DISCOVERING LOVE AND LOVE AND PASSION IN POETRY #7

I am discovering that love is all around me. I do not have to go and seek it out. It exist in me, with me and from me. I am discovering that I do not have to be anything other than BE who I am. I am tearing down barriers so that love can shine through. I am tearing down hard built walls so that love may emerge. So that I may bask in the sun. I am discovering that who shows up in my life is supposed to show up. Whomever is in front of me is good enough as is. I am learning to love everyone as is. It is easy to not see people for who they are. We have all been conditioned to fall in love with potential. To settle for whatever and then go about the business of changing that person. From here on out, I want everyone to see me as is. To love me as is, as God loves me as is. I am done with smoke and mirrors. I am done with manipulations. I am done with begging for affection. This ME is grand and if you don't want GRAND or can't HANDLE Grand, then keep it moving. Because the light is shinning bright and I love it!

Alic Walker

New Face

I have learned not to worry about love.

but to honor its coming

with all my heart.

To examine the dark mysteries

of the blood

with headless heed and

swirl

to know the rush feelings

swift and flowing

as water.

The source appears to be

some inexhaustible

spring

within our twin and triple

selves;

the new face I turn up

to you

no one else on earth

has ever seen.

LOVE AND PASSION IN POETRY #6

This lovely and provocative piece hails from the very talented wordsmithing Sojourner G with his permission of course. A gift to celebrate Love and Passion and Poetry. I am a huge fan of his talent and I bet you can see why...

Sojourner G

I want I want I want NEW LOVE, still fresh and vacuum packed in it's wrapper love. I want the anticipation of grabbing the tab, pulling off the bow, unwrapping my new love like a child with birthday dreams.

I wanna gush and grin at the prospect of having it new, having it first, having it only. Yeah big boy toy, new car smell, flat screen high def goodness with kickin' surround sound, dual overhead cams of love, twin turbo thrust that torques me out of my mind, standin' there, layin' there with "aww shucks hyuck."

When she arrives and we start to vibe, listen: I want that crackish love. That love that has me talking about everynothing on the phone til 3:30 AM when I know I got ta get up at 4:30 AM. And when I do get up if I ever get down, I ain't even tired because it's that Red Bull love that she be providin', that Pimp Juice, Rock Star, Jolt, Monster love.

Floatin' through my day wishin' I was lovin' her for pay, wantin' it to be my job I say. Not just my legs but my breath comes in pants and it is rationed at levels inversely proportioned to her...exhales. This love, this breath-less-ness, calls the heart aside and says, "beat like this", it's all heavy and slowquick African tempo with it's comforting annoyance broadcasting from it's northward residence in my throat whenever I think of her, this brand new love. And when I do settle down at night it's her love, this love that is keepin' me awake, robbing me of my chance to dream of her, weave mental futures with her, until the vision of her, the fantasy of her, the essence of her hypnotizes my psyche, bringin my heart into normal sinus rhythm, yeah V-Tach, sound track to my fantareality of...us.

I want us to laugh and talk about the effects of this love, for her to say, "I know your joint but let me tell ya 'bout MY story of love. I'm agonizing over my choice of scent of the day, will it be work or will it be play? I more than usual care about the color I wear wanting to brand your brain with this vision of love. It trips my mind to come to realize that your touches cause giggles, your kisses cause wiggles and your skills cause jiggles. New love, new love, you got ooh, ooh, ooh, OOH love, and I ain't even shame Luv. Because an emotional vacay from this world and this life is what I want with you Love, where cherubs sing, trees bend to give shade and waves lap lovingly at our sand encrusted feet. Heart shaped clouds and tropical breezes fill this bubble that shuts out the universe and locks in the...love, new love, I have for you NEW LOVE."

Yeah that's what I want, mmmm that's what I crave. Can it be a thang between me and you girl?

1 Cor 13:13
©SojournerG 2007 All rights reserved

TRUE LOVE TUESDAY:LOVE AND PASSION IN POETRY #5

I have been in love with Haki R. Madhubuti since I found him in my library at College. He spoke to me and his voice has stayed with me always. I was going to post about trust and the breaking of trust. But last night, into the wee hours I was transfixed with another thought.

Haki R. Madhubuti

THE UNION OF TWO
For Ife and Jake

What matters is the renewing and long running kinship
seeking common mission, willing work, memory, melody, song.

marriage is an art,
created by the serious, enjoyed by the mature,
watered with morning and evening promises.

those who grow into love
remain anchored
like egyptian architecture and seasonal flowers.

it is afrikan that woman and man join in smile, tears, future.
it is traditional that men and women share expectations,
celebrations, struggles.

it is legend that the nations start in family.
it is afrikan that our circle expands.
it is wise that we believe in tomorrows, children, quality.
it is written that our vision will equal the promise.

so that your nation will live and tell your stories accurately,
you must be endless in your loving touch of each other,
your unification is the message,
continuance the answer.

August 7, 1986

LOVE AND PASSION IN POETRY #4

This morning I went to the gym. I WENT TO THE GYM and I worked out for 1 hour and 15 minutes. I wish I could say it fits right in with my Resolutions for 2008-the Year of Love and Happiness, I mean it does. But the real truth is, it is a great way to burn all this sexual energy that I have. I mean think about it, you work out, you sweat, you feel great. Look, this is the best I can do at the moment and it worked this morning. I feel satisfied..sort of, I mean working out takes the edge off, but it does not replace the weight. Enough said.

Sonia Sanchez

HAIKU

I want to make you

roar with laughter as i ride

you into morning.

IT'S ALWAYS JAZZ SUNDAY:POEM #3

Yesterday JB and I had a wonderful lunch at a great malaysian restaurant...one of my favorite haunts. We sat for well over an hour having deep and thoughful Grown Women conversations. Then off to the theatre to see Anna Deavere Smith's newest play "Let Me Down Easy" Now if you have never seen Ms. Smith then you have missed something fine. She is a national treasure.

In keeping with It's Always Jazz Sunday, here is a poem for a great Jazz artist.

George Barlow
MINGUS SPEAKS: FOUND POEMS

1.
the soloists
at Birdland

Had to wait for
Parker's next record

to find out
what to play

what
will they do now

2.

hey dig
Bird ain't dead
he's hiding out
somewhere

and he'll be back
with some new shit

that will scare everyone to death

for bird

LOVE AND PASSION IN POETRY #2

I love this poem. It is so Grown Woman.

Harryette Mullen

ROADMAP

for J. R.

She wants a man she can just

unfold when she needs him

then fold him up again

like those 50 cent raincoats

women carry in their purses

in case they get caught in stormy weather.

This one has her thumb out

for a man who's going her way.

She'll hitch with him awhile,

let him take her down the road

for a piece.

But I want to take you where you're going.

I'm unfolding for you

like a roadmap you can never again fold up

exactly the same as before.

FAITH FORWARD FRIDAY: LOVE, PASSION, POETRY & BLACK HISTORY MONTH

I love February. It is the month that holds Valentine's Day--my FAVORITE holiday. It is also Black History Month. So in thinking about all my passions and how to share them all. I decided I am going to spend the month posting poetry that I like and most of it will be by Black People. Sometimes I will have a commentary and sometimes the poem will stand alone. I know this is ambitious but I think I can make it work. I am feeling in the mood for love.

Never love with all your heart,

It only ends in aching;

And bit by bit to the smallest part

That organ will be breaking.

Never love with all your mind,

It only ends in fretting;

In musings on sweet joys behind,

Too poignant for forgetting.

Never love with all your soul,

For such there is no ending,

Though a mind frets may find control,

And a shattered heart find mending.

Give but a grain of the heart's rich seed,

Confine some under cover,

And when love goes, bid him God-speed.

And find another love.

Countee Cullen