The Art Scholar Sample Issue of EGO Magazine

Student Magazine Southern University Vol. 4 - No. 2 March 2010 ISSN 1936-1793

cONteNtS

Creative Arts Society

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On the cover: Shenell and Shontrell Johnson’s senior project, a mural composed of African art along with works from artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Michelangelo and .John Biggers. See page 24 for full breakdown of the mural.

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EGO-CENTRIC 02 From The Editor 04 Picture Perfect 12 EGO Feature

26 A Place of Their Own

A student and a recent grraduate discuss their role in the creation of the jaguar sculptures located at John B. Cade Library and near F.G. Clark Activity Center.

28 Scholars Sample

SELF-IMAGE Cover Story 16 The Mural

Art students went years without a place to showcase their works ... until the Visual Arts Student Showcase opened.

A sampling of works created by Southern University students.

IN CLOSING 42 Poetry Writings of Southern University students.

A set of campus twins discuss their senior project and the work that went into it.

Ego Magazine |March 2010

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frOM tHe eDitOr

ISSN 1936-1793 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Suite 1064 – T.H. Harris Hall P.O. Box 10180 Baton Rouge, LA 70813 225.771.3004 PHONE 225.771.3253 FAX The EGO magazine is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Southern University and A&M College.

The EGO magazine is published fives times a year with a run count of 3,000 copies per issue during the Southern University – Baton Rouge campus fall, spring and summer semesters.

The magazine is free to students, staff, faculty every publication morning on the SUBR campus. The EGO magazine student offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. The offices are located on the first floor on T.H. Harris Hall, Suite 1064.

Copyright 2007 by the Southern University Office of Student Media Services.

All articles, photographs and graphics are property of EGO magazine and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without the written permission of the Editor in Chief and Director of Media Services.

The EGO magazine is the official student magazine of Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, La. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student body.

Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website: www.saccscoc. org.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Norman Dotson Jr. Erica S. Johnson Billy Washington

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Wil Norwood Christopher Russell April Buffington

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF Camelia Gardner, Ad Man. Fredrick Batiste, Pub. Asst.

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

For this issue, I strayed away from the traditional style of Ego’s Scholar Sample issue, to highlighted not only the artistry of students who attend Southern University, but also the work that the students in the college of Arts and Humanities are involved in.

First, I must thank the professors, students and affiliates of the college of arts and humanities, as they provided excellent work and made themselves readily available for the betterment of this Ego issue. (Special thanks to the Visual Arts Society, along with Assistant Professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts Robert Cox).

Also, we decided to feature some of our student artists for their outstanding work, including some biographical information and a picture posted with their work. I sincerely feel that if one of us shines, we all shine!

Because the department of visual and performing arts is involved in so much, we decided to do a few feature stories. This is a new idea that will give our reader’s an idea of what’s going on at our university and possibly may make them understand that we have growing aspirations that we are actively pursuing.

In addition to Ego’s staff, I must also send another THANKS to Christopher Russell.

Knowing that former photo editor Wil Norwood has graduated onto big ger horizons, he stepped up and showcased his skills not only with his artistry, but also with his diligence, patience and eye for good work. You are greatly appreciated.

I am still growing as your editor-in-chief, but I am blessed to have people in place to give me expert advice ( you know who you are); it’s an honor to have your respect and I am proud to put in the hours that I have, in order to ensure overall satisfaction in our publication (as I promised).

In the upcoming Ego magazine, we will profile our new head football coach “Stump’”Mitchell. Also, with the Omega’s “return to the yard,” we have decided to feature their organization, as they and other greek organizations explain their perspective on fraternity life.

In addition to those stories, we have decided to feature a student who is not the traditional student, but one who has overcome trials and has cemented himself in the every day culture of Southern University.

Well, I don’t want to give you everything just yet, but I will give you this issue and tell you the best is still yet to come!

ENJOY,

Darrius

Ego Magazine | Fall 2008

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picture perfect

A Steady Watch

Joshua Gray keeps his eyes on a picture of the eyes of a jaguar as he paints in a Hayden Hall hallway.

Photograph by Robert Cox Further illustration by Wil Norwood

Ego Magazine | March 2010

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On the corner Mark Mornear adds touches to his drawing in Hayden Hall.

Photograph by Robert Cox

All Paws

April Baham works on a part of one of the murals located in Hayden Hall.

Photograph by Robert Cox

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

Enjoying the View

Art majors Travis Pickett, far left, and Patrick Daniels, right, check out art created by fellow students.

Photograph by Robert Cox

“Under the Hood�

Graphite Drawing

by Shontrell Johnson

Ego Magazine | Spring 2009

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R O A R R E S T O R E D

ego feature

E G O

A Southern University student and a recent SU graduate took some paint, a good bit of concrete, some ingenuity and a lot of elbow grease to create nearly life-sized sculptures of jaguars for display on campus. EGO talks to the artists to learn more about the process of creating the new-look jaguars.

By Erica S. JohnSon

PhotograPhs by Wil NorWood image desigN by briaN CaiN

W

hat is a university without a mascot? Not only for a university but for any school.

A sense of

pride, worth, and accomplishment is felt whenever I hear someone proudly shout “Jaguar Nation!” Either passing through the hallways of Stewart Hall or walking in to an administrator’s office one can see just how Southern’s pride for their mascot goes beyond simply the love of a simple cat. The days of having a live mascot are gone [rest in peace Lacumba], and without a three dimensional reminder of our strong feline the point of a mascot often drifted through my mind.

Up until last fall this my doubts had gone unaddressed.

Thanks to the collective efforts between several different departments the young scholars at Southern can enjoy, appreciate and find the beauty and value of hand-painted, life-like sculptures located around campus, for now and years to come.

Next time your walk past John B. Cade library, stop and marvel at the penetrating eyes of the jaguar mounted in front of the building; or on your drive past the minidome, look atop the hill that reads “SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY” and notice the life-like animal protecting those letters. Because of the

unified effort of upper administration, the horticultural, and art department, Southern can marvel at the only hand painted sculptures on campus to date.

Sculptures, mounting, hand painting, sounds expensive for a school dramatized by budget cuts, right? Wrong.

It’s the most common misconception I’ve heard,” Jazzlyn Whitfield says almost laughing, “very few people actually know that those sculptures were made,” she says as she humbly leans back in her seat.

They weren’t just made by anyone, Whitfield a 21-year-old New Orleans native, and Jamal Tyson, a 23-year-old Southern graduate hand painted the solid concrete sculptures that now help beautify campus.

Unveiled around early May 2009 the sculptures are now awaiting plaques that Whitfield says the Chancellor should be collecting and will display both her, and Tyson’s information so proper credit can be given. It has been months since the unveiling and still no sign of a plaque but the lack of recognition for her work doesn’t make Whitfield angry. “When I hear people ask if the jaguars were bought, it shows me and the art department that the university isn’t use to seeing us contributing on campus.” Her statement has some truth to it. Indeed the art department is possibly one of the most overlooked departments on Southern’s campus. Walk inside the art building (Hayden Hall), however, and the strength of the department is apparent. The walls reflect the talents of students who have passed through the halls currently and from years Ego Magazine | March 2010

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Photo by Robert Cox/SU Art Department

prior. The new art gallery that premiered in October 2009 and remains erect, is an open gallery where award-winning students have their art displayed for viewing and purchasing purposes. Examples of Whitfield’s work can be seen outside of the art building in the computer lab of the library, and now with the jaguar in front of John B. Cade.

It is easy to see how proud Whitfield is even when she remains mellow as she describes her feelings after seeing her tedious work completed. “We worked in and out of the classroom for about a month.” She coolly states, “I painted over each spot three of four times,” she explains. My eyes widen, “We wanted to avoid a ‘cartoonish’ look, we went for life-like.” Went for, and accomplished. We may not have made the sculptures,” Tyson says, “But we definitely brought them to life.” You don’t need to be an artist to image the intensity that is involved with having concrete as your canvas. The sculptures, that were donated by a Jaguar dealership, were hand cleaned, dried, primed, set with a base color and received about five different shades of color before completion. “The work was quite tedious,” Tyson says with a stretch as if he just got up from completing hours of work, “We would be there till 3am sometimes, and remind you, we did this all unpaid.”

For students who have left their paw print, for lack of a better cliché, on SU, Whitfield and Tyson are remarkably concerned with the art department as a whole.

“This is a stepping stone for the art department. Students, administration, and community members will see that the art department does contribute (to the university).” Whitfield admits that the recognition for the talents hidden inside Frank Hayden hall must come from the art majors. “Se-

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

niors and every classification really must reach out to the university, we’ve never done that before. But now with Mr. Cox’s help we are starting to make strides.” Professor Robert Cox, who asked Ms. Whitfield to paint the sculptures, is a fine arts professor in the art department.

“On every occasion that I have seen Professor Cox he has been thoroughly engaged with students and the completion of their work. Ask any art major and it is clear that they feel the support of their administrators like the compassionate arms of a family member,” said Whitfield; perhaps this is why Jazzlyn refuses to let me stroke her ego for more than a sentence at a time before she redirects her accomplishments as those shared by the entire art department. Jamal knows the struggles the art department faces as each artist ensures their major is seen as something ‘real.’ “The world resolves around art, the Black community especially,” he says, “it’s almost funny that people see art majors as taking it easy; truly being an artist is mentally and physically draining. People may not understand now, but they will,” he finished. The family pack that the art department shares evokes the true value of the sculptures now on campus. The real loyalty and confidence that represent a jaguar can permeate from the sculptures with the ambience they project into the presence of every student on the ‘yard.’ With a constant image of our mascot now visibly displayed, we too should follow in the art departments footsteps and empower each other as a university and family to become and stay adaptable, opportunistic, and powerful; which are the same characteristics of a jaguar. We are the Jaguar Nation.—EGO

Ego Magazine | March 2010

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Graphite Drawing

by Brittany Pierre

“ViolenceVLove”

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

The Bluff

Photo By Alisha Savoy

Ego Magazine | March 2010

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1st Place

Brian Cain poses next to his first place honor receiving woodcut, “Il Adore�

2nd place

Christopher Russell

3nd place

Ethan Tran

1st Honorable Mention Shontrell Johnson

2nd Honorable Mention Heather Holliday

“Listen Up”

Lloyd G. Wade giving art majors “the business”

ego cover spread

E G O

The Mural

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

Twin art majors, Shenell and Sontrell Johnson, decided to “go big” for their senior project.

Instead of the traditional canvas size project, they set their sites on something a bit larger in scale.

“ Art to us is not

a hobby, it’s our life. We use art in our everyday lives. Art is our passion and we had the opportunity to show how passionate we are about our art. ” Ego Magazine | Spring 2009

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

It’s interesting, I think a lot of black people will turn against Barack because they will expect him to be the “Black President,” but in order for him to be successful, he’s going to have to be president for everyone and we haven’t had that before.

Ego Magazine | March 2010

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ego interview

E G O

A place to call their own

Myesha Collins

By norman J. DotSon Jr. “Art is not the possession of the few who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic expression of any and all individuality.” -John Dewey, Time and Individuality (1940) Art can be found in any aspect of our everyday lives and comes in a variety of different forms, shapes, and mediums. Art in itself is a medium of self-expression where one can display the contents of their heart, body, and soul. Without this medium life would be dull and bland,

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

and here at Southern University our art department understands the importance of art to not only the artists that create, but to the world that it influences.

EGO sat down with Robert Cox, art department chair, to discuss the importance of showcasing student artwork to the world around it.

“I tell my students this all the time, I’ve only met one person in my life who said they didn’t like art and I couldn’t under-

stand it because everyone likes art at some level. In my experience with teaching understanding the arts, I have had several students that tell me that they are so glad they took the class and gain the opportunity to learn about art to have a better appreciation of it. Now when they go out to art galleries they can identify styles and artists by name as well the different mediums used to create the artwork; not in an elitist attitude, but like in everything else in our society like music or food you can have a better understanding of it, which allows you to appreciate it more.”

Homecoming Week was the grand reopening of the gallery for the art department.

“The contractors were planning to have it completed back in the spring,” says Cox, “but I proposed to the rest of the faculty that we postpone the opening until the fall to give the students plenty of time to prepare in addition to the fact that I wanted to do something grand. Which is what we ended up doing. I didn’t want just some run of the mill student show, I wanted to do it in such a way that we could make more people know about it and attract a bigger crowd. So over the summer I looked over the calendar for the year and I wanted to wait until after midterms and then it donned on me that that was homecoming. So what I did, I called and inquired with the homecoming committee and proposed to them the idea; it was voted in by a unanimous decision to include us. It worked out perfectly for us, we estimated about a thousand people were there that night. Out of any gallery that I have ever been to, or worked at, I don’t think I have ever seen a thousand people come out to an opening before even for a big name.”

The gallery exceeded many people’s expectations of what a student gallery is usually thought to be, the quality of work presented and preparation that went into this grand reopening was at a high standard of professionalism and style.

“What I wanted to happen was that when people from outside places come to view the gallery they would say ‘WOW!!

Students did this?’ and I feel that’s what happened. Some people expected when they heard the words student show they were expecting for stuff to be hanging off of boards and strung up on thumb tacks, they weren’t expecting to see a professional presentation. The renovation and presentation were so professionally done and the quality of work the students presented was so professional, that people just assumed that professional artists did these. I am indeed very proud of all of them.”

Having this art gallery on campus for the students to use has opened up opportunities for them to showcase their work to Southern University but also to others who appreciate art and what it has to offer them.”

Robert Cox

The hard work and professionalism paid off as it gain the art department and students some much deserve attention and praise.

“Aside from the media coverage and attention that we have gotten. The students have been invited to participate in an exhibition that takes place in New Orleans that opens Martin Luther King Day. Its organized by an organization called the National Conference of Artists, which is a national organization for African American artists, so in response to what they saw here they invited my students along with myself and one of our faculty members. Even bigger than that, our Congressman Bill Cassidy has invited students to present their work in his district office here in Baton Rouge and his national office which is in Washington D.C. so that’s pretty big. So the five students that won will have their work presented in Washington D.C. Two of his staff members came and they were only supposed to stay a few minutes and ended up staying for a couple of hours which was pretty amazing and they chose three other students to present their work here in Baton Rouge in the district office.”

So it is clear to see that art is a very important component here at SU. Art can open a world of opportunity and imagination.

“Any great work of art ... revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of its success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world — the extent to which it invites you in and lets you breathe its strange, special air.”

-Leonard Baskin, Publishers Weekly (5 April 1965).—EGO

Ego Magazine | March 2010

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MOTNER NATURE SERIES Acrylic paintings

Ebone Etienne Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: My father played the piano, cooked, sang, and drew; it was a must that I learned something he was talented in.

Credentials: Recognized as an art scholar by the LA Capitol Chapter of the Links Inc. Art displayed at the Hip Hop Lecture during the Chancellor’s Lecture Series.

Participated in three consecutive student art shows. I won third place for a drawing, and honorable mention for a sculpture.

Future Aspirations: I plan to learn more about art, of course, and later be able to pass on the knowledge through teaching. I wish to find my specialty in ceramics.

ceramic pottery

SCHOLAR SAMPLES

E G O

“Simply Intricate” Ego Magazine | Spring 2009

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“Los Calaveras” Etching

Jai “Home” Linoleum cut

Brian Cain

“Past & Present” Graphite

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Ego Magazine | Spring 2009

Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: I am influenced by the environment, people, music, world history and artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Credentials: I won first place at Southern University’s Fall 2009 Student Art Exhibition. I am also a Ya/Ya Guild Artist.

Future Aspirations: I want to become a human rights activist and a professor of arts.

‘Untitled” woodcut

“Take off” Black and White Linoleun cut

“Rings” Graphite

“No more Pain” Graphite Medium

Landscape Portrait Choarcoal Medium

“Velmar’s Daughters” Graphite Medium

“Shine on me” Graphite & Color Pencil

Heather Holliday Hometown: Clinton, La Influences: I am inspired by anything that moves me: music, family, people, culture, life in general.

Credentials: I am the secretary of the Creative Arts Society.

I received second honorable mention in the student exhibition. My work has been chosen to be exhibited in congressman Bill Cassidy’s Washington D.C. office in 2010.

Future Aspirations: I want to be a freelance artist and elementary school art teacher.

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

Jazzlyn Whitfield Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: Environment and imagination Credentials: I’ve earned experience in mural painting, drawing and print making.

Presented work to influential people such as Jessie Jackson and other artists.

Future Aspirations: To continue graduate school in California, Georgia or Washington, D.C.

“Yung Sino” Graphite & Color Pencil

“In the Womb” Wood Cut Ego Magazine | March 2010

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“Under the Hood” Graphite Medium

linonium cut

“Holding it Together” Lost wax process (Aluminum mask)

Shontrell Johnson

“Delta” Painting

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: When I was six I wanted to create my own cartoon. I have two creative parents (so) the creativity was instilled in me even though they don’t know how to draw they are talented in other areas.

Now I have the artistic ability I want to display my talent and use it for myself and the community.

Credentials: I am working on my Bachelors degree in Visual Arts. I contributed to the mural on the gallery wall. I received recognition for the mural from Tumey’s Travel (a news station) and Max 94.1 radio station.

Future Aspirations: I hope to one day own my own business (partnering with my twin sister) working with graphic designs, flyers, screen printing, and custom clothing. I want to travel to different hospitals and work on murals in the pediatric wards. I always want to be an inspiration to future artists.

Shenell Johnson Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: My father Clarence Johnson is my main influence. He and my mother can’t draw a stick but both are very creative in many ways.

With their creativity and my talent I’ve become a great artist.

Credentials: I won first honorable mention in the Student Art Exhibition. I was also recognized on Tumey’s Travels and Max 94.1 for a mural I created.

Future Aspirations: I plan to further my education with a masters in Art. During that process I want to teach children art, and the history behind it. I also want to travel to hospitals with my “Looking beyond the ordinary” twin sister and paint in the children’s wards.

Graphite Medium

“Cowrie Love” Lost wax process (Aluminum mask)

“Face Behind the Mask” Graphite Medium

“Cool Blue” Painting Ego Magazine | March 2010

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“Dave Chappelle as Tyrone Biggums” Black Ink

“House” Black Ink

Travis Pickett Hometown: New Orleans, La Influences: Andy Warhol Credentials: I’ve been creating art since the 4th grade.

Throughout the years I’ve been exposed to many different art forms and I am currently the Vice President of the Southern University Creative Arts Society.

Future Aspirations: I will continue on to graduate school and obtain my masters in graphic design to work in media graphics. I also want to obtain a certification to teach on the high school or collegiate level.

“Sounds of Destruction” Etching

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

Roderick Anderson Hometown: Baton Rouge, La (Eden Park) Influences: The people in the streets influenced me to go to the Art Institute in Atlanta.

Didn’t master craft until I got to Southern; they taught me the importance of being a professional.

Future Aspirations: I plan to use my skill to establish a corporation founded for art. Will partner with artists and focus on advertising, sculptures, prints, paintings, and book publishing. We will offer scholar internships, provide jobs, and offer vocational videos to future business owners.

“Pac” Graphite Medium

“Dreaming to a song” Graphite Medium

“Greatest Hit” Color Pencil on brown paper “Keep your head up” (King) Graphite Medium

Wil Norwood

“Super Terrorist” Graphic Design “Jeff Spits Hot Fire” Photo

Hometown: Baton Rouge Influences: Life.

Look at what’s around me and what’s going on to gather inspiration. Started photography after Dr. Kennedy’s class. Also, comics, cartoons and

things like that.

Credentials: I have a few cool accomplishments. My highlight in photography was shooting a photo of Serena Williams. I’ve also shoot for the SWAC, Southern, and organizations such the SU Deltas, Zetas and Sigmas.

Future aspirations: I hope to shoot for magazines, and hopefully have the sickest photos ever seen. Not to mention, I do some pretty cool videos.

“Serena W.” Photo “Ashley Alter Ego” Composite Photo “Untitled” Photo

“D Major”

“Pushing off dem h8ters” Graphic Design “Dang Ma” Graphic Design

“Getting Ready” Graphic Design

“Beautiful Smile” Graphic Design

Christopher Russell Hometown: Vivian, La Influences: I am influenced by photographer Dave Hill and professor Robert Cox. Credentials: I am the third place winner of the 2005 student art show, I received honorable mention in the 2007 show, and won second place in the 2009 show.

Future Aspirations: I want to combine traditional art medians with computer graphics. I also want to teach or mentor in computer graphics.

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Ego Magazine | March 2010

“Elegant stare” Graphic Design

“Sidewayz Sunrize” Graphic Design

“Awareness” Graphic Design

“Big Bang” (Birth of a solar system) Graphic Design “Untitled” (Up in smoke) Graphic Design

“Ebony Blue” Graphic Design

“Along Came a Spider” Graphic Design

Ego Magazine | Fall 2008

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E G O

POETRY “Growth”

“Black Beauty”

I find myself amazed

Eyes with colors of boldness

And want to give the “most up high” praise

Brown, hazel, and green

For letting me observe

Or maybe

The beautiful coteries

It’s the gleam

Of black queens

When I feel inspiration,

And I taste the tears shed.

My pen leaks through the paper,

I feel the pen as it leaks through the paper

When I raise my voice in anger,

I raise thoughts and actions to fill my mind,

My mind fills with thoughts and actions, When I cry myself to sleep, My soul prays to god for relief, When I am worn to exhaustion,

I cry out to God for relief I wear my body to crave relaxation, As I write, type and speak, I feel the existence.

Your color defines what

My body craves for rest and relaxation,

I understand my experience.

Your personality is like

As I write, type, and speak,

Who I am will never change.

Bold, with attitude, and sexy

I feel the existence,

I grow stronger,

You deserve the praise

The experience,

As I write,

And not the maze

I feel what I am saying,

As I speak,

To enhance what you wear

That has been negatively

I hear what it will sound like,

And as my pen leaks.

Like an African goddess

Portrayed about you

I see what it looks like,

That makes men of all colors stare

Being ghetto, loud and messy

I smell its scent,

Of the trinkets you wear I show the upmost respect Towards you So a hoe I wouldn’t dare Your complexion is made up of dark hues

Are all traits

And the hair

That should be erased

So many creations can be made from it

And diminished

“UNTITLED”

BUT IT WASNT THAT BAD

DREAMING OF GREAT THINGS

BECAUSE I GAZED INTO HER EYES

Like wraps

From the minds of many

A funky hair do

But there are plenty

Or long braids

Of people like myself

Black beauty

That adores your creation

BUT MORE OF LOVE OF MY LIFE

Is a very unique beauty

I love black beauty

WHOSE LOST LOVE MAY HAVE SOME STINGS

That other races try

Everyone should

BUT I JUST CAN’T HELP

But when attempted

Everyone should respect the beauty for a person

THE WAY I FELT WHEN I SAW HER

It’s a blessing

With natural valorous pigments of hues

From God to be a black creation

This poem is sincerely dedicated to you

WHEN I SEE HER

Black Beauty

A STRONG FORCE HAS STOPPED MY HEART

It appears ugly and dry

The translation “Be proud of your color”

BY: Billy Washington

NOT JUS PLATINUM CHAINS CONNECTED 2 DIAMOND RINGS

THE WAY I FEEL

COLLAPSING INTO A WORLD FALLING INTO THE SKY

“Letters in Me” Brittany Pierre

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BY: Evan Taylor

Ego Magazine | March 2010

I SAW MA SELF HOLDIN HER AND I WAS SO CLOSE SO TENDER IS THIS THE FEELING WHERE I STOP MY PROMISCUOUS WAYS END MY BED HOPPING DAYS CANCEL MY PLAYERS CARD AND I ASK HER TO SIGN HER TITLE OVER TO ME BE MY WIFE FOR ETERNITY

BY: TREVOR JAMES

“Outside” i left to take a walk on the Otherside, or so They call it

Outside is what i call it.

Outside of the box Outside of the boundaries (you should know because this is not where i was when u found me)

breaking the locks of the chains of mental captivity where i can breathe fresh air, and maintain exposure to never ending sun light [ you see when the moon shines at night she’s reflecting the sunslight]

i am freeing my dome of this fatal mentality, this spiritual block

They call it the Otherside because they are comfortable with simplistic rationality

They call it the Otherside because they prefer religious technicality over emotional and mental spirituality

first step is sizing up the wall, breaking down the barrier, planning your ascent, conquering YOUR mind inhibitions and all.

They call it the Otherside because they are unaware of the divine God essence in us all

[it is easier to pronounce faith when you feel you are unable to fall]

[ you see God is not the name for the most high it is a term used to describe an idealized untouchable master mortal]

They are afraid to step out because there self inhibiting blindness has them believing that they are so high up.. yet one unfamiliar step they are afraid that they will shift and they will fall.

That Box has taken there power, that self inhbiting fear of flying has got them afraid to run, and that “righteous” walk has turned into a crawl. and the desire to step out is hampered by the fear of habitual-livingwithdraw.

I call it outside of the box because because the

i call it outside of the box because my breathing is no longer conflicted, and my being no longer restricted

because i know that not one pure thought can evince without acknowledging the presence of the Creator within

i call it outside of the box because i know that nothing can manifest without my physical bodyaccepting my ethereal being

i am outside of the box because i am peering back in through Your eyes and i see you trapped Inside, your soul is out of air and your spirit in a constant reprise

“Untitled” I feel like a Rose, with thorns so deep all I touch bleeds.

I feel like a Rose, with my pedals of trust, love, and self respect dwindling away as I age.

I feel like a Rose, my leaves of enjoyment falling off under the heavy weight of this rain called life.

I feel like a Rose, picked so many times the dirt I call home won’t even take me back.

I feel like a Rose, wanting to be plucked with love and tucked behind a joyous ear, kept on a wall to dry with great respect for all to see.

So one day the story of my existence can be shared. So that my life can actually mean something substantial.

So my whole world wasn’t just another rose, another copy, but instead, the only rose picked from the daisies.

BY: Channing Moreland

“Dear, To whom it may concern…”

So I do apologize for the acts I did commit.

Damn, what was done to you to have your precious heart removed?

To many to make a list so I chose to write a script

Am I the one to blame for you being in this mood?

Ensuring the chance of repeating myself doesn’t exist.

If so then follow close because this here was made for you Hate was never my intention and some things I didn’t do.

The things that were done were mainly ‘cause I was young.

But to what I said about the people I affect, When I grow I tend to learn so I’m learning what I did.

So don’t let the evil win because of what I’ve done to you

Did I fight? Did I fall? Did I lie? Was I Dumb?

You miss your own blessing when you’re watching what I do

All would have to be a “yes”

Find your own way so you can find that lost heart

Haven’t failed every test That’s because I work hard to guarantee I pass the next.

That being said, your hate is probably legit

BY: E. Sage

This way you can forgive which is always the best start.

Don’t refuse to play your part ‘cause its needed as a spark To help the young improve and make a

path for them to walk.

Can’t begin to help unless you’re right with yourself So please improve yourself before you judge someone else.

What I’m writing should be felt by all who value self.

Time to make a better you before ya start to see regret.

Neva see myself in that Handle mine before it slip Claim all my past mistakes to be as legit as I can get.

Understand that I strive to stand above you average man Couldn’t be more sincere but you probably don’t give a damn.

BY: Luke St .John Ego Magazine | March 2010

43

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Ego Magazine | Fall 2008

45

Ego MAGAZINE

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