The night is still and silent with presents piled under the tree
Placed there while you soundly sleeping in your bed
Put there by hard working mommy and daddy
Time to send up thanks to the Lord
As his wonders on earth keep us in awe
Snow falling soft and white on another christmas  morning
Memories are calling of christmases of long ago
Of snowball tossing and driving down city streets in the snow
Passing strangers smiling and salvation army bells ringing
Asking you to please give
So that somewhere in the big town a foster child
Can be helped to live

The poem with an arrogant voice speaks and demands that the poet
Write of love pain life joy trees clouds over cities
And things both near and far away, golden discovered mysteries of love
And events yet to be born into time, a poem is a written gift by the poet
For you and me , a poet who walks the dog on cold or rain falling
Afternoons, who puts the mail on the hallway table,whose dreams stretch
High as the soft white clouds, whose memories reach as deep as tree roots
Whose feelings ring bells of tenderness in human heart
Whose tears and joys in waves come and go like the ocean tide
Who finds a mystery in each coming day and wonders what it will
Teach,the poem speaks in a loud matter of fact voice
That tell of trees cities sea Earth and sky
For man knows that life is an unexplained mystery that must be lived
Day by day,poem tells the poet that I have no voice
Until you the poet give me one

My body sways and moves
     To the pounding of the drums
      If you believe  the drums will bring a brand new day
        than dance and sway to the pounding of the drums
  Time will remember your name but dance and sway to the drums
     Success will touch the dreams inside
       While stepping into the future
   From the drum waves of sound
            Flying up into the air
As tapping fingers move

Your love has given my life a lift
Making us strong together, and has nenewed my faith in human nature
I owe you many thanks for tuning into my feelings
As the days come and go , I look forward to looking at your face
Which is like a fine and rare painting, and I promise never to say goodbye

I have bathed myself in the clear flowing waters of your love
And rested under the welcoming tree of your spirir
These hands have tenderly held your face and looking deep within your
Eyes I 've read the silent speech written there
You've been the beacon light of hope shinning across all my dark days
My city street oasis touchstone
With a love as warm as oven gingerbread
And when holding you in the middle of a sometimes evil and
Unjust land ,I've held the promise of joy

There's a deep secret in your eyes
I want to know
Are you guarded with the love inside
Or going to let it flow
Please tell me , before we get started ,Will I end up the one broken hearted
Will you say yes and tell me yet
Want to heat the flame again inside
And thinking about making you my bride
Need the unknown from you to pry
And long to hear the secret in your eyes

There's no turning back because I love you.Get such pleasure in seeing
That smile never will desire to place someone else above you
There's no turning back and why would  this man want too
Quite simply hooked on the the love we share .
That's from my point of view. There;s no turning back
Because I choose to be madly in love with you

I was born in a time when life made more sense
People were not worried how they would pay the rent
We expected change of our elected ones
But not much change did come
I was born not far from a river one running wild and free
Keep wondering why certain dreams inside keep dying on me
We expected change of our elected ones
But change did not surely come
I see people go to the movies whenever in town
But if you don't have any money they won't let you hang around
When my needy hand is out to someone
Passing on the street heads remain with eyes ahead
They want you to fall down on your knees
Living is sometimes  not easy and lack makes a grown man cry
Guess I'll have the final answer to all my questions
In that bright city in the sky

We were both divers on the high board
Creeping toward the edge of adventure
Cautious; taking deep breaths of bravery
Very unsure;
Plunging into the unknown of love

I have known the fire
     Of your yes
  And the ice of your no
   Also known the time when opposites separate
     In the silent blaze of up and down
      In the rain and wind of the last goodbye
        Do you know the hour
          It's always now
              And enough

Time,ran away from me,leaving behind an old lion,of present days
With  a muted roar,and a bladder that must be emptied
More times than i care to count.Yet i rejoice knowing,inside my *****
Are gifts yet to be shared of kings and queens
From my issue,who will be known in the world
Please know,that these words ,will not find me
Slipping into cliche'

You can't keep the truth from me , maybe you might want to shut out
Its voice, but it will find a way to be free, and it speaks despite the lies
Spilling from your mouth, get to know it , for it will really set its
Owner loose .Truth's cry can be heard through out the earth,to
All those with listening ears and willing spirits

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

What did the World's ears hear? What did their eyes really see?
Ebony men bleeding sweat  in 4/4 time
Carrying the beat, behind the beat with the beat deep inside
Bowing the in- between sweet sound harmony
Strings crying like lost children
Horns tearing down walls of white rejection
Charinet  strutting
Its way through other notes
Like a Sunday -morning altar call
And the preacher calling out tongues of blues in his voice
And cords of long ago memories of joy and sadness
Piano key voice playing sweet ragtime  and jazz notes on the soul
Music , surely yours and mine in Americia

Singers on the Voice who can't sing
     TV stations showing cartoons twenty-four seven
      FIOS selling hearing aids
POPEYES  selling steak
       Cars running on soup
         Fencers with hockey sticks
Congress not padding their pay checks every year
   Puzzles that don't puzzle
      KFC selling burgers
    Archers with sling shots
Trees growing upside down
  Chickens in a conga line
A chess playing kangaroo
   Trees that hold leaves all year
     First class with no class
An eckco  that never comes back
    A bird that walks everywhere
       A tea kettle that cannot whisle
         Ducks that  skee
         Rain falling sideways
             Dogs that run backwards
       Cats that bark
       The Sun and Moon together
        Turtles that run fast

I want to love you for the next 100 years
Until than we'll remain young and silly thinking
Of far away places and things we have yet to see

Think of me on the next rainy day, when rain and tears start to fall
When love seems to be on life support and gloom mists your thoughts
Like a fog. Sadness can sometimes get out of hand, ready to knock you
Down.Even when a smile like the sun wants to break through, a frown
Will  get a hold so true, think of me on a rainy day when pain took hold
And refused to let go. Remember it was you that got me through that
Period. When thoughts of desperation kicked me around, your love
And caring feelings made me feel brand new

I really don't know if I'll ever really learn
That love is a fire that warms the heart inside, but it can also burn
Guess it's just my time to learn, step out the giant shadow
That our love once cast, right now I'm feeling it
But in time as the saying goes, this hurt too shall pass
The darkest night turns into day usually
And oh how we curl up and mourn in tears
When love is taken away, I must get out in the world again
To find some happy moments that will last
For I really believe inside myself starting today
That this hurt too shall pass

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

You are my most special memory in all of my recollection of thought
I know that part of a woman's charm and grace is in her mystery,
Which she will always be to some special man please come into this
longing heart
All choices made should be made in love or else what is one to do
When the lover slips out forever into the darkness of goodbye
Will you cling to whoever will have you?What happens when
The music of loving stops?
The truth is always terrifying and shameful, but it always remains the truth
We lose ourselves in the stars and each other.
For nothing lasts forever , only art.I heard you call and within my spirit
Answered your fills the deepest part of who I am
For you know me, like you know yourself. Wherever you go,I'm with
You in spirit.When travel in the mind takes me to a distant shore
I behold it in all of its wonder and beauty for both of us.
With you not near,loneliness gripsme inside with eagle claws,
Even when you're not near, I can sense you approaching

Spent so much of my time in loving you.I thought everything between us
Was real but that turned out to be untrue. Know that's time to go forward
And not look back.Like a locomotive traveling down a one way track.
You didn't really need me or couldn't adore. But I feel deep down inside
I'll be just the person somebody else will be looking for. Not just
Another one to be shown to heartbreak's door
Thrown away love mama tried to tell me about it. I 'm a strong believer
Now and I used to doubt it . Soon will be ready to  let someone new
Into my life and  lock and bolt the door on the old thrown away love.

Tick tock every living soul on earth is on life's clock
The minutes and hours are quickly dying, much needed time
Is passing away, days disappear, moments and seconds dear to life
Will soon be gone, but tomorrow will give birth to a brand new day
And another dawn

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

It's time now for some more of my tears to start to fall.
Thought I had your good loving as all my own but I had nothing at all
As you're thrilling some one else its slowly killing me. Do right by me
Baby or pack each bag and leave.All I see now is the blues, get back your
Attention on me again its time to choose,sad notes playing in my heart
If tonight you decide to depart there'll be fond memories I won't restart
I'll close the door and seek a new start

What  language or voice does the wind speak?
When love comes softly our lives wait  our senses listen
Expectation tingles the flesh and we cannot hold all that we love
When the thunder flashes tossing thunder bolts at gains
We go chasing after the unknown
Certain to lose so scared
Lives with out hope

I remember summers of youth gone by long ago
When time seemed with no end
Pretty girls had such beautiful smiles and welcoming arms
If you were free and the only one meant to be
Butterflies danced on the evening sundown sky
But soon the winter of old age blew youth slowly away
And that my friend is the real and only truth
What ever happened to the many dreams that we had growing inside
Did they blow away like the colored leaves of last fall?
When September rain was coming down?
We kept looking around life's corner hoping to run into younger days
And make them come back
But it seems now that to go living our final days here is all
And everything a man or woman can do
Will we be able to see tomorrow or is today all that we've got
Nobody told us about sorrow waiting ahead
We have to carry  on with broken hearts instead

In a gym in Philadelphia
Boys with street hungry eyes flick jabs at your moving brown form
In a circled ring of chance.Sweat hangs in the air like the sad
Truth of poverty.If they get pass you the sweet 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 made car
Meeting beautiful long haired women with even white teeth
Maybe in your dreams you saw boxing gloved foes
Falling by the 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
A body worn and a collection of years of being struck
How many times have I seen you hanging over the ropes
Completely wiped out of cash and hope like a voice lost
In the rumbling of a subway train speeding past
tenements of Philadelphia

When trouble has me swimming in its swift waters it seems like forever
Why is it that I don't see a boat or helping hand coming from my friends
Who stand on the shore? People pretend to be happy for your success
But inside, are all for themselves,wanting really you to ignore, this I've
Come to know is the real truth of the matter, as I slowly sink into muddy
Waters  wildly waving to all my friends on shore

Determine within yourself, to smile more, worry less
Let love and peace guide you away from the path of bigotry
That will slay the soul and mind, look to the lush green cornfields
Standing as silent guards in America, the blooming summer apples
The the rapid streams, with minnows swimming in clear creeks
Junebugs buzzing in sundown , butterflies floating in soft winds
Fireflies glowing as tiny  neon signs, outliving, outdoing, stonings
Beatings to the body , spirit, of being called "shine'' , '' ******'' , '' darky''
Which of themselves, are never unforgettable, ever hoping that a stain
will be left on white souls, so that one might be able to smile in autumn

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

Once again night has tumbled down through the universe
Wonder if the tired  and weary made it through
As the sun unzipped it's yellow light on cities around the world
Those who test their courage to find love yet not known
Win

In the middle of humanity's jungle the wonderous sound of two cellos
Sooth my inner being floating on waves of air filling the night with
Gladness kind of a purple haze of rippling depth these two cellos
Unlike any sound ever heard before two cellos weeping tears of
Sound

I never knew his real name as a child in Newark
But named him Uncle Funky the peanut man while he sold peanuts
from a makeshift stand, now on this June 2013 morning
My mind opens the door of youthful memory
I can see soiled pants and shirt,an old battered hat  covering gray uncut hair and brown hands waiting for a dollar for his peanuts
Funk clung to his skin like fleas to a dog
And just one whiff released would stagger a young boxer in his prime
The times changed with the town sweeping Uncle Funky away with
yesterday and the past like old news
And I wonder and it isn't a very pleansant wonder
Whatever became of Uncle Funky the peanut man?

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

Worry and crying last night night kept me up real late
In a tizzy because the list ran longer and longer of things
To do on my plate.You see folks all these problems
Have me throwing up my hands.
They'll either break into pieces inside or make you a stronger man
Any way that's the plan. Problems come to all of us , so don't let them
Blow your ever loving mind.Pick yourself up and keep on moving
Forward.Not giving in or bowled over by failure or defeat
For neither which you don't have time

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

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!

I need your love to wash all my pain away
It's a  I've learned to believe in
Thanks go up for you every day
It's so good to fall on my knees and pray
Love so perfect in each and every way
That's one of the many reasons that I want your love to stay

Slaves never owned the land nor themselves
And its hard to imagine if we were ever really free in every
Possible way after  PRESIDENT LINCOLN freed us
Let me explain what I mean.Master smiled and shook hands with us
While giving us a piece of land rocky weedy unused
He also gave us seeds farming equipment and  an old mule
And let us have credit at the corner store that he owned
Where Ious were accepted plus we were allowed to keep the shanty
From which  was used to fight off the wind  dust storms rains snows
Lest I forget to make it known, he took most of the crops
When they came in leaving us only enough food for our family
to live on until the next crops came up
We watched this happen year after year until the ious were taller
than the silent trees that once hung us and left us dangling
In the wind like dark fruit thrown away
With no thought of human blood on the leaves
Running down to join its roots

Were you there when I was taken by night and tried in the court of
Public opinion and held my peace by not responding. Were you there
When the spikes of evil bore through my hands of peace on the cross
Of lies and open backstabbing. Did you watch them place a crown of
Injustice on my brow made of sharp ****** ? Did you hear me when I
Cried out to my heavenly FATHER on the wooden tree as the blood
Of my soul ran down slowly as I declared it was finished my course was
completed.But I will rise in three days from the grave and live again
For you cannot keep nor hold me down. My place in HEAVEN is above
And your place in HELL  I will tread upon

Wet tears overflow the banks of sad eyes
it seems that sorrow is holding court and is in session again
hiding the smile that tries to come forth like the natural dawn
and one never really knows the journey from tears to triumph
and how long it will take to reach
for there are far to many who could tell of the strain of tears on the human heart

What are we doing right now to save our teenage girls and boys
Out on city streets selling their bodies and being treated like throwaway
Toys. We need to raise protesting voices and to our legislators really
Make some voting  noise in an effort to save the unprotected children
Every girl and boy. This is a daily problem in our country we see
With open eyes our children are hurting and dying and far to wise
We owe it to all of our children in Philadelphia and around the world
A clean and loving childhood every boy and girl
Human life people should not be viewed as cheap
Far to many are dying away from home and on the mean and *****
Streets. And before you lay a tired head down to sleep tonight
In your warm and clean bed, what about the children?

I confess that it was love from the start
Now that you're gone forever from my life
What do I tell my heart?what do I tell it with each lonely beat in the night? and during the daylight there is just no peace
Tears flood from my eyes when out in the street trying
To hold back each sob from inside this sadness
I can no longer hide.Its been said in life that what will be will be
But why did this terrible thing have to happen to me?

I watch with a number of others as the blind man RAY CHARLES
Is lead onto the stage.With dark glasses covering his eyes
Like black bandages.  Once seated at the piano his hands touch the keys
And with head thrown back and body moving from side to side
Lips open and sound comes rushing out like a train going through a
Tunnel of night or an escaping convict finally free
With jerking motions like one sitting on an emotional hot wire
Blown down in an unforgiving storm with WHAT I SAY GEORGIA
ON MY MIND I GOT A WOMAN WAY OVER TOWN THAT'S GOOD TO ME and listeners sit transfixed that so much talent
could come from one blind man to compose and sing the blues
From the blood and guts of hard times

What's the matter baby is leaving on your mind? I need to know
One minute you say that you love me and the next that you don't
One minute you want to, and the very next you don't
I'm so tired of the way that you do me it's a crying shame
Baby , I'm so tired of feeling alone even when you're home
You treat me so bad , don't be surprised if my eyes and body start to roam
What's the matter baby, is leaving me really on your mind
I can't bear the suspense any more not one more day
And I've prepared myself that its fine

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

When love comes around again
I want to really make it last
And I resolve inside that I won't  make the same mistakes
And spoil my new happiness with the faultlines  of the past
Being hurt by love at any time is just to hard to  mention
But experience has taught me well and when the chance comes
Around again, my changes will be known for that's my intention
And at last, I'll find a new beginning with someone I can trust
And hold out my heart like a cup
To let my new love fill it up

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

She was born Eunice Waymon, But changed into Nina Simone
This concert pianist who rode her subway dream of fame uptown
All the while singing in a deep blues voice: " birds flying high, you know How I feel, breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel, it's a new dawn
It's a new day, it's a new life for me, yeah, it's a new dawn, it's a new day
And I'm feeling good.Fish in the sea, you know how I feel,river running
Free, you know how I feel, blossom on the tree, you know how I feel
It's a new life for me, and I'm feeling good
" I love you porgy, don't let him take me. Don't let him handle me
And drive me mad. If you can keep me, I wanna stay here, with you
Forever, and I'll be glad

When nobody's around she cries
The tears that during the day she had to hide
Love is beautiful when its right. But so deadly when its wrong.