Bright candles in windows at Christmas time. Glad greetings fill
The air to everyone you know. Smiling faces at this holiday season
Set weary hearts all aglow.Christmas time what sudden surprise
Awaits under the tall sparkling tree. An engagement ring or new pairs of
Socks a book of delicious candy a  short silk gown maybe dvd's
To make each receiver feel dandy. I for one wish Christmas time
Would last through the entire year. To erase all the bad news on tv
And in each newspaper. If we share love and happiness surely God
Will grant each one of us divine favor. Sitting in houses of peace. With more than enough natural love and plenty to eat.
Merry CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

The plantation that housed my body mind soul
Had fallen on hard times.Union soldiers had plundered the crops
And taken everything worth stealing when word spread
That president Lincoln had signed something called
The emancipation proclamation that set us slaves free
Once able bodied and docile slaves ran off in all directions
But I stayed behind with the old spirit weary who seemed dazed
And listless.My mistress was the only white face among us
One day while I was in the kitchen preparing black coffee
And biscuits she asked me to share these with a rebel soldier
Who was asked to wait at the back door
Suddenly I felt white hands on my *******,than the cloth shirt
Covering me was ripped away as hard manhood invaded my
Insides.The intense pain rocked all senses and tears flooded
Out like a loose dam. My screams bounced off each enclosed wall
Yet no one came to  save me  to stop this unspeakable crime
As he rode the waves of his personal pleasure my mind shut off
to stop it and I saw visions of running through creek beds and
Swimming through rivers with a knapsack with two linen shirts  one
Two pairs of parting gifts from my mistress tied atop my wooly head
And most of all being able to sing with a loud free voice a song
Yet sung

You do not heed my sighs of need to be paid the same in the work force
As you.Or the need not to ridden like a horse when the mood is not there
I know life is more than washing your drawers cleaning the ***** house
And raising a trio of crying snotty nose kids, even while these hands Scrub the dishes clean I see myself on a slow boat floating down the NILE
Of my dreams far from the crocodiles of bills boredom missed chances
Anxiety tight in my chest each morning that rage slaps me awake
In my mind I  fly on free wings past the temptations of those who Audition as possible lovers yet to be or new friends reaching out glad
Hands of hope  and sizzle. But than I turn on the light of reality when
Sweet baby arms hug my neck or hungry lips of random need ****
My warm ******* until the tide of desire picks me up and takes me Away quickly with a passion of want. And I remember the bountiful
Feasts of good times that we've shared and the many reasons that
We chose each other

When its time for me to die I want you by my side
Don't want to die alone in the wilderness under some unmarked stone
You've been the joy of my exsistence when at times the world
And things didn't make much sense
When its time to go I want to see your smile if grief hasn't stolen it
And have you whisper softly my name like when I walked alive
By your side give me a cool drink of water and remember
To wipe my fevered brow
When its time to punch my ticket
Let me hold onto your hand when its time

Love was just a brief pause
Like holding in your in your breath
A comma at the end of the love sentence
Like looking at the person next to you
Seeing their back going out the goodbye door
The green light of moving along is on
And we transform both of us into strangers again
Departure I dislike the same as you

Blues sits on my front steps
Waiting for me to come home  
To creep out onto the vacant street and walk through
The rain wet street, like in old times of yesterday
Blues put her arms around my emotions
Blues starts into sly remarks
Blues goes on ahead
Turns to me and winks
Much like you do too
We walk as the rain touches our skin
Forgetting about summer rain wet
Because love claims our attention
So really nothing else matters at all , but this moment
And that we have each other together
So weather  matters not , just the laughter and no sadness
Then it's time for me to head home
And in that direction I start to go
Down well known streets
I salute the falling night, the street lights
And they smile back in caring affection
The streets shine with wetness
Raindrops fall down without permission
Their sighs are weary because they know
Just how much  I love and miss you

Maybe I should hide my heart so it won't be get broken
And stop listening to sweet words in my ear
Just when they are spoken. Watched so many tight couples break apart
So I learned to stop sticking out my tender heart
Maybe I should as of today hide my heart
Don't want it tossed around in a loop
Maybe I should hide my heart so sadness won't get a hold on me
Maybe I should hide my heart and keep it pain free

Darkness steps aside as light of dawn appears, silence rests upon the land
People sleep before awakening to day's stark reality rising like edifices
Higher and higher, changing both days and times before them
New year of discovery blessing trial testing, unstoppable in gaining
Territory , ever believing that they're more for us than they.re against us
Posture of belief sustaining in times of doubt and fears,causing an impact
To be known around the world

High fruit on trees
   In easy reach
   Summer's incoming smile
     Running through piled leaves
      Faster than the mind thought it could
         Keep:
           Spring
         In memory's solid storage chest
                Inside

Poems drop down from the sky of creation into hearts and minds
Of poets around the globe,illustrating on the canvas of the soul
The joy pain victory of living in the days of humankind
Poems are to be eaten like fruit by the spirit inside
Bitten into by the eager mind, the senses like mental fingers
Of probing lick the juice of essence that run down inside
Ready and ripe for the wondrous taking
One reading a poem needs no spoon fork or knife
Not even a plate  tablecloth or napkin
For the poem itself is the main meal and is all things to each  hungry
Reader, stem rind pit skin
To feed the inside

I  was waiting at the PHILADELPHIA train station for her with
Great expectations but when the doors opened and the conductor
Stepped down with his best smile my dream wasn't on
She had passed up the chance to paint the colors of our romance
Guess this is the farewell season,for the train is traveling down my
Personal track of tears clouds of nothing forming overhead
Now passing blues river, it will be stopping at sadness falls
When I lost that girl gone was the greatest dream of all

I snap my fingers with glee. Each and every chance . Your love is so good
To me darling .It makes me want to dance.You got me dancing
To your love. Like a beautiful ray of sunshine coming down from
From heaven above.No more walking around lonely or in misery.
Scales have fallen from my eyes. And only happiness I see . Now no
Random chancing.I selected and chose you. And your love has me
Dancing.

On the farm I made a playhouse out of wooden grates
It's a place to ponder about the food I haven't ate as yet
When mama is in the kitchen ,her meals are light as a feather
But if there's nothing in the pantry to fix, how good a cook she is
Really doesn't matter.Preacher Joe and his wife millie are aware
of our family's plight, they both prepare church cooked meals for all
Who are hungry in town,so that their stomachs don't growl in hunger
Before they go to sleep at night
Sometimes when I go to school to get learning,at home is an empty fridge cup plate
I have to put my head down on my desk because keeps striking
me with crossed eyes like a coiled up snake
No one can see my hunger, but it's always there and I pray
To the Lord  above that the people in WASHINGTON who hold
Power over everybody's life will open their eyes and really help
The voters in the Nation and stop pretending that they really care
Their party line strife is killing me  in this so called land of plenty

The silence seals us in an envelope of itself
All talking is ceased and thoughts are rocked to sleep in the
Cradle of night how often during the day do words
Overtake us holding us captive because they are all we have

This is life and nobody leaves it alive
  so people face the fact
   We're all fighting to survive
   So be sure to love really hard
     And make your life really matter
You only get just what is earned here
   It's not handed out on a silver platter
Spread some love and understanding
   Before this day is through and just watch and see
       If they don't come back to you
Don't  spread strife and ill will
Whatever you might do
     Smile and share words of kindness
       Before night comes on through
        Mind your manners and say thank you and please
         And before getting in that warm bed
          Thank GOD on bended knee

On that last day of goodbye
we hope that you will go slowly
but come back quickly to visit
for the landscape of our lives will be less without you
your smile was a morning sun of greeting that warmed us
and the soft voice was like romantic music
that swept over our spirits
like April rain refreshing
dear friend, goodbye is such a sad word
but inside the mirror of memory
you will not fade

Guess I'll take the long way home just so I can think about her
Under the silver the silver moonlight time maybe some day
Will have us sail away on our special honeymoon
Hoping that walk down the church aisle might be real soon
She's the best thing in the world that ever happened to me
Guess I'll take the long way home just so I can think about her
Right here right now guess I'll take the long way home tonight

Don't blame me for wanting to hold you so fast
Don't blame me for wanting each moment here to last
This wonderful new love of ours frees me from loves of the past
So don't blame me
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
Don't blame me for longing to make each dream of yours come true
For now only happiness in your tender arms I see
So please don't blame me

Some day someone will tell my story. How I went off to war, Not yet a
Man. AMERICIA's freedom is so precious to me. And I fight for it hard as
I can. Fighting from foxholes on land or by sea. To win for my country is
The only real goal. When you grow up in the land of the brave and the Free. Freedom is a part of your soul. My gun lies in the house. Unfired. And medals upon the shelf. Proud to be a vet. Who fought for his beloved
Country. And wouldn't be nobody else

Last night I couldn't sleep
After you took me home when we walked  hand in hand
Under the moonlight,  when morning finally came I felt so adrift
And my lonely heart just didn't seem right, looked over at the ticking
Clock on the nightstand and started to reach for the phone
Needed to hear your voice ,but fought my silly pride
Maybe you'll help me find all the dreams that I left so far behind
And pull them all back to get some piece of mind
Somehow you know your love will wash away all the pain
Of the coming days and sleepless nights
Want to see you again walk together in spring rain
Be with you for all time, which is the only reason
I couldn't sleep last night

If all the trees in the neighborhood were made of ice cream
And you could have as much of it as you want or need
Just put  long handle spoons in both hands in the summer
Eat every mouthful real fast before its goodness melts
All over the face and clothes but in winter eat a little slower
Because all the ice cream trees will be frozen and you
Would be forced to  go real slow
And if all the clouds above were multicolored lemon drops
Falling gently down, there would be nothing to worry or think about
Except what day that your family dentist could take you in
Because after eating all of that candy and ice cream
you're bound to have some holes in your teeth my friend

I sat on concrete porch with  enclosed porch watching my daughter
Getting ready  to venture to the laundry mat, twenty-one, wise  single
College educated the same college where I received my degree
Thinking just how thankful as her father I am for her
And that she's here with me, one so young  yet so accomplished
Any father would be proud. At thirteen she was a supervisor at local
Church ,getting a salary. At fifteen she was a founding member of the
Germantown \Settlement Choir and a cheer leader at sixteen for Ba

mtoms football team,also she started swimming in the Roxborugh
Doing  Cart wheels on our side lawn. So as you can see leadership
and also kindness to all have always been in her blood,
And I bless the day that she was born

I step outside taking a deep breath of shimmering heat
Pollution exhaust fueled by hot air escaping from age old trees
That cradle night the open door of morning slams a closing
The house calls a long goodbye
Footsteps slap city pavements as cross streets draw near
Pushing past a maze of houses silent as graves
The opening mouth of the bus reaches out
Cutting off pouring thought
Crowded flesh with mixed attitudes swallow space with cruel  indifference
Time ticks on slowly uncaring

The mocking bird sings a sweet song with an old fashioned cuban beat
He tells how I should love you to  knock my lady off her feet
Don't be surprised if he doesn't tell all of the other guys
I know that it must be true ,he wants me to give all of my love and sweet kisses to only you.He's never sad the mocking bird ,never see him mad
I know that it's the truth he wants me to give all my love and kisses to you
The mocking bird gave this man the word to always keep
My darling glad than went off to help somebody else
Before going to sleep

I know that you need your space. Like I need mine, but need to have
You close and even near, while we yet have time
Your presence is a heavenly vision to me
The worst thing a man could ever do , would be to take your love
And sweetness for granted, because if that would happen
He might as well get off the planet, one true thing I can say
Your love has taught me how to connect the dots and your patience
With my sometimes foolishness, really means a lot, so teach me how
To give your soul deep inside a wow, I tenderly want it to happen now

Today is an unwritten slate everyone can write on
No  matter what you want to say
All day, all night
Put in a place nearby
The happy words and the sad  ones
Are gone until the next day
A new one to compose anew

When the Sun comes up each morning
You might just find me down
The reason is very simple, cause nobody but me is ever around
Looked to left, than I looked to my right
Waiting here for some satisfaction with all my might
You know that need somebody to love right here on Earth
And not from above , need me some soul shaking love
Love that I can feel way down in my bones
Need some love satisfaction from a lady that won't back up or leave
Me alone.
Girl if you're out open your ears to my hurting plea
I need some love satisfaction come by here and see about me

Is it the same love that we're sharing
Or did you simply stop caring
Nothing right seems the same
Looks like love forgot my name
     Never was seeking fortune or fame
     Just my share of love to claim
     But instead of a wow
     Love forgot my name

Wish I could run into mama's embracing arms . Even as a grown up man.
We didn't have a lot of material things growing up. But for family mama
Always took a strong stand. It's been three years since mama passed away
But she's enshrined inside our hearts. Each child grew up to be successful
Adults. But our mama gave each of her children a strong inspiring start
Insulated in her love

Wake up all the students failing each exam tell them with
Education you can be paid after learning and rule
Within the  land wake up all the old folks forced to starve or pay a bill
They need to send a letter to their state senator on capital hill
Americia  you know they fought in wars and taught their children
To be good citicens stll
Wake up all the preachers who from their assignment
Want to walk away don't they know GOD will be angry
On judgement day
Wake up all the  church members at home or sleeping in the pews
If only they would listen might hear some inspiring good news
Wake up all the racists who discount all black skin thinking to divide
The nation that they can stand a chance to  win
If you think the world could be better than you should really try
Stand up for your convictions count for something before you die

You left her suddenly. As September as colored leaves started to fall.
Tears of hurt couldn't be blinked away' Once the pain had taken hold.
But after a time . She heard the future call. Some brief moments  her
Thoughts might embrace you.But looks to the coming years.  Inside  her
Rebuilding hope standing firm and tall. I was informed that you're
Wished well wherever that might be . She's learned to cry no more. In
The rain or coming Septembers.

I would travel unafraid through both time and space
Run through the jungle empty handed just to kiss and hold you near
And look into that smiling face , let my love be a shout through out
The universe, when it will come to meeting your needs my dear
Just know that I'll always put your needs first
Put me down in your heart as your number one man  and with me plain
Get on board my love Rocket ship as we race together
As a mighty pair through time and space

I feel my heart being so fast, need to be held close and kept warm
Don't have any hidden secrets to keep, just want to be held by your side
Until I drift off into deep sleep, never need to be warned
Just want to be cozy and ever so warm,so I'm asking very kindly
And so very sweet, please take me in out this storm

Let purpose set the time for your day
And wind up the cares that would attack and defeat the life within
Dress and look successful even if it has not come as yet
Bath yourself in positive thoughts and flowing energy
Stand tall and never walk bent over with doubt or creeping fear
Believe that you are chosen to succeed where others have failed
And if anyone can do this its you. Live love  enjoy your life
Because its your time to go forth and win with daring and purpose
Forget the snide remarks and unkind words spoken in your face
And behind your back in tradewinds of dishonor and raindrops
Of disrespect walk on toward your goal carved out by purpose
Just ahead. After all, you've survived at this point almost everything
Haven't you!

When I found you I found  heaven in your arms. When I  found you  said
Goodbye to all women and their sweet enbracing  charms. Now I know For sure this love we now share isn't a false alarm.It may sound crazy
But new love makes everything seem so clear, I find a portion of my
Personal heaven whenever you're near.When I found you had to change
My searching gaze, and somehow knew inside I could be happy all
The rest of my days.When I found you wanted to sew up my broken ways
When I found you I released all of the love inside

I look at the face in the mirror and say
Do I really know him, just how much longer will he be around
And are his chances growing dim, but somehow I believe
If I give out to others real love  this man will live a very long life
And if I love God and believe in mankind and peace for everyone here
It will help me avoid both hate and unkind strife

My senses reach out to embrace your spirit
But not with lust nor defilement
What a joy to know love born of no ill intent, that has slain pride of self
Enjoys the transparent happiness of giving to the person in need
With only the highest regard, taking a chance doesn't mean
That you have to fall

Love has left the building
It was't reasonable nor wise,don't you know that we are all GOD's
Children here in His eyes .See me on Philadelphia streets
And you look past or turn away, it would be nice to live in a city
Where people smiled or hugged along the way
But this is not the real world closed minded folks would say
Hate's darkness is approaching and it took time to contruct
What ever happened to in GOD we trust
I have a strong unshakable feeling that love has left the building
And it's taken along with it affection ,faith and trust

Our love is a shelter from the clamor of an intrusive world
With joyful touches of peace and silent beauty as well
We can do exciting things in the midst of all the calm

Wake up each day by assuring yourself to keep it moving
With thankfulness and joy past all doubts and fears that would attack
Belief and  GOD given faith in yourself, know that you are greater
Than any problem or enemy that could ever undo dreams
Or unloose your forward stride of yes I can
Always bear in mind that you are the answer to any foe or fear
That could ever come across your path so keep It moving
And always know inside that victory and success are waiting on you
So keep it moving you are the answer to your problem
Keep It moving

You always hurt the ones you love, until there is nothing more to hurt
And the heart grows sullen ,and closes its doors of welcome. And love
No longer lives there any more. That place is closed and hidden. Both
Day and night,where love has gone.Now the hurt stands silent guard
Bleeding over the grave of mistrust

When Mr Lincoln made it clear  to America,that we were no longer owned,but free, we gathered our few pieces of clothing, and had no idea
where  to go , or what to do with ourselves. It seems we walked for an
Eternity,sleeping in barns or near riverbeds, on dry ground,twigs or moss
some of us  could read,and others could not write their name with a
dry stick.We slept back to back,for warmth.Long gone were family
-*/members.Having been sold to other plantation owners.When the evil rule  of
slavery was still coiled,around our lives ,like a snake.Now that its gone,what am i to do,
with this new gift of freedom?

Twilight had fallen with multi-colored leaves drifting down to earth
As I waited for you to join me for our moonlight waltz under the pa pa Tree. I suddenly  noticed that it was the same place where we first fell
In love and the stars smiled down their blessing on the birth of our new
Love under the pa pa tree. So now I hold out my hand for yours for Another waltz in the twilight's breeze so soft  so free
Please dance just one more dance tonight
Under the pa pa tree

Your love brings out the best in me, it took away my permission to be
Fake. Became my granted american dream come true. My life had me
Calling out from the lonely dark. So here we are sharing the same sweet
Dream. And might I say, your love like always, brings out the best in me

Deliver us from evil inside ourselves. From hating each other
Because we all have different colored skins white black yellow brown .
Hating does not make us know what we do. To harm and destroy
Humanity.It takes away our sanity. Let our peace together on this earth
Become a flower of many creeds and talents working together.To make our nation strong and united. Living out the true meaning of what makes Us American proud and valiant among all other nations of the world

You saw the love. That rested in me. Looked beyond my faults and saw
My need. Took time to invest. The treasure of my heart is freely given.
I'm taken in by your natural grace and charm. In a quite place far away
From the maddening crowd. We will both drink deeply from the  cup of
Love set before us. With tender and special feelings they will speak.
This is all for the time being. That I have to say. Cannot wait until the Night replaces the sun and you my dear. Come my way.

I can still smell the strong aroma of vinegar used to wash away the blood
of slaves who were flogged on deck until their backs were raw
mainly the ones who refused to eat  or drink in order to be made bigger
to sale on the auction block.Their lips were sewn together and a hole
was cut into the side of the cheek and boiled millet was poured in
We slept less than six inches apart below the deck amid the *****
funk,feces,side to side,belly to belly,hands and feet in short chains
a slave will try to escape usually as the small canoe is leaving the shore
or throw himself into the shark infested waters to end his doomed life
while the chains and anglets were taken off that we could dance
to fiddle music music and entertain the captain and crew with yellow rotting teeth and whiskey coated breathes
before arriving on deck some slaves might have died
and were thrown overboard or put into rafts piled up and floated
out to sea,and so we were again counted and examined  one by one
*******,groins,toes, backs ,teeth, arms
No wonder that some of us slaves thought that death was a highly
prized escape over living a life of chained misery

Who's my brother, is it the homeless man I see wandering down the street
Or the and his family living right next door to me. Or the weary high
Strung soldier a stone cold ***** with no parade to welcome him home.
From another billion dollar war. Who hears inside his head the dying
Screams of his fallen brothers and just take any more
There are so many people in this fast paced world who just want to be
Left alone. And for this might live with much regret and not even realize
That the next man or woman who comes into your life
Might be a brother yet

Secrets of my life silently written upon pages of a hidden book
And I wonder just what you'd really think if they were read in public
And let you steal a look.Things jotted down at the time with sadness Anger glee. If curious eyes could read and probe the thoughts and ideas
Only important to me. They would probably laugh or even smile or
Certainly not even agree. My diary might never be sold at auction for a
Very high bid. But as my hand crafted each and every line of expression
For that moment, they were all the true pictures this man had to give.
And if by some chance you read my diary, checking each and every
Created line, know within that my diary only served
As a true listening friend of mine

Don't you know a good love is hard to find
You'll search and search all over for someone of the same soul and mind
And even when find that that special person
You're likely to make some grave mistakes
But hang on in there with everything inside
I tell that's what it takes
The very day I found you felt as if I was in an Earthquake
Every day now I wake up I speak to you in love's own voice
So very glad that you're my personal choice
A good love is hard to find
Inside now feeling so good
That you're fine and all mine