"Closer to my dreams..."

First off... i appreciate all those who were able to respond to my previous post discussing what you would do if you knew you had 24 hours to live. i now know who my real friends are... just jokin.

"Closer".... that's the name of this song by this very powerful singer by the name of Goapele. I only recently discovered her music, but since i found it i've been shouting her out to everyone i know. Her music is very inspiring, and i find it really soothing. In the song Closer she drops lines like:

"Closer to my dreams,

Feel it all over my being,

Close your eyes and see what you believe..."

I tend to search for the metaphysical relationship of the stuff i read,write, or listen to. So when i heard these lines i was instantly affected by them. i saw a need for me to stop looking for my next move and just close my eyes and use my "mind's eye" to guide me. i used to be more in tuned with my surroundings, but in more recent times i got away from trusting myself on alot of things immediately around me. I've gotten better at it lately, hence my desire to write more poetry, which has always been a love of mine.

But yeah, i definitely implore you all to find that which affects and infects your soul with positivity. And if you know what that is... please share, you never know what your words may do for another.

Peace.

Each one teach one...

24 hours....

I was playin this old mix tape i had the other day and it had this old track on it by Mase, called "24 Hours". On it the Lox, DMX, and Mase rap about what they would do with 24 hours left to live.

It made me think of what i would do with my last twenty-four hours, so i decided i'd share it with ya'll just in case it comes to fruition soon.

• I'd print out my blog(s), gather my college journal, and all my poetry, then put them in a folder for my wife and children. I figure they should know as much about who i was as possible.
• write one last blog tellin' everybody, cause i don't want folks coming here asking where i'm at, and why i ain't posted nothin' in a while. plus i'd definitely try and go meet my blogging Muse just for gp.
• Mass email everybody in my "contacts" list an e-invite to my funeral.
• talk to my family and let them know individually how they inspired me, and made me the person i am.
• i'd consider converting to some religion, but i probably wouldn't.
• I probably wouldn't waste time trying to drive around Atlanta catchin' up with people, cause most of my time would be in traffic, so i'd have a good day with the kids (videotaped), and have a real good evening with them missus (also videotaped, hopefully i remember to put in a new tape for this one).

I ain't gonna make this one of those list of people, who i require to post on their blog responses.... but i will make a list of people i'd like to see respond... and you better do it, or suffer the consequences....

Ms. Nikki, My man G, GeorgiaPeace (i mean GeorgiaPeach), Brea, NSanleeSane, Hassan, Abeni, and all the other folk who stop through my little corner of the world wide web.

Let me know if ya'll do it. so i'll be on the lookout.

Peace.

Love Haiku-Style.

Her presence froze me
cold winds smoothed her rough edges
i could not unthaw

peace.

free...style...love...poem.

i decided to post a poem, but since i didn't want to post some old stuff i figured i'd try and freestyle one.... wish me luck.

i'll make it a love poem...

i want a love that moves me forward.

i want a love that teaches,
reaches,
stretches,
and caresses
me.

i want a love that touches,
clutches,
envelops,
and develops
me.

i want a love,
that shower's me.
shower's me like a summer rain,
both cooling my soul,
and leaving remnants of its presence for all to see.

i want a love,
that empower's me,
emboldens me,
embeds itself in me,
a love that empties me.

i want a love that tells me when it's time to stop, look, and listen...



Peace.

"One good thing about music...."

"...when it hits you fell no pain."-- Bob Marley, Trenchtown Rock

As much as I admire and love Bob Marley; As much as I love the relevance and timelessness of his music and message; I'm beginning to see some untruth in this line.

Maybe because Bob recorded Trenchtown Rock in the 70's, years before the "Bling" era of rap music, he probably couldn't find much fault in making such a statement. But, my how times have changed. If there's anything that's causing me pain, it has to be music right now. Music playing on the radio right is killin' my spirit right now, and the fact that my CD player is not working properly, i'm kinda in a position where i either drink the "kool-aid" or die of thirst.

Since i really ain't down with the mass suicide that today's radio is assisting so many people with, I've been getting familiar with some Country Music.

Quick side note.... did ya'll know there is a country song called "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"?? Dang, even country music is jackin' hiphop culture!

So I decided to list just a few of the most euthanising songs i've heard:

1. One of the worst is this song called Give me that Pussy (*excuse the language*). With lyrics like--
"...She might go back to the telly(hotel) with me,
Shake her jelly(body) with me,
Let my people bust(ejaculate) on her face and her belly with me..."

and, a chorus that tells women to "Give me that Pussy...", I can see how this can be considered radio friendly.

2. Next, is Gettin' Some Head. Now this song is not nearly as offensive as Give me that Pussy, but it's damn near close. It really just shows us how far backwards music as gone. I remember a time when this song wouldn't get played on the radio because of censorship, or if it was played, it was at the ass-crack of night. Nowadays I wouldn't be surprised to hear some high school band playing this at a football game.

3. Any of the songs that are out, or have been out recently glorifying the "Trap" life. The Trap is new slang for the hood or any drug-ridden, impoverished area. It originates out of the South, but i've heard my homeboy see people in Boston rock t-shirts with "TrapStar" written across them. I really hate the over glorification of criminal behavior that we seem to be constantly bombarding ourselves with. Isn't it bad enough that we call it the "trap"? Doesn't that signify something greater than a neighborhood? Maybe a "rat-trap", or a "mental-trap", and possibly even a "boobie-trap"... in other words, traps are cannot be a good place to be. Because you are then at the will of the "trapper".

Maybe i can't hold it against Brother Bob's famous lyrics, i mean may be it's a logic problem. Music does not cause pain. Some rap causes pain. Some rap is not music. Makes sense to me.

That's it for now. I'm sorry to realize that all the selected material for this post was formulated from the minds of the South. I'm am sure every region plays a part in this spreading of this self-inflicting-mind-deteriorating-culturally-genocidal epidemic, but since this is where i'm at, i have to talk what i know and what i hear.

Peace.