The Writer's Chair

Black Beauty

Fair Essence; Black Beauty

strength and pride personified,

ain’t no shame in my game for I know the song that I sing

swing lo, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home

to a far away place, to a city bright and fair

from the valley low; to the mountain high

Herbal culture; unison black man and nature

take hold to the essence of the earth

tribal obedience to the beat of the drum of my heritage

power to black masses for they understand my struggle.

feel my soul, entreating the appeal for justice

there is peace from within.

 

watch me walk, see me stride, strong stride

movement in every aspect more sure than the next

infallible, as I move to the beat, these feet, street feet

with peace and love to everyone I meet

I know who I am for I see my name consistently in the book of life

ask my father and my mother, my sister or my brother

they will tell you who I am.

 

No longer looking through the stained glass, the shattered memories of my past

oh how I look back and wonder how we made it over

our blood, sweat, and tears covered up all our anger and our fears

whether in the field or in the house;

we broke our backs and bloodied our knees

so that you could be happy and live life so divine

you put your woman up on a pedestal and stroked her hair

yet you took my woman, threw her down on a dirty floor and raped mine

 

now my babies, oh, our babies, just don’t quite look the same

some have chinky eyes, no hips, no thighs, so who are we to blame

what used to be natural and nappy, kinky and hard, oh I’m sorry....that’s baby hair

has turned into presses and curls, relaxers and twirls and extensions down to here.

we started out black, deep black, purple, and almost blue

now we walk around wanting to look, dress, act, and even talk like they do

I ask you a question, where have we gone wrong as a people?

we were once only interested in things that lead to our progression

now we are so caught up in the gear we wear and the bling-bling that glares

that we have become a part of the mans recession.

it’s fine to want to buy wine, but beer money can’t afford champagne

let’s get with the program before we are left off that train, again

don’t let the struggle pass you by

remember the revolution if only in your heart

don’t forget all that was sacrificed, through blood, sweat and tears

for that’s the most important part.

 

we sat on the back of the bus and we rode for many days and was dismayed

yet one day a tired woman got on the bus and was no longer afraid

when asked to move to the back she said no and sat there sure and strong

then she looked at the man, like this.......for the rest of her ride was long.

then along came a man with a dream and took her by the hand

and said together we will fight this fight, for a people we will stand

we’ll get off this bus and we’ll stay off this bus; we will even walk for awhile

but in the end justice will prevail and you will miss my black smile.

 

my black smile, my black money too, yeah...,yeah, you will miss me in the economy

timberland, tommy hill, how dare you say what you said to me!!

well guess what? we can sew too. names like karl kani, phat farm, sean john, and fubu

we’ll make our own hats, jeans, and boots; we’ll keep in the fam and make all the loot

so think twice when you try to put me down and degrade the contributions I’ve made

you told me I couldn’t eat with you, that I had to drink from a dirty pipe

you separated me from all that I helped you make and you labeled it “Black and White”

fair is fair, and right is white when given your disguise

you helped me realize how I was so hypnotized and despised by your selfish eyes

BUT STILL I RISE…

we exist in a future that is full of hope, so hold your head up high

and see the rising star that is you and you are me and we are one and we’ve only just begun, BLACK BEAUTY!!

Download Black Beauty

"9/11" - A TRIBUTE

It was a day like any other when they got up and went to work

some took planes, some took trains, some took buses, and some took cars

but before the end of the day the memory of their loved ones would be in the stars

daddies kissed mommies, mommies kissed babies, while trying to hush the cry

they carried out their morning routines, drank a cup of coffee, and ate a bagel

they said see you later honey, not knowing they were really saying, goodbye

It was a dreadful Tuesday, forever called 9/11, a day we will never soon forget

a day love was lost, hopes and dreams shattered, a day a lot of us have regret

elevators began going up and down dropping people off at each floor

hey john, hey paul, hey sue, hey jim, co-workers greeted just as they did the day before

they went to their offices with no reason to think that anything would hurt them today

but little did they know that danger was lurking just minutes from their dismay

You see it was around 8:45 in the morning when the first of two planes would hit

floors that were above and below heard the crash but they just couldn’t believe it

relax, stay cool, everybody remain calm, managers said to their staff and crew

but their were a lot of confused faces who scattered in their places,

because they just didn’t quite know what to do

people walking by outside on the street looked up and saw fire and smoke

with hands on their heads, they frantically said: “this has to be some kind of a joke”

yeah, that’s it, we know, it’s a movie or something, one of those die hard scenes

but when they looked up again they realized things were more real than they seemed

No one thought that their worst fears would turn into a living nightmare

more passersby just looked up and sighed for all they could do was stare

a second plane was flying low, its target was the

North

Tower

when it hit, a great explosion occurred and knocked out all of the power

by now the news had reached across the land at every television and radio station

we went on major alert when we realized that someone was attacking our nation

Phones rang off the hook as the buildings shook, and some couldn’t get through

those that did told their family and friends, I love you and I will forever miss you

policemen and firemen, emt’s and the like responded to answer their call

with brave hearts and duty in mind they never thought that the towers would fall

please, oh please, dear God, say it ain’t so, tell us this isn’t happening today

but when the coldness of reality set in to our hearts, all we could do was pray

I am sorry to say that without delay this story just goes on and on

for as we wept in

New York

a third plane would fly right into the US Pentagon

and just when we thought that we had heard all of the tragic events for the day

a final plane with some brave souls aboard would go down in a back field in PA

all around the country we didn’t know what to think, “had WW III just begun?”

as the towers came down, some said with frowns, “maybe our enemies have already won”

The whole world tuned in with heavy hearts that were filled with much grief and sorrow for a moment in time we looked for piece of mind, and the hope of a brighter tomorrow

in the aftermath of a brutal attack our twin towers would now be known as ground zero

the selfless attempts to save lives from death, God put strength in the hearts of our hero’s

over 3000 souls were taken that day, a horrific tragedy on which we care not to dwell

God will save the souls of the good at heart while he sends our enemies souls to hell

we will miss our loved ones dearly and deeply lock their dreams deep within our heart

The moment they were taken from us, from the warmth of their love we will never depart

I ask you a question which is very sincere, “Do you value everyday of your life?”

when we cry and complain, bicker and moan, God can replace happiness with strife

It is now time to move on and look to the sky not just individuals but a group of people

we must stand firm and strong as a country, to ensure this tragedy does not have a sequel

they will try to rebuild the towers to replace the piece of history that terror has taken

what they cannot do is replace the loss of life and the fear that has left our faith shaken

we believe in God who controls our fate, and has the whole world in the palm of his hand

So sleep with the belief that he will avenge our loved ones who died all over this land.

Butterfly

               by M.E. Lindsey

As the metamorphosis begins, the butterfly endures the process

One that entails magnification;

A perfection of design down to the slightest detail

When it starts out; what is its mission?

I feel, to show the world how beautiful mother nature can truly be

How she can manipulate us with her amazing wonders

Fly, fly on pretty butterfly

Although your surroundings may not totally agree

Butterfly, oh butterfly, how beautiful you are to me.

She blessed them; yes she did

Have you ever seen them hover over a field

Waiting to kiss the brim of a flower

Every wing flap revealing a spectacular array of beautiful colors

We need not ask if she knew how to situate the scheme

As they surround the field, they bring life and jubilation

Green grass, blue skies, soft breezes

The dandelions willow as they too rejoice in their presence

Then, ... as they come; they are gone.

Come back, oh please come back, pretty butterfly

Do you ever wonder where they go?

Maybe they have flocked to a place in need of their beauty

To reinvigorate what was once lonely and desolate

To replenish the meadows and erase the harshness of winters chill

How wonderful it is just to know

When you are around, pretty butterfly; life has new meaning

Although your surroundings may not totally agree

Butterfly, oh butterfly, how beautiful you are to me.