your love surrounds me,in a crowd of many,your searching eyes found me,your arms are the gates that open wide,to take my life in , saying silently you  belong,welcome home.

I never knew his real name and my youthful imagination named him uncle funky the peanut man as bagged peanuts burnt were hopefully sold from a makeshift stand now on this June 2013 morning my mind slowly opens the door of youthful memory and I see soiled pants turned over shoes old hat crooked atop long gray hair  brown hands waiting for a dollar exchange as funk clings to the untended skin like fleas on a homeless dog whiffs released randomly would stagger a prime boxer the times changed with the town sweeping uncle funky away with yesterday and the past of bygone days and I wonder and it is"t a very pleasant wonder whatever happened to uncle funky?









ut to be sold hopefully from a makeshift stand now on this june 2013 morning my mind opens the door of youthful memory and I see clearly soiled pants and shirt old hat atop of unseen hair  brown hands waiting for a dollar exchange as funk clings to the unbathed skin like fleas on a homeless dog whiff released would stagger a prime boxer the times changed with the town sweeping uncle funky away with yesterday and the past of bygone days but I wonder and it isn"t a very pleasant wonder whatever happened to uncle funky the peanut man?

the sinner regrets ,he was unable to pray today, o lord. the sinner regrets, he was unable to pray today-he was sorry prayer was delayed' but yesterday in a lover's arms to long he stayed,o lord. the sinner regrets he was unable to pray today. when he realized  and found, that the love was gone,o lord, he went after the woman who led him astray, but he was shot by her husband along the way, o lord. the sinner regrets he was unable to pray today, o lord. when blood came rushing out of his side,tears of repentance filled his eyes, o lord.he passed away on a ***** city street, and was given only a moment to cry. looking up to Heaven he died, o lord. the sinner regrets, he was unable to pray today.

the plantation that housed both my body mind soul had fallen on hard times.union soldiers had plundered the crops and taken every thing worth stealing.when word spread from plantation  to plantation that president abreham Lincoln had something called the emancipation prolimantion  that set us fre and we were no longer enslaved . able bodied and once docile slaves ran of in all directions  but I stayed behind with the old and spirit weary faithful who seemed dazed and listless.my mistres was the only white face among us.i still wore the faint imprint of the daily chains worn like bracelets .that spring day in the kitchen while preparing black coffee and biscuits the little left for mistress and me I felt eager white hands on my *******,than the cloth shirt hiding my nakedness was ripped away as pink hard manhood invaded my insides.the intense pain rocked all senses and tears flooded out like a dam unloosed.my screams bounced off each enclosed wall.yet no one came to make it stop.as he rode the waves of his personal pleasure my shut  off mind could see visions of running through creek beds and swimming through rivers with a knapsack with two linen shirts two pairs of pants one jacket one pair of shoes one pair of socks parting gifts from my mistress tied atop my wooly head and most of al being able to sing with a loud free voice a song yet sung.

Like an artist, creating, his very own, masterpiece, on fine,canvas, in creative,brush strokes, of mental, thoughts, within the mind, I created you, before, your presence,came forth, masterpiece in body,  and thought, masterpiece, of my own,design, for all, the world, to see, a masterpiece, that changed, even me, painted,beauty, in real,vision, that my eyes, beheld, in human,form, masterpiece of elegance

you're the very reason that I hold on . the inspiration for this song made this man into a ever lasting believer surrender throws my hands up in the air  inside said show me something faith said come closer if you dare sweet love each time felt pouring through convincing beyond any doubt that I can't live without you  so love away please stay  you already know I can't play the game of round and round  up and down people go in spite of brokenness anyway so love away please stay such wonderful love has my soul craving and  i'm the one that you're affection is saving  so love away  please stay lord I want you to stay

his name was John Coltrane, and when his long fingers,touched tenor saxophone keys, his notes slapped jaded, sullen attitudes, about jazz, including my own, musical notes ,leaped, bent, twisted, soaredin the air, as he played ,with eyes closed, as if lost in,a personal dream, the saxophone moaned, cried. whispered, told the good news, on the mountaintop, Coltrane was in the house, rocking it, he did it,simply, yet, unlike any other,ever heard before ,that moment, gone now, in the shadows of time, but his music, remains, still gathers new followers attention,pointing ,an indignant finger of cool, at those, who wish, they knew,coltrane, before he left, the station

coming up autumn you were a loving playful tyke,just to lose your 12 year old life last year,to two brothers from the neighborhood who lied and stole your BMX bike.and if that wasn't enough for your DADDY and family to stand,i  remember the case unfolding on tv news and I  your  DADDY  recently kneeling on a football field next to your initials in a park that will be dedicated in your memory and tears came to my eyes ,and the daily news informed me about the anger in that town,which I can understand with you AUTUMN no longer around.a waitness at










barbar

Joel's ten month old only child, a son, had just started walking as Joel was sentenced to jail for three to six months for fighting, after charges had been filed against him. Each time a court hearing was set Joel went, but the dates were always post phoned. Joel meet Sena a tall dark skinned buxom  twenty nine old French speaking woman, just off the coast of Ghana. They married and through mutual friends came to America,and settled in Germantown. Sena spoke French to her dacca. She was a devoted mother and wife. Each time that Sena dropped her child off at daycare, she covered dacca's face with kisses,before heading for the indoor fruit stand that employed her. Joel always cocky and prideful,all of his life,drove a black Lincoln with his girlfriend closer than a flea on a dog, and met sales quotas when required. Granted one phone call from jail, Joel spoke with his rejected wife Sena, asking for bail money, his once proud and sarcastic voice breaking. A lawyer informed Sena that since charges had been filed ,the conviction had to stand. Joel now sits in a shared cell occasionally looking through the steel bars in lock down, gazing up at stars that he once rode and walked under freely.

Your love is the warmth that  surrounds me, in the crowd of many, your searching eyes found me.  Those arms are the gates that open wide to take my life. Saying silently here is where you belong. Welcome home.

slaves never owned the land nor themselves and its hard to imagin if we were free in  every possible way.let me explain,master gave us a piece of land seeds and let us have credit at the corner store where our ious were accepted  plus he owned the shanty that we used to fight off the wind  rain  snow such as it was.lest I forget to make it known  master also took most of the crops when they came in  which left only enough for our family to live on until the next crops came up. this happened year after year until the ious were taler than the trees  that once hung us and let dangling like biter fruit thrown away with blood on the leaves running down to the roots.

I am king appointed by God and the sun is my trampoline  work of artistry, the sun is my private stock color, the moon is my faithful broken stallion in the sky, my own sundown I capture blue clouds with silver chains mixed with gold, I make steady the day with wind gusts of playing leaves  running and hiding, the day is my sweet, sassy song of joy to God , the world is mountain tall waiting to be climbed, the world is my many colored coat designed with rainbows, stars, sunshine, clouds, trees, grass, shy, trees, worn buttoned yet loose, the world is a painting on my wall of my  house

IF I TRAVEL SO MANY MILES AWAY I WOULD WRITE A LOVE LETTER IN MY HEART TOYOU EACH AND EVERY DAY CAUSE LORD NOTHIN CAN EVER CHANGE THE LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU  oh, this love makes me weep makes me cry before falling asleep- i feel it moving deep inside and it tends to make me sigh. nothing can ever change the love i feel for you.oh,you know each thought inside . from evil you won't let me hide. oh, your soul food and sweet drink you're wisdom and peace so nice so nice the Lord of my dreams in paradise. i don't ever want to leave your side  or ever roam, i've got your back on my own your love always says welcome home. i know that nothing can ever change the love that i have for you.

Attack the known and unknown fear waiting to strike a death blow to confidence, progress and achievement.  Lift up talent's voice. Let the world know who you are. Come out of the valley of the shadow of death. Never let opportunity escape your grasp. Jab daily and knock out failure. Climb hills of disappointment, with the the very best inside. Seek the high ground.  Never the low.  Be teachable to life's lessons. Listen to elders to go further. Stride toward the farthest horizon with God leading each step.  Arise from your bed of unbelief and walk.  Let your talents be stubborn and unyielding to defeat. Swim past imperfection and not good enough.  Climb out of the crib of woe is me. God made you for greatness. No life should be tongue tied by fear.

my love for you is stronger than a mighty ARMY on horse back with a thousand waving victory banners.much stronger than the sun daily kissing the revolving earth. stronger than a mighty riptide. stronger than age old trees rooted deep. stronger than the sky that hold the stars in place . stronger  than a decade old marriage that has stood the test of time.

I never thought,or realized, that in speaking,your name, I would have tears in my eyes, you were the  presidential first father, of south africia, but now, you, nelson mandela, sleep among, the giants of history, like George Washington, laid out the framework, conceived in liberty, a new nation, under God, injecting into the veins of your country, liberty without malice, for all peoples, all colors, who walked democracy's long road,to freedom, by your side, always refusing to let the scorning, heat, of racism, put out, the light, of your divine humanity,  ever lifting up, a fist of victory, toward a new dawn, of opportunity, patience, love for all, while ever remaining , a risen hope, in the body of politics, refusing to bow , to  the cruel headwinds,of hate, even after, breaking rocks, of harsh, prison punishment,for twenty- seven years, you went in, a prisoner, coming out, a president,no, the relentless, sun of hate, never blew you,off course, as a king, who walked, among us, in peace, with a freedom metal, nobel peace prise,one who kept, the common touch, with embraced humility, smiling, greeting, the known and unknown, the rich, the poor, the tired, the weary, nelson mandela, you were true,royality and grace, among us

America I protest against  ******* the ******* of your discontent  served on the soiled platter of racism your womb cradled me from birth and taught the lyrics MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE SWEET LAND OF LIBERTYover you I've cried  place where in the CIVIL WAR and what war or fight is ever civil? my black forefathers all rejected men of color died on the soil of this country fighting what they thought at the time was a gallant war  at ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S behest and for the STARS AND STRIPES of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O MY COUNTRY your dark slave sons fought and died with honor  and yet even now 150 years later we are still in ******* to the new plantation in the ghetto called the bank mortgage company  hidden interest rates and there are city areas that for certain you dare not go while Black or the police stop and ask if your lost and show your ID and what is your business in the area the stand your ground law applies mainly to people of color and openly gives whites permission to gun down blacks and walk away free of any punishment are we free in this great land not yet and if you don't believe me think about how the cities and even the WHIE HOUSE say that we have a transparent government  and yet laws and public concerns are discussed behind closed chambers or doors and passed with secret vote  or voice vote without public inclusion and yet we pay taxes to be shut out or fed political lies by those whom we've elected to office to serve us and not their own pet projects and desires are we free yet,not yet.

Memory takes me back to long ago, I can see the deck of the slave ship  I came on smell the salt air and hot vinegar used to clean away the escaping stench below decks hear the sound as male  slaves exercise as crew members play fiddler music while chains thud hard from dancing amusement my home was near the River Senegal on  the coast  the slave traders  ships brought brightly colored cloth beads *** cowrie shells to trade for our black flesh father raised cattle  rice maize this ebony man traded for muskets gunpowder needles colored thread for what he grew on the day of our capture we marched  during the long day tied to each other  given only thin meal and warm water tiredness bore down on our limbs each step canoes came on sea waves toward us fear moved down the chained line men women children were separated our clothes were taken  standing naked mouths were opened skin and muscles felt we had to jump up  and down while moving  arms  chosen ones were branded with hot irons marking each one cold wet cloths applied to the brand on the seared skin  I scream loudly until my voice refuses sound the time for hearing is gone rapid  waters fill with blood as some are tossed into sea for circling sharks to dine on the ship offers only sixteen inches to hold me  others have two and a half inches if tightly packed bodies are in the hold secured down my chain is nailed dimness cries of agony beat on my ears like drums I try not to breath in the rancid smells of those who have soiled themselves air is limited I wait  for my body to die like my mind and soul we sail  for slave ships must leave immediately before sickness breaks out if that happens slaves will mutiny uprising usually takes place within the shoreline when neared at sea chances are less to leave slaves who simply refuse to eat are force feed with the speculum oris  which is placed in the slave's mouth opening the jaws then food is pushed in usually rice or millet crew members wash away stench of blood  from floggings feces ***** from between decks the stink of vinegar drying in sun is as bad living is sometimes harder than dying

Little RICHARD the proclaimed self architect of rock and roll sang out high pitched about GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY you sure like to ball when your rocking and rolling can't hear your mama call OTIS REDDING sang about SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY while RICHIE VALENS played his guitar singing LA BAMBA and FATS DOMINO found his thrill on BLUEBERRY HILL than MARVIN GAYE crooned through the mike that  I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE and IF I COULD BUILD MY WHOLE WORD AROUND YOU PAT BOONE related to pioneer DANIEL BOONEspent  his day WRITING LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND THE  COASTERS sang about that lazy CHARLIE BROWN  JOHNNY RAY sang about THE LITTLE WHITE CLOUD THAT CRIED  as GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS about taking THAT MIDNIGHT TRAIN  TO GEORGIA and IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN meanwhile THE FIFTH DIMENSION  sang about ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER  one less egg to fry one less man to pick up after I should be happy but all I do is cry CLAUDE MCPHATTER in true rock and roll style  sang WHITE CHRISTMAS and RICKY NELSON sang POOR LITTLE FOOL AND TRAVELING MAN when I heard about THE BEATLES I  thought they were coming over the water to eat up our crops but they had  A YELLOW SUBMARINE sweet and wholesome CONNIE FRANCIS asked WHERE THE BOYS ARE some CHAINGANG and CUPID draw back your bow and let your arrow go straight to my lovers heart for me ALLAN FREED an unknown disc jockey tagged the new wild music ROCK AND ROLL DEAN MARTIN sang AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD and somewhere  along my musicial journey  I heard the great piano mover and confess  I watched all of his films  MARIO LANZA formed and shaped my love for opera with BE MY LOVE for no one else can fill this yearning ,I went out and brought an album of the wonderful singer actor activist HARRY BELAFONTE and freely admit that during that time I was a teenager with limited funds but saved up the money just so that I could hear  BELAFONTE sing SCARLETT RIBBONS  and the infectious DAY O sunlight come and me want to go home come mr  tally man tally me bananas and than QUINCY JONES known as Q  wrote the theme for SANFORD AND SON and produced THE FRESH PRINCE OF BELAIR starring WILL SMITH ,WE ARE  THE WORLD AND OFF THE BLOCK ISAAC HAYES black tall barechested  draped in gold chains won an OSCAR for singing and composing SHAFT which was before he acted in TRUCK TURNER  IKE also sang I STAND  ACCUSED of loving you to much and I hope that you don't mind PAUL ROBSON in deep bass  sang OLD MAN RIVER in his career he was a lawyer actor scholar outstanding athlete singer  finally THE BIG BOPPER sang CHANTILLY LACE and a pretty face and a pony tale hanging down he died to soon in a plane crash along with RICHIE VALENS and BUDDY HOLLY who sang THAT WILL BE THE DAY

pete  called  me  and  said  that  he  wanted  to  talk  man  to   man  finally  battered  and    emontionally   wounded   he  said   his  girlfriend  was  gone  drained  and  tired  of  the   questionable  and  uncertain  path  the  relationship  had  taken  he  should've  realized  that  women,  like  men  need  emotional  nurturing   and  centering in  themselves- which  helps  them  to  grow  in   a   positive/sane  direction  i've  often  wondered  why  the  wrong  people  fall  in  love  and  become  a  pair... what  causes  cracks  in  the  foundation  of  love- some  warp  in  the chromosomes,some  flaw  in  the  genes, a thin  film of  paranoia   in  the  embryonic  sac ? is  it  the  stresses  of   modern  life  or  Mozart's  Requiem  of  the  full  moon   or no  moon? was  it  the  march  beyond   being   strangers,perhaps- that  destroyer  of  great  expectations? or  does  love  bring  forth  a   dormant  madness  that always  begins  on  a  day  that  other wise  seems  normal- beautiful even   fate  thubing its  nose  at the  future ? mutual  sharing  is  required  for  any  lasting  relationship  but  sharing is not  in  itself   what  i'm  talking  about   nor   is  relationship  i'm   talking  of   capacity  to  meet   and  be  met   in  the  soft  unkown  part  of  your being  such   meetings  from  time  to  time  are  the  essential   growing  points   in  any  live  relationship    can    hardly  be  used.  it  is  possible  i'm  sure  for  more  than  two  people  to  meet  at  the  same  time    the  modern  emphasis  on  relationships  between  only  two  people  can  degenerate   into   mere  exclusiveness  and  a  self-conscious  sharing  which  though  it  is,  may  become  an  infringement  of privacy,  or  an  abuse  of  intimacy. deliberate  sharing  is  sometimes  as  dangerous  as  sympathy  new  ideas  which  are  forming  in  the  depths  of  the  mind   can  actually  be  destroyed  or  crippled   by  being  shared  to  soon  it  is  like  dragging  a  baby  from  the  womb  before  it's  ready  to be  born  or  digging  up  a  tulip bulb  to  watch  the  sprouting  of  the  roots   respect  for  another  person's  privacy  is  as  important   as   sharing  thoughts   for  the  deepest  communication  will in  any case  take  place  in  moments  of  silence  every  time  i  think  its  one's  own  attitude, not  the relationship on  which  one  needs  to  work  its  a  fact   that  in  any  partnership  if  one  of  the  partners  becomes quite  clear  in  himself  what  it  is  that  the  situation  requires  the  chances  are  it  won't  even   be  necessary  to  voice  it   the  other  will   somehow pick  up  the  point  and  comply   with  no  words  said  internal  clarity  anywhere  seems  to  have  the  effect  of  an  invisible  guiding  force   which  can  be  trusted  to  affect  not  only  personal  relationships  but   other  situtions  for  the  person  who  has achieved  inner  clarity   new paths  appear  and  doors  open  without  the  need  to knock

Pleasure should be taken in small doses lest when departure comes the soul stops dancing by habit strive to live each moment waiting ahead with a resolve not to be a hero expected to carry the crushing burden of another's dreams take heart in your rejoicing- because the heart is made for making glories from agonies not for sadness passed into empty spaces believe in self deep enough not to fall into ruins build strength and hope from scratch exercise the body while the mind _body remain fat and careless while waiting for superman

Saturday night on the farm managed and operated by the animals.the penguin trio were singing and golden oldies fit the slow dancing mood with the paired bears cats hoot owls ground hogs leap frogs moved in slow rhythm as  the leaping lizards finished their set with slide trombone drums trompets when the mad hatter with new and white turned down brim slow dragged with alice in wonderland in Gucci boots the big bad wolf promised to be on his best behavior until 12:00pm before changing back.

This  is  a noted   to  remind   us  all  to  grow  tired   of  any  questionable  and  uncertain  path   your   relationship  might  take   and  always  realize  that  women  like  emotional   nurturing  and  centering  in  themselves-  which  helps  them  to  grow  in  a  positive / sane  direction   i've  often  wondered  and  it  is't  a  pleasant  wonder   why   the   wrong  people   fall  in   love   and   become   a   pair - what  causes   cracks   in  the  foundation   of  love -  some  warp   in  the  chromosomes,   some  flaw  in  the  genes   a thin   film  of  paranoia  in  the  embryonic  sac ?  is  it   the  stresses  of  modern  life  or  Mozart's  Requiem  of  the  full  moon  or  no  moon  at  all?  was  it  the  march   beyond  being  strangers  perhaps-  that  destroyer  of  great  expectations ?  or  does  love   bring  forth  a  dormant  madness  that  always   begins  on  a  day  that  other wise  seems  normal -  beautiful  even, fate  thumbing  its  nose  at  the  future ?   mutual   sharing  is  required  for  any  lasting  relationship  but sharing  is  not  in itself   what  i'm  talking  about. nor  is   relationship.   i'm  talking   of  the  capacity  to   meet  and  be  met   such  meetings   from  time  to  time   are  the  essential  growing  points   in  any  live   relationship  could  hardly  be  used.    the  modern  emphasis  on  relationships  between  two  people  can   degenerate  into  mere  exclusiveness   and  a    self-conscious  sharing  which   valuable  though   it  is   may   become   an  infringement  of  privacy  or  an  abuse  of  intimacy.  deliberate  sharing  is   dangerous.  new   ideas  which   are  forming  in  the  dephs  of  the  mind  can  be  destroyed  or  crippled  by  being  shared  to  soon   it's  like  dragging  a  baby  from  the  womb  before  it's  ready  to  to  be  born   or  digging   a  tulip  bulb   up  to  watch  the  sprouting  of  the  roots   respect   for  another  person's  privacy  is  as   important   as    sharing  thoughts  the  deepest  communication  will  in   any  case  take  place  in  moments   of  silence    every   time  i  think   it  is  one's  own  attitude  not  the  the  relationship  on  which  one  needs  to  work  it's  a  fact  that  in  any  partnership   if  one  partner  becomes  quite   clear  in  himself  what  it  is  the  situation  requires   the  chances   are  it  will  not  even  be  necessary  to  voice  it   the  other   will  somehow  pick  up  the  point  and  comply  with  no  words  said   internal  clarity  anywhere   seems  to  have  the  effect   of  an  invisible  guiding  force   can  be  trusted  to  affect  not   only   personal  relationships  but   outer   situations   for   the  person  who  has  achieved  inner  clarity   new  paths   appear  and  doors  open    without  the  need   to  knock

be your own light of encouragement,against the darkness of failure and discord.keep swing until  a homerun is hit.victory is a mighty tide to overcome  crashing  limbs of defeat,belief wins out when all else fails.know who you are in the world, wise beautiful  victorious great informed,not ignorant nor intolerant,you are awesome daily.all of these are seeds within to use.

I never thought,or realized, that in speaking,your name, I would have tears in my eyes, you were the  presidential first father, of south africia, but now, you, nelson mandela, sleep among, the giants of history, like George Washington, laid out the framework, conceived in liberty, a new nation, under God, injecting into the veins of your country, liberty without malice, for all peoples, all colors, who walked democracy's long road,to freedom, by your side, always refusing to let the scorning, heat, of racism, put out, the light, of your divine humanity,  ever lifting up, a fist of victory, toward a new dawn, of opportunity, patience, love for all, while ever remaining , a risen hope, in the body of politics, refusing to bow , to  the cruel headwinds,of hate, even after, breaking rocks, of harsh, prison punishment,for twenty- seven years, you went in, a prisoner, coming out, a president,no, the relentless, sun of hate, never blew you,off course, as a king, who walked, among us, in peace, with a freedom metal, nobel peace prise,one who kept, the common touch, with embraced humility, smiling, greeting, the known and unknown, the rich, the poor, the tired, the weary, nelson mandela, you were true,royality and grace, among us

I am king appointed by God  and the sun is my trampoline artistry  the sun is my private color  horse whisper the moon is my broken stallion sky is my sundown I capture blue clouds a soaring star  I rope and make steady the day is my wind gust playing leaves running  and playing the day is my sweet, sassy song the day is my mountain  tall waiting the world is my many colored coat  designed with rainbows, stars, sunshine, clouds, trees, grass, earth buttoned yet loose, the world is my private domain , filled with crowds

In a gym in Philadelphia, boys with street hungry eyes flick jabs at your moving brown frame in a circled ring of chance. Sweat hangs in the air like the sad truth of poverty, if they get pass you the smell of success is guaranteed. For the scared don't get rich. You made good, born the ******* of misfortune. Dreaming of riding past the old neighborhood in a custom Cadillac and meeting  beautiful long haired women with even white teeth. Maybe in your dreams, you saw boxing gloved foes falling by the score. But defeat and loss chased you down dead-end alleyways of lonely tears, and the walls of  your mind seemed about to collapse. As you ran under a sky of broken dreams and tossed  away chances with closed eyes afraid you were dying from large blows to the soul and body. A collection of years of being  poverty struck how many times have I seen you hanging over the ropes, eyes closed completely, wiped out like a voice lost in the rumbling of a subway train speeding past  tenements in Philadelphia.

Joseph's father loved him best as the child of his old age, and the dreams he told to the other family members,were the words of a sage,behold here comes the dreamer,his brothers all said, every time that joseph drew near,as the younger brother ,he  made each one tremble inside from fear, so  they plotted ******* him, and take away his many colored coat, but fate refused to let him die, and the story of it all, was rewrote,catch that dreamer, before he gets away, sharing dreams and inspiration, each and every day, behold here comes the dreamer, such  a mocking and smirking sound, but joseph foretold  in advance, that to him, they would sooner or later,bow down, behold here comes the dreamer, are they talking about me or you? behold here comes the dreamer , remember that  ABRAHAM LINCOLN was  a historic dreamer  and history maker too

slaves never owned the land nor themselves and its hard to imagine if we were ever free in every possible way  after Lincoln freed us.let me explain.master smiled  shook hands while giving us a piece of land seeds farming equipment and let us have credit at the corner store he owned where all ious were accepted plus the shanty that we used to fight off the wind rain dust storms snow belonged to him. lest I forget to known master also took most of the crops when they came in said it was to pay off our tabs. which left only enough food for our family to live on until the next crops came up. we watched this happen year after year until the tabs were taller than the trees that once hung us and left us dangling in the wind like bitter fruit thrown away with no thought with blood on the leaves than running down to its roots.

Cherylyn...In hose and high -heeled shoes...waits lipsticked on the threshold of womanhood...Awaiting the emergence of her hour.She is a bud that will burst to bloom . Somewhere inside a pulse is stirring of dreams yet to come of monied times love and laughter Home and family of coming days of nspringtime warmth with drowsy-buzzing bees...at picnic time  drifting on currents of summer air  All viewed in womanly promise.

Memory takes me back to long ago. I can see the deck of the slave ship I came on, smell the salt air and the hot vinegar used to clean away the escaping stench below the deck, hear the sound as male slaves exercise, as crew members play fiddle music while chains thud hard from the dancing amusement of the slaves. My home was near the River Senegal on the coast. The slave traders ships brought colered cloth, beads, ***, and cowrie shells to trade for our black flesh. Father raised cattle, rice and maize.  This ebony man traded muskets, gunpowder, needles and colored thread, for what he grew.  On the day of our capture, we marched during the long day tied to each other, given only thin meal and warm water. Tiredness bore down on our limbs each step. Canoes came on waves toward us.  Fear moved down the chained line of men. Women and children were separated. Our clothes were taken.  Standing naked, mouths were opened, and muscles felt. We had to jump up and down while moving our arms. Chosen ones were branded on the skin.  I screamed loudly until my voice refuse sound.  The time for hearing is gone.  Rapid waters filled with blood, as some are tossed into the sea, for circling sharks to dine on. The ship offers only sixteen inches to hold me, others have two and half inches if tightly packed. Bodies are in the hold, secured down by chains that are nailed. Faint cries of agony beat on my ears like drums.  I try not to breath in the rancid smells of those who have soiled themselves.  Air is limited.   Mutiny usually takes place within the shoreline. Because when at sea chances are less to escape.  Slaves who simply refuse to eat are force fed with the speculum oris which is placed in the slave's mouth, opening the jaws then food is pushed in usually rice or millet.  Crew members tried wash away stench of blood from floggings, feces, ***** from between decks until this day the stench still remains. Living as a slave while your soul is dead is a living horror.

the blooming flower of summer has died not to be reborn until next year.soon the dark will slowly creep down from the sky like soft drifting snowflakes,farmers still tillt the silent land ever hoping  for rain to kiss their thirsty crops ,the field scarecrow keeps watch in order to chase away unwelcome flying birds of prey,smells  from the kitchen of bacon eggs biscuits fried ham okra home fries  grits black coffee tea assult the nose like early morning cold air  the sun rises slowly from its  golden covers  filling the earth as night steps off the stage exits left before taking its final bow

you my once loving blonde haired wife ran away from home leaving me with a strawberry blonde rosy cheeked baby who can't walk or speak. that each morning rain or shine with love and fatherly paitience put into  a small wheelchair and often at night on bended knees with folded hands in prayer after i've brushed or combed  her curly blonde hair, and tenderly put her to sleep, i ask Lord, i know that she's not coming back home again and wanted to be free and this is not a prayer of complaining but i was wondering down deep inside  just what will happen to my little girl , if death comes quick and suddenly, who will take care of her Lord,what will be the  quality of  her life without me ?

i'm  a hungry child in Americia and all I  is dream of food, eating chips candy cookies,every chance that comes,surely doesn't help my mood,crying on mama's shoulder for a little more to eat,the small donuts that I saw in the supermarket  would be a great stomach treat,i'm hungry,i'm so hungry, hamburgers and fries steak withbrown gravy,are dancing before my eyes.mama loves me, I know that she really cares,but she eat noodles every meal before my birth ,so that's why I came out of her womb, impaired,hungry in America,the greatest country in the world,and there are so many others like myself ,out there,many hungry little boys and girls,hungry,will the nightmare ever really end ? so hungry ,waiting for the gridlock between the President and both houses in Washington to mend,can't they come together for my sake,and be friends,and not fool the Nation or me with their phony promises and lies just to get elected to office again,because,i'm hungry.

He held the rich brown earth in the palm of a large hand from which his crops grew. tasted the smoked country ham meat, ate freely of the cornbread, the peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, turnip greens, while laughing a laugh like pure rich music. I thought him to be a glass that would never fall nor break, a flower with need of rain nor soil a daily tower of gentle strength. He embraced all of life's joys and pains like a man. He went forth with gifts and sought to anoint the world with  the same love that anointed his family. Grandpa Penny tried to make me look beyond my foolish youth, so that i might understand the ways of wisdom. Now looking back over the long passing of years, I realize that he opened my blinded eyes, offering me a chance to see life face to face. And I closed my eyes and let time move this solitary man to another emotional place and cried, because I didn't want to deal with expectation and far away hope. But now brighter  is the way for Grandpa Penny taught me that truth never lies and no lie lasts forever.

TEDDY PENDERGRAS joined HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUENOTES as a drummer and back up singer but his outing baritone as the lead singer as the lead on WAKE UP EVERYBODY and IF YOU DON"T KNOW ME BY NOW caused him to remain in that position before becoming a solo recording artist WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON  started singing lead parts in church her mother CISSY HOUSTON was a back up singer with ELVIS PRESLEY WHITNEY as a solo performer would become known as the VOICE and would produce and star in a number of movies along with putting out chart topping hit after hit like THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL and SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU TOM JONES  a coal miner's son from wales had a very successful AMERICAN variety show with ******* being thrown on stage to wipe his brow as he sang WHAT"s NEW PUSSYCAT and IT"S NOT UNUSUALE ENGELBERT sang I HAD THE LADT WALTZ WITH YOU and one of my favorite singers out of BROOKLYN BARBARA STREISAND belted out of the park the lovely song EVERGREEN and DON"T RAIN ON MY PARADE well like DAFFY DUCK used to say back in the day THAT"S ALL FOLKS

I trade my moonless sky for the mirrored blindness of city day while wishing for swimming green grass that hide lying roots of tall country trees near lake -fish darting in clear blue waters fast moving silver circles, into which poles of thought silently sink the pond shares undercover secrets  the roo

















I trade my moonless sky for the mirrored blindness of  city day while wishing for swimming green grass that hide lying roots of tall country trees near lake-fish clear blue waters fast moving silver circles into which poles of thought silently sink the pond shares undercover secrets  the room"s blackness unfolds as others reach across space between them points of light shine on pretend smiles of confusion deep voiced edge of tiredness surprises-fingers are unopened like the mind itself







's

hate hides behind the calm surface ready to fly the soul and limbs in death oil bit by bit  than scurry off later some sleep in the sullen night lives tightly wrapped containers of deceit black life will never inherit approach truth  tries to rise beyond the harsh winds but is drowned in redneck wine floating down the empty throat

my love for you is stronger  than a mighty ARMY on horse back with  a thousand waving victory banners.much stronger than the sun daily kissing the revolving earth.stronger  than a mighty riptide.stronger than age old trees rooted deep.stronger than the sky  that hold the stars in place . stronger than a decade old marriage that has stood the test of time

school is ended  it's time to leave .I must now depart memories gathered through time, oh it breaks my hidden heart clubs joined to make shyness go steps headed for manhood locker of experience  opened wide  books of knowledge pages closed ,I 'm  only taking  dreams packed for the waiting world to open and see shedding my old self to try on a brand new me

Life is too brief to live all alone.
I need someone to come for my very own.
I will care tenderly for you and you will do the same for me.
Our love will be forever, shower me with your love, shower me.
Shower with all the love I've been waiting here for.
I've been hurting inside as this song I now sing
But know a true love when it comes can change everything.
Your love will comfort me and mine will indeed do the same for you
This joy that we share will last forever.
Shower me please somebody shower me with your love
Here and now with the love I've waited for.
I close my eyes on bended knees and pray that all of my dreams
do come true.
Until you come by here, please know that I belong to only you.
Waiting days and nights patiently for you, knowing if a man has a
dream someday it will come true, and I keep hoping to soon be with you.
Like the night stars shine high above in the sky
Our dreams will come together both yours and mine.
Shower me with your love, shower me with all the love I've been
longing for.

my lips are convincing to yours my soft whispers tickle waiting ears industrious legs seek your presence when not seen I become the gentle rain in your garden the field guide to pleasure awaiting your solitary man in the palace of delights

O lady of soft and  light   i love  you  as  our hands and  spirts  join   in thanksgiving and our lips  sing  praise  for these sacred  moments of  time  perhaps  it can be said that  this love  is more than that of wide eyed children standing before a room  full of presents or with unending  tickets to Disneyland as Vips.Upon your  mind  i  long  to beat  out a soft and  tender  rhytm of passion like African  warrriors did on ancient drums  .

my love for you is stronger  than a mighty ARMY on horse back with  a thousand waving victory banners.much stronger than the sun daily kissing the revolving earth.stronger  than a mighty riptide.stronger than age old trees rooted deep.stronger than the sky  that hold the stars in place . stronger than a decade old marriage that has stood the test of time

I keep,battling, myself, but, am, slowing, drifting, away, was, clean, and sober, of drugs, for, twenty- six years, but, the, needle, in, my left, arm, while, lying, on, the bathroom,floor, drove, lasting, life, away, won, an Oscar, for, portraying, famed, author, TRUMAN CAPOTE, who, wrote, IN COLD BLOOD,sadly, I won't, be, picking, up, my ,young, children, today, felt, really, comfortable,on , the, movie set, or Broadway stage,had, so many, roles,left, for, the audience, to see, years ago, when, drugs, ruled, and called, out, my name, day or night,I  ingested, whatever, was,near,but, now, as my eyes, flicker, on life, for, the very, last time, dying here, wish, there, was, more, control, and resolve, I had, seems, the final, bow, always, says, goodbye

The flag still,waves, in front, of the small, town, firehouse, where, I grew up, in the key, of life, the place, of my teenage, beginning, sweet memories, my heart, is ,now feeling, for salem county, town, where I, moved on, from, so, very,long, ago,street songs, of youth, still playing, inside, my head, songs, that , carried, me, over, the bridge, of youth, to manhood, waiting, silently, in  the distance, my thoughts, are all, aglow, thinking back, on salem county, I left,behind, so very, long ago,place, where fate, gave me, my first,puppy, and the,afternoon, of , that new, discovered, soft kiss, that made, me, so, brave, and, the joining, of two, on the, the old, pink painted, house, of a salem county, porch

my love for you is stronger  than a mighty ARMY on horse back with  a thousand waving victory banners.much stronger than the sun daily kissing the revolving earth.stronger  than a mighty riptide.stronger than age old trees rooted deep.stronger than the sky  that hold the stars in place . stronger than a decade old marriage that has stood the test of time

I saw him led across my BLACK AN D WHITE  television screen in the rundown city of NEWARK huge shades covered his eyes like black bandages head skyward voice a dynamite musicial roar of sound as RAY CHARLES screamed I GOT A WOMAN WAY OVER TOWN THAT"S GOOD TO ME  THAN JAMES BROWN  in a shoulder cape danced  did a split dropped to his knees and roared PLEASE PLEASE  PLEASE and PAPA GOT A BRAND NEW BAG the DRIFTERS took the stage with UNDER THE BOARD WALK  JACKIE WILSON ex boxer punched out the tune LONELY TEARDROPSwhile doing another split and throwing his coat or hankerchief to waiting  screaming  fans DION AND THE BELMONTS told about RUNAROUND SUE SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES with his high falsetto touched the rafters with TEARS OF A CLOWN  the TEMPTATIONS told everybody that would listen  that PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE  and I WISH IT WOULD RAIN so that no one will see my teardrops when I go outside BROOK BENTON with his smooth baritone sang about A RAINY NIGHT IN GEOGIA  and that ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME and THE JAGUARS were careful on tiptoe because THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT ELVIS PRESSLEY wanted to know ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT  and sang about THE JAILHOUSE ROCK and JERRY LEE LEWIS known as the killer on the stage beat beat the piano like a bad child with elbows feet hands letting us know about there is A WHOLE LOT OF SHAKING GOING ON we ain't faking there's a whole lot  of shaking going on

as mortals we love and learn,soon or later,that love can take you far beyond pain or cause it,be like the gentle breese upon the cheek one minute,and smite it the very next.cradle softly your deepest emotions fears hopes dreams,than like a cyclone **** them all one by one.love can lift the mind to soaring heights of inspiration,than leave you broken battered  used up lke a shipwreck on life's vast shore,mend  back gently with tender emotional hands all that was lost,than like a magician 's sleight of hand stagger the sight wondering where it disappeared and was it real.yes,since mankind first took its first faltering steps upon earthly soil,all have loved lost regained ,had love instruct and desert us,as the sands in the hour glass slowly fall down to time,we love and learn.

MAMA's gentle hand rested in mine.  Before putting me on the giant yellow school bus and somehow awareness made it known in mama's hands I could trust.  These very same hands wiped away my tears, hugged away my fears and chased with a touch the fever from my brow.  Death has taken her finally and memories sweet are left behind oh how I wish to feel that loving caress now. Mama's hands put on my stylish cap and shinny shoes. After lessons were done prepared each meal into a bountiful feast, to take the mind off youthful blues. Hands that iron the shirt and pants for you never asking much for herself yet constantly giving with a smile to everybody else.  In hard times trying to make her children's even simplest wish come true. Now in my mind I see my very own mama with eyes closed in prayer thanking GOD for taking her through the day with care.  With folded hands mama's hands.