HEALING STRIPES

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

out of mind

out of sight

was what you said last night

as the light was turned off

and I walked away shackled in shameful handcuffs

skillfully placed when I wasn't looking

out of sight

was what we used to be

strutting our stuff across the stage

like when James Brown was all the rage back in the day

we were the soul couple #1

but when the performance was done

the curtain came down

and no one called for an encore

out of mind

is what I was

and what I am today

walking past me without a word to say

a cold look penetrates my being

and what I'm seeing is snow melting slowly

uncovered

the uneven pavement

with last summer's trash

still piled up beside the gutter

out of sight

what I ...

Yeah

yeah

I often wondered why

you and I

never touched the sky

why we never stopped along the way

to paint pictures of ourselves

abstract

or in fine detail

admiring the finished product

before the final exhibition

yeah

every step along the way

a quick glance but no words to say

as we fantasize about what might've been

if we had touched the sky just once

reaching that glorious plateau we thought about

all those years

smiles

and miles ago

yeah

taking what our fantasy gives

we would make our own verbs and adjectives

our nouns would resound from every cliff of Dover

but the morning came today

and it was all over

just a dream

yeah

dreams are cool

they were cool then as they are now

circumstances

impossible to change

anyhow

yeah

ev...

As-Salam-U-Alaikum

greetings I give to you
on the dawn of this new day
may the light of Allah's blessings
illuminate your way

may His hedge of protection
surround you and yours
and in your daily sojourn
may you find unlocked doors

in this world of turmoil
may you only be at peace
and may the favor of Allah
upon your life, never cease

as you travel this day
may you be met with smiles
and the road be smooth
as you trek your many miles

may your mind be wise
and your faith be strong
the countenance of Allah
cover you all the day long

in the evening when you retire
and your daily walk is through
As-Salam-U-Alaikum
peace, is my prayer for you

I And I

I and I
waited for her lamp light to turn low
red
white and blue
dimming
as the evening approached
such a warm and welcoming
she
such a welcoming heart
she
it was what first attracted 
I and I
to
she 
in the first place
and
she
will always have my heart
my pledged loyalty to love and protect
she
loving
she
in the darkness 
alone 
under multi colored party lights
red
white and blue 
declaring my love to
she 
from the mountains to the prairies
and oceans white with foam
she 
will have my heart and whom 
I and I
yearn for
clothed
naked
wrong or right
I and I
love the touch of
she
hands upon me
hands
blissfully exploring each and every mountain ...

Obituary

remember when we got
H I G H
like Showtime at the Apollo
soft stepping choreography on cloud nine
or ten
or six
or whatever
the number escapes me
but it don't matter
because we was
H I G H
standing in front of your bedroom mirror
hair brushes for mics
Stylistics
spinning 45 degrees a few feet away
our heads spinning
a mighty love we had that moment
teenager inhibitions
lost on that first sip of
OE
and black berry brandy
a perfect combination to get us
H I G H
with laughter
and slurred singing
careless and carefree
and we talked about it the other week
never again reaching that plateau we hit
falling over each other with afros out of place
the long winter walk home
begging the hawk
to whip that arctic wind across my face
to take that
H I G H
a...

Caribbean Jones

damn
this was an easy poem to write

looking into your eyes
sparkling
dancing
cool white foam waterfalls
crystal-clear ocean waters
and my toes
sink deeper into the soft sand of your shores

yeah
this poem was no trouble at all

two white hot bolts of lightning
dangerously flashing above your Caribbean skies
parallel
dancing for a while
never once intersecting
causing continuous claps of thunder
Greek gods making mythological love in the heavens above us
and the worlds 
rejoicing in their union

I know your name ain’t
Jones
just happened to see the name
Jones
sitting all by its damned self

islands surrounded by cool coral waters
schools of tropical fish in military formation
palm trees swaying
orchards bursting full of all kinds of island fruits
ripe
a...

Odyssey

so
I wonder what would it be like
if I were a planet in your universe

what if I flew too near to your sun?
would you singe my wings
like Icarus
hurling me downward 
onto the jagged rocks of your shores?

could I revolve
and evolve within your solar system
keeping track of time and seasons?

would you support me with your gravity
or would I fall from your galaxy
into unknown worlds beyond?

would I be just another planet
in your universe?
another star among the millions
illuminating your nocturnal skies?

I wonder what it would be like
if I were a planet
in your universe

Love Poem I

you
are 
so close to my heart
each beat pounds
metronomic rhythms of love
coinciding with my motions and movements

you 
are the center of my every thought
the author of my passions
my pains
the inspiration for words of poetry
beautiful
and complex in its messages

silent
as morning silence
seduces darkness into light

soft
as April rain showers
fall lightly upon my front steps

beautiful
light-skinned beauty
dark-skinned majestic

at times
stubborn
in your attitudes

ugly
in your indifference and ignorance

sickening
in your selfishness

but I do love you
because you created me
and I
am of you

ain’t it a wonderful thing
to be you
to be me
to be

a people?

Grace 'N Mercy

I wasn't going to say it

ain't proud that the day and time has come to fruition
spending sprees and credit purchases
yesterday
but the bill came in the mail
today
and the collections department is demanding immediate payment

I ain't the one to rub it in your face
but I seen this coming from way back when
you ignored the signs and wonders 
the laying on of hands didn't work
the holy ghost called you several times
but your heart was in non vibrate 
silent mode 

I ain't gonna bask in the glow of

..there

almost said it
and I promised I wouldn't point my finger
dancing in delight around your maypole
'cause mine is tied right next to yours
but 
I heeded the warnings

built my house with bricks and stone
looking out at the old neighborhood 
homes and li...

Standing In The Shadows Of Love

the Cakewalk
the Charleston
revealing rag time dresses and uncovered knees
more interesting than the 
CanCan from Paris days of gay
gone yesterday
but there it didn't stop 
next on the jukebox 
the Jitterbug and the Lindy Hop

it's still cool to look back on You Tube videos
watching how great grandma danced at her high school hop
and did the Stroll
now 
head-nodding in wheel chairs
taking its final toll
family backyard barbeques 
watched daddy and mommy do the boogaloo
and whatever dances 
I can't remember the name
some years later
me and my peoples every Saturday
watching Soul Train to up our game

but I don't dance no more
the times ain't as happy and carefree
as long as needle on the turntable stayed sharp and ready
I stay at my table now
in the...