Life's Game

The channel of life is long and deep
Like the whispering wind, the impatient sea
Timeless as the years go by
Happiness, just a word
Sadness in its many faces
Hate, destruction in people’s minds
One by one, they come, they go
Two-faced as they are
People never learn, never feeling
Wrapped in self, one reflection
Too eager, such a pity
God save this world one more day
They lie, they cheat
Profit, money, greed too
Funny, life’s game.

Circa 1970

Words of Wisdom

Come hither, come now
Take heed, to words of wisdom
Enjoy your youth, take each day as it falls
Relate to your friends and peers
Place your best foot forward and
See the world for what it is
Save the drama and hysterics
For old age -----
By then, you will have earned it!

October 2005

Christmas in July! "Santa Darling"

I sit on Santa’s lap
Waiting for him to ask
Old Lady, have you been
A good “little” girl...
I reply, yes Santa, I have....
What gifts do you want this year...
Old lady that I am, I reply
You, Santa Darling!

Dec 2009

Willow Tree

If I close my eyes
I see the nucleus of my soul
Nurtured within my womb
A young sapling, little willow tree
Swaying with the breeze
I watch you develop day by day
Stretching your limbs upwards
Pride bursts through a haze, a rainbow
Your precious smile takes away the chill
On a cold rainy day, storms we have weathered
To remain true, willow tree
My son!

June 1998

I Am

A woman in a dream
Of knights, shiny armor
Gallant men of long ago
Cheerful, angry, sad
Too much sorrow, hate
As time goes
What tomorrow’s menu brings
Hope, despair, peace
Weary traveler of foreign lands
Settling neither shore
Forever moving
Black as night
Warm as the summer breeze
Shifting with the sands of time
Nature’s child of darkness
Clashing with human ills
Racing against fate
Woman of color
Heart filled with love and hope
I am me.

1970s

Stuff It Momma

Lordy, lordy, good day Miz Glory
The sun’s a shinin, a rainbow of color
Momma’s in the kitchen fryin chicken
Cornbread’s a bakin in the oven
Poppa’s snoozin in the corner
Grandpa’s down by the water shed makin liquor
Grandma’s hips are twitchin
Down the garden path, chasin chickens
Pickin string beans and collard greens
Polk Salad Annie comin to supper
Parson Jethro two steps behind
Stir that bubbling black kettle
One more time
Stuff it Momma!

Spring 1996

Last Visit

Stark, white walls in a antiseptic room

Computerized monitors of life, their silent beeping tones

It was the last time I saw, your black pain riddled body

You were not my grandmother, just a hallucinatory spirit, curled in a fetal posture

Anticipating father time

I gazed into a face lined with rough living

The cotton fields of Little Rock

To the hospital corridors of Wilmington, as a domestic

I stroked your callused hand, an angel in white

Administered medication, which you promptly spit out

Eyes closed, all the while, you, ready to die

With a smile

Four days later, in your shallow sleep, you passed away

Buried, to the hymn, of Amazing Grace.

4 April 1994

Blue & Pink Rollers Atop My Head

I.

Saturday, somewhere, around 6:30 a.m.

A voice, familiar yet far away

Drifts into my slumber.

II.

Question, ‘where is’ begin

My uniform, batting gloves

Hat and mitt

The pitch is made, swing

Strike one, I pace

Strike two, I pace some more.

III.

Did you see my jock strap

(protects, the whisper of manhood)

Can we have breakfast at Garlands?

The batter steps out of the box

Takes a couple of deep breaths

Back in the box one last time.

IV.

Groaning, I roll over, whispering

‘My only day to sleep in’

Small hands shake my work weary body

Detonating blue and pink rollers from atop my head

The pitch is made, the batter swings

The ball whistles through the air

Between center and left field

V.

Shutters open, I ease out of bed

Resigned to Saturday fate, I shower

Thinking, how can a small person be so zealous

Runners fly around the bases, two runs scored

A runner on third, one at second

A spectators’ voice cries…’YES’.

VI.

I dress with a shadow hovering

Prodding me to make haste

Don’t want to be late

Mighty Mite…well he’s in the car!

June 1994