These are some poems that I have written here and there for different reasons. Sometimes the context or setting is important to understanding. So, I'll provide that where needed. My poetry is at times an expression of my rawest emotions. If at somepoint it appears to have some rough edges, that's because I have some rough edges. Enjoy!
rally
Ode to Exegesis
for jodie
as the salt of my tears
rally
Written after the "Not in our Name" peace rally
Central Park, NYC
September 2002.
as i seek for daily bread
i find tainted blood instead
not the sweet blood of communion�s peace
but the bitter blood of misplaced rage
can you deny the love?
this we cannot deny
when the dragon is awakened
and white men speak
children of color die.
standing in the presence to receive your present,
your gift God,
your lift from the bottoms of brokenness,
your start on the paths to wholeness
can you deny your humanity?
standing in a crowd of those who agree with me,
that it is plain to see,
we have no authority, no superiority
to tell the nations, no the people
of the world, who should live and who should die
who should scream and who should cry
who should breath and who should fry.
standing in a crowd of those who disbelieve,
with expectancy, where is the evidentiary?
(oh wait! I used that word wrongly.)
he must be affecting me.
or should I say infecting me with his strategery
infinte justice my ass
thou shalt not kill, said the one true God
the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob
the God of Sarah and Rebekkah, Leah and Rachel
the God of Ishmael
do we think he was kidding?
do we think she wasn�t serious?
thou shalt not kill!
as I seek for daily bread
i find tainted blood instead
not the sweet blood of communion's peace
but that bitter blood spilt by those that cease
to believe in their fallibility.
thou shalt not kill!
thou
shalt
not
kill!
Ode To Exegesis
my pondering has been pummeled by
the parables of a prophet from Palestine.
my findings have been funneled through
the fumbling of my finesse-less fingers.
my thinking has been thought by
theologians of a previous time.
my muse has moved on to
motivate another meandering mammal.
my brain has betrayed me to the
blasted land of boundless banality.
my exegesis excretes the excrement of
my egotistical estimation of my own excellence
this is like being up a fecal matter tributary
without a rowing device.
for jodie
on a bus, i traveled west.
toward the setting sun i journeyed.
i didn't know she was there,
my future journeyed with me.
red hair shining in an auburn sun,
brown eyes seeing an irish son.
to open my eyes she struck me,
on the head she hit me hard.
i got the hint to make a move,
what's more i made a pass.
now she is my spirit guide,
toward God, she points me daily.
i can not clear her from my mind
her presence is always with me.
i sing my thanksgiving to God
my future she delivered me!
As the Salt of My Tears
written 14 September 2001
after prayer service for 9/11
As the salt from my tears
burns deep in my eyes,
I cannot help
but ask the Lord, �Why? �
Why, why, why, Dear lord,
did you let them die?
You parted the seas
and made the skies.
Why, why, why, Dear Lord,
did they have to die?
As I kneel on my knees,
In your presence I feel
Dear Lord, hear my pleas
to comfort and heal.
Why, why, why, Dear lord,
did you let them die?
You parted the seas
and made the skies.
Why, why, why, Dear Lord,
did they have to die?
My anger, my grief, my pain
Are not small,
but as the song says,
�I surrender all!�
Why, why, why, Dear lord,
did you let them die?
You parted the seas
and made the skies.
Why, why, why, Dear Lord,
did they have to die?
Glory to you,
For I know you are here
I pray that our actions
Your Grace shall steer
We cling to our faith
by our finger tips now
waiting for your kingdom
knowing not where, when, or how�
Why? Dear Lord, Why?
Did they have to die?