Thug Poetry
For those of you who know me and for those who dont - I'm a published poet. I would love to say that it started out with my love for the written word but that would be bull-plop. Bull-plop! It really started by accident - I got these two gentleman to thank for the beginning. We were having a few - ahem - "beverages" at the Don's house and both of them got pissed at me because I was rapping to all the songs that were playing. Finally the Don got so mad that he handed me a pen and some paper and told me to write something of my own. "Mind, Body and Soul" was what came from them being pissed off at me. One Love Boys.
                    Mind, Body and Soul

a lonely heart with an old soul
only the spirit in my eyes will keep my body from going cold
I was born not to make it but my mind travels on
in the game of life, who's to say who lost and who won?
trials and tribulations walk with me like an old friend
so many hardships that my body is still on the mend
I sit here writing with my pen and my pad
it was written but who's doing the writing?
is it me? is it fate? or is it destiny?
a moment caught in time, a thought that came to me
out of thin air, was it random or meant to be?
so many questions, only I have the key
the answer, the solution, the savior
out of the dark, into the light, now I can see
you're doing me a favor but only a moment to savor
I have to keep on my toes, keep my body in shape
I have to keep my mind sharp, keep my eyes open
and have a chess game with Death and I'll have the heart
the mind, the soul to keep going
to be the one who says Checkmate
100% Mind, 100% Body, 100% Soul, individual

- Howard Smith
Not only was "Mind, Body and Soul" the first poem I ever wrote, it was the first poem of mine published. It got picked up by a small publisher in Ontario. Since then, I have been published in Manitoba, here in BC and had two offers to do a small poetry book in Ontario and the States. I'm not sure how many poems I will be putting up here, since most will be in consideration for publishing somewhere down the line - but - like all the picture links, I'll keep trying to put more and more up as time rolls on.
                               save the last dance

there wasn't a time that we weren't together
endless hours on the phone that seemed to last forever
not a day went by that I didn't think of you
to keep you happy, there wasn't anything I wouldn't do
elementary promises now turned to Prom dances
our close friendship was developing into true romance
I arrived at her house in a tux, holding flowers
beautiful as an Angel, she had me in Heaven for hours
saying it was love at first sight would be too cliche
love everlasting, already daydreams of our wedding day
at the last dance and the last song, we shared our first kiss
being a gentleman, I shouldn't have told you this but I couldn't resist

the next morning I got up and turned on the tv
knowing nothing in the world could bother me
suddently, the news flashed - fatal car crash, more at eleven
I felt my heart sink to Hell all the way from Heaven
daydreams turned to nightmares in the flick of a switch
with the picture showing my girl's car in the ditch
not holding back tears, I didn't care if they heard me worldwide
a real life Romeo and Juliet, I was contimplating suicide
searching for answers, I looked up at the sky and wondered why
why does so many of my loved ones have to die?
I'd give back the world just to see her smiling face
wishing I could turn back the hands of time to take her place
too many unanswered questions have me frustrated and weary
crying alone in my room, hoping no one heard me
I arrived at the funeral with tears in my eyes
because I didn't want to tell my first-love goodbye
I took my Grad ring off and placed it on her hand
why was she taken from me? I'll never understand
standing beside her casket, I got down on bended knee
gave her a kiss and whispered, "thank you for saving the last dance for me"

- Howard Smith
I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world - never said that, never will but I want to be known as a good storyteller. I don't read much poetry - mostly because I don't get other people's writing. More than a few people don't like that my poetry rhymes. This is what I know, this is what I do. I think its harder to make a good story that rhymes than some prose pieces that doesn't need to make sense.

If I get enough response from these first two than I'll see what I can do about putting more of my 'work' on here.
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