okay, so the last time i posted i said i promised to leave y'all something at least once a week. forgive me for not following up on that, i've definitely been slackin, but i'm still gonna set that as my goal. i also said that i would post other things besides poetry, so this will be my first post of a music video. i've been on kendrick lamar for a little over a month now and at first i must admit that i didn't like him, but now im in love. he brings so much more to rap than all the cookie-cutter rappers following the mold of MMG and Young Money, etc. so here's a track that i love off his album Section 80:
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
renewed commitment
when i first started this blog, i wanted it to be something that i would be committed to and that i would post with regularly, whether it was my thoughts, a short story, a poem, a song or whatever was on my mind. but slowly i moved away from that and started using it only to post my poems whenever i would write one. my posts got fewer and even more far between and my blog suffered. it was kind of ugly and barren, too, so that didn't help.
in short: i've decided to start over in a sense. i want to recommit myself to this blog so i'm going to try my best to have at least one post per week. and i'm diversifying; no longer will this just be a place where my poems come to sit and die, i'm going to use it for what i originally planned it for: a place where i can release my thoughts, whether artistically in the format of a poem or more chaotically (and probably more commonly) in the form of an anecdote from my day, or even a song or picture that resonated with me. i hope you enjoy...that is, if there's anyone actually reading this.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
love
true love is unconditional
timeless, yet original
conveyed through messages both overt and subliminal
it survives the tests of time,
out of sight, but never mind
and yes, as the saying goes, love is surely blind
it is patient, it is kind
it takes us to the sublime
and at times, it realigns our minds to fit its own designs
reassigns the lines within us, never failing to forgive us
even when we fail to do the same for trespasses against us
it says the words we cannot speak,
carries us when we are weak,
it simply IS. eternal. unchanging. unique.
timeless, yet original
conveyed through messages both overt and subliminal
it survives the tests of time,
out of sight, but never mind
and yes, as the saying goes, love is surely blind
it is patient, it is kind
it takes us to the sublime
and at times, it realigns our minds to fit its own designs
reassigns the lines within us, never failing to forgive us
even when we fail to do the same for trespasses against us
it says the words we cannot speak,
carries us when we are weak,
it simply IS. eternal. unchanging. unique.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
people today
People today are too focused on material things
Selfishness is a disease and it's killin us human beings
We steady tryna fill in all the holes in our hearts
But we don't know why they're there so we don't kno where to start
Here's a hint: let's go back to the fall of mankind
When we sinned against God and our race became blind
Lost sight of the promised land, left to wallow in despair
All cuz we didn't listen to our Heavenly Parent up there
So since then, we've all been lost and lookin for love
Cuz we fail to feel it comin down from our Father above
The history of the world is full of examples of His grace
But we seek to fulfill our desires rather than seek His face
He created the world and everything in it for our enjoyment
But instead of appreciating it, we're content to destroy it
Pollution, global warming, and holes up in the ozone
As we continue to befoul this planet we call home
And like stray dogs we roam with no sense of purpose for our existence
But since God gave us free will He's forced to respect our resistance
The only way He can come to us is if we make the first step ourselves
But for centuries we've looked for love in the products on store shelves
And nowadays the state of mankind doesn't look any better
It seems like we've been stuck in this moral quicksand forever
We've failed to realize our faults, fix them, and start anew
You blame the rich for our struggles while they blame God or you
And though it's been tough to chew, pride is even harder to swallow
Our leaders can't show us the way cuz they never learned how to follow
Takin us down the wrong path, the world is headed for destruction
But everyone thinks they're right and no one's open to instruction
Self-inflicted wounds keep us from fulfilling our potential
As this rain of misery, pain and sorrow becomes torrential
It's essential that we realize the faults inherent in our society
Cuz though no one is perfect, that's no reason not to try to be
So I try to see the good in others and overlook their shortcomings
Cuz if we fail to support each other we will accomplish nothing
And I've tried to keep hope alive in the face of this bitter sorrow
Now it's time to put pride aside and strive for a better tomorrow
I believe that we can do it if we put our faith in God's plan
But we gotta do it together, cuz shoot I'm only one man
Selfishness is a disease and it's killin us human beings
We steady tryna fill in all the holes in our hearts
But we don't know why they're there so we don't kno where to start
Here's a hint: let's go back to the fall of mankind
When we sinned against God and our race became blind
Lost sight of the promised land, left to wallow in despair
All cuz we didn't listen to our Heavenly Parent up there
So since then, we've all been lost and lookin for love
Cuz we fail to feel it comin down from our Father above
The history of the world is full of examples of His grace
But we seek to fulfill our desires rather than seek His face
He created the world and everything in it for our enjoyment
But instead of appreciating it, we're content to destroy it
Pollution, global warming, and holes up in the ozone
As we continue to befoul this planet we call home
And like stray dogs we roam with no sense of purpose for our existence
But since God gave us free will He's forced to respect our resistance
The only way He can come to us is if we make the first step ourselves
But for centuries we've looked for love in the products on store shelves
And nowadays the state of mankind doesn't look any better
It seems like we've been stuck in this moral quicksand forever
We've failed to realize our faults, fix them, and start anew
You blame the rich for our struggles while they blame God or you
And though it's been tough to chew, pride is even harder to swallow
Our leaders can't show us the way cuz they never learned how to follow
Takin us down the wrong path, the world is headed for destruction
But everyone thinks they're right and no one's open to instruction
Self-inflicted wounds keep us from fulfilling our potential
As this rain of misery, pain and sorrow becomes torrential
It's essential that we realize the faults inherent in our society
Cuz though no one is perfect, that's no reason not to try to be
So I try to see the good in others and overlook their shortcomings
Cuz if we fail to support each other we will accomplish nothing
And I've tried to keep hope alive in the face of this bitter sorrow
Now it's time to put pride aside and strive for a better tomorrow
I believe that we can do it if we put our faith in God's plan
But we gotta do it together, cuz shoot I'm only one man
Sunday, November 14, 2010
It seems like bein "Fresh" is an obsession these days,
Everybody out here stuntin, just tryna be fly
But man, please lemme know what comes after this phase?
And who gets to decide what "fresh" is and why?
Come holla at me lil homie, can u tell me wut's fresh?
And if you really kno the secret, can u tell me what's next?
For people today the most important thing is appearance
It's social suicide to buy clothes sold on clearance
But this materialistic point of view is false and incomplete
That's why the following is what i say to everyone i meet:
"You try to tell me that being fresh is about what I wear
I’ll tell you bout all the homeless people livin out there
You try to tell me that I need to buy myself some new clothes
I’ll show you families on the streets whose houses got foreclosed
You try to tell me that my wardrobe is cheap, wack, and old news
I’ll show you pictures of my boy who only wears prison hues
Cuz trust me, I once had the same outlook as you do
Avoiding bamas like the plague if they were rockin FUBU
I wouldn't step out of the house if I wasn't lookin fly
My head was full of hot air that had me floatin SO high
Cuz I thought I was THAT GUY, you know exactly what I'm talkin bout
The arrogant, popular dude who never fails to run his mouth
Thinks he's so much better than all the people around him
And that's why fake, materialistic people surround him
Cuz he up with all the new gear, he rock all the new styles
And anybody who don't is hated on and reviled
But I changed because I saw the consequences of my vanity
And the way that my actions had been affectin my family
I realized that my value has nothing to do with objects
Finally started to understand some of these vital concepts
Like the fact that every person on this earth is in my fam
And the fact that God lives inside every woman and man
I found out that my value comes from my virtue and my deeds
And that every kind act takes root and spreads its seeds"
So if you think I should go spend money on new gear
Go to the mall and buy myself useless material possessions
Then obviously your view of the world ain’t clear
You don't realize the beauty of this life that u’ve been blessed with
Cuz homie life is a blessing, open your eyes and take it in
Value don't come from your swagg my dude it comes from Him
poem for my pops
People wonder how and why I could seem so happy
Sayin I should be depressed at the loss of my daddy
But they don’t understand all the things that i do
I’ve learned a lot about death, come let me tell you
They say I should be sad because my father left the earth
But I know his physical death was just his spiritual birth
And I know he left behind all the aches and pains of the flesh
So why should I be sad when my father has been blessed?
He’s cast off and forgotten all that did him ill here
No longer does he have any pain, worry, or fear
Just an eternity to spend with his Heavenly Caretaker
So I’m elated that he’s now on his way to meet his Maker
Cuz my father fought the good fight in his time on earth
He endured so much pain, fought through so much hurt
So his ascension to the afterlife is bought and paid for
Now he gets to do for eternity what he was made for
Preach and lift up those who were less fortunate than he
Those who lived their lives shackled while my father was free
Cuz there are plenty of dead souls, as there are living,
Who don’t know to praise their Father in thanksgiving
But now my dad has been restored to his full vigor and youth
And I’m sure God will send him to start teaching the truth
Cuz his passion on earth was loving and serving others
He saw every woman as his sister, every man as his brother
And despite all of the hardships he had to persevere through
He was always looking for a troubled soul to lend an ear to
Cuz though he loved to talk, he was more than able to listen
Always had advice to give cuz the Word of God was with him
And one of my regrets is that I didn’t listen enough
Always thought my stupid daddy just talked too much
But as I grew older and wiser, though I’m still so young and dumb
I realized how much he is responsible for the man I’ve become
How much I’ve learned from the lectures he loved to give
And how grateful I am that I still have time to live
And to learn all the lessons that he tried to teach me
Cuz all along my father was just trying to reach me
And though I didn’t always listen to him when he was talking
I use the words I did hear to guide me on this path I’m walking
And I have him and my mother to thank for all of my success
And to him and my mother I apologize for causing so much stress
But Dad, I hope as you look down you know that your words did get through
And I hope you know that those you touched on earth will never forget you
I love you Dad and I know you’re listening, even when I don’t talk loud
So from now on, I walk this earth intent on making you and God proud
And I’ll live by the wisdom in the messages you’ve given to me
And try to let your love, kindness, and care shine through me
And I know you’ll never leave me, so I refuse to say goodbye
Just remember, when u get There, mom said be happy and fly.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
please DO stop the music
black people have a history of bein self-destructive
the future of the race compromised by the corrupted
the slave trade was fueled by black on black abduction
now pause: here’s where im goin wit this introduction
nowadays it seems the black race just keeps regressin’
socially with hip hop, plus the economic recession
it’s like black folks refuse to ever learn they lesson
they think they got the answer, but don’t even kno the question
you think we getting better; your example: Barack
but tell me: what other blacks have made it to the top
okay you say Oprah and Condoleezza, so Barack plus two
but look at most of the people who influence black youth
young blacks in the hood don’t memorize Obama speeches
but they suck up the rhymes of MCs like leeches
and the words they sit, study and resuscitate
reinforce sexism, racism, ignorance, and hate
the hip hop industry replaced the chains on Sojourner
if you don’t fit the mold, then the industry’ll burn ya
well what is the mold? Angry nigger totin’ burners
sellin cocaine and treatin his women like Ike Turner
cuz now it’s cool to “go hard in the paint” like waka
but have u heard somebody rap about blacks becomin doctors?
“well weezy did ‘dr. carter’ on his album ‘tha carter 3’”
But really what did that song add to the whole cd?
Simply this: a couple more rhymes where wayne spit nonsense
People listen for punchlines but don’t care about content
But if u listen to the way that these rap guys tell it
The only way to make it out is ballin, rappin, or sellin
Yea it might sound hot, but they all singin the same song
Sex, money, drugs, ice, plus girls with no clothes on
And we disrespect our women so much they’ve started to accept it
Now all you gotta do is strip if u wanna be accepted
Sex with anyone and everyone, these days it’s expected
Young girls see it growin up and they learn to respect it
Parents try to teach em that really they should reject it
But then turn on the radio and contradict they own message
Look at kat stacks, buffy the body, and superhead
Made a name sellin sex and now they all earnin stupid bread
Tv shows, movies, book deals, and the works
That’s what girls get these days for liftin up they skirts
And it’s stuff like this that hurts, for me to sit back and watch it
The type of things people will do and say to make a profit
Cuz we sellin our souls to the same folks who used to own us
Keep us around just long enough so that they can clone us
Then disown us, kick us to the curb like a trash can
And we say “that’s just how society do the black man”
But this time we can’t even blame our failures on ‘whitey’
Cuz we’ve been given every opportunity to live rightly
We just choose to be complacent with our current lot in life
And with our own darkness, we’ve learned to block out the light
The messages in our music have overshadowed our rich culture
As these industry executives continue to mimic vultures
Sayin “which one of these niggers is gonna make me money”
And “which nigger’s gonna spread ignorance and hate for me”
Cuz the new generation of rappers spits the same words differently
And ends every verse with “ain’t none of y’all niggas sick as me”
Man, this is the type of stuff that sickens me, perpetuatin our destruction
And then we try to blame it on the government’s corruption
You think it’s George Bush’s fault that no blacks got jobs?
Well Bush ain’t the one sayin that we should steal, kill and rob
That we should drop out of school and forget about education
No, these messages come from the music we keep makin
the future of the race compromised by the corrupted
the slave trade was fueled by black on black abduction
now pause: here’s where im goin wit this introduction
nowadays it seems the black race just keeps regressin’
socially with hip hop, plus the economic recession
it’s like black folks refuse to ever learn they lesson
they think they got the answer, but don’t even kno the question
you think we getting better; your example: Barack
but tell me: what other blacks have made it to the top
okay you say Oprah and Condoleezza, so Barack plus two
but look at most of the people who influence black youth
young blacks in the hood don’t memorize Obama speeches
but they suck up the rhymes of MCs like leeches
and the words they sit, study and resuscitate
reinforce sexism, racism, ignorance, and hate
the hip hop industry replaced the chains on Sojourner
if you don’t fit the mold, then the industry’ll burn ya
well what is the mold? Angry nigger totin’ burners
sellin cocaine and treatin his women like Ike Turner
cuz now it’s cool to “go hard in the paint” like waka
but have u heard somebody rap about blacks becomin doctors?
“well weezy did ‘dr. carter’ on his album ‘tha carter 3’”
But really what did that song add to the whole cd?
Simply this: a couple more rhymes where wayne spit nonsense
People listen for punchlines but don’t care about content
But if u listen to the way that these rap guys tell it
The only way to make it out is ballin, rappin, or sellin
Yea it might sound hot, but they all singin the same song
Sex, money, drugs, ice, plus girls with no clothes on
And we disrespect our women so much they’ve started to accept it
Now all you gotta do is strip if u wanna be accepted
Sex with anyone and everyone, these days it’s expected
Young girls see it growin up and they learn to respect it
Parents try to teach em that really they should reject it
But then turn on the radio and contradict they own message
Look at kat stacks, buffy the body, and superhead
Made a name sellin sex and now they all earnin stupid bread
Tv shows, movies, book deals, and the works
That’s what girls get these days for liftin up they skirts
And it’s stuff like this that hurts, for me to sit back and watch it
The type of things people will do and say to make a profit
Cuz we sellin our souls to the same folks who used to own us
Keep us around just long enough so that they can clone us
Then disown us, kick us to the curb like a trash can
And we say “that’s just how society do the black man”
But this time we can’t even blame our failures on ‘whitey’
Cuz we’ve been given every opportunity to live rightly
We just choose to be complacent with our current lot in life
And with our own darkness, we’ve learned to block out the light
The messages in our music have overshadowed our rich culture
As these industry executives continue to mimic vultures
Sayin “which one of these niggers is gonna make me money”
And “which nigger’s gonna spread ignorance and hate for me”
Cuz the new generation of rappers spits the same words differently
And ends every verse with “ain’t none of y’all niggas sick as me”
Man, this is the type of stuff that sickens me, perpetuatin our destruction
And then we try to blame it on the government’s corruption
You think it’s George Bush’s fault that no blacks got jobs?
Well Bush ain’t the one sayin that we should steal, kill and rob
That we should drop out of school and forget about education
No, these messages come from the music we keep makin
yes, i am diff-er-ent
just another day spent chillin on my dolo
people say im different, tell me something I don’t kno
don’t party enough for the cool kids to accept me
and the frat boys be sayin I gotta be more preppy
not enough swag to go chill wit the fly guys
tried to be a gangsta but couldn’t fade the drive-bys
don’t study or read enough to cool it with the geeks
and im way too tame to be hangin wit the freaks
plus people gimme funny looks every time i speak
moms be playin it off like, “baby u just unique”
but unique is just a code word for those who don’t fit in
every time I leave, people sayin “good ridd-ance”
so now and then, I catch myself wishin i had friends
but I don’t – so im back on my solo dolo again
but don’t get it twisted like I care what they thinkin
haterade wit liquor, the only thing they drinkin
but my drink of choice water cuz it’s plain as me
don’t got a lot of homies and that’s plain to see
cuz I walk around – headphones on, music blastin
never payin attention to the people im passin
im just tryna hurry up, get to my class and
take off my bag, sit down and then pass in
wait, I mean pass out – head on my desk
teacher tryna wake me up, tell her let it rest
cuz my world goin black, yea the movie boutta play
thinkin “what fantasy am I in store for today?”
cuz really it don’t matter who I am or who I ain’t
I can still escape to these mental pictures that I paint
Landscapes made of crepe and cake that I create
rumblin like earthquakes when they try to shake me awake
but I just brush em off and go deeper into dream land
you can’t bang wit me? That’s cool, these dreams can
yea im just doin me, you can take it or leave it
im my own best friend lil homie, best believe it.
people say im different, tell me something I don’t kno
don’t party enough for the cool kids to accept me
and the frat boys be sayin I gotta be more preppy
not enough swag to go chill wit the fly guys
tried to be a gangsta but couldn’t fade the drive-bys
don’t study or read enough to cool it with the geeks
and im way too tame to be hangin wit the freaks
plus people gimme funny looks every time i speak
moms be playin it off like, “baby u just unique”
but unique is just a code word for those who don’t fit in
every time I leave, people sayin “good ridd-ance”
so now and then, I catch myself wishin i had friends
but I don’t – so im back on my solo dolo again
but don’t get it twisted like I care what they thinkin
haterade wit liquor, the only thing they drinkin
but my drink of choice water cuz it’s plain as me
don’t got a lot of homies and that’s plain to see
cuz I walk around – headphones on, music blastin
never payin attention to the people im passin
im just tryna hurry up, get to my class and
take off my bag, sit down and then pass in
wait, I mean pass out – head on my desk
teacher tryna wake me up, tell her let it rest
cuz my world goin black, yea the movie boutta play
thinkin “what fantasy am I in store for today?”
cuz really it don’t matter who I am or who I ain’t
I can still escape to these mental pictures that I paint
Landscapes made of crepe and cake that I create
rumblin like earthquakes when they try to shake me awake
but I just brush em off and go deeper into dream land
you can’t bang wit me? That’s cool, these dreams can
yea im just doin me, you can take it or leave it
im my own best friend lil homie, best believe it.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
game day
it's game day, i start off on my knees in prayer
givin thanks to the Lord who through all things was there
cuz through Him, i had the strength and courage to prepare
now God and i together is an unstoppable pair
i play for Him who has given me all my ability
i play for family and friends who have always supported me
i play for those who believed when everyone else was doubtin
cuz faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains
i play for my teammates and coaches who pushed me to do my best
i play for the name of the school that's stitched across my chest
i play for those who watch us and still don't believe:
their doubt provides the motivation for me to succeed
not to prove them wrong, but to prove God right
cuz He told me i can do all things through Christ
so when i take the field, it's for Him that i fight
cuz i know it's to Him i owe all things in life
givin thanks to the Lord who through all things was there
cuz through Him, i had the strength and courage to prepare
now God and i together is an unstoppable pair
i play for Him who has given me all my ability
i play for family and friends who have always supported me
i play for those who believed when everyone else was doubtin
cuz faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains
i play for my teammates and coaches who pushed me to do my best
i play for the name of the school that's stitched across my chest
i play for those who watch us and still don't believe:
their doubt provides the motivation for me to succeed
not to prove them wrong, but to prove God right
cuz He told me i can do all things through Christ
so when i take the field, it's for Him that i fight
cuz i know it's to Him i owe all things in life
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
doubt
sometimes i stop and think that i be thinkin too much
cuz when i look to the future my heart be sinkin too much
it's like ima alcoholic who be drinkin too much
start to get down, so he get to drinkin and such
but for me, the problem's not even the drink or the dutch
it's these doubts that always got me feelin way out of touch
a straight loner: like starsky, without his man hutch
cuz im crippled and fear of failure's my metaphorical crutch
i guess im just afraid of the things that i can't see
even tho my moms said the dark is more afraid of me
but deep down i can't even fathom how that could be
feel like im locked in this cage with no way to get free
and then them army cats yellin "yo be all u can be!"
while the streets tellin me i need to be a OG
plus, my teachers be sayin "boy, get a degree"
but what if i find out that none of that is for me?
i mean i know i got talent just don't know how to use it
got a long list of skills, if u'd care to peruse it
my mind just plays around with ideas that amuse it
marchin to its own drummer with its own sheet of music
sometimes it's just hard to find one path and choose it
cuz the future's fragile, and im afraid im gonna lose it
beatin up my brain, man, these thoughts have abused it
i guess all this thinkin dun battered and bruised it
and at the end of the day im still stuck in the same spot
lookin at the happy people tryna figure what they've got
cuz marshall mathers told me "you only get one shot"
and if you miss out, you're a has-been and a have-not
man i want the king size bed but i got kicked to the cot
so im rollin the dice and pullin down the nob on the slots
cuz it's a gamble, they say you can't blow up if it's not
in life you gotta be ice cold before you get red hot
i guess what this means is im pullin out all the stops
puttin everything on the line, and givin it all i've got
and if it all works out, u'll be hearin my name a lot
but if not...blame it on these doubts that got me on lock
cuz when i look to the future my heart be sinkin too much
it's like ima alcoholic who be drinkin too much
start to get down, so he get to drinkin and such
but for me, the problem's not even the drink or the dutch
it's these doubts that always got me feelin way out of touch
a straight loner: like starsky, without his man hutch
cuz im crippled and fear of failure's my metaphorical crutch
i guess im just afraid of the things that i can't see
even tho my moms said the dark is more afraid of me
but deep down i can't even fathom how that could be
feel like im locked in this cage with no way to get free
and then them army cats yellin "yo be all u can be!"
while the streets tellin me i need to be a OG
plus, my teachers be sayin "boy, get a degree"
but what if i find out that none of that is for me?
i mean i know i got talent just don't know how to use it
got a long list of skills, if u'd care to peruse it
my mind just plays around with ideas that amuse it
marchin to its own drummer with its own sheet of music
sometimes it's just hard to find one path and choose it
cuz the future's fragile, and im afraid im gonna lose it
beatin up my brain, man, these thoughts have abused it
i guess all this thinkin dun battered and bruised it
and at the end of the day im still stuck in the same spot
lookin at the happy people tryna figure what they've got
cuz marshall mathers told me "you only get one shot"
and if you miss out, you're a has-been and a have-not
man i want the king size bed but i got kicked to the cot
so im rollin the dice and pullin down the nob on the slots
cuz it's a gamble, they say you can't blow up if it's not
in life you gotta be ice cold before you get red hot
i guess what this means is im pullin out all the stops
puttin everything on the line, and givin it all i've got
and if it all works out, u'll be hearin my name a lot
but if not...blame it on these doubts that got me on lock
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