Writer's Anthem

One day, I sat down with a notebook and ink pen on my lunch break, feeling like I needed to write something. But I didn't know where to start. I didn't have anything particular to say.

So I asked myself, "Why do you write at all?" This poem was my answer. I wonder if other writers will read this and find themselves in any of it. As always, I welcome your feedback!

Writer's Anthem (with this pen)

with this pen

I’m equipped to flip the script

I craft astute quips

and crack literary whips

to make words fall in line

with this pen

I can travel through time

and correct narcissistic histories

shining light on truths once enshrouded in mysteries

with this pen

I break rules and amend statutes

redistributing the loot of the educated few to the masses

with this pen

I appropriately label jackasses

and call them out on their classless pursuit

of plain old bullshit dressed in a fancy suit

with this pen

I settle disputes and increase the peace

pealing away conflict to expose the serenity underneath

with this pen

I declare war

as I journal I murder every force

that undermines every cause that I stand for

with this pen

I’m engaging the enemy

staging battles on pages

and channeling fits of rage

into powerful displays of the purest way

that I know how to fight

With this pen

I plan to discover the limits of my might

as I write percussive campaigns

against treasonous refrains

that try to claim victory

over my sanity

with this pen

and its unlimited supply of ink

every phrase that I think

brings me closer to the brink of solution

and becomes proof of my evolution

into my position as the divinely appointed opposition

against pointless, hurtful traditions

and maliciously imposed contradictions

that if left unchecked would stifle the ambitions

of the hearts of humanity,

yet

with this pen

I can’t forget to check my own vanity

I own all my flaws with honesty and attitude

reminding myself to consciously walk in gratitude

with this pen

I empty my head of thoughts broken

cloven and worn thin by daily carcinogens

fulfilling cycles where first I sin then am forgiven

With this pen

I write freely ‘til my soul lies barren

begging like blank pages to be filled time and again

I write

because with this pen

I win

Facebook Mini Series, Vol. 1

Yeah, I'm on Facebook, but I don't really *do* Facebook. (I'm a twitter addict.) I'm the kinda person that might update my FB status once a week...maybe. And then I like to be all cryptic and non-specific and junk.

But lately I've been writing these mini-poems for my status updates. They're quite random, but like the rest of my poetry, they're all me, unfiltered. Heres a bunch of my latest. I'll post more when I write more.

I dig them (I may try to expand some of these in the future), but I wanna know what you think. Which one's your favorite?

my hesitation was misinterpreted for resignation

when in fact i was suffering from emotional constipation

communication outlets blocked and backed up

but when they get stacked up too tall

these sentiments fall after all

______________________________

blue notes danced across my eyelids

as they slid into place thru my headphones

they always find me alone

lost in imagination

a singular solitary soulful congregation

______________________________

there's no way of knowing

but I say I'm going all the way

at the end of the day

I'm still standing

still running

still flying

the day I stop moving is the day I start dying

______________________________

my heart bleeds steady

so i keeps the pen ready

ink from my soul's well

is the best way 2 tell

my story:

love, loss, passion and glory

_________________________

wading in the stream of dreams

that meets reality at its seam

fed by the waters of creation

that flow 'cross the riverbed of manifestation

boldly treading on an unknown heading

taking to flight into a fearless night

______________________________

marinating in the juice of inspiration set loose

prepare to feast on my masterpiece

______________________________

Dawn of Inspiration

"Anoche me acosté con mis pensamientos. Ésta mañana me levanté con mis sentimientos." (Last night I lay down with my thoughts. This morning I woke up with my feelings.)

I tweeted this thought a few days ago. I have no idea why I wrote it in Spanish, but I'm glad I did. (Isn't Spanish a beautiful language?) I kept reading it over and over, feeling like there was more to be said. It grew into this little (English) poem.

Dawn of Inspiration

last night

i lay down under the weight of the day

and slept with my thoughts

reluctantly drifting into dreams of deficiency

lit by the flicker of dim resolution

at some point during our slumber

my pensive bedmate disrobed

stripping herself of the heavy burden

of solving riddles and fixing broken solutions

as i dreamed she took my hand

and walked me through a fantastic field of possibility

and her gait took on a more sentimental saunter

unbound by higher reasoning

she pursued higher ways of pleasing me

and this morning

i awoke with fresh feelings

instead those same tired thoughts

passion illuminated my bedroom

urgency pulled back the covers

coaxing me to open my eyes

with determination

and gaze intently upon

the dawn of inspiration

Nothing Inspires Like Inspiration

I love my Twitter family. I've been able to connect with some of the illest talents out there, especially writers and poets. Not only are they out their grinding to get their voices heard, but many of them have encouraged (and even challenged) me to push against my own writing limits and bring the use my words.

I connected with @Keziathepoet only a short while ago (just last week, if I'm not mistaken), but she's already helping me push toward new levels. She was on Twitter last nite, about to explode, looking for someone to freestyle with. I took the bait. We went back and forth for a while, and here's what we created...(my words are in bold).

it's time for rhythm and rhymes

the rivers of lines flowing through this mental of mine

in need of cerebral release to cause the madness to cease

peace is a must let me grab a pen because it's poetry or bust

i fight for the right to write, moving my pen through all hours of the night

what a plight this gift of words turn bringing thoughts to life with the verbs

action words for what i feel, words to action to turn feelings into real

reveal the innermost unspoken thoughts inhibitions ignored pop open faults

just to let go, let words flow, let emotions show, let momentum grow

not to mention that you just might blow adjust the gears just so to get that just right flow

words flow to stanza and stanza to verse, verse leads to the mic unfiltered and unrehearsed

verse after verse gets sprinkled on their minds Ms Who brought the new and put a wrinkle in their time

creased their foreheads with her very essence, gave them sight with her luminesence

insight from her life lessons that stressin was too depressin and just wakin up was a blessin

she was livin in heaven while she walked the earth, blessed and highly favored since birth

but life can hurt..the work can be a bit much can leave the spirit fragile to the touch

a wounded heart is a heavy burden to carry, and the state of merriment tends to vary

and "friends" are scary..family can be worse but we have a Savior who carries cares and wrote His love in a verse

He lived that love and died to redeem, He rose because even over death He offered us victory

He's stricken me with His grace and mercy everlasting I'm forever dwelling in the shadow that the cross is casting

"Be You"

Okay...this isn't so much a poem as it is a song. But I thought it was fitting for my next blog post.

I wrote this last night, after some inspiration from GLucciano (thanks again for my breakthrough!). I think maybe the full effect of the words will come with the music, but I hope the message stands on its own. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Be You

You're beautiful the way you are

Flaws and all, you're a superstar

Don't let them tell you your way is wrong

Trust in yourself and be strong

You're living your own destiny

And you're right where you're supposed to be

Baby, it's all you

And baby, you're the truth

Do what you're born to do

Go ahead...and be you

You can only be you, and I can only be me

Their expectations don't make your reality

You've got to be real, you gotta be yourself

Find your reward in peace, love and wealth

I can plainly see the greatness that's inside

So don't let nobody go and take your sunshine

Baby, it's all you

And baby, you're the truth

Do what you're born to do

Go ahead...and be you

Everybody's gotta learn to walk their own path

We gotta learn to be satisfied with the talents we have

Who we are has already been assigned

Naturally divine, baby you're you by design

Baby, it's all you

And baby, you're the truth

Do what you're born to do

Go ahead...and be you