OPEN MIC ENCORE
Part I
March 30, 2002
Also see OPEN MIC ENCORE Part II March 30 for
more.
Q'zeromen
Brown Tongue
The brown tongue of a coward, am I,
sustained by my own floating,
negligence and shame.
A fly on flypaper is suited for my head,
that reads backwards,
here in a society that cannot read.
A poet lives among the ruins,
with the homeless,
or gazing from a mansion window,
still, where are the words.
We struggle to be heard as if a jet passed,
loud as the boom, ringing,
for an ear, somewhere.
No meal is fulfilling,
without the digesting sound of words.
Why do we need to share so,
and is it valuable,
this thing we embrace in our heart,
the poetic word.
I fear, brown tongues have got us all,
as we measure the day by inches,
ruling the success of each ear,
that hears the word.
Perhaps I would live as a coward,
among the boxes,
and the alleys of echoes.
Perhaps strip my clothes and protest my insanity,
through the French Quarter,
where only the whores would understand.
Should I nail them as a billboard,
and hope for their adoption,
in this world that rarely gives a chance,
to a poet.
~*~
HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH
ELizabeth Sheridan
I want my life back
Is that to much to ask?
I try to run and hide
But that just can't last
You can put me down, run me all around
But I'll still hold my head like a hound
You may make me cry
And make me look like a lie
But just remember
I'll still hold my head up high
There may be many on your side
But at least I know I'm on God's side
You can stomp my name in the dirt
But no longer will I let it hurt
Remember one thing, if you remember nothing
I'll always hold my head up high
And no longer let you hurt me
You will no longer run me off
No longer make me cry
For I now hold my head up high
~*~
AUSTIN
In memory of my nephew, Austin who died Thursday
Sept. 27, 2001
Steve Baily
I used to get excited when the tones went off
My adrenaline started pumping, as there was no time to be lost
But little did I know just how much it would cost
I used to be proud of the things that I have done
I loved to be a fireman, it was just so much fun
I loved to fight fires and loved using the jaws
And how being a fireman would leave people in awe
But now there is so much pain in things that I saw
I loved using the equipment and driving the trucks
And I honestly thought I was a fireman, a fireman with guts
I had my chance, my chance to shine
But as hard as I tried, I stayed two steps behind
It should have been me that died that day, honestly I wouldn’t mind
I fought the fire as best that I could
But it just left we to wonder did I do all that I should?
I felt the heat and the intensive flame
But now all I feel is the burden of guilt and shame
I should have done more, I am to blame
I tried so hard to get there in time
I really thought everything would be fine
But don’t cry for me, I knew the cost
Cry for the life, the life that I lost
~*~
I think that in order to love someone,
you have to forget who you are
become someone else
as you create your future
you dream their dreams
see their thoughts
know them
without material
touch them
as a breath doth come and pass...
be them in spirit
and as you become them,
they become you
and
nothing is really lost
Catharine Yager
~*~
The Heart
Joel Davidson
When a heart beats
Things can happen on the street
When a heart cries
Tears will come to one's eyes
When a heart smiles
It can be seen for many miles
When a heart is true
A life can be renewed
When a heart trusts
A friend can depend on us
When a heart lives
We must be able to forgive
When a heart is broken
Tender words need to be spoken
When a heart dies
Jesus can open our eyes
When a heart loves
It comes from Our Father above
~*~
INNER STRENGTH
Torie Williams
INNER STRENGTH IS SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS NEED, YOU NEED IT TO SURVIVE, YOU
NEED IT TO SUCCEED, YOU NEED IT WHEN YOUR PUSHED AROUND, YOU NEED IT WHEN
YOU'RE LET DOWN, YOU NEED IT TO HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH, YOU NEED IT TO SHOW
OTHERS WHY, WHEN THEY ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU GO THROUGH LIFE IF YOUR NEVER
STRONG, WHY DO YOU GO THROUGH LIFE WHEN THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG,
THEN YOU CAN SAY, EACH AND EVERY DAY, YOU DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE
NEVER BEING STRONG, AND EVEN IF YOU THINK SO, THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WRONG,
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IT'S RIGHT, YOU NEED TO BE STRONG, FIGHT SADNESS WITH ALL
YOUR MIGHT.
~*~
"Falling like rain"
Patrick Kelly
Yet I only cry
God, please have mercy
Just let me die
I lost you again
Though I never had
You’re happy with life
But I’m feeling so bad
Here it comes again
Feeling this pain
Gasping for air
Tears falling like rain
You say I should live
I don’t listen no more
All of it’s gone now
Lost all I can hope for
Crying in bed
Alone wear I sit
No reason to move
Just want to quit
Good luck to you
Is all I can say
But you won’t see me again
Not after today
~*~
Alone
Angela Faulkner
no where to run,
No where to hide,
From the thoughts,
That race about my mind.
Anger and pain,
Hate and despair,
controlling my every thought.
A personal hell,
No savior to appear.
Alone I struggle,
A silent battle.
Bridges built,
And bridges burnt.
Time goes by,
All hope is lost.
In a private hell,
I battle on.
No where to run,
No where to hide,
From the thoughts,
That race about my mind.
~*~
Can
Stephen F.
Life is like a can.
If you don't open it you will never, never know what you are
going to get out of it.
You might say "cans have labels"
Yes this is true.
But!
Who can label something with out tasting it and feeling it.
So open up your can, open up your life.
Feel the inner peace of the light outside of the can.
And become not a label but your own self.
~*~
VALENTINE WINE
Jude Adebosoye Ogunade (c) Feb.2002 Accra, Ghana
Darling Mine,
This is thine,
This valentine Wine.
Now drink and be mine
Only for a day season
But bury this in your mind:
Sweetheart, this night only we will dine
With wine and in sin we will rhine
Worry not my gullible mine
Every valentine you will be mine.
Love that waits for valentine to be renewed
Will last only but a pint of lifetime.
And like a feeble mushroom be erased by the dew.
Love, then all the time
Not minding the clime
Show love to all that is of life
For life without love is full of strife
Darling mine, love every time
Darling mine, love every moment
For then will you be forever mine.
~*~
Holding You
Memphis Raine
Sinking in the blue of your eyes,
The color illuminating with the wetness.
Your Pain, Like dark clouds,
Dropping warm rain towards the earth,
Send tears pouring down my face.
Hanging on each word falling from your lips,
As if the rules of society no longer exist,
You let your emotions tumble out
Without any holding back.
Longing to reach out and touch you,
To wipe the salty tears from your eyes,
and hold you.
Holding Back
By Matthew Timmons 03/10/02
Haunting shadows surface as a once crying heart now screams.
Hear me.
Quiet will I be no longer.
For the time has come and the truth will be told.
~*~
Questions for God
by Otis Wedley
my life what do you want?
my being what do you want?
i'm here what do you want?
my strife what do I do
i'm dying I only know
the mere of what I need
so God please help me
i plea your name in fear
i pray you can for none can
"Be awed my son Be humble Be
no angry my son Be small Do
not parlay, do what you know."
is that the secret of life just that.
to do what you know nothing else.
will that be all. that's what you want.
a tap on the back to encourage.
to do what's right now i know
my spat is now done i can go on.
~*~
The perfect robbery
Joe Baigent
I had the plan, the time was near
Get on my courage last slug of beer
My technique is rich, no mystery
Without a glitch, the perfect robbery
Enter stage left, the show had begun
I displayed to all my courage, muscle and gun
I created much fear that was not my intent
I just needed the cash, no dramatic event
I’m committed now, no turning back
I demand to the bitch, “put it all in the sac”
She emptied each drawer she hit all one-by-one
“Come here, gimme’ that bag, this place is done”
Stage left to the door, no stress at all from the guard
I stepped outside and headed straight for the car.
I can’t friggin’ believe what I just walked into
Shooting a video of Blink 182
Just at that time my close-up in view
My sac exploded with methylene blue
This was all that she wrote, I threw in my gun
I took off my cloths and joined the video fun
The point to this story is don’t make the mistake
It’s a much better deal to run around naked
~*~
The Kiss Off
J.L.Annaruma 3/11/02
Angels with pointy sticks sweep low and furious over familiar territory-
eyes looking down see into an empty vessel where the blood has boiled
away- then the questions formed yet answers are not wisdom and all hearts
engorged with self pity wither and die like all good boys who march off to
war- sweep low and sure wild angel while your twisted wings bring forth a
storm of turbulence and useless dust.
~*~
Another precious moment slithers away.
Sweet tears stain the old rustic bed,
As her heart splits in two,
And her love for life dispels,
With only a prayer for redemption,
And whisper for hope.
Shimmering beauty can only mask her pain.
Her golden locks hide her gray tears.
Crimson lips burn lovely imagines of her warmth,
While a blackened heart is left to destroy her.
Her whimsical laughter drowns out the shattering of her heart,
An ocean away from the joys of many.
Jasmine J
~*~
Fear
Kristina Rose Fridas
You would think since I’m older, there would
Be nothing I couldn’t deal with,
Well there is one thread that I can’t seem to cut
To say what is deep down in my soul,
For you to know this secret
Would lift the burden within me
Would you cut me loose?
Juvenile as this seems, I await the “perfect”
Moment that I know from experience will never appear
Listen beyond the words; the actions underline their meanings
And if you can, decipher the thoughts that never reach
My lips-to yours, delving, piercing through the inside
~*~
Day To Day
by Raqui
We live each day for answers
To questions about our wants and needs
We fulfill our existence
With answers, clues and leads
Let's remember, though that as we live
There is so much we also have to give
To show how grateful we are
Not for money, clothes or the new car
But grateful for the health we are fortunate to own
That allows us to journey or stay
Into what may previously to us be unknown
As we live day to day
~*~
I CRY FOR THE MOON
neil gramatica andagan
Measure? If I can count each
Heartbeat of mine, I can have millions of it in
Each time you passed by.
Define? If only i have an numerous words
To deliver my emotions,'til dawn I'll never
Brushed off Defining my devotion to you.
prove? If only I can reach Earth's top,
And scream my love; I would rather
Confined myself into insanity. For I can
Love you more than this world can say.
Show. My Achilles' heel, for I have this;
And indeed you are my soul mate,
Just accept my plea then you will find out that;
My heart belongs to you.
~*~
"I Love You"
Alvin Cantona
I love you in uncountable ways
From the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul
I cherish you in unthinkable ways
From the rising of the sun to its going down
I admire you with the freedom of my heart
With joy and pride and all that's within me
I care for you with the integrity of my soul
With passion that flows and emotion that runs free
I find you to be the only pleasure of my life
For the tender-loving feelings your love always brings
I dream of you beyond every imagination
From the sky to the moon, from the clouds to the stars
I'll die for you, for the sake of life
For love will continue even after death
I crave for you from my limitless horizon
For all the fantasies met and romances experienced
I love you for the beauty of life
For all the promises fulfilled and vows kept
I love you with all purity and power
For all the dreams realized and visions shared
~*~
Alone with Pretenders
Eddie Sante
vecchi
All alone standing in a crowd.
No one can feel your heart beating with excitement.
It pleads to be touched and captured by a warm soul.
To finally feel what is has been
missing.
What it deserves.
Yet who can see what you feel inside
Who can know why you cry.
A momentary pause, of their hectic life
Would embrace them into yours
But no one cares,
They just walk on,
Smile,
And pretend not to stare.
~*~
its only bright
when your in sight
in my arms, you i need to hold
cause your more precious then all of the gold
in my heart i can see
for your the only one for me
there's no sorrow, i never do pout
cause your the one everything's all about
this life only with you, makes me want to live
and to you my total love i give
But Now ill be blue
Cause i'm not with you
Hopefully someday that will change
I hope soon someday to arrange
A meeting with us
Will be a big plus
We met on the internet a couple summers before
I think its sad how now my heart now can be sore
Thinking about you being with him and not with me here
Someday you'll be mine, without any fear
For you are the one
All my searching is done
dgramley
~*~
Hear from you
Forest
maybe one day
i would not be by your side
maybe not because i have left you
but because you have left my sight
but you know i will be more than happy
to hear from you
more than touched
maybe by then you would have become
more mature than you thought you already are
more confident rather than youth arrogance
more understanding to those around you
who cares
more appreciative of what others have
done for you,
because of you
more willing to stay
~*~
A poem about a man who was nowhere and was going nowhere and sadly
passed away in a very ugly way but this hopes to bring some beauty to
his death.
tim bentley
i have come to the end
the road finishes here
just a few more steps is all i have
the road was high but short
and now i face the final curtain now the sun is setting
the leaves are brown and the lights are dim in the lonely house of the
dark wild wilderness
the road was high
a few more steps is all i have
this is the end
teetering
no energy to mend
teetering
on a knife edge
i shall fall forever and smile from ear to ear
the sun sets on me for the last time
and the brown leaf falls to the ground with a host of a thousand
brown leaves
don't it make the fitting end to the journey on the high road
you see its the road that's cutting short
because there was no destination
i want to be high so high
i want to be free
just me
~*~
THE GENIUS
Jesy Smith
his life was spent studying and dreaming
wanting fame and recognition
never realizing achievement and difference
classes and books helping the brain
ignoring life and love, and all in between
Time goes by and the seasons change
head down, pencil moving, all's the same
A single leaf falls, stunned eyes are cast upon it
Tomorrow, I'll wipe the shadows from my eyes
but for today, I'll finish my thesis, he decides
Years fly by and time grows old
prizes and awards are all his eyes can behold
What a genius!, everyone said
with envied looks on their blank faces
He died last night, strapped to his hospital bed
He sure did make a difference
He did more that his part
Yes, he had brilliant thoughts in his head
yet nothing in his heart
~*~
Love's Lost
michael cantrell
to comfort ye, oh comfort ye
why have you forsaken me?
where did our love go you say?
how could it have gone away?
when all at once you said goodbye
the love we had so deep inside
lost with the shadows of lust to die
with torment and pain that is undenied
never to see tomorrow's sun
the darkness now is just begun
the light that once surrounded our smile
has gone away for more than a while
where did our love go you say?
how could it have gone away?
~*~
You are my sun,
you are my life,
and you're the last thing on my mind
before I go to sleep at night.
You're always there when I'm in need,
when trouble is on my mind you put my soul at ease.
There is no one in this world who could love melike you do,
so many reasons why i want to spend forever with you
mark travitz
~*~
Souls Unknown
Linda H. Cole
Souls intertwined and darkened within
Letting go becomes impossible
Then to be lost, once again
Reaching for one letting go
The beginning has become far away,
The end is unknown
Depicting a position gone astray,
Body disintegrates and too lost to hold.
Where the darkness leads
is now the only choice
What will souls be
with an unheard voices?
~*~
A Somber Requiem
John
I am not aware of love or comfort.
All I know are hate and obscenities.
Gradual shift downward to a fetal position.
Tormented always by those tyrannical identities.
Swim through a sea of hate.
Unlock my bindings in this evil place.
I feel no love when here without you.
I will always long for your embrace.
They're calling us to leave now.
We can never return.
No more pain, hurt, or doubt.
By divinity, we will now learn.
~*~
SITTING HERE
-Becca Mackenzie
I sit here alone
waiting in vain
I can smile through the day
pretend I feel beautiful
pretend I am whole
but I can't lie at night
I can't lie to myself all the time
He doesn't care, he never did
no one ever has
I am not beautiful
I am not what they want
I pretend I do not care
They think I am strong, but I want to be protected
I cannot write
I cannot draw
I cannot hear the chord
I cannot make him stare
I can think but what does it matter?
Yet I dream
why I do not know
torture
torture without
~*~
ITS
Wordjunky
its the name of
bargain
dribble
the dingly
thang
drank
a cup of poison
be drink drink drink
and tacka-rangoo
~*~
lonely
gsarin
the night angel is not talking to me
and
it matters!
~*~
The Key Within
gk Bradshaw 1993
As she set staring out the window, she wonders how she came to be;
Left with nothing except her diary.
Writing things no one will ever see, feeling pain that shouldn't
be.
She has some friends, but none she fears will understand her
uncertainty.
The life she gave now lives it's own,
And the man she loved has lone since gone.
Letting go to start a new, is
not an easy thing to do.
The feeling of life at an end, is hard to
cure deep within.
She fears her soul will fade away, before she can find the light
of day.
But looking for time yet to be; Holding on to the smallest
of dreams;
And letting go of old memories; Feeling things that are meant
to be.
Smiling within for all to see,
Will bring you back to life's expectancy.
For only you hold the key
Of life that is yet to be.
~*~
What I did to me
Destiny
Of what you would say.
That the bruises and scars,
Would scare you away.
You would wonder why I did it.
And you wouldn't understand.
So I had to leave,
Before I started to care.
You call me everyday still,
You will not leave me alone.
I tried not to love you,
Because I was afraid.
I finally tried to show you.
What I did to me.
In hopes that you would understand,
And that you wouldn't leave.
I showed you the scars first.
You clenched you teeth and closed your eyes,
Then you walked away.
I knew you didn't love me.
I knew you didn't care.
As I sat alone in agony,
I wished I never showed you.
What I did to me.
~*~
"Wittgenstein"
Kate Burnsed
I step forward
blinding light
faster, slower
hard, easy
soft, slow again
I feel the loathing, roiling pain
I see it in your eyes
and in the mirror of my skin
And I roil and loath too
screaming, crying, wrenching
[my heart] silently
my pain is your body
your pain is my body
spread out thin like
paper dolls
reached into our center and found
only darkness
roiling, loathing dark
~*~
No More Lies
you can say that i'm crazy tell me all theses lies
you can deceive me in a heartbeat while looking in my eyes
you can try to say you love me but know that it was wrong
you can ignore me when i call you and not listen to my song
you can put up a front and think i don't know that all these things are
lies.
you can play that little game like i cant see through disguise
you can tell me that you hate me and never want to see me
you can doge when i tell you that you are my one and only
you can act like i don't see the real you that is trying to break free.
you can fool all these other's but you cannot fool me.
you cannot tell me you hate me because i know yo don't
you cannot threaten to leave me we both know you wont
you cannot take your love away and hide your love from me
you cannot deny that with me is your destiny.
three in the morning
thom kemper
it's three in the morning
and I have just awakened
very cold.
I try the heater:
no luck.
COLD GROWING RAPIDLY
outside my room
I meet other tenants
panicky as I am.
thinking mother
we fall meekly
freeze dried.
another sudden ice age
so fresh out of dreams.
Aren’t you tired?…
b.bob.b
Aren’t you tired of running?
Aren’t you tired of chasing?
Aren’t you tired of never catching that spinning diamond in the sky?
Many have went blind. Many have lost their minds.
Trying to reach that spinning diamond in the sky.
Some will commit the most heinous crimes.
Some will tell the most horrific.
And all for why?- To reach that sinning diamond in the sky.
Dear god pleas let me win the Quick Pic.
I feel a new life on the other side of this scratch ticket.
The lottery will set me free; if money only grew on tress;
Then only rich folks would have trees.
You see, if every one had money, then money would be worthless.
Like leaves on a tree. But unlike money, leaves can help you breathe.
You can’t breathe money. Well isn’t that funny?
We will kill trees for money, and use them to make more money
And it goes around and around, just like that crazy diamond in the sky.
What about the children? What are we teaching our children?
We teach them that it is all right to be different, desperately wanting
them to fit in.
We teach them that it does not matter how healthy you are,
How strong you are, how smart you are,
How pretty you are, how rich you are.
And children learn from these words.
Children also learn from our physical action.
They see how we hesitate when encounter the mentally and physically
challenged.
They see our excited orgasms when our favorite athlete burns someone or
scores a point.
They see how we act around people we assume to know more than us.
They see how we lust after and envy super models and beauty queens.
They see our eyes light up at the sight of money.
They see how we slobber and drool when we find out that kings and queens
are not
perfect and the most perfect and wealthiest people in the world have
problems.
And I do not care how big or how bright or how shiny you get,
Everybody farts, pees, poops and dies
And those are the things that make us the same.
And that spinning diamond will always be just out of reach.
Long story short-
If you were not happy before the money, you will not be happy after the
money.
The end.
~*~
SO CALLED FRIEND
EUREAKA R'SHA MIDDLEBROOKS
A SO CALLED FRIEND IS WHAT ALL OF US HAVE
THEY TALK BEHIND YOUR BACK AND IN YOUR FACE THEY SMILE
TRY TO GET CLOSE TO YOU TO TAKE THE MAN YOU HAVE
WHILE YOU THINKING THAT SHE IS YOUR FRIEND THE WHOLE WHILE
SHE DOING WHATEVER SHE CAN DO TO BREAK Y'ALL UP
LATER DOWN THE LINE YOU FIND OUT AND Y'ALL KNUCKLE UP
CALLING HER OUT TO LET HER KNOW SHE'S DIRTY
BUT DO YOU THINK THAT SHE IS HURTING
YOU DRESSING IT AND INFORMING HER THAT WHAT Y'ALL HAD IS OVER
ALL YOU CAN DO NOW IS CRY AND SLOBBER
THE PAIN AND SUFFER THAT SHE HAS CAUSED
AND A SO CALLED FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE....
LOSS!!!
~*~
I don’t know what made me this way”
My eyes are on fire
Or is it I don’t have any
Can’t trust my friends
I don’t want to feel this way
I don’t know what made me this way
I blame it on her
I’m a cowardly fool
I don’t want to be this way
Coughing up blood
Not even sure it is mine
I don’t know what made me this way
I blame it on him
About do fall over dead
Why don’t I do it
I remember all the bad that has happened
I don’t want to think this way
I don’t know what made me this way
Blaine Kranite
~*~
On this special Mother's Day,
I'd like to praise you in this way...
To give thanks for all the
good that you have done.
You made me who I am,
and the woman I've become.
Everything true and pure in me,
I have received from you.
I miss all your good advice
and I just wish that you could see
Who I am today,
and who I will someday be.
As time fades away,
I know you'll be watching over me.
You will be my guardian angel,
until one day, we again meet.
I Love You Grandma.
Little Girl
~*~
MOTHERS
Mandy Jayne Moon
Oh baby dear you are so sweet,
With tiny hands, and tiny feet.
You have a little button nose,
and hair not long enough for bows.
Your eyes are big and very brown,
What a pleasure you are to have around.
To see you smile brings such joy,
and i must remember you're not a toy.
~*~
Snow Globe
Britni Lightfoot
Trapped inside a snow globe
In position there I stand,
To watch the world around me
As I freeze in mere command.
In solitary state
Lonely cold on icy land,
I can see the snow surround me
As it falls in outreached hands.
My small life a show for all,
But I cannot understand
Just how life has left me prisoner
In a glass of eternal sand.
All the sand appears as snowflakes
And the world a glassy land,
Yet I am in solemn silence
As in position there I stand.
~*~
Early Fall
Charles Merchant
A canopy of blue
envelops the red, gold and fading green.
A foundation of grass and earth set the scene
punctuated by concrete and raging machines.
Early Fall.
I meditate as birds call
my soul searches for wisdom to understand it all.
To conquer the elements, I must survive this eternal struggle
to live and die, I move, I slide, into my life's
Early Fall.
Mother Earth teaches of rebirth
as she changes her canvas with the coming of light.
When night becomes day, and day become night
then Winter turns to Spring then Summer
Welcome Early Fall.
~*~
Also see OPEN MIC ENCORE Part II March 30 for
more.
