Atychiphobia (fear of failure)

Otter

As a husband and father

Sometimes I’m outnumbered by my wife and daughter 

Years ago on a visit to the Bronx Zoo, I met an Otter!

Just floating on his back and eating some catfish 

We locked eyes, and to my surprise, somehow he told me this

‘Enjoy your life and family, even if you lose, you win’

He winked and then flashed a lazy grin

From under his furry whiskers then he continued, ‘Got any advice for me?’

Confused and half hidden behind a tree

I replied, ‘Uh, thanks for the unsolicited advice!  

I never realized that otters were so wise and nice!’

I read that small clawed Asian Otters mate for life

Unlike their American ‘cousins’, the males stay and raise their pups…

No advice, but hundreds of questions… if you’re, uh, not in a rush?’

Is your ...

Galactic Rap Battle for Earth - 2045

Twenty years from now, once hip hop is long dead

When a bunch of space Alien Emcees invade, this is what they said

'Bring us ten of your world’s best rappers to battle for earth!

To freestyle for humanity and the rights to your turf!'

The world was in a panic, because all the dope emcees were long gone! 

Flying saucers blasted dope beats and rhymes in every language for days, their dissing of humanity was so dope, yet so wrong!

The aliens explained that they received NASA’s Deep Space Network transmission

Of Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" beamed at Venus in July 2024, and made it their mission

To challenge humanity for Earth, in a galactic battle of rhymes 

This alien society mastered science, technology and spitting dope rhymes!

The world had two weeks to respond, but they only needed eight days

For a crew of ten old men and women emerged...

The case for Black american reparations - part 1

They constantly paint black americans as the villain...

Like we have no value, as our blood is spillin’

Innocent lives, men, women, and children 

Enslaved for centuries, working for free, to build an american empire

As other ethic enclaves were raised, ours were burned by fire

Buried, AND flooded with water!

Pennies is what I’ll leave my poor daughter

As the last names of my ancestors' slavemaster kin

Whose net worth compared to mine, is multiplied by a factor of ten!

But the playing field is level and things are so much better?

Reparations aren’t necessary for 'YOU PEOPLE,' cuz you're no longer bound by a chain or a fetter?

As billions of dollars are sent monthly to Israel and Ukraine 

Why are Black Americans who demand land, education and opportunity d...

Imma be ubiquitous!

When I was younger, I’d always ask why

Now that I’m old, I ask how

Things that I was too afraid to try, I do now!

I’ve seen and done so many things, that nothing is ‘really’ new

If I traveled back into the past

Sitting in the back of my 3rd grade class

I’d be the fool!

Standing on my desk and yelling at our teacher, ‘that’s just not true!’

When you said that Cristopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue

He never even made it to America, with the Nina, Pinta, or Santa Maria crew!

So why do you keep telling us these ridiculous lies, ma’am?!

You know what, I don’t even give a damn!

I’m out this #%!+?, cuz I got a plan!

I know everything that about to happen, so Imma 'bout to be the man!

Remember this day, and recognize my name

In about 20 years, but not for th...

Cling Cling Cling (oh you Cappin!) - SNL parody/remix

Cling cling cling!

Oh you Cappin!

Ooh..ah... Cling cling cling cling cling!

Man you cappin!

Drip splash, water, drip splash, water...

C-a-p-p-i-n...

Fake news, why they choose, lies over facts when...

They act or speak?

Lights, camera, action, the plot's so weak!

The book was better?

Are those kicks plastic or leather?

Oh me, yeah, 4 sho’ I’m better!

Far from famous 

But these rhymes might be dangerous 

Lithium ions spark fast to melt that Stainless… 

Steel Cybertruck, zero to a buck

Under 5 seconds, in a gas truck!

Left a huge cloud puff

In my wake, nothing but dust!

Burnt rubber and regret 

Knew you was cappin', when you made that bet!

Thought you could beat me on any track?

It don’t matter, in a race, or if we Battle Rap

Imma call cap!

An author’s nightmare

Writing a book, and getting someone to buy and then read it…

Self published, so you must be a little conceited 

Like folks in reality shows, rubbing sticks together to make fire

Hands calloused and bleeding, the situation is dire…

Rewarded with nothing but smoke, sweat, and char 

They only care about wizards, comic books and vampires, so your stories are subpar

Still you are your own worst critic

Motivated at times, but you often regret that you ever did it…

Success should be the fact that you actually wrote it

But your greed wants readers to recommend and then quote it!

Thought you’d do something different, like a contestant singing acapella

Gave them scoops of Rocky Road

But all they really wanted was vanilla…

Confused, you choose to believe that eventually someone will see

Years ...

Take a hit of these themes, and I promise you’ll get addicted!

20 declined submissions on my Submittable tracker

Nothing beats a failure but a try, but why do I, still feel wacker?

Than all of the award winners, chosen by all of the judges...

With a chip on my shoulder, I continue to write, despite my ego’s grudges 

Tears drop on crinkled pages, causing hundreds of ink smudges

On the other side of the doors, that I’ve long been knocking on

Hide hundreds of annoyed residents, hoping that I’d just get off of their damn lawn

My message is unwanted gospel, like I’m a Jehovah’s Witness 

Darkening thousands of doorsteps, now I’m the picture of fitness!

Counting my steps, by the law of averages, eventually someone will let me in...

Poor ignorant souls, at least I can relieve some of their sin

A writer’s complex, vexed, hoping that...

Divine rhyme

Nothing beats a failure but a try

Writers, scientists, and athletes all know why

Celebrating wins and taking losses in stride

Are the keys to success, way more important than ego and pride

How many shots missed, paragraphs edited

And experiments gone wrong, that never get credited

For the all of the breakthroughs and championships 

If I had a dollar for each incomplete poem and every short story script

I’d be a millionaire, not in a room full of papers crumpled and ripped…

Up in frustration, arguing with myself, pacing

Trying to best express my ideas in a sentence or paragraph 

The Gods must be crazy, so I won’t show them my wrath...

Rather just explain

In language so plain

The ideas that they put into MY head...

These rhymes are divine, do you understand what I just said?

What’s struggle in utopia?

You know how boring a video game becomes?

When you have cheat codes for infinite lives and all of the ammo and guns?

That’s were millions of Americans are now, in the present day

Want for not, plenty of food, entertainment, security and pay

Wants and needs used to be like Christmas Day

But now, Americans can have almost anything at any time

They get away with a petty crime

Because it’s like they have Diplomatic Immunity

On a daily basis, they act with impunity

Secure with their health, family, a career, a future, and purpose 

Time may change everything soon, they are getting nervous

Soon their kids will graduate and leave

And their parents will transition and they'll be the bereaved 

All of the challenges that we once faced now flipped

Children become parent...

How ideas die

People, organizations, churches, the government, and corporations never want to hear

The truth, ideas, and criticism for fear

Of change, due to the status quo

That and fear is all that they know!

You might get new computers, software, or even a different type of report

But you’ll be met with disbelief whenever you decide to retort

The way that things have always been

During your next Bible study, challenge the word of God and you will surely offend

All of your sisters and brothers will accuse you of heresy and sin

Healthcare for all and reparations for the descendants of slaves?

Rather generational debt and unmarked graves 

During your next work meeting Q&A, share a novel idea or pivot

That may improve the build or sales of your company’s services or widgets

You’ll be thanked for your feedback and told ‘that&r...