Tag: emotions

Happiness is finding pencil after pencil after pencil after …

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Eclectic thoughts

#Soulmuze #Soulspirations #MySoulSpeaks #SelfDiscovery #ChewOnThis #Pencils #Change #SpillingInkUsingLead #SpilledInk

The first $20 I ever made was performing at the Billie Holiday Theatre at the Restoration Plaza located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. I played Peppermint Patty in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” with my JHS Drama club. The entire cast was paid equally and it was amazing. I took that $20 and opened my first bank account at the now defunct Chemical Bank which was also in the Restore, that was in 1977. Kitura, Walter, Darryl, Yolanda, Lamar, Sheila, just to name a few of my cast mates; our Music/Drama teacher Ms. Powell who did all of this with/for us on her own dime, back then teachers gave of their personal time without per session pay.

I almost sound like Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in the Golden Girls ‘Picture it: Brooklyn 1977…’ lol

What an amazing feeling! I remember we were all celebrities for our brief run on our very own little Bed-Stuy Broadway! Everything was about community back then.

To this day I still love the Peanuts gang. We enjoyed the stories and didn’t see their colors or gender identities, just kids; plain and simple.

I never realized the lessons I was learning thru it all: teamwork, patience, sharing the spotlight, finding our voices, recognizing our individual talents, encouraging each other and so much more.

There are so many things I loved about that musical but as I grow older the one thing that stands out the most is the ensemble song Happiness, the first line is “Happiness is finding a pencil.” It truly was for Charlie Brown for when the pretty little red headed girl dropped her pencil, he picked it up, saw teeth marks and knew she was human.

“I’m so happy. That little red-headed gril dropped her pencil.It has teeth marks all over it. She nibbles her pencil. She’s human! It hasn’t been such a bad day after all.” Charlie Brown, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

I have my own little chewed up pencil with it’s equally little eraser and I never hesitate to correct my mistakes, I’m only human.

My bite marks on the pencil represent the release of panic, anxiety and putting thought into my every action. When it’s needed and I’m ready (for change isn’t easy) I find my pencil , I erase and start over again with renewed confidence.

I save each worn down pencil to remind me of how far I have come, how much I have accomplished.

Happiness is finding pencil after pencil after pencil after pencil after…

Dedicated to one BAMF-CDC who has found his pencil after pencil after…

©️ Soulmuze 2018

To Die is to live

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Eclectic thoughts

#Soulmuze #Soulspiration #ToDieIsToLive

“You needn’t die happy when your time comes, but you must die satisfied, for you have lived your life from the beginning to the end . . .” Stephen King, The Dark Tower

It’s easy to grow fearful of your impending death as each passing day someone suddenly dies. They are not old, or have some disease/illness, they just transitioned and you connect because you are close in age.

You must live each moment to satisfaction. Only you will answer for your deeds.

Those you loved may miss you dearly, but they will find solace in the memories.

Those you hurt may find closure in your death, for now you no longer have the opportunity to hurt anyone else or them again.

Those who are indifferent towards you are probably the ones you have wronged the most for there are no more feelings; a void. Odds are they continue to make other people pay for the hole you left behind.

As you prepare for a #newday, a new moment, a new year keep in mind the satisfaction of living. Recognize that it’s not just the satisfaction of self; each one of us has a direct impact on the next.

Just like a tree, we are connected at the roots.

Strength to the families whose loved ones have transitioned.

Blessings to new #births; for when a pair of #eyes closed a new pair has opened.

Soulfully speaking

©️Soulmuze 2015

Photo credit Soulmuze, Sandy Hook 2017

Sandy Hook

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

#Soulmuze #SandyHook #SandyHookElementary #ProtectOurChildren

Our hearts cry out in pain
Tears falling like a never ending rain
Prayers by the masses
Knowing this type of pain never truly passes
How do you reconcile yourself with this type of loss
What was in this madman’s head as the shots fired off?

Innocent children whose lives had yet to truly begin
Now has been brutally ended by a man so full of anger that led to this sin

Reports say psychological issues are to blame
Yet the methodical path taken says he was not totally insane

A child is born every second of every day
Each one is precious and priceless in their own way

Now these gems lives are gone
Their peers forever will hear the sound
One by one as this man took each one down

School a safe haven to learn and grow.
Now has been added as one of the scariest places those children and their families will ever know

© Soulmuze 2012

I Am Poetry

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

“Don’t ever be someone’s #slogan because you are #poetry.” Sandra Bullock, 28 Days

I am poetry

Seamless like the ebbs and flows

of the ocean

Designed at birth

An effusion of poetic prose

Taking literary license

Driven by the transference of energy

Guided by nature’s elements

Too much for some

More than enough for that one

When he comes we will create

countless sonnets

Waves of dynamic lyrical schemes

Spinning

Plunging

Surging

Collapsing

Electromagnetic connections

Classic love that will be felt without even being seen

I will be his poetry, he shall be mine

I am not a mere catchphrase to be referenced in passing

But intense quality of unique beauty

A passionate soul that’s everlasting

Loyalty to be reciprocated

Feelings to be nurtured

Desires to be satiated

I am poetry

(c) Soulmuze 2017

Marriages of Harvey, Irma, Jose…

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

How misleading are the ocean waters.

In one instance it’s our muse, the next it’s our destruction.

What great dishonor have we bestowed upon the universe that the innocent are suffering the wrath of the marriage of wind and warm ocean waters?

Their union grows fiercely aggressive, with the intent of delivering an unprecedented message.

We call out to the universe begging for mercy but our voices fade away much like dandelions in the wind on warm spring day.

The single eye of the union focuses on its prey as it whips from one location to the next.

They simultaneously spreads their wandering albatross like wings in a sweeping motion swatting away civilization like ants daring man to grab Poseidon’s Trident from their grip.

One can only hope that a greater hand reaches down and finds favour, for many of us are with clean hands and pure hearts, to separate this destructive union.

Or maybe the marriage of wind and warm ocean waters will grow weary, release the Trident and free us from its grasp.

Only upon the dissolution of this union will we be able to give thanks for whomever and whatever was spared, offer home goings for those who were sacrificed unknowingly for what we hope is for a greater purpose and rebuild with renewed spirit.

Hurricanes September 2017

Photo Credit Soulmuze

(c) Soulmuze 2017

Look towards the horizon

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Eclectic thoughts

“The vastness of the universe and the power of Mother Nature is a constant reminder that we must look towards the horizon with clean hands, a pure heart and unfiltered lenses.

One cannot continually focus on the here and now for that has already become the past and then.” (#Soulmuze) #Soulspiration #SoulfullySpeaking #UniversalLaw #MotherNatureSpeaks

Photo Credit C. Castro location Rionegro, Antioquia

(c) Soulmuze 2017

My Love, My Heart

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Eclectic thoughts, Poetry

Dedicated to a woman who watched the love of her life transition into the unseen universe. When his walk on earth ended she lost part of herself.

When you find a soulmate you also awaken desires that you never knew existed. Emotions, ideas, dreams are no longer dormant or merely a fantasy, for together you can see them to fruition. Now her soulmate is no more, but that which was awakened in her cannot go back to sleep.  She wears the mask to get through the day and weeps at night for she believes there is no relief in sight.

We have all felt the loss of love, but we cannot dwell in that loss too long for we lose valuable time living when we dwell in death.

(c) Soulmuze 2017 Photo Credit: Mr. Christian Castro

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Malik from son to sun

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

Malik, I remember sitting on your grandmother’s steps on a warm night in June with your mother. She was 8 months pregnant and in full bloom. There was no doubt you would be a big boy, based on the size of her belly. We talked about different things but two things I always remembered from that night was her saying, ‘this baby always make me feel like I have to go to the bathroom,’ at that I couldn’t stop laughing. Guess it didn’t help that she looked like a cute Buddha sitting on the steps. The other, was when I asked, ‘so what brand of diapers are going to use?’ We both said at the same time, “Huggies!” Funny, how the weirdest things stay in your memory, for me those are usually the most valuable. As we grew older we followed the steps as they were ordered for us. I watched you grow and valued the random conversations we had whenever we saw one another. Unlike so many, you owned your mistakes and was always working on a resolution. Sometimes you would get angry when we spoke because success wasn’t coming fast enough. You just wanted the perfect place for everyone. Yes, you were an impatient youth but who wasn’t, at least you were not selfish. I can’t leave out how respectful you were, always said hello to my mother and asked her if she needed help with anything as you passed by. Never forgetting the lessons you were taught at home, priceless.

               Well, for some reason you made the decision that your work here was done. Being a true lion, once you make a decision everyone has to go along until further notice. It required great strength to make such a choice, maybe you thought it would create the perfect place for everyone. The results may not have worked exactly as planned, it created more pain from the emptiness you left behind. I think what you missed along the way was, the perfect place is not a place but a foundation that’s built in one thing “love.” You had that all along, but the negative obstacles kept obscuring your view, every time you started removing that obstacle it found a way to reposition itself. We can’t turn back time and if we could, the question then becomes, should we? All is never truly lost, for I am sure that not only a lesson will be revealed but a stronger foundation of love will evolve as a result; someone will not just hear but will listen and you will be acknowledged as a man of strength for that is all that matters.                      

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Blessings, love and light… Soulfully speaking

 Family…

Though his sun has set

Yours must still shine

You all will be together again in time

You will never understand why he chose to leave that way

But know he loved you more each and every day

Wife…

You were his best to his friend

You were his Mrs to his Mr

You were his light to his dark

He will always hold a special place in your heart

His Legacy…

Tell his children do not fear

Celebrate the love you all shared

Your protector…

The ending of his life forces a new normal to begin

He is your watcher and will make sure your lights will never dim

© Soulmuze 2017

#SayHerName… Sandra Bland

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

In memory …One year after the death of #SandraBland, who died in police custody July 13, 2015. Black women are the #invisiblevictims…

Did you think because her name was “Bland” her life had no flavor?

Did you believe rough handling was a taste she would savor?

Dragged, beaten, shackled … how do you justify that?

Was it because she was mouthing off, answering while black?

What really happened in that surveillance video you did not display?

Did you really want her not to see another light of day?

You chose a profession that’s not  easy to do,

At any moment the streets can kill you

Your job was to take a stand to protect every woman, child and man

Does protect mean they should all be purposely killed by your “righteous” hand?

I say “righteous” in a sarcastic way

For it appears that by your hand a life disappeared in some unrighteousness scripted play

Same script different cast

How long will this “justified” killing spree last?

Whatever you do you must have a story to clear you

Even if it means massaging truths?

Are you really hiding behind the badge and gun?

Living out “the most dangerous game” for fun?

Did she take her life in that cell because you stood there giving her hell?

Did you watch like the devil telling her this was the only way?

“Kill yourself! Kill yourself!” were those the last words she heard you say?

“Bland” absence of life is what she has become.

Another victim of a uniformed officer wielding a badge and gun.

SayHerName, SayHerName her death will not be in vain…

© Soulmuze 2016

Gray turns to red

by Soulful Storytellers, LLC, posted in Poetry

Black History Month is upon us February, 2016… The year has changed and the issues remain the same. History, repeats and repeats. Yet still not getting the answers we seek…

Thoughts on the Riots surrounding the death of Freddie Gray (April 25, 2015)

Look how quickly Gray turned to red

Why are you not focusing on the reason this man is dead?

Displaying wonton behavior yes that is how we are supposed to act

Let’s proliferate the savage behavior yes we must

This will surely prove all cops are against us

Burn down our churches which was our ancestors place of sanction

Burn down our pharmacies which serves as our place for prescription

Destroy our communities in which our parents and those before them marched to have ownership … Yes OUR 40 acres!

Why the hell not!

We are young and angry so we will retaliate

And yes for us more jails they will make

And yes more rules we will break

And when it’s all said and done we will have won???

Your treatment is determined by your actions

Yes when you’re in jail they will truly gain satisfaction

Care packages, 3 squares and a cot

Boy you really showed them you’re the boss… now what else ya’ got?

Look how quickly Gray turned to red

Destruction in your eyes, have you forgotten the other colors in which our ancestral flag fly’s?… Red, black and green… Seen?

Tell me how your behavior wasn’t more than just a selfish act

Freddy Gray lost his life in a questionable  way

The riots you initiated just took focus away

This was not about you

It’s about entitlement of our rights and respect that we are due

It’s about penalizing those who don’t recognize we all share a common birth right:

Regardless if we are black, red, yellow, blue or white!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…”

Look how quickly Gray turned to red

Eyes burning like fire, elevating your ignorance higher and higher

Kill or be killed living a modern western movie everyday

Until we look at the ground, turn on the hose to wash your blood stains away

Leaving families to mourn and the underlying problems are still unchanged

Look how quickly Gray turned to red

All the destruction you caused proved…<fill in the blank>

Wtf was running through your damn head?!!!

Guess what… justice still needs to be served and the dead remain dead

 

 

© Soulmuze, May, 2015

Pictures extracted from Google Images