Poetry

Poetry

Transitional Education and Consulting Services

Eclectic Voices Book Available: March 2008 ISBN13: 978-0-9770035-18

Poetic expression has long been a part of the national consciousness. There is as much diversity in poetic style and quality as there is in the voices that share their particular glimpse of life. Listening to understand, rather than critique, those diverse voices might provide us with greater insight on our human condition. We are all connected -- beyond race, beyond gender, beyond physical characteristics or ability, we are connected! When we strive for success we will stand on the mountain that others have built or we will languish in the hole that others have dug. We are connected! As a community we cannot afford a prison industry populated with African-American and Hispanic males who will become the poster children and justification for profiling, redlining, steering and exclusion. We are connected! The young men and young women who have strayed; the men, women and children who are trapped in the glass cage of poverty, able to see out but not get out; they are still our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and neighbors.

We should make every effort to help those men, those women, and those children who want to be successful. It is not welfare, it is spiritual warfare and we cannot afford to lose. The village concept is real. While it takes a village to raise a child, it takes strong families to make a village, it takes strong adults to make strong families, and it takes well-raised children to make strong adults. We are all part of this cycle and real men and real women will not wait to be asked or begged to do what needs to be done. Personal success achieved without love and compassion is moral failure. Our challenge is to make new friends and break old stereotypes – to blend our separate stories into a single narrative that is centered on love, mutual respect, support, and accomplishment. We can achieve success when we become men and women of concern, conviction, courage, and commitment.

Eclectic Voices: Essays and Poetry
ESSAYS		SOCIAL COMMENTARY		LONELINESS AND LOSS
Deep Roots and Eclectic Voices	1	Blessings	41	Alone At Night/Storms	73
Relating To Others	3	HIV – Who Me?	42	Choices	74
Dr. King’s Legacy	4	Do You Know Me?	44	Cycles	75
What If	6	Contradictions	45	A Widow’s Grief	77
Independence Day	8	Graduations	46	Just Passing Through	79
Living On A Slippery Slope	11	Keep Talkin’	47	My Last Uncle	80
Success	13	News	48	A Tribute To Maxine	81
ABOUT POETRY		Sometimes I get Confused	50	Measure Of A Man	82
What Is This?	14	When	51	Hey Cousin	84
Poets Flow	15	Perspectives On 9-1-1	53	Fences	85
Haiku Sampler	18	Invisible	55	Shady Oak	86
Poet Tree	19	LOVE AND HOPE		AFROCENTRIC
Phenomenal Queens	21	Time With You	57	Relentless River	87
Beginnings	23	Permanent Rainbow	58	Skin Games	89
INSPIRATION		Rising In Love	59	Drum	91
Boys To Men	24	The Sense of You	60	M-O-N-E-Why?	92
Women From Girls	25	Captured	61	Did You Think?	94
Roses	26	Real Love	62	Justice or Just Us	95
Butterflies Soar	27	Missing You	64	Why? Fourth Of July	97
Crashing Waves	28	Love Rises/Understanding	65	An African Mind	99
Nzingha’s Light	29	Metamorphosis	66	Dream	101
Real Men/Real Women	30	I Miss Love	67	Dream Explosion	102
Thanksgiving	31	Gathered In Love	69	She Knows	105
A Spiritual Promise	33	Dad	70
Rejoice	34	Mother’s Love	71
God’s Plan	35	Golden	72
A Wedding Toast	37
A Christmas Story	38
Prayer Of Commitment	40

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There are those who have touched my life in emotionally intimate ways and I am grateful for their enduring friendship. This work is a collection of reflections and feelings – some in my voice and some in the voice of people who have influenced my life. There are voices of hope, despair, love, rejection, loss, anger, confusion, cynicism, optimism and joy. Perhaps you have met some of these voices or maybe you will find your own among this collection. I am grateful for the opportunity to share them with you. In reading them, I hope that you are able to find comfort, encouragement, cathartic release or an opportunity to focus on your own reflections.

LONELINESS AND LOSS

AFROCENTRIC

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