For Rent

Umpteenth Time

my pen 
up and jumped off the kitchen table
silverware and glasses fell to the floor
the while thing wobbled 
all four legs became unstable
dazed for a moment
dreaming I was the main character in Aesop's fable
my pen cursed at me
demanding I write a new rhyme
that's what happens 
when I watch Love Jones
for the umpteenth time

wasn't planned
scanned the TV apps to waste an hour or two
she wanted to peep old episodes of
Married At First Sight
something old, borrowed and blue
they all got divorced in the end
I wanted to watch something new
every prime time channel got a detective show
different character, same crime
so we both settled on watching Love Jones
for the umpteenth time

started to get warmer
went over to the thermostat and turned up the AC
the scene where Darius spits his first poem

Perceptions

at one time
black
was evil and satanic
then became
beautiful
whereas
it is now
fashionable
and God only knows what black will be
tomorrow

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

Cold Poem

I wish for the snow to fall
anytime
summer days as well as now
 
emotions
frozen
like icicles hanging from arctic cliffs
one false move
one blue verb
one frozen adjective
a downward spiral
dashing against the frozen pavement below
I shatter into a million pieces
and am no more
 
let it snow tonight
to hide for a moment or two
the ugliness
which is you and I
 
the sun
rising in the morning
we look out the window
seeing what we used to be
how beautiful we used to be
forgetting
what lies beneath the surface

It's Alright

peeking from behind closed doors
speaking in metaphors laced with symbolism
she's seen the designs and the best laid plans of mice and men
always remembering when the lines were straight
or led to inescapable walls
she calls
and I listen to what she says
understanding
no need for her to shed light
yeah,
it's alright
 
she looks so superior
wearing self-designed armor to protect her interior
I understand
the time isn't right just now to kiss her lips
or even hold her hand
it's enjoyable just to know what she drinks
how she feels about life
and how she thinks in all situations
 
I want to know what she takes for her cough
what little things I may do to piss her off
and the questions she asks of me are likened to 
an extended interview
because she has an investment to protect

Promises In Passion

(back from vacation with old lyrics from the "attic..")

physical attraction is what started it all
a sudden glance from across the floor
smooth conversation and a drink or two
exchanging phone numbers at the door
wanna trust him but well you know the game
been there, done that many a time or two
they write a check in the middle of the night
but come the dawn they don't always come through

promises in passion
will he mean it in the morning
or will he up and leave you lonely once again?
promises in passion
when the morning light arrives
will he tell you that he wants to be just friends?
will he hold you like he did last night
or vanish with the coming of the light?
promises in passion...

his alluring smile was like a fishing line 
before you knew what happened you were hooked
each enticing word he said went right thr...

Rear View Mirror

(old song lyrics I found in my "attic..")

sometimes I happen to pass by
and there’s a light in the living room window
another car is parked beside your door
I keep on going and don’t look back
but the tears start to flow
and I find myself missing you more and more
 
too much time we spent together
too many places that we’ve been
too many memories that just won’t go away
someone else might be right in front of me
but looking back I just can’t see tomorrow
because it’s hard for me to get through yesterday
 
I find it hard to go ahead
looking at you from the rear view mirror
wishing what’s ahead for me
will once more find you there
how can I just go ahead
when I’m seeing you in the rear view mirror
praying what’s ahead for me
will once more find you there ...

Newpanther (The Blackness Of The Day)

the 
blackness of the day
for our youthful protection
was always kept at bay
kept away from our front porch and church pews
we could watch cartoons and Sesame Street
but could not watch the
blackness of the day
on the evening news

conversations at school 
is where we would secretly come to the know
my brother and I 
among the last to be allowed to don an afro
as long as we kept it neat
safely tucked away at home after school
allowed to play safely only in front of our house
on our close knit neighborhood street

the 
blackness of the day
although forbidden to know at our age
we were always quite aware
watching them do all the latest dances
the family back yard picnics
the 
blackness of the day
was always there

the solace of my room amidst secrecy
transfixed with...

Blank Slate

here I am today

beach on the Caribbean

control/alt/delete

I Could

I could 
leap tall office buildings 
in just a single bound
fight corruption 
wherever it may be found
move so fast
eclipsing the speed of sound

I could
press a secret button 
and slide down that bat pole
a wave of my hand 
would save every wayward soul
collect all the broken pieces 
and make them again all whole

I could 
sing like the Temptations 
perfect five part harmony
give the world new spectacles
so everyone could clearly see
turn division into multiplication
and less would become plenty

I could
because during the night
the candle light dwindled
the moon shook its head
having quite enough of us
and went about its business elsewhere
we weren't paying attention to it
while she whispered words in a language I didn't understand
an...