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Friday, February 17, 2012

Talking in his sleep

mumbling words
spoke a story
unheard
until now
as I lay there
trying to make out
the truth
for jumbled thoughts
and groggy tunes
told the tale
of infidelity
and I only found out
because he was taking in his sleep...

Monday, February 13, 2012

Rest in Peace...

There is really no appropriate title for this post as I am merely commenting on a Facebook post added by a friend of mine this week.

I am very objective and took no immediate offense to the post, but rather tried to consider the viewpoint of the poster.  The post read "Whitney Who?"

The photograph is at this link 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3008489463487&set=p.3008489463487&type=1&theater with this caption “America's fighting men and women sacrifice much to ensure that our great nation stays free. We owe a debt of gratitude to all our Military that have paid the ultimate price for this cause, as well as for those who are blessed enough to return from the battlefield unscathed.” Allen Boyd 

The photograph shows coffins of soldiers who have lost their lives in service to our wonderful country.  This was intriguing because it seems like we want to redirect focus to the servicemen rather than off of Whitney Houston's shocking death as if to devalue her death.  I, and I can only speak for myself, have not now and will never discredit the thousands of men and women who volunteer to fight for our country's safety.  I, not now and will never, devalue the devastation and tragedy of any type of loss.  I do not feel that by celebrating a life, of any kind, devalues the lives lost by those who serve our country.  I think that the post was immaturely represented in that it attempts to prioritize deaths.  Would you post this photo if an immediate family member died?  If your mother passed away would you post a photo of soldiers and say "Mother Who"?  I don't think anyone would because the loss is great.  And your attention and focus is on dealing with that loss.   You would never devalue your mother's death.

There are thousands of people who die everyday and no one even knows who they are.  Yet, people die everyday, innocent people, senselessly but we are not directly affected as sometimes we are unaware or have no direct or indirect relationship to those individuals.  It is not our place to pass judgement.  We can not fault people who have developed relationships with this vocalist.  Those who viewed her life as a testimony of strength and great faith.  No one in life is perfect by far, but her life and her music brought hope to many people.  Those who grew to know and love her music allowed her words, lyrics to directly affect their lives.  For all we know she could have saved lives through her words and her faith.  I do not think that by celebrating her life, that we can not also celebrate the lives of those who fight or have fought everyday for this country.

Now there were several posts/comments in the thread that I don't particularly agree and I won't respond to each individually but I will say that regardless to how someone dies, no one is absolutely perfect.  Many of the individuals on that thread are not perfect, but I would hate to hear what someone would say about you when you past away.   I would hope that they would not say that "you got what you deserved" or that "it was your fault".  Regardless that is not the reason for celebrating a life.  You celebrate the good things.   We are uncertain how many soldiers fight because they have nothing to lose, or whose to say that they don't devalue their own lives so they just fight with hope to die?  We are uncertain of those things just as we are uncertain of what Whitney Houston was actually going through but we remember her for all the great she has done and we remember those soldiers for the great things that they have done.

This post is not to attack anyone but to merely provide a more objective viewpoint and to voice an opinion.  

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Southern Belles, Fiction Novel, Synopsis


Southern Belles is a novel that takes readers on an emotional and dramatic journey into the lives, hearts and minds of a group of women who are true Southern Belles.  

Southern Belles is driven by the secrets of Jazzmine Phillips.  Jazzmine is originally from Chicago, but has lived in Texas for two years, in which she has developed a great friendship under the alias Alana Gaines with LaShelle, Natalie, Yolanda and Brittney.  When Jazzmine hit rock bottom, nearly being beaten to death, she fled Chicago and never looked back, determined to never let sex and money fuel desperation.  When Alana gets a feeling that she may have encountered a shady business deal, she calls on a friend from home to investigate.  Alana reluctantly discovers that LaShelles dedication to Slayton, is greater than any regard for Alanas best interest.

LaShelle, Shelle, age 30, is a woman of great knowledge but struggles with finding a balance between her professional, social and love life.  LaShelle is willing to do anything for the man she loves.  She is so blinded by love that it was inevitable that she would have to endure the consequences of being in a relationship with a notorious thug.

Natalie, Nat, age 25, spends most of her time climbing the corporate ladder, partying and seeking love.  Natalie has relations with three men; a man who doesnt really want to commit, a man who finally realizes that she is the one he wants and a man who she thought was willing to love her without obligation, through which she slowly discovers which gentleman truly has her best interest at heart.

Yolanda is a spoiled, unmotivated brat, who at the age of 28, still has no true goal for her life.  Yolanda lives at home with her parents in which she has no real responsibility.  Yolanda has acquired great education, at the expense of her parents, in hope to continue to receive their financial support.  She is perceived as naïve, but she always happens to be in the right place at the right time; because of that, she is able to shine light on a lot of things that have been going on right under the others noses.

Brittney, Britt, age 27, single handedly takes care of her son, Caleb, while running a very successful business and dealing with the trifling, selfish and freeloading man who fathered her child.  Brittney, so unhappy with the way her life was headed, leaves her babys father and jumps on a chance to be with her one true love, Maxwell Caleb Lawson, the man whom which she named her son after!   What Brittney thought would be a fairy tale ending turns into a nightmare.  Brittney finds out that everything that glitters isnt gold and there was a reason that she and Maxwell were not meant to be.

The Belles meet monthly; a time for each of them to reflect on their lifes journey, discuss issues and provide support for one another.  With this being a very dynamic group of women, the meetings can become unruly and not all the time do the ladies see eye to eye.

Southern Belles highlights the strength and determination southern women have for success.  Southern Belles seeks to promote self awareness, dignity and pride amongst women.  Southern Belles tells of how to succeed when faced with the inevitable aspects of life.

Who will persevere?  Whose life will end?  Will they remain friends?

Monday, February 6, 2012

Ode to Poetry

So my ability to speak poetically is easily summed up in a phrase, "When I lost courage to speak, I sought refuge in a pen and discovered a voice, poetically spoken."  I have for many years, and still believe, that this same drive is the essence of each post and poem you read.  In all my work I strive to give you me.  The "me" that you may not otherwise understand if you were not able to read.

So please make sure you let me know what you all think.

Here is a poem that I like to call "Ode to Poetry":

A tribute to
an old fashion love
a love that stands true
a golden dove
flying great altitudes
I sing new tunes
in your arms
curled up
with
pen and pad
in heaven again
I give you all of me
each emotion
and great memory
I need you to
summarize my journey
poetry
and we live forever
poetically
speaking
in phrases that enliven
with lyrics
a symphonic melody
I need you now
and forever
so my soul I give to you
that encompasses all of me
I love you always
to
poetry