Suited up as I try to maintain
In this ground cracking weather.
Heavy bags on my back
And artillery in my hands.
Goggles dusty
From the blistering sand
That slice my face like razors
With every gust of wind.
The scorching temperature
Is on hell and every breath
I take is so dry that my tongue's stiff.
One canteen,  a few packs of food,  
And a mission to complete.
My boots are laced,  
With my feet feeling like people
Trapped in a burning building.
The further I go the more my body
Feels like it's being cremated.
I must reach my destination....
As helicopters pass through
Dropping explosives the size of a
Small child with the impact of
Several meteors hitting the earth.
Running like a track meet and
Maneuvering like a game of Dodgeball.
Gunfire,  bodies,  and thick smoke
As I bypass fallen aircrafts.
Approaching my target which
Will be my final destination.
BOOM! I found myself airborne to
Only hit the ground in unconsciousness.
BEEEEP! Is all I hear as I try to get
Up and regain consciousness.
Just a little over a hundred yards to
Go with a blurred vision
Feels like a lifetime.
As I'm reaching my target with
Bullets whistling pass my ears....
It's time. I set up my shot....
I hold my breath
Heart pounding with adrenaline
I'm studying
I'm focused
I'm ready....
POW! As my 50 caliber jerks
Back into my shoulder kicking
The dirt off the ground like a horse
At the Kentucky Derby.
MISSION COMPLETE!
As I'm going home with a bad case
Of paranoia and a Metal of honor...
I still have disastrous flashbacks
And ****** nightmares.
But....Nothing compares to that
STORM in the DESERT.

Space by space
Line by line
I look around and see....
Many shadows but no people
Many parties but no music
A dark sky with no stars or moon
I see shadows and no bodies
Running cars with no engines
As newspapers blow with no writing.
Am I dreaming is my thought
But still to find myself
Standing and looking
Seeing so much
With nothing going on.
The conversation I'm having
Seems to be very interesting
To only find out
I've been talking to myself.
(Ring ring), hello....no answer
With my palm to my ear
I start walking to the other side
It gets very dramatic as
I fight through a crowd of protestors
With no voices,  hands,  or signs.
I entered a store....
It had no door,  no employees,
And no stock.
So I entered the restroom....
No toilet and no sink.
There happens to be a soda can
On the floor so I picked it up
Quenching with thirst....
I cracked the seal to find myself
In disappointment and anger....
EMPTY
I exited the dry store
Back into the parking lot
Now through the crowd
Back to where I started
To find myself stuck in my
Own mind that is also absent.
As I take one final look around....
Nothing
No people
No cars
No me
EMPTY

Dear
        Mother('s),

Thank you for being a
Mot(her),
Fat(her),
Sister,
Brot(her),
Grandmot(her), and
Grandfat(her).
Thank you for your
Hard labor,
Long suffering,
Courage,
Strength,
Hope,
Bravery,
Teaching,
Understand­ing, and
Backbone.
No man understands what a
Mother goes through or the
Obstacles they take on in order to
Keep their sanity holding a
Fam(ily) together.
You are the true definition of a
Goddess and a true definition of a
Queen.
You work hard day and night to
Make sure there's food on the
Table, a roof over our
Heads, and clothes on our
Backs.
From the roots of your hair
To the soul of your feet, YOU ARE
Amazing, YOU ARE
Wonderful, YOU ARE
Everything that you were put on
Earth to be.
Your tears,
Your scars,
Your touch,
Your comfort,
Your love,
Your heart,
Your responsibility,
Your smile,
Your frown,
Symbolizes who YOU ARE.
Every breath,
Every step you take has been
For us.
YOU ARE HER
That makes the world go round,
YOU ARE HER
That stands in the midst of the storm,
YOU ARE HER
That gives breath to all,
YOU ARE HER
That stands strong when you're weak,
YOU ARE HER
That never gives up,
YOU ARE HER
My Mother,
Our Mother,
The Head and The Tail,
The Sun and The Moon,
The Caretaker,
The Conquerer,
YOU ARE HER
The One,
The Only,
Mot(her)('s).

         HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

                                  -CLIFF

I AM BLACK
The color of my skin
The roots of my hair
I AM BLACK
The roar of my voice
The power of my walk
I AM BLACK
The loose fit of my denim
The length of my shirt
I AM BLACK
The look in my eyes
The art on my body
I AM BLACK
The crimes I committed
The time I served
I AM BLACK
The way I think
The way I act
I AM BLACK
The jewelry I wear
The cars I drive
I AM BLACK
The down talk on me
The way I am judged
I AM BLACK
The times I was wrong
The times I was right
I AM BLACK
The mistakes I made
The path I chose
I AM BLACK
I was not a slave
But I know of slavery
I AM BLACK
The struggles I faced
The meals I missed
I AM BLACK
A high school drop out
And a street life mentality
I AM BLACK
I'm not a racist
But I am a survivor
I AM BLACK
I maybe ashamed of what I've done
But I am not ashamed of who I am
I AM BLACK
And I AM PROUD.

Life is like a game of Jenga.
There's always people and obstacles
Pushing and pulling at you
Until you or your body
Gives in and crumble.
Don't let your life
Be a game of falling blocks.
Build a solid foundation
For yourself and your family.
Don't let the pushing and pulling
Earthquake your mind
And corrupt you.
Be strong,
Be solid,
And be mindful.
Prayer builds you up like a tower
And God is your foundation
That holds you together.
STOP worrying about
What people say or think.
STOP stressing about
Unnecessary things.
STOP complaining.
STOP doubting yourself
When God believes in you.
Life is way more valuable
And precious than materials.
If Jenga is your life....Fall....
Fall to your knees
And pray for restoration.
Then start working
On a new foundation.
LIFE MATTERS......

Dear father in Heaven,
Father I come before you as I am
I come before you as a SINNER
Asking for FORGIVENESS
In the name of JESUS,
As I reach to you father
I ask that you reach out to me
In the name of JESUS,
Father you know all about me
You know all about my troubles
You said you wouldn't put
More on me than I can bare
I know YOUR WORD
Doesn't come back void,
So father I WILL
Lay down my BURDENS
And bring my problems to you
In the name of JESUS,
Father I THANK YOU
For sending your only begotten SON
To die on the CROSS for my MY SINS
And for that I am grateful
And I THANK YOU
In the name of JESUS,
You made me in YOUR IMAGE
And I know the way I have
Been going about isn't
Pleasing IN YOUR SIGHT
But yet you still give me chances
And I THANK YOU
In the name of JESUS,
You are with me even when
I'm not with myself
And I THANK YOU
In the name of JESUS,
You do have my heart
I do want eternal life in Heaven
I do want to walk with you
I do accept you as MY SAVIOR
I am Thankful for your HOLY SPIRIT
I do THANK YOU for my kids
I do THANK YOU for my family
I do THANK YOU for life itself
I do THANK YOU for my love ones
I do THANK YOU for the lovely woman you sent me
Most importantly...
I THANK YOU for YOU
In the name of JESUS,
Father I ask you to
Heal my mind
Heal my heart
Heal my body
Heal my kids and their mothers
Heal my SPIRIT
Heal my SOUL
Heal my SPIRITUAL MIND
Heal my troubled ways
Heal my finances
Heal ALL my love ones
In the name of JESUS,
Father I bless your name
In the name of JESUS,
Father I ask you to
Watch over my kids
Their mother's
And their household's
And keep them safe and protected
And COVERED IN YOUR BLOOD
In the name of JESUS,
Father I ask you to
Watch over my love ones
And their household's
And keep them safe and protected
And COVERED IN YOUR BLOOD
In the name of JESUS,
Father I ask you to
Watch over me and my household
And keep us safe and protected
And COVERED IN YOUR BLOOD
In the name of JESUS,
Father I ask you to
Watch over others
As this world continues to unfold
In the name of JESUS,
Father as I end this prayer
I not only want to THANK YOU
For my good days
I want to also THANK YOU
For the worst days I have had
In the name of JESUS,
Father as I close my eyes
I ask that you watch over me
And that NO WEAPON
Formed against me SHALL PROSPER
In the name of JESUS,
In JESUS name I pray
In the name of
THE FATHER
THE SON
AND of THE HOLY SPIRIT
Amen.

To everyone who believes
Have faith in your work
Admire the hearts of others
Never quit, always strive
Keep God first

You are self-made
Outstanding and omnipotent
Understanding and foregoing

THANK YOU

The time we spend on
Blank pages and paper
Is like throwing money
Into empty spaces.
Minds racing and clocks ticking
Pen on paper
Fingers on home row keys.
Scrolling and spacebars
Ink and led.
FOCUSED....
The next thought
Is the next word
Pronouns, adjectives, verbs
Periods, commas, question marks.
Proofreading and backspacing
Fiction or fact
Intensity and excitement
Intelligence kicking in.
All day long phrase catching
All night long remembering
I can do this,  I can do this
I will finish what I started.
Brainstorming vs distractions
Silence vs noises
FOCUSED.....
Speaking without talking
The passion of your work
A thousand pages
A million words
Pen down
Typing ends.
Time to rest
The body and mind,
It's done....but
More on the way.
Results, two thumbs up
We think
We work
We spend time
We fill up pages
We....WE ARE WRITERS