A View of So Good

(I'm reading tonight at the Thistle Coffee House, and I have an assignment to rework a poem previously written.  This is what I came up with, and what I'll use to open my set.  Should be fun....)

I’m putting on that dress –
yeah, that dress that makes you say,
“Damn….”
putting on those pumps -
yeah, those pumps that turn your head,
tell you to stare as I walk straight to you,
each step sure, each step saying,

A View of Choices

(I was at work last Friday afternoon when, all of a sudden, I got the inspiration for the first half of this poem, like someone was reading it to me. On the way home, the second half of the piece came to me.  I tweaked and worked it over the weekend, and came up with this analysis of what the right wing wants people to belief a woman's right to choose and what the truth actually is.  I hope this rings true enough to make people think about their positions.)

(Comic found on the Move On website, and attributed to the Matt Bors website.)

A View of What Creativity Looks Like

(An assignment for class - a poem of description that pretty much covers the way I write.)

Dim room, double bed, duvet in a heap.
College t-shirt, too big.
Crew socks on feet, too dingy.
Calves tucked under, cross legged stance
supports legless laptop desk.
Cold coffee, chipped cup.  Cold pizza, chipped plate.
No cigarettes – quit cold turkey days ago.
Ink pen, ink fading.  Lead pencil, lead broken.
Battery meter reads 30%.

A View of Good Sunday Morning

(Tonight, I begin another poetry class through Springfed Arts Detroit.  The classes have been invaluable, and I've learned how to strengthen my voice through them.  This poem, based on memories of my old school Baptist extended family worshipping with my very Catholic nuclear family as a child, will be the one I workshop tonight, looking for constructive criticism and feedback.  I'll be posting other assignments from the class on the blog later on.)

A View of a Trip to Kashmir

I'm exhausted out of my mind, but can't quite get to sleep - too much caffeine in my system, still pumped up from the adrenaline rush from reading yesterday, frustrated because a couple of poems I've been working on just won't materialize.  As I was listening to my iPod, Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," began to play.

A View of Things You Shouldn't Do

(This poem is based on things guys have actually said to me.  I've posted it before on my Facebook page, but I've reworked a couple of the stanzas to make it stronger and more comical.  I'll be reading this tonight, along with some other works, at the Thistle Coffee House, located on 4445 Second Ave. in Detroit, at 7:00 pm.  Hope to see you there....)

(I've posted from Cory Thomas' strip, "Watch Your Head" before.

I'll continue to do so, because he's always on point.)

Don't tell her you're a God fearing man,

and how you’d love to see her
come...

A View of Born to Fight

On September 11, 2009, Crystal Lee Sutton died of brain cancer.  She was only 68 years old, and her fight against the disease was complicated by an ongoing battle she had with her health insurance provider, who initially refused to pay for medication that could have saved her life.

A View of a Troublesome Word

(In an interesting - and telling - twist, Herman Cain is now being attacked by some of his fellow conservative GOP peers for challenging fellow candidate Rick Perry.  He's being accused of using race to his advantage in an attempt to disparage his competitor.  No one leveling the accusations have taken Mr. Perry to task for the his actions, or lack thereof, regarding Throckmorton.  In fact, it appears the other GOP candidates are giving Mr. Perry a pass on his alleged use of a racial slur.  How offensive is that?)

This post contains language, including ethnic slurs, that's not safe for work, and may be offensive to some readers.  While I'll understand if you decide to pass on reading this post, I hope you push past any possible offense and read this, but explore what truly offends you after reading the piece and exploring the links included.

A View of an Invitation

Excuse me, but what are you doing this Friday night, October 7th, say around 7:00?  If you're not busy, then how about joining me for a cup of coffee and some really good poetry?

I'll be reading some of my work at the Thistle Coffee House, located on 4445 Second Ave. in Midtown, as part of the weekly Thistle Crown Affairs series.  I'm on the bill with two of the city's best poets, Caesar Torreano and Wryter L. Bush, and I'm quite honored to be part of the bill.  There's a $3 recommended donation, and the Thistle has all sorts of fine beverages and treats available.

Chill out after work with some damn good coffee, some great poetry, and the best Midtown has to offer.  Hope to see you there....

A View of Hands

(Today, my grandmother would've been 97 years old.  She was a strong, beautiful, loving, straightforward woman, my family's cornerstone.  This poem, one of my first, is a tribute to her.)