I've been cursed by my enemies and talked about by family and friends
Sometimes shunned by my lover,yet still I rise
I've walked through the American land of dreams and idle promises
Been down in t5he valley of the shadow of death without hope to ease the strain and still I rise
My talent has been taken for granted at times and my gifts ignored
I've played mind games with others while dancing to the sullen  music
Of pretense and hard times and still I rise
Sometimes my endurance withered muscles fails me
Time has left behind pieces of my precious life ripped apart by deceit
I've traveled through mine fields of human denial and suffered times
Harder than poisoned spikes
And still I rise

the  youth sleeps unheard in the old man's heart
The restless yearnings burned out by old age
Happy music of glad years now past
Echo in the lonely corridors of his mind
And though eyes are still full of life
The journey will soon end by death 's final degree

YOU were soft velvet and spring water .I was root beer and DVDs
You were Macys and all its magic and I was the army and navy store
But I loved you than as I do now and will always
You were opera and concert music I was gospel pop
You were candlelight dinners with place mats
I was Mcdonalds  fries and burgers iced tea
You were Runway fashion and political talk
I was cars and backpacks and in spite of our differences we were blessed with  a brief span of time and I had to convince you that  our love would last
Even  if you had serious doubts and maybe I should have listened
To caution's voice whispering inside my head as you did
But I 've always been a stubborn fool, now I wait here for the lonely years to come  and will say in spite of fate's final decree
That I loved you than as I do now and will always

On that day long ago I couldn't even cry inside
There was just a sigh watched you quickly walk away
You never said goodbye now what's left for me to do each
New dawning my attention is in and out like a blicking  light
Got to get back to being myself the one whose brave and really
Mattered you never said goodbye and that was what left me so shattered
But that was long ago and the dream no longer matters
Caught in a love daze served you love on a silver platter
Never did I stop to think that when people bestow love on each other
Common sense still must stay, but they were pushed out of the way
You never said goodbye,in such a hurry to leave sadness by my side
You never said goodbye and I had some blues to play
But the thing that gives me hope inside is that some day
Hurt and tears will come into your life to stay
You never said goodbye left  with no happy ever after

I had a dream so long ago
Now you're walking into my life
And rain clouds of doubt have all gone away
I come presenting no false self
I have no desire to be with anybody else
A new dawn of romance has now arrived
It feels that I'm living a dream  with a dream angel
An extra special person who loves me
Floating higher than any blue gray cloud in the sky
Dream angel pleasedon't stop my feelings
From building now
Everyday just let me love youin thanks and graditude

That first day back from kindergarten
The first summer vacation
Soft falling rain on new lovers
Fresh cut sweet smelling grass
Flexing bare toes in the warm sun
Christmas morning with the heart bursting with childish excitement
The delightful taste of mister softee in different flavors
Mama's moist homemade gingerbread filling the kitchen air
Cuddling your favorite love by a crackling fire
Portraits of natural outside beauty designed by GOD
Intense feelings hidden by a false calm waiting
At the altar for the bride to arrive
All of these special moments of life composed  of waiting and watching
Anticipating and enjoying gifts like an impatient
Jack-in- the box

I never thought nor 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  who laid out the
Foundation and framework conceived in liberty a new nation
Under GOD injecting  into the veins of your country
Liberty without malice for all people all colors creeds
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
Of patience love for all
While remaining a new 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 cell a prisoner but came out a president
No the relentless sun of hate never blew you off course
As king who walked among us  in peace
With a freedom metal and Nobel Peace Prize
You kept the common touch with embraced humility
Smiling  greeting the known and unknown
The rich the poor the tired and the weary
Nelson Mandela you were true royalty with grace among us