THE FOOL
(POETRY AND OTHER WORKS)
JEFFREY V. PERRY
Published by Jeffrey V. Perry at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Jeffrey V. Perry
Discover other titles by Jeffrey V. Perry at Smashwords.com
Dedication
TO DEXTER L. PERRY (01/16/1954 – 12/18/2010), MY OLDER BROTHER
“Even the whole is simply made of its parts”
AND TO ALBERT POLLACK, who also passed away this year.
Table of Contents
Foreword
FOOL - THE PROLOGUE
FIRST POET – THE LOGUE
GHOST EFFECT – THE PREFACE
Introduction
(POETRY)
TRUE LOVE
THE FOOL
THE END TO BIN LADEN
SATAN’S DAUGHTER
GODHEAD
HATERS
WHAT FRANKLIN MEANT?
YOU ARE THE FIRST LADY
I DO NOT MOCK SHAKESPEARE
JOSEPH, FATHER OF JESUS
I AM LOVE (CS)
WHOLLY HOLY, THE LIFE I AM LIVING
MY MOTHER’S DAY POEM
HOW DOES VENGEANCE MATTER?
IN RECTROSPECT
IS IGNORANCE STILL BLISS?
ETERNAL HOST
WILL THERE BE ROOM AT THE END?
GHETTO LOVE
DUALITY
OVER THE RAINBOW
JUST LET IT BURN
SNOWFLAKES
TO MY BLACK WOMEN (#3)
IT IS NOT MY BATTLE
SUB (terrain) WAY
THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT I KNOW
OBLIVION
FOREVER
SEEMS LIKE IT ALL IS COMING TRUE
A STONE’S THROW AWAY
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
A SHIP OF FOOLS
THE VIRGIN DIARY
NUBIAN LOVE
A RHAPSODY FOR LOVE
MAN
I HAVE SEEN THE EYES OF MEN CRY
MY BEST MOVE
(ESSAYS)
MY POSITIVE PRIME
THE DREAM THAT WILL LAST FOREVER
LIFE AS MUSIC
WORLD NEW
ONE
(BONUS MATERIALS)
A PEER PROVIDER’S PERSPECTIVE: MORE THAN GETTING IN THE DOOR
SHOULD THE MEDICAL MODEL SUPPLANT THE PEER MOVEMENT?
THE POSITIVE PRIME HAS BEEN FULFILLED – THE FINALE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BIOGRAPHY
LIST OF BOOKS BY JEFFREY V. PERRY
Foreword
FOOL - THE PROLOGUE
Fool is a rather negative term, especially since the dictionary defines a fool as: a person who lacks sense of judgment. I will leave it at that. At our present time, I prophesy that we are where the fool has clout. Let me also point out any reference to Scriptures (The Holy Bible) will be according to the King James Version (translation). As the Scriptures say in Proverb 11:29: “He that troubled his own house shall inherit the wind; and a fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” However, any fool we know could have a more prominent role than we understand. So, what are those whom we assume to be fools telling the world about its truths? Maybe it is not their foolishness we should be ashamed of, but rather that they are voicing our truths, out loud! And maybe, just maybe, we should stand back and listen.
We are looking at the worst of times, for many who struggle to live day to day, while those who thirst more and more for power, seem to ignore even their own vultures using ridiculous excuses, which we just accept as the truth. Scripture again says in Psalm 14:1: “The fool has said in his heart: ‘There is no God.’ ‘They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” We are in the midst of a troubling and a confusing time, where what seems good, turns out to be bad, and then, the bad proves to be “the better good.” We just have been lied to tremendously, not just face to face, but in every aspect, imaginable. The Scriptures have even added to our confusion, because many individuals, spoken of, whom we have accepted to be of good character, have proven to be not of good will or moral repute. We have gotten used to disappointments in our leaders, and thusly, in each other. But, do not be surprised! St. Mark 13:22, points out that, “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to deceive, if it were possible the elect.’ But there is still more truth and proof in the Scriptures to be had to oppose even wickedness, for the truth is in the light. Proverbs 3:35 states, “The wise shall inherit glory: but Shame shall be the promotions of fools.” So, remember that the shame that we witness before us in our trusted servants is the sign of their foolishness and not becoming of those whom we should follow. So, whom should we choose in their places? Proverbs 1:7 offers some insight: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Our struggle as humankind is not an easy one; however, we have been given the equipment with which to fight that struggle.
Unlike any of God’s other creatures, we are given our own mind to help us out of confusion, and also to help us to learn truths for ourselves. Once we learn and have some truth, then we can decipher how it applies to our lives. Knowledge of any and everything is the beginning of the wisdom that we need in our human struggle, which is a part of each one of us. Remember, also, to embrace knowledge and not despise it. “Everybody plays the fool, sometimes,”… because we all begin life without knowledge or wisdom; but to be fooled two or three times is our shame and the consequence of looking up the wrong tree, or taking bad advice; even more tragic, we play this foolish role, when we fail to think for ourselves. Our failure relates to how we choose or our lack of choice thereof. Choice is having more than one alternative; it means that we decide for ourselves and in turn, take responsibility. Choice becomes our doings and our faults or consequences, whether good or bad. A fool is left without a choice and always blames others for what are his or her actions (and responsibilities).
In one sense, I have opened a new can of worms, which suggests to some that I support just giving those whom we term as fools, socially - total responsibility. It may even seem that I am intimating that those now incarcerated maybe even be released back into society. I would support newer and fairer social services and penal systems, but this is not about any total responsibility for just anyone. It is about individual choice and an opportunity. Although many of our social systems, including our mental health and criminal system, may have been based on rather fool-hearty past ideologies, which border on insane and almost criminal reactions, we are still faced with that sense of individuality that needs to be extended to all our citizens. It is more what I see as how, even those who we may wish to term as fools, should be treated fairly, simply because, we all came into this world with nothing, which includes, the lack of wisdom and knowledge; and who knows what intellect or sense of reason with which we will leave here? Just like the song continues, “Everybody plays the fool, sometimes, no exceptions to the rules…” Or, is there anyone too naïve or actually foolish enough to believe that what is breathed in Job 1:21 is just hot air?
FIRST POET – THE LOGUE
I never knew myself to be a writer, but I realized that I had an ability to create verse and poetry. As I mentioned, I was about seven years old, when the spirit came upon men and I wrote my first poem. I knew something happened that was special because I felt a loss of control as this spirit wrote with my hand and my mind. I saw myself writing what was coming out of me, as I felt this power as an inspired force over me. It introduced me to the spiritual side of me. At first it called to me, as a spirit would, like that of being tempted, when your own spirit has an idea. It asked me a question, a question like the questions every child without understanding has, and immediately, runs to their parents for the answers. However, this time was different because this spirit began to answer its own question. It said, “Tell it to the Mountaintop.” That was the title of my first poem. As I began to write it, I realized it was the first thing that I naturally wrote, after understanding how to write my very name. I remember writing sentences but only assembling words in that pattern to create a sentence. This one paragraph poem was a full conversation and explanation of a concept that had manifested itself through me. So, why had God bothered me? I did not know and did not care! It was just a wonderful or “wonder” experience. I remember wallowing in these moments until they were completely gone. Then, I ran to my mother to show her what I had done, as was first my inclination, as any a child would do in experiencing any strange feeling that he or she could not explain. I quickly realized that I could not express what happened. It was as if that experience had not happened. My only proof became the paper that I had in my hand. I have to one day return to that piece of paper because, like you, I do not know what magic it held and what happened because of it. As a fifty-five year older now, I just do not have any further reliable recall about that time; at least not any, which I know can be shared. But I do remember that I continued to write, when the spirit would come to demand it. It was usually at my convenience and enjoyment, and usually at the times when I had nothing better to do than to lie upon my bed, bored. The spirit was a welcomed friend!
As the years went by, I maintained a very normal life like any other child my age, and I excelled in school. I was very smart, except I had a problem when I had to read aloud in class. It was not that I could not read, I just was not good at it in front of the class. It was bad, so bad that I once wrote a short story that I allowed a friend to read aloud because I felt unable, although I created its every word! (This even seems unexplainable to me) But, nevertheless, with my writing, I was not a total introvert. I really enjoyed playing sports. I played peewee football, softball, basketball, and little league baseball. I was tall for my age, so I was popular amongst the other children who liked sports, too. It was a family, cultural, and social thing for me all my life, up to going to college. But, writing was another life totally; it was personal and it was private! Writing seemed to straddle between being a good student and being my own individual. My life was very diverse because of my various interests. Although, I was very much (And remain so) to myself, I was a very personable individual, who seemed to appeal to most others of differing backgrounds. I could gather with those older than me or those in the higher intellectual classes, as well as the sports people and the nerdy ones who seemed to not have much physical abilities. Yet, all of my interactions were very natural and unassuming. I was a natural leader, intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially, until, I when off to college where everyone seemed to have that makeup and those same forthright qualities. I also freely wrote my verse up to that point. Another thing, my writings were used and in demand, although, I never attributed any as mine, basically, because I was still writing as a young child, enjoying my gift. Once, I realized that others were putting their names to my writings, I was left disappointed and with my good, genteel spirit, alone. I was that writer who never was allowed to mature, at least in a worldly sense. But, somehow, I understood, knew better, or my gift dictated that I did so.!
It is not God who places a value upon his gifts; He only requires that we use them. Just as if He gives you a disfigured face, then that is what you have. It is then just up to you to live your life, as normal as possible. This does not speak to the purity of God’s creation, but only to the circumstance. The humanity in God would not disagree whether or not someone would have a corrective procedure to improve their appearance. So, any gift likewise, can be adjusted and improved upon. Many entertainers are quick to thank God for their success, while He has little say in their success, although He has given them a gift that in a godly realm is pretty much the same as thanking God for each breath that we are given to breathe, moment to moment. Maybe that is why we each naturally know to curse death, when we are no longer given His breath. Don’t we praise our talents as if God plucked them from His loins and handed them to us, personally, and then, don’t we place a value on them as if the air or life itself was only secondary to them? Let Thou will be done!
I have struggled all my life with such questions and issues because I have seen my life speed ahead of its time, which only means that you understand that “it could have been done better, if!’ Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. If I had ruled the world, then it would be in a much different place, maybe? Intelligence or foresight is only as good as of the presence of which it is a part. We each are only as great as we each are; so stop the hate! We only agree with those we criticize. Bob Marley said, “You are only saying prayers to devils.” Negativity has its place, but only as, the opposite of what is good and positive. It is there to create a balance, like asking, if zero is not a real number, really. So, even if to be ahead of the curve only means, first you are on the curve, just like those who are at the opposite end of the curve, you must first be before you can become. And that is how and why a poet I AM.
GHOST EFFECT – THE PREFACE
Since we are made in the likeness of God, according to the Book of Genesis, then we may know more about Him, -not her-, than we think. God in heaven is much physically like us, in a human like body. He has physical needs and senses. He angers easily, too! We know God from our human perspective.
The Gods of Heavens are probably in the form of many, like we are on Earth have many forms. In heaven, there is a Jewish God, there is a Black God, there is a white one, and there is a Buddha, a Vishnu, and so forth. However, because, in heaven there is oneness, then one is many and the many is one.
In heaven, the streets are paved in gold, as JOHN said. But this is because gold is under our feet, as sand, and is valued but for its true usefulness. Jesus mentions that His Father has many mansions there, and since there; we need no roofs over our heads, just as there were no rooms for Him at the inn, and His Father has many places or spaces for us! “Where I am, so will you be.” I would say that He is telling us that the Earth is where He was presently, so in heaven is not on Earth, but is another existence, another life than what this one is, the one we are familiar with. Familiarity and perspectives are what we are all about. We naturally have no God-minds or God-understanding. These we have to search for at one time or another in order to know!
I am the dead spirit; I have been made a ghost, a ghost, yes, a human-less person sacrificed! But God has ended my earthly life for his glory. It was over thirty years ago, when I was younger, He came for His, for me. (We only think that the devil comes to claim a soul, but there are those too, who owe their debt to the Almighty - we all do, but some think they who know of this, exclusively.)
I first questioned what my physical presence was because I remained in my presence here. Now, I realized that I was enlightened then, although my physical mind could not comprehend its own presence or self. I began to think thoughts that were incomprehensive. Only after all this time can I deduct meaning from them. Thus, these thoughts I have written, mainly in my poetry, which has been my gift, as a human being from God. He has been with me since around the age of seven when He placed a pencil in my hand and gave words to me to write. In my world, since then, I have been persecuted as a poet, for not seeking worldly gain. I, then, am a ghost writer, not by choice but by the contempt of others. They know who they are and still there are some around, as worthless as the unsavory salt to which they professed to be. I was only a child in a child’s heart!
Do not get me wrong! I have lived a blessed life, particularly compare to many others. Now, with election of the first African-American President, and I also witnessed much of the Civil Rights Movement, with the rise and demise of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so that I even feel a part of both great events in world and American History! Born in 1955, with the passing of Brown V Board of Education, I came into this world at this critical time in our history and to be able to ascend to attend Dartmouth College, up on the “Hills of New Hampshire” as Dr. King mentions in his “I Have a Dream Speech,” I feel that connection, but also a connection with President Obama, who also was able to reap the fruit of Affirmative Action won during the Civil Rights Movement. I recall that at that time, I made several important decisions based on being an African-American of my times. First, I elected to attend at an Ivy League school that would be the most demanding of me and what I felt would be the greatest opportunity over less prominent schools. Second, I vaguely remember having some connection at that time with the music industry, as a writer, which I know today as fact, but chose at that time not to indulge, in lieu of an Ivy League career. I would like to say that I was not alone in making that decision, because there were many of us, who stuck their foolish necks out to fight an intellectual fight, maybe that one that Dr. W. E B Dubois had just begun, at the turn of the twentieth century. It was also important for me as an African-American poet to reach for the pinnacles of self expression, not anybody else’s “self expressions” but, my own. If we are to claim our rightful ownership of our arts, it must come not as the by-product of any other culture, but, must come from the purity of self, first and foremost; then, and only then can we intermingle on an equal and exclusive basis with others. As a result of my outlook and perception at the time, I did not try to develop my poetry as an English major while at Dartmouth College, so I majored in Economics, instead.
But God did secure his greater purpose, and that is, His Will Be Done, not mine or that of a child or any man! So, my poetry is my first gift. For those who have been exposed to it, go with God and the understanding that He is, as I do. Those who read any of my poetry may understand my duality. First, as a human being, under the sign of the duality, the Twin, a Gemini who is a gifted inspired poet, sharing the Heavens and the Earth simultaneously; this is the reason for my simplicity in expressing me. In my eyes, there are at least two sides to everything. We are both good and evil. I would say that, again, as it is recorded in the Book of Genesis, God gave us the will of choice, to make decisions of our doing. Although as with His will, the perfect choice lies in front of us. Only if we can decide to choose it, because there is only one choice to be made our better one. (My yoke is easy, my burden light!).
The greatest poet, as we know was King David, the psalmist. David, who lived the gifted life of a soldier, and then, a great king, had at least two stages in his life; we could say a life as a poet with two equal lives, one of a worldly presence and one of a spiritual nature. It is that earthly prowess that gives us credence, as one amongst the people, one who has a worldly value. As in the case of David, a poet in his psalms then is able to transcend earthly bounds, despite worldly or material existence, to reach a spiritual truth, a more perfect one, one which the world knows readily, but refuses to acknowledge. In many cases, this is even the belief in God, which most question, but of which I am too sure. A prophet, on the other hand, lives first in the spirit and away from worldly existence and worldly presence. John, the Baptist, was this kind of person, a prophet who foretold the coming presence of Jesus Christ.
Even, God, the Creator, has a duality, as I mentioned earlier. Our likeness to Him represents our worldly presence, and that enmity of God, the First of our kind who is the creator of Adam. God is both with us and without us. As much as we understand love, do we understand God? Sometimes, it seems that love does not love anyone, although love seems to be something that we all need. We cannot understand God’s duality (As God is Love itself). We are also asked to understand first and second, man and woman, and the fact that there exists a numerical order to everything. Without this understanding, we could not count, measure, perceive value, or be born on the Earth one by one. Duality is also how we know our own individuality, which is God’s Greatest Feat or Gift, and how I can say that I am a poet? This Gift is mine and indwells all of us, who also must reach that point where we indeed, are. Of course, I AM is who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. So, how much is your soul worth, your gift of individuality that God has given you? Our soul is also the ransom that the enemy holds against us because of our desires for worldly gains instead of our having for spirituality. If we can complete our spiritual journey, then all would be right with this world. Jesus, the Son can only lead by his example; we must know how to follow. We are also physical flesh and must learn about who we are as human beings. Our duality is that we are a human being and an animal, as well as a spiritual creation from a worldly source. (What about the animals? To me, they are as alien to us as Martian creatures of which we tell adventures. Animals could be very well the Earthly matter from which we all descended. If the end of Creation was on a good day, then we are far too impatient to want to have the details, all just from the first book of the Bible. We must search to find this truth in our own space and time. I believe that Adam was the first scientist, because, in Genesis it says that his job was to give all creatures a name. Is that not what science does, searches to find and discovery what already exists? We must learn about our duality much deeper, because we all can agree that humanity, each of us, makes choices in our life. What we decide determines life on Earth and our spiritual understanding of who we are, in relationship to each other. There is however the question- asker, our conscience, who is the God in all of us. Without questioning life, we become just the animal or physical presence that we each sense, very easily within our five senses. (I AM, am I?) Yet, our minds have questions about any and everything, i.e., we think, unlike the animal in us that only reacts.
We are spiritual beings naturally, despite the five senses. Though physical, we are eternally aware, spiritually speaking. We perceive what is not equal to what we sense, naturally. So, this is my duality, which you may accept as yours or not! But, my consciousness as a spiritual ghost is unique; it is not having a choice that I have made, but having a reality that I have only encountered. Are there any other dilemmas? I do not know and really, I do not care to at this point. There could be many or not any. Is this that you are? That’s your choice to know and decide. Am I for real? As for you who are reading this, I hope that you can consider it with some truth, because there is also a truth in a lie. Spiritually speaking, the truth will set you free! But remember that it is your truth that matters more, to you, than to any other at any given moment. Yet, your truth is but one because there is only one real one that we will know, one day.
When we even refer to the truth today, it is strewn and marred with our excessive need for truth or greatness. We easily say that we are the greatest generation, simply because we’re here. Without the proper examination of past faults, we easily excuse them and see ourselves now as the truth, number one and the present best - by default! Shame that no one is here to defend the others, who lack our technologies and new wisdoms, gained simply through the passage of time. If this were the truth, then the African ancestor worship would compel us to give more respect for our senior citizens. We may even understand racism for what it was - the lack of humanity on our parts, as persons with a need from more material values to define our worldly existence. Now, we do not need to proof our masculinity by the abuses that we can inflict on others. We know that the individual is more powerful than any group ever was and that God gave us this edification to be more like Him, an entity unto ourselves. We no longer see water as different because it came from a different area, but now we know that it is all just HOW. We are better defined by a similar DNA than by the Nation-State that we were born into or the caste of our parents. Most of today’s wars are fought around scientific theory than out of religious dogma, whether we want to accept this as truth or not. We also are in historical transition, reflected in the retro-reactionary attitudes like a renewed belief in God, although we are worshipping His might, but not His compassion, or His judgments and but not His grace. The face of our God is completed, although none have seen it. There remains our truth about, what is in our wallets than what is in our hearts, not because our hearts are covered, but because there is nothing that we can procure with a meaningful heart but hurt and disappointments. It is easier to say that I love you, with a gift than just with these three kind words. Just, how cheap has talk become??
Since, talk and communications seem to be so arbitrary and contrived, today; we need to reach a little higher. We need to begin again at the beginning. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God. We get this understanding from Bibles, Torahs, and Korans, all which are interpreted as the word of God, and all written by inspired men and women. These noble souls were the poets and prophets of God, as we can only understand them to be. These were the writers, singers, and artists, who were inspired by God, and knew they were divinely influenced. God is also known to do the greatest of works, we cannot explain, as our doings, although, we know that we, as humans, somehow had a hand in the doings. God is just the first creator and all new things come through Him. So, where does this lead us now? If talk and our communication have become so irrelevant, then God has to again be allowed to talk. So let the truth be heard!
“All should be forgiven, but nothing and no one should be forgotten.”
Introduction
The Fool, Poetry and Other Works is the last book in a series I now conclude to be THE POSITIVE PRIME, which was the title of my first book of poetry. The Positive Prime began my story and my process as a poetry writer. It is my “Self – Identity” and the beginning of the story of how I viewed the culture of the African Diaspora and culture within the world. I attempted in my next books, Conversations with a Soul Brother, Soul Food, Legacy of an Ex-Slave, and even Alternating Views to construe that the Black perspective in real terms, is a nurturing spirit, which is expressed as ‘the soul’ as I view “us” to be as a culture. I always understood that any poet has the responsible to represent his or her culture, like Nikki Giovanni speaks to Black folks, mainly and as William Shakespeare talked to the English-commoner in his day. Art and writing, in particular, are the culture of those who express their perspective as a person, through a culture or background, first. “We are who we are.” It is often noted that arts and literature transcends all cultural backgrounds, which I can agree with, for the most parts. But, saying, “we are who we are,” is a “crock” mainly, told to us Black folks, in order to to have our culture not impacted on a global level; but instead, to have us minimized, and in many cases excluded all together, from the Western Educational curricula.. Black culture is very different from white culture, before or after, any Imperialist influences. I have noted in my essay, “African-ism” (In Alternating Views and Conversations with a Soul Brother) that even, the Afro-American culture is a culture upon itself as the blending of our African roots with the Western culture in which, both, we exist. It all sounds so simple now. But “African-ism” is all about who the Afro-American is and who we have become. In many of my other books of poetry, I delve into “me”, as a spiritual being, as evidenced in Welcome Home, Obedience to Poetry 2.0, and For God, for Love, for Country, and for You. I look at my religious background as something that I am willing to embrace, rather than forego, not because of any social need, alone, but as a part of my personal development and culture. (I have several great-uncles who were prominent preachers in the Free-Will Baptist Faith). I have continued along that road and I have incorporated my religious upbringing or exposure into all my writing, as the spiritual being that I am.
The Fool, Poetry and Other Works is the conclusion to The Positive Prime, and maybe what will be a new journey in my writing (the beginning of Volume II). I stated in one of my first works that I no longer write for other people, but I write for me and for my own sanity. I can take that now even one step further, and that is to state that I am using the gift that God has bestowed on me, because not to write, to me would be “disobedient.” I have gone even one step further, almost unbeknown to myself, in a direction, which has been an involuntary vow of celibacy. For the past couple of years “God has been a jealous god” and I can rightly say that “The truth will set you free!” I never intended to go without a partner for this time, but maybe poetry or this work can be that demanding. (I do not intend to continue along these lines, and this is the last book in this series. I was just as amazed as you may be to know this. It is the truth!) You may have caught the implied meaning in my title, The Fool, Poetry and Other Works, immediately that “the fool,’ could be me, who believes that God has given him a talent. Well, that is, in some regards, up to you, and in the end it is only between me and my maker. We can only try, which makes any and everyone “of us, only foolish.”
(POETRY)
TRUE LOVE
I would gladly give you my heaven
And I would walk through your Hell,
If you could promise me
That I would still not meet you down there.
I would give you all my money,
It would be a living Hell.
What good would heaven be?
If you were not there
True love
I know that I am not any good.
I only hope that you are better.
We won’t do as we should,
So, let us just stay together.
Nothing is wrong with this lie we are living,
Love is not perfection.
It is just sharing, taking and giving
Us both going in the same direction -
Whether we win or lose,
We should not be who gets us down.
We can work it through,
If we both can stay around.
There are no tricks or no game,
There is too many who have played.
True love has always been the same.
Same, if you left, the same, if you stayed.
True love still remains there.
It is never that love is not loved,
It is when we do not care,
When we cannot caress and give love a hug.
THE FOOL
The fool has all the answers,
The fool you cannot tell one thing,
The fool responds with a cantor,
The fool is forever enjoying, it does seem.
The fool knows all before it happens.
Yet, to a fool you would seldom listen in time enough to run.
Yet we only believe in what is wisdom
Only intellect has proven its ton.
It passes the test of time,
It faces its Sun.
It is our reason and our rhyme,
Is where knowledge comes from.
Now the fool is always the elder -
The one who always says the truth -
The one just foolish enough too
The fool knows how to seek out you.
As if the fool’s hands are too weary,
As if its voice could never be loud enough.
The fool pulls and pushes you,
Until, like a fool you singly make fuss.
Just like a sore thumb you will stand out.
Just who stands up, are you!
And you become this foolish act
Which somehow you realize becomes your truth.
THE END TO BIN LADEN
I was sorrowfully happy to hear of your demise, Mr. Bin Laden.
And yet even now, I still can visualize that smile still in your eyes.
You have been with us for these ten years,
You sent our hearts and thoughts in other styles.
I will never forget what you have done.
It is now a victory won!
I will never know how much I have grown.
This inner terror fight against you has been well-known.
I remember 9/11 as if it was just yesterday.
Now, finally there is some closure,
Since, you were blown away.
You are now all over!
It is for those ones who have wept.
Now, national jubilation subtly everywhere,
Now, you are the shadow of yourself.
Every heart, coming out of hiding, says that they care.
I am a man of peace wanting and waiting for wars to cease.
Yet, I never can tell how your attacks set me back years.
Now, it is your death that takes us all off the fence.
Only allow us to keep our common sense.
Since terror is contagious,
And your infamy is outrageous.
We must be the best we are able.
We must put our cards back on the table.
Not to let his death now symbolize,
“The begin to peace’s demise”
Remember we do not fire,
Until, we can see the “whites of their eyes.”
Bin Laden will burn in hell-fire.
Now it is my own desire:
We can rise up above with all our might.
Now Bin Laden no longer could have our souls in his sight.
SATAN’S DAUGHTER
It is so easy how she comes to you,
Just like an angel to make your world come true.
Now, it is material things that she brings.
It is a love in ribbons and strings.
While you are selling your soul for a trinket or two;
She seems the best thing that ever to happen to you.
Satan’s daughter, not to say that Satan has no son,
While, she just is the more exquisite one.
There plain as day with her cover blown,
Her deception is there directly shown.
I know that she is leading me to hell.
Yet, it is me who seems to be answering her bell.
And it is never as if I know that ring very well.
Once I have tasted her, I will catch her smell.
Satan’s daughter!
You ought not to!
I will go no further.
Beware of what she gives to you.
It is not love that she brings.
Although it sounds good in the song she sings.
I am telling you to pull back from her, far away.
There is only hope for pain and despair if you stay.
Or is just she there misunderstood?
None of us are out there for good.
If we were not out there, why would she bother?
Some of us are out there just waiting to meet her father.
So, run, but you do not hide!
For as long as you are alive,
Satan’s daughter is a deceiver,
Though, she is there for them looking to meet her.
So, stay far away from your material self,
There is more to life than having more than everybody else.
GODHEAD
(A Lament for Older Brothers)
(Written for Dexter)
You are the oldest:
You are the one to lead.
Not a position of envy,
Without a thought and without any need,
As God, He put Himself first,
As his charge, in our true life
Within you, we do no worst,
It is your duty to direct and to advise.
You are a decision maker and a risk taker,
Thus the rest of us are shielded.
You are the muckraker
Since you have sown
And have reaped all that we yielded.
So is it famine or feast?
Will we all begin or will we all cease?
Behold all life’s circumstances?
As godhead, you control our chances.
You are the oldest male,
Though gender, is just a place.
But as King Herod looked to prevail,
Whether the life of Jesus he could erase.
As God is our one and only,
You are there as God’s hand,
Because God wanted not to be lonely,
He created you the first man.
You are the oldest,
You live life at its boldest.
We had fewer burdens to bear,
Since we knew you were there.
Sometimes, we would think you did not care
And your methods even seemed full with air.
You are like the front page news story.
Other pages need not to worry.
Since, no one may ever read the rest.
You represent the paper’s entire inquiry.
Through all elements of distress
And viewed for that quick moment,
You are more than the rest.
Of you I do lament
You have represented our best.
It is hard losing you,
As it was easy following you.
Many times, when we knew not what to do,
With nowhere to run to,
You knew to place truth in our hearts.
As a good leader you gave us our parts
And you have given us our starts.
(You will remain here in our hearts.)
You would never finish our tasks.
For your counsel, we needed only ask.
You set a good example of where to begin
And you told us, secretly, just how it all would end.
Although, we could not even see it then,
But we believed you knew or how, for there, you had been.
We have no fear of the things not here,
While you kept us near.
Our loyalty meant we would adhere,
Thus, we learned this at each and every tier.
Now, we are well prepared.
Your humanity you have shared.
Though, knowing you too were scared,
You showed us just how much you have cared.
We did place you dear
You have brought us here
To face life on its own terms
Never giving others our concerns
For our place here, we have earned;
How, your wisdom we have learned.
You were the oldest,
You were the boldest
You were the mightiest
You were better than the rest
You the first, the godhead,
You are that one who led.
HATERS
We used to believe how fair was fair!
What is good for the goose is good for the gander!
Now, there seems more there to share
With those, who lurch about and who would pander.
Before they were only just the good and the evil,
We saw only in black and white; if you must conceive?
Now there are those other people,
They’re hoping only that we all would remain too naïve.
They stand for nothing but the opposite cause
No reason for what they toss.
They’re just against, who offer us no applause
Unless, exclusively, viewed by the boss!
Self-esteem and pride seemed to have disappeared?
Or as the haters say, “Love won’t pay any bills!”
Just don’t leave your hopes and heart out tearful
“We just keeping everything’s for-real’s”
Watch out! They might hear that you care.
Someone might even see you there.
They will even notice your uncut hair,
Or see real hair through this here weave you wear.
No, but I am too good, and we too well understand!
What good is change?
“They see and are saying the same oh thing.
It is just how the moneys go!”
Now money, prestige, and respect
Are out there on demand
And no matter how you play your game,
You have to learn the same
And earn what you know.
A hater can be a friend, who will cling to your win.
If there’s a fight today, they have gone the other way!
That one who is thoughtful on the surface, but shallow from within;
They only make their presence to be counted on stage.
A hater is only a fly on the wall, there, but not there at all!
We still love our haters, in our company, both big and small.
Since, we each hate at one time, haters keep the truth near.
Those who do not like a hater are haters themselves here.
WHAT FRANKLIN MEANT?
(Speculation)
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
He was a founding father.
Franklin was a statesman,
While not one to whom we would bother.
Who was Franklin really?
He was the inventor of electricity.
This seldom spoke of merely
For not more than a kite, a string, and some key
Before electricity our world was indeed still flat.
All people mostly farmed and bartered.
It would have remained most like that
Except that electricity really did matter!
With electric power white people could make machines.
While stupid black people never could understand this lightning.
We had no metals (the gold was not ours) it would seem.
The great white electricity to the African was just too exciting.
So why has Franklin not been hailed as the great electric inventor,
Like Columbus who discovered the Native Americans?
History states that Franklin was just an electric proprietor.
All his works were just merely tooth to hand.
Electricity was the first commodity; not put up for barter.
It was properly restricted to whites and Europeans,
For sale or inquiry for those with a white father;
Not to be shared on an open marketplace to human beings.
Before electricity, conquest was just for the land.
Land became work, now conquer the black man!
Barter no longer when greed, and all is at hand.
Then lie to your core how another human does not understand.
Was not electricity the first monopoly?
Like the fire should have been owned?
A shame with this here recipe,
Mental possession is still merely a loan.
We wonder why things get to be almost perfect.
99 still is not 100 percent!
There is a big lie laying on our every subject
It filters down through all our descent.
There is indeed an ink spot
Yet a spot is not a mere flaw
A spot is as sure as a knot
Intended to break a jaw
An ink spot is also a written form,
With a spoken message untold;
On a piece of paper there is a storm,
It comes here today, here to rip out your heart and soul.
YOU ARE THE FIRST LADY
I can say it stoutly!
I can even now say it out loud!
Those who do not get my bias
May not understand why I am proud.
It is not just that First Lady Michele is in the White House,
Although, it definitely is that much why I do rouse!
A Black woman, after all you been though;
Now having Heads of State, bowing before you,
Even our fair democracy need not look away,
As only our first, you are there today.
With your great ascend maybe only since forty years,
I must sing and appreciate your presence here.
No doubts do I see from behind you;
Though many a doubter would not believe it true,
Even more than President Barack your plight to come through,
As you stand where few limits fare against you.
You may ask why I single out you
As our first Black First Lady,
Your placement in my eyes is long overdue;
Not that you should have been first there stately,
You have always been a first lady, through and through,
And your envy would have been greatly.
When you were told to clean the bottom of her shoe,
When you were called Mammy with anything you do.
I only loved you as Mother, all blessings to you!
To embellish you as a First Lady maybe it so new,
And all other Black women may happily grin,
Some will sing, “How we told so,” as a religious hymn.
With this acknowledging pride, I do tip my hat to you,
Because it is you who now represent what we all can do.
I am just trying to get to first base
Here in this twit concerning her Race.
As I must view it face to face,
As I exemplify my case,
Those who see me with bad taste,
Stand to lie in their place;
And it is correct during our modern day
Of these stated things, which I do say,
I won’t refrain from stating the same
Now since First Lady is finally before her name.
I DO NOT MOCK SHAKESPEARE
I do not mock Shakespeare!
It is he who mocks me!
Are not my words worth, something?
Is that babble just a little brook
When have you given me a real look?
Too late and don’t you fear
Now, the underdog is here?
Again here to save the day
Expressed in another way
In my Negro pizzazz
Like music Dune in jazz
Seek me not as a supreme being
I have no words; I have not a thought
You ought to come correct
You must save our necks.
Heck, it was your retrospect
Which said, Negro you up next!
But I grandly mock Shakespeare.
Heck, I will call him your Dunbar,
To be or not, I am
Y’all please pass the jam,
Or was it the jelly?
No matter what is in my belly
It is (in) there already.
Was Frost not my Boss?
Or was he too forced?
He, we should not condemn
Not fair to be that presumptive of him.
He cared not but for his wall,
Since his neighbor cared not at all.
Is it best to follow suit
As if no one gives a hoot?
No fair to shun Whitman’s “grass”
It is bad enough to put you on your ass.
But let no die be cast
As if he would be The Last
You cannot sell that mess anymore.
What good is it then?
We may never hear those words anymore.
Please mock not the words of any men.
As we struggle on the same rock of age, once more,
Then we are condemned to repeat them again,
Or as the Raven nevermore, nevermore!
Every word must be respected then?
We know not what that we know.
JOSEPH, FATHER OF JESUS
He did it in a small way,
For some small role that he did play.
Laid upon him the will of God,
Just how he would abode.
With instructions
Summoned from the Angel Gabriel,
Joseph, the father of Jesus
Delivered the child of Noel,
Who would, in turn, deliver all of us
Give thanks to Joseph,
No low man of righteousness.
Give him thanks, Joseph,
Who was laid upon to touch Him first
Brought forth without the skill in birth
He, who had accepted Mary at her worth
It is a sacrament for us all he had shown
Even from Joseph who we all have known.
For (You) God uses even the least of us
Makes one do, manipulates us
We should without a fuss
Succumb to Thy will with joyfulness
Even those who live in good God’s favor
Shall never give in how they are so able
To supplant God’s will and do not savor
How even they are to deliver that set upon their table.
For His Will forever will be done
Showed how Joseph delivered His Son
Even less than anyone would do
For any favor that He has shown to you
But Joseph, in physically delivering the Son of God
Who died, rose, and now intercedes,
Gets us all through
Only, if we accept that it is what He will do
We must help us all see His ways too
There lies no faith in me or you
Only with faith in Jesus
His love we will do
All praises to Joseph
Whose hands delivered the Son of God through;
Whose faith and love helped bring forth our truth.
(Blessed is the name of Jesus)
I AM LOVE (CS)
I am the spirit of the Father
I am the body of the Son
I am the presence of the Holy Ghost
Yet, I am covered under the Sun
I am Love
Just like all my imaginations can see
I am fulfilled in love
I have become the truth of me
Love is who I am
Love has planted its seed
I breathe for wisdom
I long only for love’s need
I live with fewer doubts
I have fewer questions asked
I wonder never what it all is about
I seek out only my true task
For love has little demand
When love calls my name
Love also knows who I am
Love and I are the same
So let love be your parent
Let love be your child
Let love be your only friends
With your enemies let love be your style
When love becomes about you
When about love you are sure
Only then, you will do what you want to do
And only then, all of your love is pure
WHOLLY HOLY, THE LIFE I AM LIVING
The Bible speaks nothing about internet porn,
Yet, the preacher talks about it on and on.
You would think it was being played there on any I-phone,
Or you cannot wait to log on when you get back home.
We have bowed down low and holy.
We have lived this life lowly.
Yet, we will still remain in the church
And we watch out for that one who lurks.
Why is it that we continue on and on?
Worshipping Him, not letting life go on?
If there is work here to do? “Let us begin
And stop laying and waiting not to sin,
Having little or nothing else to do or say.
We should stay and study Christ every day,
Didn’t He say that His sheep hear His voice?
And we have followed His path by our choice.
He came here not to serve His sheep,
As ageless as faith is, we His love will keep.
It is those who still lie in their own mess,
Who know their efforts were not their best,
And maybe just for the wolves that He came?
The sheep and the wolves are not the same.
Maybe while we wait for Him to go home
With the Holy Spirit we are not here alone.
But there are those who are too far away
Judge not me or others with anything you say.
If heaven is a zillion miles away,
Just first love yourself today.
If one cannot love in this simple way,
Simply fall to your knees and pray.
He is only waiting, also, for you to come to Earth.
I am only asking can you accept yourself first.
I say I am good, I prayed to be good,
I tried to be good, now let me be good!
This is now how good is understood!
If I have my faith for Him in heaven
For all I do, I have done no better
I must have the faith in all He has given
Have faith in the life that I am living.
We are here to help end all strife.
Find your truth here living in the life.
Luke 6:35 says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again: and your reward shall be great… for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
MY MOTHER’S DAY POEM
Mom, you aren’t that special at all!
You were just that person, who slept down the hall.
The one, who I don’t remember, who watched me crawl,
You too washed out my jersey before a game of ball.
Mom, you were you there, when I was too big
And when I was too small,
Someone I counted on, through it all.
So, you were no big deal,
I am just keeping it all real!
If words could ever express, just show, how I ever feel
Since, I would be just nothing without you being near.
Mom, I love you, just as mine!
Mother’s Day is just one time
I get to say all that is fine!
I must admit every since I was nine,
You, I have taken advantage of, all this time,
So, enjoy your day today, but keep in mind.
Tomorrow will come and it is back to the same ole grind
Flowers will die and cards may not make sense with their rhyme
You know, instead of having a Mother’s Day every year,
We should have a Mother’s Year and one day not for you, my dear
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM!
To my mother, Ms. Esther Perry and all women!
HOW DOES VENGEANCE MATTER?
Does my vengeance really matter
Since, we are lost in our concrete ventures -
We who are persecuted outright,
By those who act ignorance, yet know?
I am no Job, and never have been a righteous man,
As if I know righteousness? We only have our faith!
Meet your maker. He is standing there before your very eyes.
And even our Great Maker is left with discontent.
He will have His Glory, He will have His Victory!
“Vengeance is mine!” said the Lord.
Where is my vengeance?
Although, The Lord has send some enemies
To their deaths, their wages of sin
Be their deaths. What is there before me?
Yes, Lord, I have found the Greatest Love in You!
You are likening to the wind, always there.
I still long for worldly lust, my absence needs,
And I would surely like to see my just rewards.
“Vengeance is mine!” said I.
As I will succumb to sin and to judgment, that too will be mine.
I must keep faithful!
Is not Love complete and overbearing?
Did love not come?
In the heat of the night,
Come then to take me away, Lord God?
Now will not death to this world remain so?
And those alive in love still know?
And, yes Lord, Your vengeance too, will be mine.
I will have my victory!
For I have walked through pain
And have lived in much disdain
I am still blessed the same
Though, those fires of Hell know my name.
Yet, I shall never burn.
Let those ignorant learn
As these wars will turn
I stay concerned
And we who are hurt will have reprieve
Let even those blind, now see.
If you cannot find Him in thee
Know how we witness God’s peace.
IN RECTROSPECT
(A Sheep is not a Sheep)
They know my sorrow.
They know why I weep.
They understood their power.
Sometimes, a sheep is not a sheep.
Although I sowed of my blood,