As I patiently walked behind them

a story of life unfolded in layers of years gone past right before my eyes

Their silver hair sparkled in the sun

he held her hand tightly

The other grasped a wooden walking cane that served to guide them both to their destination

A park bench

though two feet away

Seemed like miles 

as they slowly made their way.

He allowed her to sit first.

It took her a minute to turn and gingerly lower her fragile body into the seat.

He slowly sat down beside her

They turned and gazed into one another's eyes

and smiled like sunshine

Another victory!

Ambiguity; the quality of being open to more than one interpretation;

We can detect no ambiguity in the Acts of the Ivory Tower

If it is a fact that perception is reality, then the view from the basement is shrouded by the view from the Ivory Tower.

How unjustified is it for the Ivory Tower to cast a shadow over the basement, negating its strength and ability to hold up its very foundation?

The basement,

 the origin, 

 the embodiment of the soul,

 is where the essence of the Tower flows,

but its value is gleaned, mined, stolen, stifling and imprisoning the gifts the essence holds.

Instead, smokescreens and falsehood, capitalizes and makes it its own,
and changes the narrative to reflect off the light it has created
and leaves the basement in total darkness; 

then blames it for the darkness.

I dreamed you welcomed me with open arms  

Like a mother would her child  

And that you’d shelter me from any harm  

And I’d be safe here all the while  

I thought that we would be together  

forever and a day  

or at least until the 12th of never, but It’s not happening that way  I know a man ain’t supposed to cry, but these tears that fall from my eyes,  I cry, I cry for you…America 

Our love affair has been tried by fire  

And the rivers run so deep  

You have everything that I desire  

from sea to shining sea  

I risked my life defending your honor  

So we all might all someday be free  

Like a knight in shining armor, that’s what you meant to me  But when it gets to be there is nothing, that a man like me can do  I cry, I cry for you…America 

We’ve gotta learn from the past mistakes  

And right so many wrongs  

And do whatever ever it takes  

For us to get along  

It can’t be what I am seeing  

So much heartache and pain  

We all are human beings,  

And we want the same old things  

I know a man ain’t supposed to cry, but these tears that fall from my eyes,  I cry, I cry for you…America 

Land of the free home of the brave…America  

I cry, I cry for you  

Land of the free home of the brave…America  

I cry, I cry for you

I hunger for the lazy youthful sunny days
sprawled out on the lush green manicured lawn
that felt like plush carpet
without a care in the world

gazing up at the pillows of clouds
making pictures before they dissipated into the clear blue sky

I thirst for the sound of the ocean crashing into the Jones beach shore
In harmony with the seagulls soaring above

Or the squawking of the one who captures the crust of bread in the sand not far from your blanket and escapes just in time before a flock of seagull thieves wrangles it from him

I hunger for the 85-degree days when I drop my bike on the front lawn
uncoil the green watering hose and quench my thirst

Then head to my mother’s beloved garden to pick a big juicy ripe tomato
and devour it like an apple.

I hunger for the days we would all walk in a circle in the above ground backyard pool to cause a title wave and laugh and squeal as we turned to struggle against the current we created.

I can still smell the aroma of the hotdogs, burgers, ribs, chicken and corn on the charcoaled grill my dad fired up

I hunger for the relay races we ran  or the spaldean stickball games played in the street where the cars were the bases.

Or how mad we got when a car came through and interrupted our oh so important game

I can still remember the sound of my rapid heartbeat, as I raced home on my bike before the streetlights came on

I realize now, what I hunger and thirst for the most,.… is HOME

Doing it anyway when folks say you’re crazy

Even through the points of doubt they’re still raising,

When the boundaries between right and wrong seems to be erasing

Hey, I’m just saying...

I think you’re amazing….

You’re all sitting here with your Sunday best on

Whether you’ve already arrived

or just coming along

….with the ups and the downs

and the downs and the ups

with the  good and the bad

and the happy or sad…

There’s still a song in your heart and your hands are still raising

Yup …I think you’re pretty amazing

You still trust and know that He’s setting you free

to have a good life and live it abundantly.

You struggle; you fall but get right back up

Cause you’re filled with faith and you’ll never get stuck

I know it ain’t easy cause sometimes they tease me,

and I don’t take it lightly when they try to appease me, 

cause they don’t really know the whole story,

 that we’re just a vessel and God gets the glory….

You take the high road when they take the low

and there’s plenty of ways that you could choose to go,

you just want to yoke’ em, but instead you just stroke um

with love and stand strong,

sometimes taking the right for the wrong

And with all the battles we’re facing

You gotta admit. That’s pretty amazing

You try to be the very best you can be, 

cause you know you’re the only Jesus that most will ever see… 

The worlds so turned around 

they don’t know which way is up, and which way is down.

 Sometimes getting through can be really tough,

 so you seek the Lord when you’re not enough

And there’s still joy in your heart and a light in your eye 

You know you’ve got something that money can’t buy.

So you sing and you dance and all night you’re just praising.

Yeah, that’s why I think you’re pretty amazing.

We couldn’t have been any different than night and day,

but when we were together, our troubles would melt away.

We clicked immediately from the very first time

I knew your thoughts and you knew mine

You believed in me, I believed in you,

Which enabled our gifts to shine right through

You and Allah, me and Jesus

found a common ground,  somehow between us

You taught me how to construct a song,

 I taught you how to trust when things went wrong

We thought we’d create music magic forever, 

but those dreaded cells attacked all together.

Now you’re playing with angels in another dimension

Composing songs, too many to mention

The memories hold me together within

Until my brother, my friend

We meet again

All the sounds in the universe don’t compare

To the giggles, the squeals that flow through the air

The smile when she sees me, the reaching out to squeeze me

The hugs of my neck are what really please me.

The chubby cheeks, the waddle walk

The foreign language babbled talks

I love my sons, but grand-mother-hood is amazing

It’s more than I ever imagined would amaze me.

God gives time to everyone on this earth

But do we really spend it right, do we know its’ worth?

The whole everything has a season, we kinda get all of that

But the second that just flew by us, we’ll never get back

We spend it like its money, to be earned once again

‘cause we think its milk and honey, but time does have its end.

Takes on a different meaning when your time is much too short

Then we try to make deals with it of some sort 

Sometimes it’s over before it’s begun

‘Cause time takes wings like eagles and waits for no one

Time had a beginning and we know it has an end

It can be your worst enemy or it can be your best friend

Time can be good to you, if you are good to it, 

But don’t take it for granted and it may be all that you get

You have time to do what’s right,

 but you run out of it, when you do what’s wrong

When spending time on what matters, it moves things along

But time that’s filled with sin is a hard to swallow pill

Cause guilt and condemnation can make time stand still

So we try to get it right, the first time around, 

‘cause He paid the price, when they laid on that crown

Time is of the essence; let’s purpose not to let Him down

Don’t waste it, squander it, misuse it or abuse it… stop fooling around

Do you get the message? Tick, tick, tick………Do you recognize that sound?

TIMES’ UP!

I ain’t military
But I’ve been through some battles,
In the fire, but don’t smell like smoke,
Yes, sometimes I get rattled
‘cause life ain’t no joke

My weapons are not carnal
My spirit’s not broke
I fight on my knees
Its how I stay woke

I meditate on truth

through the ashes and smoke

It's never been smooth

but the word gives me hope 

When I know I’ve done all that I can do

I take joy in knowing
I don’t look like

don't feel like

what all I’ve been through.

Where I live is quiet and serene, the sky is blue and the grass is green, 

Beside still waters, and sand white as snow, the birds sing songs I already know,

 love is abound; joy in the air, beauty for ashes, answered prayer

Where I live is in hope, faith and dreams, where God means what He says and says what He means,

Where I live there are triumphs and storms, meditation on the right, but not on the wrongs, 

where I live is not in the past, cause troubles I bare ain’t always gonna last,

where I live there’s truth, purpose and means, where things are revealed in His word and in dreams.

 Where I live is fullness of life, where things that go wrong won’t bring me more strife. 

Where I live there’s the mothers that pray, principalities and demons and strong-holds away, 

where I live there’s brothers that stand, with their heads in Christ and on their knees like a man. 

Where I live there are leaders that give, it’s not just what they say, but it’s how they live. 

Where I live there’s the obedient child, led by the word and not by worldly styles,

Where I live with the world on my shoulders, getting wiser and smarter, and not just older,

Where I live is right next to you, so you’re not the only one going through,

Where I live united we stand, divided we fall, freedom and equality is for one and for all.

That’s where I live