless
to
slide up and down
back and forth
with the wind

quiet tension
and hate
smolders
tight eyes
hesitant fingers
bent knees
stacked and arranged
for efficiency
quick dull jabs
wrinkled emotions
then
a breath, two
quiet, no words, no movement
perfect stillness
'til you fall
clumsily away
from me
folded
on your side of the bed
because
we don't make love
anymore.