Has someone ever asked you about a loved one, and as you start reflecting on the cherished moments you’ve shared with that person, you rediscover a fresh deep feeling of fondness for that person. During the interview, that was me and poetry.

However, the added sweetness to the moment was when Jooch’s co-host Hannah chimed in with, “Yeah, I write too.” People often tell me that, and I think, “Okay, cool.” I never press anyone, but I will ask, “Do you want to share?” It’s usually a breaking point depending on how you answer the question.

Hannah gave the confident and composed, “Sure.”

During a break she went to her computer, pulled up some pieces from her ‘archive’ and started sharing. And get this, she was good! She had a lyrical play that keep me wanting the next line. What added to the piece was the delight you could actually see in her while she was returning to her old words. It was refreshing just to watch her reconnect with her past expression.

And this is where the gift keeps giving. Because of what she shared, this then compelled me to pick up my pen and write more. It’s a simple thing, but I also think it’s simply beautiful. By giving of my words, she in turn has stoked my flames.

Always be willing to give your creative or positive contribution, because you never know when inspiration may be ablaze.

It only takes a spark.

Related:
These are the Facebook links to the two events I mentioned in the interview.
The relaunching party of ‘SpeakEasy’ magazing in Korea.
Seoul’s Writers Workshop

Still

(Instrumental Track: “The Roots and Eryka Badu – You Got Me”)

still…

was the waiting room
when the doctor entered in
to give the news,
and I knew
from the look on his face
the words
he was about to say
would forever change
my life

and unfortunately
I was right
’cause ever since
the day
you never came
my life has been

still…

still riding that
roller coaster of emotions
when
we were expecting
so much more
but that day we only saw
the birth
of tragic words.

Words that
everyone has tried
to comfort afterwords
but despite their empty phrases
my heart
still hasn’t accepted
the fact that
you are

still…

still stuck in my thoughts
is that sonogram image
I can’t ignore.
A silhouette of
my little angel
who will never
know what
it means to soar.
My
babygirl
won’t know what it means
to even crawl,
to even call out.
to cry,
to scream about
anything!
Any reason for the joy of
being alive,
you will never know,
because now your
lifeless body
lies

still…

still entrapped in that
silent womb
wrapped in a tomb of flesh
left with only death
as your first experience
of life,
and I’m left
only with the question
of
“Why?!”

Why did
demise come and
cut my child’s life-line
even before
they formed in your tiny palms.
Why did destruction
tuck you in a grave
made
in the belly
of your mom.

And who has rights
to tear off
the wings
of a cherubim
even before you got a chance
to fly home
come home

you never
came home,
with me.

so still
with me
are memories
when I see
empty swing
on playgrounds
wanting to squeak
and break the silence
seeking loving fathers
to push gleeful daughters
who will laugh and
kick their feet.

No, that won’t
ever be
you or me
so

so
still
are my thoughts
when I walk in the street
to find fallen leaves
rustling and waiting
to be made into piles
to be played in
for us to lay in
and look up at
cotton filled clouds
close enough to touch
in an unbroken
blue sky
and be like, “That one,
that one looks
…a daddy
and baby duck.” (ha, really?)

but that
that will never be
us.

’cause all of these
musings are just
once hopeful memories
that we
will never
get to keep,

’cause
in the absence of you
all of these
imagery fall
still,

and you’ll never
hear my words
because now
you’re motionless,
peacefully sleeping
but still
that won’t stop
the beating heart
of your daddy
from speaking.
So babygirl,
even if
you’re not listen

I wrote this poem

to help me
continue,
’cause eventually
I have
to move.

But know that
no matter
where I go

a piece of me
will always be

still…

…right
with you.

~the Word is Love, Spread the Word

This is persona piece, meaning it’s not the writer’s actual voice. Whenever writing such a piece I like to think, “It may not be mine, but it’s somebody’s story”. Hope you enjoyed, and if you did, pass it on to someone who would appreciate it.

podslam.org

Come back later to find the larger list of my ‘quick fix’ spots online.

Until then, remember

~the Word is Love, Spread the Word

Rooftop View (Waiting for the Shine)

(Instrumental Track: “Floetry – Say Yes”)

It was dark
on that rooftop
but I could still
see forever…

…and I held her tight.

See after
spending the entire night together
we stopped on that rooftop
with our pockets full of
collected moonshine.
Ready to trade it all with
the sun
who would soon rise
with a new day to change
the rest our lives.

and while we sat
watching and waiting
for the waking of the dawn
we saw stellar children laughing
as they glided along the sky,
ran between
planetary beings
that slowly strolled
through constellations
while holding hands
that now and again
give a twinkling of their eyes

at us…
two lovers that seemed to be
in-tuned into this universe
waiting,
anticipating for the sun to come
and have the day renewed.

And before he removed
all memories of this night
I knew what I had to do
and make my move
through the cool
of the now light blue air
I reached through the atmosphere
and laid hold of her
heavenly form.
Pulled her tightly
into my arms
so she would remain warm.

And we,
in time
and in sync,
with the universe’s beat…
we were intertwined
before the breaking of light.

like the planets alined
and made that moment just right.
as if they lined up
just to catch a peek of us
in that flawless morning glow.

Full of perfection,
so much so that
she asked the question,
“Did you plan this?”

And really,
I never expected
to get this far,
but I guess it was already fated
in the stars.

So me, ever the poet,
I simply told her,
“Hey, I live in ten second moments,
and honestly an hour ago
I had no clue
I would be looking
at heaven
from the horizon
with you
and your celestial body
by my side.
So in this moment
even I am amazed
at the beauty
that fills the spaces
of today’s morning time.”

And with that,
she smiled
simply reclined.
turned around and
dropped her head to the side

and with the meeting of our lips
we both melted
into the divine…

…

Then… he finally
arrived.
Broke the skyline
and also
broke a smiled.

‘Cause he wanted to brighten our day,
but from above
he could see
that we
possessed so much.
See we
already had more than enough.

and even if he wanted to,
on that rooftop

not even sun
could out shine us.

Not even sun
could out shine us.

~ the Word is Love, Spread the Word.

From five to fifty /
in the spotlight and alone, /
he walked on the moon.
~ Marcus

Musical genius /
oh what a tragic ending /
…to a troubled life.
~ Michelle

And I can always count on my brother to come through…

Could not rest at night /
He took drugs like candy and… /
Now sleeps forever.
~ Levar

Until next Haiku time remember,
the Word is love…
…Spread the Word.

i don’t pick flowers (i thought of you)

i don’t pick flowers
for friends,
’cause they always die.
…flowers that is…
i mean, they’re lovely but
they only last
for a passing moment in time.

so
for loved ones,
i don’t give flowers
’cause petals don’t remain.
they wither and welt
and in an instant
after being picked,
their splendor
isn’t sustained.

and then,
i saw them.
then,
my thoughts changed.

when i saw them
they were sooo beautiful
when they came into view
and they brought
the initial thought
of
you.

and like i said
when i saw them
they were sooo
full of beauty,
that without a doubt
i knew
what i had to do.

so i picked
some flowers
just for you.

and now
i realized
why
people pick flowers
for loved ones
from the side
when they’re just
passing by

it’s ’cause
there is no better way
to say
i thought of you today,
even if
just
for a passing moment
in time.

and remember,

“the Word is Love, Spread the Word”

Kimchi Killed bird flu /
Swine flu is no match either /
Korea is safe
~ Josie

I like that Josie.  Brought Korea into the mix.

NATO is free trade /
but we did not mean swine flu /
goodbye Mexico
~ Marcus

There are a few more.

leave porky alone /
eat wilbur if you want to /
just know that i’m not

hand sanitizer!! /
cover your mouth when sneezing /
and please, WASH YOUR HANDS!
~ Crystal

Tell’em Crystal.  Simple instructions we’ve been saying since grade school.

Swine flu’s contagious/
and ignorance outrageous/
don’t live infected
~ Marcus

We’re at Level 5 people!

Chicken, cow, now swine. /
No animals left are fine. /
Nothing left to dine.
~ Vaughan

Nice on Vaughan.  Added the rhyming scheme too.

In NY queens kids sick /
my patients all think they have it /
still don’t cover their cough
~ Candace

Do not eat the pigs /
Do not feed it to your kids /
Stick to fruits and figs /
~ Levar

I may be bias ’cause it’s my brother, but this one was my favorite.  A health message with a twist of Dr. Suess.  Think you can do better?  Post below and show us what you got 

The latest episode of EpicFU really brings home the issues of current copyright laws. With the whole fiasco created by the guilty verdict in the Pirate Bay trial, and a recent incident that happened to Leo over at Zen Habits (a writer wanted him to pay royalties for saying “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyways” the title of her book….and get this, Leo has never even heard of the book!), the issue of copyrighting is a’stirring

We’re about to experience some growing pains. It happened when the first MP3, the Diamond Rio, was introduced, also when VCR’s came on the scene, and even with records. This issue goes all the way back to when Gutenberg’s press first came out. ‘Book bootlegs’ were made, and the Church (backed by market capitalist) said the press and bootleggers (distributors) were of the devil. (Documentary: Steal this Film If you haven’t already, well worth a watch!)

I like what Zadi said in the show:

People want what they want when they want it. Our media is no longer constraint by CD, DVDs and velvet ropes. ~Zadi Diez

Creatives will always create, of course. Consumers will continue to consume, that too.  But will our distribution structure always be the same, simply no.  Now if the market wants to make money, it needs to get on board or get out the way, ’cause with current actions they are only stifling creativity.

Here is a haiku for you, “ideas are oil / no control means no profit / a war is coming”

A side note, all my work is under creative common of “Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0” unless otherwise noted . So cut, chop, tweek just give an attribution back. And remember

“the Word is Love, Spread the Word”