Monday, November 29, 2010

Wanita

How are you MY DARLING
How are you MY DEAR
Good morning MY DARLING
HI SWEETHEART

How are you MY DARLING
Cappuccino MY DARLING
Have a good day MY DARLING
Come back and see me MY SWEETHEART

Every morning, Wanita sits high in her raised chair in front of the cafeteria cash register waiting to ring each breakfast sale, and greet each customer with the same melodic inviting sounds that makes me think if she could, she would sweep her hands around each and give a big, warm hug. I think she is the stylish grandmother who always hugs her little grandchild running up to her on the sidewalk.

I want to be that kid.

After six people, Wanita gives a slight turn of her neck and back again.

How are you MY DARLING
How are you MY DEAR
Good morning MY DARLING
Cappuccino MY DARLING

I am number ten almost there
But little time to spare
Her line is full and keeps moving forward
I want to know more
I continue to stare
I wonder why she's in that chair
A full life I assume she's already lived
Now happy here
Giving special care
To jumpstart our day

How are you MY DARLING
How are you MY DEAR
Good morning MY DARLING
HI SWEETHEART
Have a good day MY DARLING

Let Niko Love You

What's the matter baby
Man's got ya down
I've been seeing ya baby
Wandering 'round town

Baby, baby don't be blue
Come to Niko
Let Niko, Niko love you
Let Niko love you, love you

Say your heart's been played with
Ya can't give no more
Got ya on the run, running
But don't know what's in store

Baby I'll see you through
Come to Niko
Let Niko, Niko love you
Let Niko love you, love you

I said come to Niko
Baby don't be blue
Just come on baby
Let Niko love you

I've got the comfort
Baby trust in me
I wanna love you
Can't you see

I know what to do
Come to Niko
Let Niko, Niko love you
Let Niko love you, love you

The Office

Often times in many pockets
in many cities across vast land
families are sprung

At first bonding is resisted

We are people of unique and singular
yet similar backgrounds
that know the sensitivity in difference
and halt at the doorsteps of oneness

But in time
the song of laughter begins to play

And it plays louder and louder
until we
although understanding our differences
accept and appreciate our similarities

And the song of laughter plays on
and it becomes familiar and
we are intertwined

Suddenly we are singing and dancing with ease

As easy as can be expected
like any family

We are a unit
we share

We are affected
by each other's highs
and lows

We give
and sometimes we take

Until unexpectedly
one member must leave
the protected unit

And then there's cake

Friday, November 19, 2010

Cross to Bear

She said
I cry at night
So I may laugh the day
I sob the moon
In the sun I play
Three times at twelve
She said
I pray
Ink beads on skin
Gonna be okay

Saturday, November 13, 2010

From Myself

I have this burning feeling
There's more
I have this yearning
To grow from you
To do and be
Loud across the sky
You got me this far
I must take you
Beyond the outer limits
Reward is on the other side
Risk is mine to make
Fear is there to shake
Work starts when I wake
Doubt slithers like a snake
Unknown barriers to break
I got a mind ache

Woman's Work

Stupid, stupid, stupid
Some will may call you stupid
Why don't you move on, they yell and beg
But you look at them, stone-faced
Eyes burning out words in the air that say
You don't know, know, know
You don't really know because your feet are too big or
Your feet are too small and you have never walked in my shoes
So you smile, you say nothing, you walk away
Because you don't have to answer them
You don't have to have the last word
You are not indebted to them
You walk away
You walk away
Sometimes you cuss them under your breath
Sometimes you question their motives
Sometimes maybe they hurt you
Or laugh at you or pity you without saying so
And they don't even realize you caught that
In their condescending glare in one eye
But you don't care because you know what you do, why you do it
And those times that you are led to new, different
Or maybe familiar places or thoughts
And not sure what led you to step in that manner
God knows
So you walk away with comfort in your heart
Not worrying about the naysayers because
You know it's between you and God
And so you walk away, and get to the end of the block
And turn the corner and begin laughing with God
You and God laugh and laugh and laugh
Because only God shares your secrets of the heart, soul and spirit
So I say, go on with your bad self
Go on
Keep walking
I, like others, the theys
Don't want you to be hurt and disappointed and to ever feel bad
And maybe I project my own wants for you
I'm not sure
But I say this
What I see is courage and generosity, not stupidity
The courage and willingness to endure good and bad
To keep your family together
To persevere against odds and sometimes into the dark
Because you see the needs in the eyes of your daughters
And you may not want to think
That this is the work of a companion or a wife
Down to the last day that you're no longer a wife
The work of a mother, and a woman
All you may know is that in its basic terms
There are things you have or need to do
And there are only so many hours in a day
So you get busy
And in your humble way you work through the connections
The connection to your family, your parents, children
And their fathers
So you get busy, maybe sometimes thinking you are powerless
Ineffective, not thanked or appreciated
Burdened by many people's
Wants and needs
But you are powerful
Because you are truly the center, the source, the energy
And everyone comes back to you
The core, the center
The good place
Because that's where their spirit, value
And good sense of self emanates from
So I say a woman's job is never done
And you are courageous and generous
With your time, your love
Your ability to believe, and your ability to feel and care for
So I thank you for you, and I know others do to
And so I say again, go on with your bad self
Go on with your bad self
Go on
Go on
Go on

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Long Ago Roses Are Red

Roses are pink and red
They grow on your tree
They stretch across the earth
Like your love
Unencumbered and free

Violets are purplish blue
Whatever admirable qualities I have
It's all because of you

This is just a simple poem
I created at 5:03
Just to let you know
How much you mean to me

Contemplation

Painting rocks under a mango tree
Afternoon breeze feeling free
Grey dove up above
high on a limb
Comes watches sits with me
Keeps me company