Material World

Hey, Little Brother

I tried to stop life but I couldn’t and you had to change.

I used to be able to hug you but now my love only bugs you

Hey, Little Brother

It must of happened somewhere between 4’7” to 5’10”. When you went from that little boy to a young man.

All of the sudden you let go of my hand and I lost a friend.

It’s a shame that a little taste of fame and success allowed you to cut a chain of unconditional love and friendship.

Hey, Little Brother

You’re on your way to experiencing some of life's responsibilities

I was so proud, until I saw you were unable to handle the material world

You saved some money this summer and you worked real hard. I am proud, but why did you let it change you? Why does money make you shrewd and oh so rude? Why little brother?

Hey, Little Brother

You went out in the jungle and you got lost. You love money more than you love your family

Hey, Little Brother

Where did you go? Physically you are still here. But mentally you are trapped in the clause of Satan.

Hey, Little Brother

Come home, I miss you!

Spiritual World

A look was all it took,

one look into your eyes

My soul was stirred

My spirit revived

Your hug intrigued me

Your essence I had to know

I felt your goodness

I felt your soul

The kiss we shared was heavenly

Your tenderness I embraced

Every touch of your lips drew me closer

I hoped you were my fate.

When you held my hand in a touch your strength was revealed.

A Warrior, a Provider, a King

My destiny you seemed

Blue papers

Often I have felt discouraged

By my brothers

Lack of self esteem

Lack of courage

Lack of self love

Often I have wondered where all the African warriors have gone

Absent fathers

Absent brothers

Absent lovers

Often I have felt that the strength that once guided our nation was drained during the passage

Lack of self awareness

Lack of discipline

Lack of perseverance

Often I have wondered

Often I have cried out

Come home my brother

Come home my father

Come home

They say you’re all gone.

They say you've given up the war.

But I see you.

They say you’ve given up on your sisters, daughters, mothers, and your wives.

But I see you.

They say you're hiding behind your cry that the “white man did it”.

But I see you.

They say you can’t make the grade and you can't hold a job.

But I see you.

The stats say you can’t, won’t, and don’t but you can, will, and do because I see you.

On the battlefield,

in the class and on

the job.

I see you at home and

in the community

They say, They’ve said, They’ll continue to say.

But I see you.

Yellow papers

There's a whole reality out there

out there

There’s a whole reality out there

out there

There’s confusion

We’re disillusioned

We don't know whether to kiss or kill our mamas

Should we hug or hurt our brothers

Were caught up in the confusion

Can’t seem to find a workable solution

So we stay caught up in the web of confusion.

There’s a whole reality out there

out there

Don’t know whether to bomb of build a nation

We’re caught up in the frustration

Hating instead of healing

Are we willing to destroy for the dollar?

There’s a whole reality out there

out there

We don’t know whether to sell or save our babies

The world seems crazy

Red writing

We dance in some of the same circles

I know the songs you sing

You sing sweet melodies to win the ladies

And in return they sing the blues

We dance in some of the same circles.

I know the music you make

You create soft chords

But your transitions are rough

We dance in some of the same circles.

I know you like to Cha Cha through life.

WE dance in some of the same circles.

I know we dance to different beats.

I know we sing different songs.

Pencil

With each passing day

I become more entwined

Only to learn your heart

Could not be mine.

Time had played a cruel trick

Cupid missed his mark

My King would have to leave me

My heart left torn apart

Blue Writing

Men have come and

men have gone

Some rich

Some poor

Some funny

Some a bore

Some look for fun

Some look for love

A Dream Come True

To grow old with you

To weather the storms

To cross the seas

As captain and first mate.

To climb the mountains

Travel the plains

To grow through with you

Until the end.

To perfect loving you

To come to know our heart

To be trusted as an old friend

To never grow apart

A dream come true

I found with you

My precious confidant.

When you left

In your last days

you had very little to say

we weren’t there with you

but the long distance phone conversations kept us posted

In reality

we knew the end of your physical life was over

but we selfishly kept praying you would hang on

If we had of stopped

to think about your feelings

our prayers would of been

for your highest good

Why should we think you would want to go on living

having to have someone else

pump life into you

why should we think you would want to go on being fed through a tube

all of our love could not change this reality

This disease took away your independence

I came outside

so the cold wind would freeze my tears

I had to stop crying

and I saw no other way out

The grayness of my fingers remind me of how my father looked when he was in his casket

Now I’m wondering if this is how

you will look - mother.

Right now the clouds are moving on

I guess they found a better place to go

like you - Mother

I wish I could share your place

knowing God like I do

I know you are seeing beautiful colors

colors we never imagined before

Oh how i envy your peace

Thank God you are finally free

from societies chains

Will the chill from outside has

finally numbed my right hand

and I can’t feel my ?

I see things much clearer now Mom

I’m not going to say tears will cease to roll

but I no longer need to ask

that famous question

Why ?

See ya later Mom

I love you.

Yellow paper

Yesterday you were here

Today your gone

I’m trying to become familiar with our new relationship

Yesterday I could hug you

I could hear your confronting voice

Today I can only reminisce past conversations and time spent together

Yesterday my life was complete

Today there’s a void that

only memories can fill

Yesterday you were here with me

Today you’ve gone to a place that

I’m not familiar with

a place I can’t simply visit

As the days pass I’m learning to adjust

When i want to reach out

and hug you and your not there

sometimes I cry

but the sweet memories are bringing to comfort me

Every week I get stronger

as I remember that you

are alive through me and

as long as I don’t let the memories fade

you will continue to sit by my side

With each passing mouth

I realize that the essence of you never left

I understand that your spirit

never died.

I realize that we just have a new relationship

a relationship I’m becoming comfortable with.

As the years pass quickly

I can’t believe you been gone so long

maybe that’s because you never left

you just moved on to another place in time

I am proud

Look at you

My mother

Standing there so Beautiful

Look at you

Queens of the world

So Strong and Wise

Look at you

My Sistahs

Always willing to stand by your brothas

Encouragingly and Supporting

Standing by

Standing by

Look at you

Jewels of the Nile

Sparkling brightly

To Lead the way

Look at you

Creators of Humanity

Bellies full of hope

Look at you!

Look at you!

I look at you

And I Am Proud!

White paper

15 years old

You barely know the difference between a boy and a girl

LOOKING FOR LOVE

You found it between your legs

this pleasure zone that makes you feel like a ‘WOMAN’

When your wrapped up in each others bodies

you hear the words NO ONE has EVER said to you before

NEVER thought about why he was saying ‘I Love You’

Didn’t think the words I Love You were just used to open your legs

Didn’t realize that the more he said I Love You

the wider you opened your legs

Didn’t use any birth control

that would have surely ruined the spontaneity of your newly found love

You finally found the essence of life

With your wet vagina and

his seemingly petrified penis

Love was found when they met.

So you thought.

Two months later

you find out where your demented ideas of love have brought you

You sit up thinking about should you have it or abort it

Now that reality has sat in

your ability to rationalize and to be analytical has returned

The penis you found love in

has ventured off to find another fool

As you sit up in the corner

holding your stomach

you think what a fool you have been

The words “why me” ringing in your head

No one to turn to

Lonelier than you’ve ever been

Decided to have the child

to fill your lonely heart

Someone to love

Someone to live the life you never got to live

Someone whose strings you can pull

Someone who will perhaps find

Love the way you did

JUST CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THAT

I Wonder-Child

Everyone is looking for lost love,

Love never found in our childhood

Lost life

Lost time

Some find love in money

Some in sex

Some in themselves

Others in power over people

Unfortunately she found hers in you child

I wonder if you will grow up looking for love

I saw the way you were carried around like a doll

I wonder does she treat you like a toy

And throw you aside when you no longer fulfill her needs or expectations

I looked in your eyes

When she flaunted you around the room

So you could show off for Mommy

what happens at 9 months

when your personality begins to bloom

will your petals be crushed or

will she water them with encouragement and understanding

I wonder how your mind will be nourished

will they feed you junk or leftovers

I wonder did you start living at the time of conception

or will you have to wait until you are freed from your parents claws

will life start at 18 for you too

I wonder if you will lose out on life

In order to fulfill your parents lost childhood

will you be daddy’s all star player

or mommy’s perfect little lady

I wonder when you will realize that you are your own soul

And in charge of your thoughts, ideals, and dreams

I wonder if they will let you grow

I wonder if they will let your live

I wonder if they will let you come to know

love and hate

joy and pain

happiness and sorrow

I wonder if we’ll meet on the way to the shrinks office

Trying to untangle our parents lives

So we can finally start living ours

I wonder if…

I wonder when…

I wonder…

I wonder…

EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR LOST LOVE

love never found in their childhood

ASHA

Fly High

Be Free

Connect with those

Who allow you

To be

Sing

In the morning

Sing

At night

Sing

In the noon day

As you prepare

For your

Flight

Dance

Through the valleys

Dance

On the mountain tops

Dance

Across the plains

As you create

The way

Laugh

At the top of your lungs

Laugh

At life

Laugh

At pain

As you grow

Stronger

Have peace

In the storm

Have peace

In the rain

Have peace

In all things

As you transition

Into fame

Fly High

Be Free

Connect with those

Who allow you

To be

Truth

Truth: sincerity in action, character, and utterance

Caught in a web of lies

People talking and not walking

Pain, hurt, frustration

Alienation

Truth

Unheard of among thieves

Honesty

Unthought-of and unconceived

At times death

Appears to be the only escape

To be absent from the body

Is to present with you

Whom among the Living

Is trustworthy and

True

Does one exist

A lifetime of searching

Yet not one has been found

Foolishly I look

Knowing man will continually fail

Hell or heaven

On earth and caught between

Waiting to watch time

Write my final scene

When do get to be

Alone with You

When does the music stop

And truth ring

Is It my time to scream.....yet

Do my shoulders get tired

Will my back break

Will I live to retire

I want to go higher

In You

Is this the road I must walk

Just to sit and talk

At Your feet

Is this the price

I must pay

Is this the cross I must bare

Living in a world of dishonor

Meeting empt smiles

Hearing hollow words

Is this the cost

To find my truth

My emotions must rise and fall

How long can I go

How high can You take me

Trials and tribulations

Must come and go

I believe in You

So i shake the dust

From my feet

Lift my head

Inspite of deceit

There is no defeat in You

To and Fro

To and Fro

To and Fro

Where are the people going to?

I hope their going to

Peace

Love &

Happiness

To and Fro

To and Fro

Where are people coming from?

I hope their moving from…

Confusion

Hate &

Sadness

To and Fro

To and Fro

Many people going to and fro

I hope their going to...

Righteousness

I hope their running from...

Sinful Temptation

To and Fro

To and Fro

All day long the people go to and fro

I hope their coming to their…

Senses

I hope their coming out of

Mental Trenches

To and Fro

To and Fro

Morning, noon, and night people go to and fro

I hope their moving towards…

Unity

Prosperity

Stability

I hope their leaving behind

Division

Lack

Insecurity

To and Fro

To and Fro

In cars, by bus, and on foot the people go to and fro

I hope their going to…

Build

celebrate &

Create

I hope their not going to…

Destroy

Player Hate

Ly and Wait

To and Fro

To and Fro

All year long the people go to and fro

I hope they come across

Health

Wealth &

Liberty

I hope they shake

Sickness

Poverty &

Bondage

To and Fro

To and Fro

365 days of the year, 7 days a week, 24 hour in a day the people go to and fro

I hope their going to challenge…

Politicians

Big Business &

Big Brother

To and Fro

To and Fro

From the 1600’s to 2000 and beyond people have been going to and fro

I hope we start supporting…

Community Ownership

Cultural Awareness

You and Me

To and Fro

To and Fro

Where are you going to when you’re moving to and fro?

I hope you're going to your…

Dreams &

Destiny

I hope you're leaving your…

Fears &

That negative voice you hear

To and Fro

To and Fro

Choose wisely where you go to

Learn from where you’ve come from

WHAT IS SUCCESS

What is my idea of success?

The Whiteman’s idea of success?

Material success

Illegitimate power

Evil ways of getting ahead

Individual advancement

What is success to me?

Who can answer that question?

Do I ask a trusted friend?

Do I watch and observe the white society I live in?

The society that oppresses me and my people

The society that tells me overtly and covertly that I will never succeed

Where do I find the vital answers to the questions?

What? What's that you said?

Look into myself?

Do I need an x-ray machine?

Or some highly advanced technological devices?

Do I need some phony psychologist to tell me who I am?

Look inside myself?

Who am I?

What is my purpose in life?

Am i just another number for some whiteman’s statistics?

Is this what life is all about, finding out who we are?

Is this reality?

Who am I?

I am the daughter of the great Queen’s and King’s of that great nation AFRICA?

In my blood flows richness and the beauty of a civilized people.

A people who deal with life by answering to their morals.

What is morally right?

What is reality?

So you ask what is success to me.

Success is progress.

The type of progress that takes all people to the promise land.

The type of progress that benefits all people.

The type of progress that unites as one.

The type of progress that moves us forward and not backwards.

Success- the movement to unite as one, under one God, moving in one direction, towards one goal, the goal of freedom, equality, and liberation.

As I look around

AS I look around

I appear to be free

no visible shackles

no steel bars around my frame of flesh

yet i am not free

This society has me chained in paper and plastic

I have signed over my mental freedom

When i lay down to sleep

my flesh rest but my soul tosses and turns

wondering why I have entered this world

a world full of hate and greed

willing to let you fall by the waist side

trying to make a living.

Caught up in a catch 22 situation

can’t write a check unless you have a major credit card

now Visa and American Express own part of my monthly income

I keep hearing alot of rhetoric about how free America is,

I have lived here all of my life and

I have never felt the freedom American boast of

Before i became an adult

I thought it was because I was not old enough to feel and experience this freedom.

But as I got older the mental chains got tighter

My frustrations grew because all the television realities did not exist in my America

my hard work was not leading to the “good living”I dreamed about and that I read about in People magazine

I, like many naive American kids, was taught to just accept and not question authority.

I believed in the television and the “great” American history books and now my soul is broken.

I believed in George Jefferson “movin on up to his deluxe apartment in the sky”

I believed in the good old American citizens who work hard only to find out the government only cares about you if you're rich.

Everything looked so good on television and in my limited grade school books,

I never questioned America’s false identity.

Torn in confusion

I find myself asking

Why?

Like a two year old child

But this time I’m not just going to accept the answer given

My soul will no longer accept what appears to be true without looking beyond the facelift television has given to reality.

It is time to mend and repair the damage that society has done to my soul,

The damage I allowed to be done because

I was too naive to know.

Buddy’s Place

Peaceful

Ah I found a spot

Out of my home

Where his spirit roams?

Yeah, I had been here

Many times

But failed to realize his creativity

Lived here

Buddy’s place

You know

That joint on the corner

Slauson and Rimpau

Yeah, that’s the spot

Kinda hot

Phat in fact

Can’t you see it?

It’s bigger than life

No, no you’re not fooling me.

I’m talking about Buddy’s Place.

You’re stuck on the Burger joint.

Come with me.

From Rimpau to Mullen

North to South

Buddy’s Place