Poems by Rosa Velez

Poems by Rosa Velez

THE AWAKENED HEART

The awakened heart covered, protected, frozen almost as hard as a block of ice

Slowly—it’s beating slowly it’s awakening trying to find rhythm trying to find peace in her womb of cobwebs

No child can survive within this womb for darkness, coldness exists

Yet how can we protect and keep this child warm when cobwebs cover her head?

Cobwebs, frozen as icicles, shield her surroundings

A seed— A little flicker tries to break free from the concrete of her heart a light has entered, her soul is burning with passion.

She stops…panics…and then she gives in. The awakened heart sleeps no more. LOVE SONG

Like a bird that sings early in the day Late at evening, and at dusk, I open my wings to let the summer breeze embrace me— My cheeks flushed with emotion My heart knocking at your door My eyes glistening with dizziness What is this thing called love? Love, love, love— such a silly emotion, such an exciting emotion, feeling the rush in my veins

The pounding in my heart

Love, love, love— such a silly emotion, but if you don’t open up your heart your life won’t have any song.

Aahhh—love— Sing to me again!

CONSIDER A CHANGE

Consider a change If you wake up one morning and your legs feel numb and you ain’t feeling life anymore.

Consider a change If you try to sleep and your sleep is your self constantly awake, eyes…shut, wide open.

Consider a change if the sun passed your home this morning and darkness decided to move into your “living room.”

Consider a change if your friends reminded you to live… You took it for granted, and you didn’t wake up this morning…

Life is a gift. Consider a change. AN ANGEL FROM ABOVE

As a guide from beyond you sent me this virus… I thought I’d curse the world, my partner myself for not knowing any better.

But then my son was also sent this virus through my placenta… God filtered your illness.

He sent you strength, courage love compassion—

He sent me… A reason to live

For I thought I’d give up on life. My dad was also dying of this disease. But no, as an Angel from above, You saved me. As your Mom, I had to fight back. You were born against all odds, and for this, I had to live, against all odds. You are the reason I live.

Thank you for the blessing of hope. Thank you for the blessing of you.

I love you, my son. My Angel from above.

Poems by Tea For Me (Airline)

ADVOCATE

Tell someone something Do something Make it happen Keep it going as far as you can Tell someone everything There is to tell Be a part of a mass movement Go all the way Say something Don’t be afraid to be a man… Advocates don’t wait Do something now Before it’s too late Make a stand for all of us who’ve seen too much… Advocate Don’t wait

SUNDANCE

As long as the memory is still here, we will have the essence of longing speaking to each other all through yesterday’s solace, a place where we have all been, under the sun, amongst the thorns, between the big, beautiful sun rays as they do their sundance against the meadow reaching out to caress you and I together, looking away to see yet another song in the sky—Sundance

A LOVE 4 ME

Of course there is a love a love for me, a love so wonderful only the heart can see. Will I love until eternity? Will I love until the world can see that there is love, a love for me… a love just for me?

JUST BEING ME

Sitting on the porch, just looking out at the grassy knoll, I see a family of butterflies flying in circles above a sunflower… Oh, I wish I could be that lovely sunflower basking in the beautiful rays of the morning sun, feeling the soft morning breeze blowing through my petals as I feel the warm earth around my feet. As the family of butterflies sing love songs around my head, Oh, the beauty of it all! Just being able to enjoy life and to enjoy all that life has to offer me— and all that I have to offer, just being me.

YESTERDAY’S PROMISE

Oh my love, how I’ve yearned to hear your soft voice whispering to me again— yesterday’s promise. As we sit together under the moon’s light listening to our hearts beat as one, loving life, feeling as one mind, one soul, one breath melting together under the night’s wondrous glow… Yesterday’s promise, a new beginning, a new dawn, a new chance at love, at life, at sweet memories in today’s reality, awoken in yesterday’s promise.

Poems by Reginald C. Pulliam

I RISE

From yesterday, I rise and I rise, only to fall again and again

From today, I fall and fall, only to rise and rise again

For every yesterday, where I rise and every today where I fall…

I look to a new tomorrow with new eyes to see new crevices, new pitfalls, new dangers, and so: I shall continue to rise and fall and rise and rise again THE STONE

Can a stone speak, speak, speak? Flowing magma doesn’t leak, leak, leak. No, it flows like the river, deep, deep, deep. But where does it go and what does it seek, seek, seek?

Can a stone that once flowed sing, sing, sing? What is its purpose, what does it bring, bring, bring?

Can a rock, once Jello make me a merry fellow?

Can a diamond, once coal bring me back to the fold?

So I ask with great desire can a stone bring back my fire?

There is a Rock, hewn so true. That Rock is Jesus. He speaks to me and he speaks to you!

PAIN?

Unendurable pain… Can I let it go?

Unendurable shame… Mustn’t let it show.

Unendurable hurt Will it lessen in the by and by???

Unendurable sorrow Perhaps I’ll do it, perhaps I’ll cry.

Unendurable life… Pain shared is pain lessened.

Unimaginable journey… Somehow I’ve learned this sojourn’s lesson.

Indescribable joy… Through the arch of pain endured.

Immeasurable happiness…cascading over the slope Begins with pain unendurable, yet full of hope THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY

Inspired by “My Father’s Love Letters” by Yusef Komunyakaa

Friday was my day, forget you day, Indulge me day.

Never did I reflect day, became a cry day for wife & kids day.

Never home day, with someone else day, lascivious passions day.

Thank God for Friday. It’s by and by day, time to sigh day.

Thank God it’s Friday, made my peace day I can fly day.

Now it’s Friday, not get high day, not regret

day. Now I rise day…Yes…

It’s Friday!!!

in admitting to being human u analyze the stages of your life & the painful loss of closeness

u lose by leaving & being left by letting go & moving on by separations & departures & your conscious & unconscious loss of romantic dreams tells your ♥ that u are here on your own that u have 2 accept the flaws in the human connection

confronting your dreams & detaching from others that all u will never have & never will be

your past wishes & passions inhabit your present & that energy outside of your awareness shapes your life & hope begins

it is not impossible 2 do things differently 2 take it out & 2 look at it your love for that person will always be

live it forgive yourself transfer the past & understand that it is effortless 2 undo 2 rewrite

lay 2 rest those ghosts that all you’ve ever wanted was 2 love & be loved

your urge was for union & creation essentially what we must of necessity lose

use them 2 express yourself something u dare not wish for

it is forbidden & impossible 2 merge & separate 2 be close & alone

2 look at this & live through pain assess yourself & the reality something that is actually there recognize that this image is a memory in your mind not a presence in your bedroom accept its terms its limitations & flaws

reality now cannot offer u unconditional love no special treatment or absolute control

u ask 2 much from people u love & u ask 2 much from yourself now

take x learn 2 balance your dreams & your realities the illusions, the unconscious vision of how things should’ve been this heartless person has proven so

all u wanted was 2 be talked 2 2 know how he felt 2 take off his mask & be vulnerable

all u wanted was 2 walk under the stars & ride 2 the moon 2 bow 2 love’s limits & fragilities

so now u mourn a coming-apart friendship facing the loss of what we once had

Poem by i.a.

Poems by Robert James

FANTASY

Before I leap, I look. The water is like a sheet in the wind, held by creatures. It’s like you are in a cartoon when the water is so clear that you can see your body in the water with multi-colored fish, you can walk in the water and nobody bothers you and you feel free. It feels and looks beautiful. It’s like a fantasy.

WHAT LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME

Life has taught me to deal with life and to survive in the streets to look out for yourself. When I grew up, it was hard for me. When I was 18 years old, I started to make my own money to survive out in the streets and also to take care of my mother. At that time, I always kept to myself just to avoid trouble and the attitude that people have out here. But basically in life, this is it: “Life’s a bitch out here. You just know and learn to survive out here.”

RIDING ON THE TRAIN

When you’re riding on any train going to your destination, you are watching who’s on the train, what they are wearing, who’s getting on…if they are playing music, if they are dancing, if they are panhandling. Some come on the train with their pets. You see homeless people sleeping. You see people drinking or going between the cars, smoking. You see mothers with their children crying when you are riding on the train every day. It’s like an episode: “Riding To Get To Your Destination.”

EVERY MORNING

Every morning when I wake up I try to be in a good mood. Sometimes I am depressed. Sometimes I am in my own world. I get along with people that I can talk to, laugh and joke around with them. But at times, I like being by myself to think things out, listen to my music. At times, I like to do positive and good things like volunteer to work in soup kitchens to occupy my time during the day. Then I go home to watch some TV or listen to some music, and call it a day.

Poems by Luther Jarman

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

Rich people had sidewalks Poor people the dirt roads The doves and hawks People carrying a heavy load

Dark clouds and black smoke from the garbage dump A bullfrog sitting on a hollow stump The tar baby and the Klan sheets Tell me where heaven and hell meets?

The pigeon, nasty and rude The red bird looking for his food Fresh gingerbread blowing in the air Crack-heads living without a care

Rich people had sidewalks Poor people the dirt road The doves and hawks People carrying a heavy load

Lord, forgive me of my sins and let the sidewalk end

THIS OLD HOUSE OF MINE

This old house of mine Needs repairing all the time It’s one of a kind Rare and hard to find I didn’t come from good stock But I built my house on the rock I don’t build my house on sand Because I am a soul man And on trust I stand This old house of mine Needs repairing all the time It’s one of a kind Rare and hard to find This old house of mine

THINGS TO THINK!

Think about the best Not the worst Think about being a blessing Not a curse Think about the good Not the bad Think about being happy Not being sad Think about winning Not losing Think about staying sober And not boozing Think about love And not hate Good things come to those that wait LEOPARD LADY

Can a black man change the color of his skin? Or a leopard change its spots? O Leopard Lady, you are so sexy and hot. You fly like a bat. You move like a cat. Cat-woman ain’t got nothing on you! You’re so sweet, so loving, so true. Leopard Lady, I love you!

BRONX BLUES

50 years ago In Cincinnati, Ohio If you told me I would be 62 Dealing with the Bronx Blues I would say, No way, José! I got the Bronx Blues on a snowy day. I say: I got the Bronx Blues on a snowy day. Oh! How I wish the Bronx Blues would go away. 62, paying my dues. Dealing with the Bronx Blues. 62, paying my dues. Dealing with the Bronx Blues. 62, paying my dues. Dealing with the Bronx Blues. YEAH!

Steve Lewis (a.k.a. Latin Gorilla)

TASTE

How may I describe God’s greatest creation? The first time our eyes met you cut me with a bitter look. A sour taste filled my mouth, wondering what could be so salty. I cursed you yesterday, but I pledge to Him and His grace to bring a sweet, sparkling smile to your face on our departure. And if I had a wish… I wish to taste your nectar, or better yet, O Mami, from your lips.

IS THERE AN ANGEL IN MY CORNER?

I write to my soul… nightmares, cries due to recklessness my yesteryears, the jinn whispers in my ear (whasa whasa), Sleep, be at rest. You’ll bump your head when you come from rest. I can’t shake him off, for he’s stronger than ever. I “dicker.” Odu bella heam mina saton areejeem. Lord, I seek refuge from Satan… Am keeping me on the straight and narrow path. I toss and turn in my dream. But my dream nightmares. I’m running, dodging my fear… My future of succeeding is chasing me. My pillow is folded with the grains of salt, the cascade out my windows of life. They say the devil is a liar. But the guy who rewrote the Bible was a bigger one. With my last breath, I submit, and all I ask:

Is there an angel in my corner?