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Jon’s Song I’ve stared death in the face before; Yeah, I ain’t afraid to die, but when I get lowered in the ground, will you care enough to cry; Yeah, that’s a long time from now, but just cherish that I’m alive; when my parents are gone on, I’ll have tears all in my eyes. Old memories of my PaPa […]
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The Christmas Tree Somehow the synthetic tree with built in lights, lives; refreshed in love oasis, rooted in our blood. And underground tears and precious memories of those gone but still present, breathing, living in our emotions rich and seasoned and eclectic like sister Niece’s magic gumbo she concocts to celebrate the Birth. We still celebrate the Birth. Even though […]
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Post Obama Traumatic Stress in rear view: “Folks didn’t think about … white supremacy any more than a fish thinks about the wetness of water. But when you step out of a system that people have told you is the only way, and then you look around and there are these people in the world working under a different set of […]
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P.O.T.S.: The Diagnosis, Part 1 These are perplexing times in the USA. Especially for people of color, thinking women, immigrants seeking legal asylum, and decent human beings. A man who embodies practically everything we teach our children to be wrong, sinful, and stupid…actions and verbiage that would definitely lead my wife to impeach my child and sentence him to time […]
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Tiger and the Old Man It’s first Sunday late night in the church basement. Congregation members have long gone home. The Old Man is holding court with a group of neighborhood church pastors and ministers. He lives at the church. He offers this space and time for highly stressed ministers to unburden and unwind. Books and ancient manuscripts of every […]
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Duet #13: Deeper The kisses go deeper and deeper and deeper The bliss’s go deeper and deeper and deeper I love you in a deeper place than superficial flesh I love the way our soul flow keeps the life journey fresh Sweet fusion and communion cause explosions to the touch The years and path we’ve traveled keep the loving nights […]
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Dear Old Dunbar Dad’s High School Song Both my parents, Clarence and Joetta Powell (Oglesby) were born and raised in Earle, Arkansas (although they didn’t come to know each other and marry until many years later after Dad finished his military duty and Mom migrated north to Chicago, where they met one morning on the El train). They grew up […]
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Give Love to Life Give love to life. Let it linger In laughter and tears. Let our hands Labor to build joy outward From our bones. We’ll raise nations Of chosen people from peaceful womb. Sow seeds/ exhilarated sprouts of hope Swaying in every breath of God. Let love Compose our hearts song. Love is God’s breath Stretching our chests […]
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Lyric for My Sons (I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14) The poetry of your birth cries Revelatory connect of our eyes Caused Grandma Joetta to sigh From Blood River you rise Move my emotions to devotion Birth inspires […]
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Spiritual for Mama keep your hand on the plow keep your hand on the plow don’t you bend nor ever bow though sack-loads of troubles beat on your brow and busy devils connive to cut you down set your feet in Jah solid ground don’t you ever bend nor bow keep your hand on the plow keep your feet […]
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