I AM A POET!

Yesterday I had the awesome Privilege Honor and Pleasure to converse with Amde Hamilton of The Watts Prophets, along with Chenyelu Bomani. It was awesomeness in my life not just as a poet but as a woman. I have often said that as Poets it is incumbent upon us to look back and remember honor reflect revisit and understand those that came before us. I am not saying that we should all become scholars of the past I am simply noting that the best way to move forward is to know where you have come from. If we as a people of poets have no idea the roads we have traveled how can we prevent traveling those roads again?

When you take a road trip you plot and plan your course so that you dont travel the same roads unnecessarily. You want to get to where you are going so you are careful with that map to follow the course plotted out. Not vearing off the path. I say the same thing should apply to our craft. Why should we continue to flap in the wind with no direction and no plotted course. We just continue to flail in the wind blowing which ever way the wind blows.

"If you dont stand for SOMETHING you will fall for ANYTHING". A quote I am sure you have heard your entire life. All I can say is that its absolutely truth. Lets take the young woman Jasmine Mans. She took a stand for what she believes in. Not in an effort to bash degrade or denigrate anyone but to say People are watching you...be mindful what you show them. Did anyone stop for a minute to think about exactly what this young woman said? Those of us that see what she sees, yes we listened and understood her message. Others didnt. Either way she has stood her ground and defended her voice. She has used poetry to say something that needed to be spoken on. She in one piece has led by example. We are supposed to hold our entertainers accountable just like our followers should hold us accountable for the words we say and our actions.

So many of us only want to hold the title along with the semi perks of being called or labeled a Poet. We seek out these psuedo celebrity identities by saying we are poets when I believe words have power and one is responsible for the words they put out into the universe {Hence the Nikki Minaj piece by Ms Mans}. When we put words into the universe that are empty unfulfilling and death {spiritual and physical} those words manifest their intent. But when we speak about things that will encourage nuture and plant seeds... life will manifest.

It is our responsibility as Poets to do more than just entertain. We are to affect and touch our community, not just entertain them. We must be what our title proclaims. We are messengers not just people that can put words together that rhyme. We have to be saying something to be worth our weight in ink. Gil Scott Heron said it in his piece Message To The Messengers "They had to get out there and get busy cause it wasn't gonna be televised/ We got respect for you rappers and the way they be free-weighin'/ But if you're gon' be teachin' folks things, make sure you know what you're sayin'
Older folks in our neighborhood got plenty of know-how/ Remember if it wasn't for them, you wouldn't be out here now" We have to keep in mind that our words are more than mere black and white stains and markings. They are more than just vain repetitions. Actions are the manifestation of our words.

The Bible says "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD and was GOD". This scripture from John 14 verse 1 shows us how important the word is. We have to understand that we are accountable for the words we speak into the universe. If you dont believe that words have power here is another quote " And God said..." It was his words that brought forth life energy and creation simply from the word that was spoken.

We are the givers of the word as poets. We are not just entertainers we are prophets and messangers that are called and destined to speak truth for those that are either blinded or hiding in the matrix of ignorance. Not to say that we cant entertain as well but we should be teaching, but most importantly we should be mindful of what we are feeding others.

Mr. Bomani said and I Quote " As a poet you are a messenger. I dont care how you look at it you are a messenger. What you need to examine is what type of message are you bringing? What is it that you are really trying to instill? Words Live Forever" This statement should if nothing else make you sit back and examine your poetry and life, and the words that you place into the universe.

We sat and talked to Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Bomani last night listening to a wealth of their information not just on poetry but also on life. We, and I say we for those of us that were in attendance and touched by these two phenomenal men, experienced something so great in those three hours of Blogtalkradio last night. The ability to say Thank You to those that laid the foundation for what we take for granted everyday was an honor of unspeakable joy.

Mr. Hamilton said and I Quote "We wasnt parrots and always agreed with each other, but we always supported each other in other words I may not totally agree with whats said in a poem by one of The Watts Prophets nor may he totally agreed with what I said in one of my poems but he would support my right to say it in the way i want to say it and help me to say it as powerfully as I could. We allowed everybody to be their own self."

When I asked Mr. Hamilton what he would say to the poetic community he said "Use their creativity for our survival. An artist is a one man army."

This was truly a night of amazing enlightenment. Two weeks ago I became a poet. Last night I garnered true understand of what a poet is. So I say Thank you to Amde Hamilton and Chenyelu Bomani for bringing so much knowledge to us last night. I also Thank the poets, authors, playwrights, musicians, singers etc that have made it possible for me to be who I am and what I do. I Love you All.

I AM A POET!!!!

Virtual Life

Okay people this is my first blog ever. For a long time I wondered what the purpose of the blog was, and even said I didnt have any need to blog. I'm a poet so I write and express myself thru my poetry, but as life progresses I now realize why blogging will be useful to me. Thanks to Facebook & other Social Networking sites I have gathered a topic although it may be inflammatory it is long over due to be spoken on. I cant say that I am the first one to ever speak on this issue, because honestly I have only read one blog in my life, but I do know that I cant continue my silence.


Ladies and gentleman we are all grown or at-least we should be and it absolutely baffles me how people take these virtual worlds and societies so serious. The internet was meant to be a means of connectivity and networking, along with having some fun. How is it that people above the age of 25 have time energy or concern to create cliques and drama on line? I'm completely baffled at the amount of drama that goes on in the 40 and up age range. It makes absolutely no sense to me.


Ok people real talk we are all adults right? Why do you give a phuck about what someone else is doing on the other side of a computer? REALLY? Thats how you feel? You are so concerned about people you have never met and probably will never meet that it disturbs your life in some way shape form or fashion? Your life is so empty that all you have to do is worry about what I'm doing on the other side of MY computer that I purchased and use internet that I pay for?


I'm saying a small amount of perspective should be used in this instance. I'm not saying I haven't met some great people over the internet because I have. I'm not saying the internet isn't a great way to network and stay in touch with people because it is, but lets call a spade a spade here people. I couldn't care less about any of the millions of people that use Facebook Myspace Twitter Black Planet Urban Chat Tagged or any other social sites to include but not limited to Blogtalkradio.


People its all virtual! When you spend 3/4 of your day behind the computer screen keeping track of someone else's movements and thoughts on facebook , etc., there is truly something missing in your life. Get a damned hobby already. Here's the thing, and seriously if anybody has a response to this question/comment please let me know, why is my life so important to any of you in this virtual arena? As if passing a few comments between facebook , etc., now has all of a sudden given you stake in my life somehow.


Its the stupidest thing I have ever experienced that so many supposedly grown people are on line acting more childish than my teenage children which conduct themselves in a manner befitting most adults. I don't know what drives people to spend so much time being offended by these virtual societies. The key word there is VIRTUAL. That means ITS NOT REAL PEOPLE! Yall acting stupid behind blogtalkradio and facebook if yall don't get some where and sit the phuck down. REALLY? WTH is wrong with people when they have real life challenges and focus all their energy on the pettiest shit that could be concocted. When there are marriages children health concerns etc that you SHOULD be focusing on you instead turn around and focus on the wackest Bullshit since George Bush declared War. REAL TALK!


When do we stop acting like small children and throwing temper tantrums? Better yet WHY ARE GROWN PEOPLE THROWING TEMPER TANTRUMS ABOUT SHIT THEY DONT OWN OR CONTROL.


Real Talk... What I do behind my computer screen is my phucking business and any body with issues problems or concerns should go to hell and wait for your number to be called. I don't hide behind internet screens.


I have a real life beyond these computer screens and keyboards. Behind facebook , etc., and of course Blogtalkradio. I have REAL problems issues concerns challenges happiness pain fears joy decisions and life. I'm not a bot created to post periodically that has no emotions or feelings. Why do people find strength power and presence behind avatars profile pics and computer screens? Then everybody wanna yell I keep it real. No, you don't. You keep it virtual.


Those that undress themselves in virtual arenas then wonder why they get treated like a skeez. HELLO?! You just exposed yourself to half the world why would anyone think you are more? Maya Angelou said "If someone shows you who they are...believe them" And I do. People who feel so protective and sensitive about these virtual arenas lack fulfillment in their own lives, and have not the spiritual fortitude to do some serious soul searching. Either they see nothing wrong which is a completely different problem or are afraid of what they will find if they look.


At the end of the day we all have to look ourselves in the mirror. There are only so many lies we can tell our selves. People who use the internet to be what they want to be but aren't are the fakest and phoniest of all people. You cant escape yourself in the internet. If you are a whore then you will be a whore when the internet goes off. After a while your facade online will crumble. Grandma used to say "Whats done in the dark will surely come to the light."


So to all those that read this that may feel offense or some kinda way I say check yourself before you start slandering my name because of it. My drill sergeant used to say "If you throw a rock in a pack of wolves the one you hit is gonna holla"


Now for those that I was addressing take 12 hours to mind your own business and 12 to stay outta mine. If you don't have a life of your own Kmart has them on sale every day for 9.95 they even got lay away. If thats still too step you can get a cheap life at Dollar General/Family Dollar/Dollar Tree better yet I will buy you the Game of Life for Christmas if thats the only way you can get one.


Live Beyond the Poetry

Lyrical~Toye