reflections before a holiday...

hey folks, i wanted to divert from the usual flow
of this blog for a moment just to reflect on a few
things with you 'fore i go on a break.

first, i know it's Friday and no one wants to get
too deep before the weekend. but i want to speak
on the power of realizing your dreams, no matter
when you get that chance in life. i recently saw
a good friend perform live on guitar with a band
of other women after only 2 1/2 days of learning
their instruments, writing an original song and
practicing beforehand. seeing that happen for
anyone is major, but especially for women. (btw,
the entire experience is known as Ladies' Rock
Camp, held in different cities across the US)
another moment that i was happy to be a part of
was a radio show commemorating the 10 year
anniversary of Melantaion, a wonderful writer's
group for people of color. both of these events
have given me so much energy and hope for my
own writing and other creative efforts. never
underestimate what things and events like that
can do for your psyche.

second, if you haven't done so today, give thanks
for everything wonderful about yourself, even if
you doubt most of the time. you'd be amazed to
see how much goodness will flow into your life as
a result.

i'll be back in a few days...until then, take
good care!!

secret orange glow

that night
you gave me the secret of your glow
just as snowflakes fell
and the moon met its shadow
it consisted of tender pomegranate
slow cooked butterscotch
and joplin blues
a moment when wind stopped
at the corner of your lips; i found that
my spirit couldn't refuse.

untitled 3.2.11

some ask,
'how can you
desire water that you've never drank?'
it's because if
the dew of her lips alone
can cure the thirst
of a dozen deserts,
what would that ocean of her soul do
if one drank it with joy?

quote of the day 3.2.11

“And you would accept the seasons of your heart just
as you have always accepted that seasons pass over
your fields and you would watch with serenity through
the winters of your grief.”
- Kahlil Gibran

for bix

you said
"revolution is all about love"
and it carried further than bullets
but as we keep being
uninvited colonialists
internet predators
callous agents
nymphos with false libidos
i wonder
when will everyone else
have that brilliance
of your mind?

2.9.07

pretty words, beautiful deeds

i know that
pretty words
don't always comfort you
when your bank statements arrive
hearing me
tell you 'you're beautiful'
doesn't erase those cold stares
of co-workers killing their dreams by routine
saying you wear the perfume
of crushed vanilla bean and tulips
doesn't do the dishes
but my wish is that you see
that my pretty words
are only seeds
that my heart's growth towards you
plants and nurtures within you
just to show
i can sweep floors, rub your feet
fix stovetops and furniture
and help with grocery needs
pretty words celebrate all that's wonderful about you
the beautiful deeds i want to do for you
are to make sure none of that will ever change.

blast from the past...

this photo is from a golden time in my life,
back when i was co-founder and host of the
Karma Open Mic Series, a showcase of poetry,
music and comedy that ran for a little over
four years. in that time, i grew as an artist
and as a man especially. maybe one of these
days i'll do a retrospective post on Karma
for you. give me a shout if you'd like that
to happen.