Frank came today and we had a pretty rousing lesson. It was in fact, one of the more spirited lessons we've had in recent weeks. After two and a half years of working in the project, I think a few of the students are becoming less and less interested; and it only takes a select few to get the rest of them distracted and feeling the same way. Even with that said though, today's lesson seemed like an enjoyable one that pulled in most of them.
Mr. Algerin (Frank) started by writing an open ended statement on the blackboard. "I want to thank my _________," from which we were supposed to freewrite for about ten minutes; no breaks. Students started to write, as Mr. Donohue and myself and a few seemed intereted in further developing their freewrite. We didn't really delve very deeply into what we had actually written since this was just a basic warmup.
Then we really got into the theme for the lesson. We started by re-visiting the last couple of years work; all the different types of poems and the different themes we've explored. We started a basic association map/bubble chart on the board with "Poems" as the central theme. Students raised their hands, called out and spoke to one another, and we eventually had a bubbling list including Epistlory, Persona, Odes, I Am/Elements, Political, Metaphor, "Dis Poem," Where I'm From/Community, "I Want to Hear a Poem," and Colors/Music/Found Objects. After we looked at the board, the students seemed to become increasingly aware of the magnitude of their repertoire. Even though it has been a couple of years, they have produced so much work it looked overwhelming on the board. That is until we took the next step, which seemed even more grand.
We moved on to a cleaner part of the board, and this time Frank placed "Poetry" in the center of a seperate Bubble Chart. Rumblings and murmering ensued, and I could tell most where eager with anticipation. Frank continued on and asked them what they actually thought and felt about poetry itself; How it makes them feel, what it does for them, where it takes them, and various other facets of their feelings. Hands sprouted quickly like spring grass as they poured out their insights. "Comfort, Passion, Beauty, Joy, Enthusiasm," came blasting out quickly. "A New Chapter, Inspiration, Bravery/Courage, New Way to Communicate, Knowledge, Word Search, Perspective, Not Formulaic," and "Relief" were others painted on the board in a flash of chalk dust. After we caught our breaths (not literally...) we then went a little deeper, and began writing exactly what the brainstorming led us to. Frank put on some Jazz, maybe a little loud at first, but definitly soothing, and hands sprang into action blazing trails through the lines of the composition books, while steamtrails rose from their heads.
After we wrote, we did as we usually do and left nearly half of the 90 minute block for performance. Issaka, Mauricio, and Wayne (Shining stars all of them) all volunteered to perform. And did they ever! These guys are becoming more and more natural vocal/performance poets/slam artists who seem to revel in trying to outshine each other. All in all, it was a very productive lesson/workshop which led to some spectacular poetry. Mybe they'll post them...or maybe they'll be performed.
To be continued....
Nov 30, 2005
Nov 29, 2005
World War III
It seems to start off with these teens...
Kids get robbed by these teens who can't afford to buy books
but could afford to spend $50 on a pair of jeans.
How weak can these people be?
They just can't give these kids a break 'cause they need to get that paper.
Crooked cops seem to shoot first and ask questions later.
How can you shoot a man for taking out his wallet?
That seems not fair.
They seem to be the gun and us the bullets.
They use us like little puppets
'cause they think that they can order us to do
whatever they want us to do.
Why can't we just march through that "White House" to speak the truth?
Just hope that a little mini war doesn't go off
so they can kill a bunch of innocent kids.
Then blame it on our parents.
They might say that our parents aren't responsible enough,
abuse a little girl and say they had probable cause.
I hope they know that we won't ever stay quiet,
'cause we gonna march through these streets and spark some major riots.
We will fight until the end of time so we could finally be free.
This will be so tremendous it will be known as World War III.
Adults will not be the only one in this war,
'cause the kids who started this war will not be ignored.
This so called "United States" will not be so united anymore.
Now back to the fact of the matter at hand.
It had something to do with Iraq,
and how Bush will always put in his hands.
Oh yeah, the war that's going on in sand,
and the master plan for Bush to take over everythin'.
It seems like the government's gettin'
too greedy to watch other places have their own leader.
Now Bush is in Japan.
He says that they're not doin' a good job keepin'
their people happy when he's the U.S's president.
"Yo Bush, it's us who you should be worryin' about!"
So for that, now I'm gonna end you,
you see 'cause that's just me.
I need to be the lead in this future riot to be.
We gonna start World War III!
I don't, I can't, I won't
stop for the people,
'cause the people are the reason for my demise.
I can see into the future 'cause I got magical eyes.
When the hell is Bush gonna realize,
all of the fire burnin' within our eyes.
You caused so much suffering in our lives.
We so alergic to you 'cause we just keep gettin' hives.
You see, it takes a while to be free but in no time get drafted.
When ya get home and ya find out ya think "how can this happen?"
Innocent people die while Bush is in his mansion,
gettin' wealthy off the poor so he's proudly clappin'.
Bush even got these little boys and girls askin',
why are their moms and dads cryin' in their beds gaspin'
for some air-Oh my God, my uncle Jayson's in the navy!
Bush is recruitin' little babys at the age of 18!
If we speak up, can there be a chance for our troops, maybe.
My uncle must be on that plane prayin' for God to save him.
I don't understand why bush is causin' all of this mayhem.
We got Hussain now what about Osama BinLaden.
For all that we know he could be sharin' a beer with Bush laughin'.
The government's interogatin' Hussain but he ain't crackin'.
Somehow I know that Bush is behind this whole thing, it just suits him.
Why can't America bend the rules, grab a pen and recruit him?
Bush just likes to take from those who just have nothing.
He says he does it for us but we all know that he's bluffin'.
We need to stop all of this and just kill it,
but in order to do that I need to be takin' over by my uncle Jayson's spirit.
You see, he's been through training and that got him nowhere.
He needs to get to the truth, believe that he will go there.
He got to the battle field and with almost no hair.
People have died in his arms with his eyes filled with cold tears.
He found out that for this war he wasn't even prepared.
He feels as if there is so much weight is on his shoulders,
but he'll make it through this war because I believe that he's a soldier!
Kids get robbed by these teens who can't afford to buy books
but could afford to spend $50 on a pair of jeans.
How weak can these people be?
They just can't give these kids a break 'cause they need to get that paper.
Crooked cops seem to shoot first and ask questions later.
How can you shoot a man for taking out his wallet?
That seems not fair.
They seem to be the gun and us the bullets.
They use us like little puppets
'cause they think that they can order us to do
whatever they want us to do.
Why can't we just march through that "White House" to speak the truth?
Just hope that a little mini war doesn't go off
so they can kill a bunch of innocent kids.
Then blame it on our parents.
They might say that our parents aren't responsible enough,
abuse a little girl and say they had probable cause.
I hope they know that we won't ever stay quiet,
'cause we gonna march through these streets and spark some major riots.
We will fight until the end of time so we could finally be free.
This will be so tremendous it will be known as World War III.
Adults will not be the only one in this war,
'cause the kids who started this war will not be ignored.
This so called "United States" will not be so united anymore.
Now back to the fact of the matter at hand.
It had something to do with Iraq,
and how Bush will always put in his hands.
Oh yeah, the war that's going on in sand,
and the master plan for Bush to take over everythin'.
It seems like the government's gettin'
too greedy to watch other places have their own leader.
Now Bush is in Japan.
He says that they're not doin' a good job keepin'
their people happy when he's the U.S's president.
"Yo Bush, it's us who you should be worryin' about!"
So for that, now I'm gonna end you,
you see 'cause that's just me.
I need to be the lead in this future riot to be.
We gonna start World War III!
I don't, I can't, I won't
stop for the people,
'cause the people are the reason for my demise.
I can see into the future 'cause I got magical eyes.
When the hell is Bush gonna realize,
all of the fire burnin' within our eyes.
You caused so much suffering in our lives.
We so alergic to you 'cause we just keep gettin' hives.
You see, it takes a while to be free but in no time get drafted.
When ya get home and ya find out ya think "how can this happen?"
Innocent people die while Bush is in his mansion,
gettin' wealthy off the poor so he's proudly clappin'.
Bush even got these little boys and girls askin',
why are their moms and dads cryin' in their beds gaspin'
for some air-Oh my God, my uncle Jayson's in the navy!
Bush is recruitin' little babys at the age of 18!
If we speak up, can there be a chance for our troops, maybe.
My uncle must be on that plane prayin' for God to save him.
I don't understand why bush is causin' all of this mayhem.
We got Hussain now what about Osama BinLaden.
For all that we know he could be sharin' a beer with Bush laughin'.
The government's interogatin' Hussain but he ain't crackin'.
Somehow I know that Bush is behind this whole thing, it just suits him.
Why can't America bend the rules, grab a pen and recruit him?
Bush just likes to take from those who just have nothing.
He says he does it for us but we all know that he's bluffin'.
We need to stop all of this and just kill it,
but in order to do that I need to be takin' over by my uncle Jayson's spirit.
You see, he's been through training and that got him nowhere.
He needs to get to the truth, believe that he will go there.
He got to the battle field and with almost no hair.
People have died in his arms with his eyes filled with cold tears.
He found out that for this war he wasn't even prepared.
He feels as if there is so much weight is on his shoulders,
but he'll make it through this war because I believe that he's a soldier!
Nov 28, 2005
Making of My pain
Guys if you look below, I have written a new slam poem, It came to me while sitting on the 2 train and having a burst of different emotions right before my stop (almost missed my stop too!). well, I was thinking of all my old poems, new poems, and how I had nothing to write. I sat on the train and a Man with an eyepatch (maybe eyepatch wasn’t needed, hehaha) any way he came in, not begging like other people and just silntly asked for change while then stepping off the train and I felt all of his raw emotions without him having to prove it.
MY PAIN
My name is Wayne Rodgers and the title of my…
You know what scratch the title of my poem because my poem will not be summed up in a word or two, not summed up in a verse because you, you do have to hear my message
You see, Jesus Christ gave up his life for us but some people wanna take their lives, I must, I must try to awaken, the godforsaken, poetry making, emotion locked up deep down in our brains, the emotion that switches sane to insane, the emotion that is quite well untamed, the crazed emotion called… pain.
Many people experience pain once or twice, for example the biggest experience of pain was after the great days of Black and White, how people began to think that life needs to be more bright and when they decided to turn on those neon colored lights they could not belive the sight, the sight of; my eyes, my mouth, my nose,…. my SKIN
That’s the title of my poem, now for the stanzas or yellow brick road to the end or beginning of my journey to explaining the origin of my pain, one cause is America, you see,
At times this nation can make you fell that you ain't rich enough to die, rich enough to cry, rich enough to ask why something gotta be like this, we can't have a fit or the government is sneaky they will have us quick
The so called greatest nation with a govenment of hating races, they hate our colorful faces
They're the so called greatest nation of all, they've never taken a fall but you know what they have taken a blow before
They've taken there own blows Bush left them and god knows he left them for a few days is he thinking is he crazed, the vision of a great nation is fazed but I ain't amazed
They say Bush don't like black people but I'm not one for controversy, there is no monster verse "see", I'm just here to explain my thoughts and dreams for you all to see.
Disney says a dream is a wish your heart makes, so I'm telling ya to follow your dreams within your dreams, because life ain't what it seems, you gotta believe, you gotta achieve and one day you will see
Slaves were forced to do jobs, forced to be mobbed
and if you think about it this nation would not be without the favor or should I say hard working labor of us black saviors
Pain caused by a lost of one point and how later on left unknowing on what is a poem, The pain of being lost, not lost in the sense of where I am but who I am and where we are meaning in which point of time we are in, I thought i knew sometime before but this is now not then, you see, I once had an urge to go on, a rush, my words were swen, swen together to make a visual of life better, better for you, me, hope and life to be
you see, what I wanted to say or explain was confined behind the bars of my mind but it was hard to explain the words deep down in my brain but I always tried anyway
The dictionary says a poem is a composition in verse. To me a poem is what I feel, who I am, and what is real, its my heart, my rhyme, my effort and time
My definition of a poem is life itself
To wrap up my poem or composition in verse I'd like to tell ya to change the Earth
Live your life right and don't give up the fight,
live it free cause freedom ain't free,
take every step like it was your last and be who you want to be Leave the heartache of lost ones, thoughts of guns behind you
My name is Wayne "Way J" Rodgers and the title of my poem is
“MY PAIN”
You know what scratch the title of my poem because my poem will not be summed up in a word or two, not summed up in a verse because you, you do have to hear my message
You see, Jesus Christ gave up his life for us but some people wanna take their lives, I must, I must try to awaken, the godforsaken, poetry making, emotion locked up deep down in our brains, the emotion that switches sane to insane, the emotion that is quite well untamed, the crazed emotion called… pain.
Many people experience pain once or twice, for example the biggest experience of pain was after the great days of Black and White, how people began to think that life needs to be more bright and when they decided to turn on those neon colored lights they could not belive the sight, the sight of; my eyes, my mouth, my nose,…. my SKIN
That’s the title of my poem, now for the stanzas or yellow brick road to the end or beginning of my journey to explaining the origin of my pain, one cause is America, you see,
At times this nation can make you fell that you ain't rich enough to die, rich enough to cry, rich enough to ask why something gotta be like this, we can't have a fit or the government is sneaky they will have us quick
The so called greatest nation with a govenment of hating races, they hate our colorful faces
They're the so called greatest nation of all, they've never taken a fall but you know what they have taken a blow before
They've taken there own blows Bush left them and god knows he left them for a few days is he thinking is he crazed, the vision of a great nation is fazed but I ain't amazed
They say Bush don't like black people but I'm not one for controversy, there is no monster verse "see", I'm just here to explain my thoughts and dreams for you all to see.
Disney says a dream is a wish your heart makes, so I'm telling ya to follow your dreams within your dreams, because life ain't what it seems, you gotta believe, you gotta achieve and one day you will see
Slaves were forced to do jobs, forced to be mobbed
and if you think about it this nation would not be without the favor or should I say hard working labor of us black saviors
Pain caused by a lost of one point and how later on left unknowing on what is a poem, The pain of being lost, not lost in the sense of where I am but who I am and where we are meaning in which point of time we are in, I thought i knew sometime before but this is now not then, you see, I once had an urge to go on, a rush, my words were swen, swen together to make a visual of life better, better for you, me, hope and life to be
you see, what I wanted to say or explain was confined behind the bars of my mind but it was hard to explain the words deep down in my brain but I always tried anyway
The dictionary says a poem is a composition in verse. To me a poem is what I feel, who I am, and what is real, its my heart, my rhyme, my effort and time
My definition of a poem is life itself
To wrap up my poem or composition in verse I'd like to tell ya to change the Earth
Live your life right and don't give up the fight,
live it free cause freedom ain't free,
take every step like it was your last and be who you want to be Leave the heartache of lost ones, thoughts of guns behind you
My name is Wayne "Way J" Rodgers and the title of my poem is
“MY PAIN”
Nov 24, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!
Since i left early yesterday i didn't really say it, so here i am saying it. Well, i just hope you all have a wonderful day with your families and friends. I know this is not a poem, but it's a holiday celebration! Have a good time with Madison's first Thanksgiving BABY'S DADDY, and say hi to BABY'S MOMMA for me alright. God bless everyone!
Since i left early yesterday i didn't really say it, so here i am saying it. Well, i just hope you all have a wonderful day with your families and friends. I know this is not a poem, but it's a holiday celebration! Have a good time with Madison's first Thanksgiving BABY'S DADDY, and say hi to BABY'S MOMMA for me alright. God bless everyone!
Nov 22, 2005
Fate
All the things that could be
But we will never know
How can it be that we have no choice
On what direction our lives will go
If you think you have free will
Then answer this to me
Do you really have a choice?
Or is life just fate to be?
Tell me could you choice to love
And did you choose to cry?
Will your heart choose to ache
If someone you loved were to die?
Did someone choose to kill?
Or was death just their fate?
Then, will you choose to morn?
Or will you choose to hate?
How far will our free go?
And what difference does it make?
That's something only God will know
And the rest is up to FATE.
But we will never know
How can it be that we have no choice
On what direction our lives will go
If you think you have free will
Then answer this to me
Do you really have a choice?
Or is life just fate to be?
Tell me could you choice to love
And did you choose to cry?
Will your heart choose to ache
If someone you loved were to die?
Did someone choose to kill?
Or was death just their fate?
Then, will you choose to morn?
Or will you choose to hate?
How far will our free go?
And what difference does it make?
That's something only God will know
And the rest is up to FATE.
Nov 21, 2005
Unreachable Level for Me
We started writing like it was just a game
But the more we wrote, the more it brought us fame
We weren't unknown anymore, we were finally known
They read yours, his, her's, and even my own...
One year and a half later
We're still writing and getting better
But it seems to me that everyone has reached the next level except me
I'm pissed off, but don't think I’m angry at you cuz I’m not full of envy
I feel like we all started as regular Mario's, and everyone but me all ready got the mushroom
I'm still struggling with these turtles, I feel alone, alone in this room
Similar to Issaka, I sit here with a pen in my hand without something to write
(Someone once told me that i wasn't a king anymore, but a mere peasant, i think he was right)
You don't understand, at least Issaka had a pen in his hand, all I had was a blank journal laid out in front of me on the surface of my bed
Even if I had a pencil, there still would've been nothing, my period was done, it as if the pencil had ran out of lead
I don't get it, I started out fine, yet right now I can't come up with a good sensible rhyme
As I’m writing this I’m just hoping these are well-written lines
When we started the first class with Mr. Algarin, Issaka had all ready written like a whole page of his "Dis" poem, I only had about one, two, three, four, five, six lines, that was the first sign
The first sign of my downfall, I realized that I couldn't write any rhyme or a hot line
He was Leonardo di Caprio and I was just Toby Maguire
He was always telling me my poems were hotter, but now I think he was a liar
You played the main character in the Titanic(The best-selling movie ever) while I played some comic-book super hero
I can't believe I lost my flow, on a scale from one to ten I’m so low, I’m a zero
I mean, Issak man, your poems are so hot they're spreading like fire
Me on the other hand, I'm like a friggin SUV with three flat tires
Please, don't think I’m not confident because I am and I hope I’m not making it seem like I don't have any self-esteem
But I do have a fear, a fear that this year I might not make the team
People have told me that the class will still choose me, but you know who they're going to pick
I feel like if they do choose me, I’m going to be dreaming, it 's just going to be like a dirty trick
It's not fair for me to be on the team when so many others deserve the spot more than me
For those of you who still think I’ll make it can't you see
I've been to Mt. Everest and now I’m back
If I was still nice, I’ll be able to climb back
I used to be like an All-American QB, but now I just got sacked
But by who? By me? By you? Or by the realization of the truth that I’ve been knocked off my own roof
I’m like a NBA player believed to be an All-Star, but slowly and unbelievably I started to stumble over my own dribbles, started to miss shots, and started to lose money
Then all of a sudden POOF, fame was lost, image destroyed
I even got proof, how is it that everybody is writing slam poetry except me
There you have it, talent gained, talent lost, or maybe talent was never found, never there
I’m the kernel that never popped, the pc that never got upgraded, or maybe the civil rights leader who got shot, or maybe the principal who got demoted
He may be focusing too much on everybody else because he believes they’re writing better poetry than him
He doesn’t know how they write on paper their poetic selves from within
WHAT’S MY PURPOSE, THE TIME IS NOW for LOST REVOLUTION, WHO EVER KNEW, STAGE FRIGHT
Are they really writing better poetry or is it that he just hung up his gloves because he didn't want to fight?
He has to conquer the darkness; his mom can’t keep on holding the flashlight
He has to wake up and work fast because it’s getting dim
Is there really darkness, is he really talentless, is everybody really better, or is it just him?
But the more we wrote, the more it brought us fame
We weren't unknown anymore, we were finally known
They read yours, his, her's, and even my own...
One year and a half later
We're still writing and getting better
But it seems to me that everyone has reached the next level except me
I'm pissed off, but don't think I’m angry at you cuz I’m not full of envy
I feel like we all started as regular Mario's, and everyone but me all ready got the mushroom
I'm still struggling with these turtles, I feel alone, alone in this room
Similar to Issaka, I sit here with a pen in my hand without something to write
(Someone once told me that i wasn't a king anymore, but a mere peasant, i think he was right)
You don't understand, at least Issaka had a pen in his hand, all I had was a blank journal laid out in front of me on the surface of my bed
Even if I had a pencil, there still would've been nothing, my period was done, it as if the pencil had ran out of lead
I don't get it, I started out fine, yet right now I can't come up with a good sensible rhyme
As I’m writing this I’m just hoping these are well-written lines
When we started the first class with Mr. Algarin, Issaka had all ready written like a whole page of his "Dis" poem, I only had about one, two, three, four, five, six lines, that was the first sign
The first sign of my downfall, I realized that I couldn't write any rhyme or a hot line
He was Leonardo di Caprio and I was just Toby Maguire
He was always telling me my poems were hotter, but now I think he was a liar
You played the main character in the Titanic(The best-selling movie ever) while I played some comic-book super hero
I can't believe I lost my flow, on a scale from one to ten I’m so low, I’m a zero
I mean, Issak man, your poems are so hot they're spreading like fire
Me on the other hand, I'm like a friggin SUV with three flat tires
Please, don't think I’m not confident because I am and I hope I’m not making it seem like I don't have any self-esteem
But I do have a fear, a fear that this year I might not make the team
People have told me that the class will still choose me, but you know who they're going to pick
I feel like if they do choose me, I’m going to be dreaming, it 's just going to be like a dirty trick
It's not fair for me to be on the team when so many others deserve the spot more than me
For those of you who still think I’ll make it can't you see
I've been to Mt. Everest and now I’m back
If I was still nice, I’ll be able to climb back
I used to be like an All-American QB, but now I just got sacked
But by who? By me? By you? Or by the realization of the truth that I’ve been knocked off my own roof
I’m like a NBA player believed to be an All-Star, but slowly and unbelievably I started to stumble over my own dribbles, started to miss shots, and started to lose money
Then all of a sudden POOF, fame was lost, image destroyed
I even got proof, how is it that everybody is writing slam poetry except me
There you have it, talent gained, talent lost, or maybe talent was never found, never there
I’m the kernel that never popped, the pc that never got upgraded, or maybe the civil rights leader who got shot, or maybe the principal who got demoted
He may be focusing too much on everybody else because he believes they’re writing better poetry than him
He doesn’t know how they write on paper their poetic selves from within
WHAT’S MY PURPOSE, THE TIME IS NOW for LOST REVOLUTION, WHO EVER KNEW, STAGE FRIGHT
Are they really writing better poetry or is it that he just hung up his gloves because he didn't want to fight?
He has to conquer the darkness; his mom can’t keep on holding the flashlight
He has to wake up and work fast because it’s getting dim
Is there really darkness, is he really talentless, is everybody really better, or is it just him?
Nov 17, 2005
Live From New York....
We're more and more getting the hang of this technology stuff. So here are a few audio clips, and a video of one of our Slammin' Allstars. There will be much more to come soon (I hope...) and please be advised, these are works in progress....
'Dis Poem - Issaka
What Life Seems To Be - Wayne
A Student - Mauricio
'Dis Poem - Issaka
What Life Seems To Be - Wayne
A Student - Mauricio
Ranting and Raving...
I don't normally post here, unless it's feedback for you all, but after today's session, I very much felt like some public "airing out" is necessary. First, to all you poets, you know I expect only the best from you. You know I've been in your corner for a few years now, and I look out for you guys. All the extra trips, the staying late after school, chatting at every lunch period; I've very rarely said no to you guys, and with good reason. I’ll try to keep this as short as I can, or as succinct I should say, but I think after today’s session and the follow up performance/demonstration we left not quite understanding each other’s point’s of view. First, please don’t apologize. Mauricio, you know I haven’t edited anything anyone has written here, but I did take down your last post. Nothing in what Frank or I said was intended to evoke any feelings of doubt or low self image. What we say to you all, whether in group sessions, or face to face one on one is always intended to stimulate and motivate, and to show how much potential we both/all believe you ALL possess, and to simply focus what you already have at your disposal. You are ALL so talented, and your world views are expanding in ways and in directions I know I wasn’t viewing at your age. We often talk about how others find their motivation; how they craft the words they come up with, how they know so much. The sad fact is that you spend so much time trying to live up to someone else’s standards, trying to write like others write, trying to perform like professionals, and others perform, that you seem to lose sight of yourselves. You’ve often overlooked your own talents. Focus, concentration, vivid description, attention to detail, vocal tone, emotional tone, we could go on with hints, tips and strategies forever – but as Edwin pointed out to me after our session today (he’s working on a piece about this as well…) this is the first endeavor he hasn’t been able to approach systematically. There are no equations, there’s no formulaic approach, no concrete techniques he could master or research to be able to do this. What you have, you have, and you can make it more, enhance it, spice it up – or you can be happy and content, comfortable with what you’re capable of at this point. There’s never any pressure on you do more than you are ready for, or to attempt something you’re uncomfortable with, but even in saying that you all know you’ve seen each other take certain risks with your works, and have seen each other have wholly effective days, and ineffectual ones as well. I don’t want to ramble, so in closing – and we can discuss further if you like - just don’t lose sight of what makes your work your own; keep it fresh, and keep doing what’s earned you the recognition you so deserve. Talent is awesome, but you can only be as talented as you allow yourselves to become.
I Teach - Version 1.0
I listen, I talk, I comfort, I console
I forgive, I anticipate, I congratulate, I scold
I love, I hope, I hug and I hold
I wait, I counsel, I encourage, I mold
I help, I coach, I chase, I catch
I struggle, I yawn, I twitch and I stretch
I stand, I fall, I follow, I lead
I understand, I call, I plow and I seed
I communicate and aggravate
I pass and I fail,
I’m sometimes confused,
But I also prevail
I read, I write, I can’t and I can
I nourish, I worry, I hurt, I demand
I stress, I express, I manage, I reach
I eat, I sleep…
I eat, I sleep…
I live,
I breath,
I feel,
We teach.
I forgive, I anticipate, I congratulate, I scold
I love, I hope, I hug and I hold
I wait, I counsel, I encourage, I mold
I help, I coach, I chase, I catch
I struggle, I yawn, I twitch and I stretch
I stand, I fall, I follow, I lead
I understand, I call, I plow and I seed
I communicate and aggravate
I pass and I fail,
I’m sometimes confused,
But I also prevail
I read, I write, I can’t and I can
I nourish, I worry, I hurt, I demand
I stress, I express, I manage, I reach
I eat, I sleep…
I eat, I sleep…
I live,
I breath,
I feel,
We teach.
Nov 14, 2005
You Don't ..............
You don't understand is a line i often hear
especially from those who hold pain so dear
especially from those who hold pain so dear
Instead of relating their misery
They chose to dwell within their own agony
To say You don't Understand
is an easy thing to do but
do you know what ohers have
been through
I've seen babies beaten within an inch of their life
Done time with husbands who killed their loving wife
A woman who was raped and left to die 'cause she told
a simple white lie
Families so poor dumpsters become a diner
Sometimes they have to splurge
from a trash can liner
People selling their only child
Just to feed an that was
unbeleivably wild
Death Feeling of Lonelyness
No need to feel shamelessness
Your hearts been broken in half
Mind still living in the past
Cold dark thoughts of suicide
"Why don't I just do it tonight?"
Put it in the back of your mind
let it rest and you will find
Dark clouds begin to part
New love will mend the heart
Thoughts of suicidewill disappear
Selfesteem will reappear
You've been made fun of but it's ok
learn to love another day
you hear the stupid laughs and claps of stupidity
hopefully there is no mental lapse
Look deep inside and you will find
Time to realease your feelings in another rythme
Your not a waste of time like those who try to find
the hate in the world
Go to any nursing home
and visit the elderly look deep into their
deslate eyes where memories use to be
Reach out and comfort them
while holding their hand
and whisper in their ear
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.........."
Stage Fright
The crowd has come,
Seems that I've just swallowed my lung,
Already the fat lady has sung,
And this cat rip out my tongue, I'm speechless and show hasn't even begun!
Stage Fright overwhelmed, seems like hell
Emotions trapped in a cell, but no one can tell
Only I can tell, I feel that fell deep down the well
In my humilations
I never know, life is story untold
My story is cold; Stage fright put me on hold
You never know, what the hell going to unfold!
On the stage I stop in mid air
This was my fear, was my ending truly near?
Everyone just stared, my lines wasn't clear
But they didn't know I really cared
I thought
A second I just mumbled and stumbled over the wire
Almost ripped my attire
Now people watched me, like a freaking idiot that I was
Now how will I recover from this because?
I just made an idiot all of us!
Day after day, hour after hour
Seems that the king has lost his power
Now he's a coward, and used to be a great empire
Seems that he will never go higher
They call him a liar, now no one believes
His shaking his knees, his heart freeze
Here I go again I stop to think but I'm pushed to brink and my heart just again goes to sink
But I revive I survive, and people pass by
Looking like if I wasn't alive
But I strive to go all out
But with no doubt, no words come out my mouth
Everyday I'm scared and alone now I'm prone
Everyday I lose my tone, my temper, my heart turned cold
I stand here a piece of garbage
My heart, my mind fell into the pit
Got stabbed just a little bit
And make it lit
Into a big fire, just let burn it doesn't concern
Me I been humiliated
This is my lesson to learn
I never know, life is story untold
My story is cold; Stage fright put me on hold
You never know, what the hell going to unfold!
Stage Fright scattered my life and my career
But that doesn't matter
Because my heart isn't here
Anymore, what will do?
My whole life is strewn
But now I am a fool
Because I will never give up I never will now and ever again!
Because I turn back because of humiliations and people
That stupid when will I learn
That the only thing that concerns
In life is what I earn
And not what I receive so everyone believes…
You will never know if life is story untold
But keep pushing
Pass the arguments, and humiliation
Here's an emancipation of you
Seems that I've just swallowed my lung,
Already the fat lady has sung,
And this cat rip out my tongue, I'm speechless and show hasn't even begun!
Stage Fright overwhelmed, seems like hell
Emotions trapped in a cell, but no one can tell
Only I can tell, I feel that fell deep down the well
In my humilations
I never know, life is story untold
My story is cold; Stage fright put me on hold
You never know, what the hell going to unfold!
On the stage I stop in mid air
This was my fear, was my ending truly near?
Everyone just stared, my lines wasn't clear
But they didn't know I really cared
I thought
A second I just mumbled and stumbled over the wire
Almost ripped my attire
Now people watched me, like a freaking idiot that I was
Now how will I recover from this because?
I just made an idiot all of us!
Day after day, hour after hour
Seems that the king has lost his power
Now he's a coward, and used to be a great empire
Seems that he will never go higher
They call him a liar, now no one believes
His shaking his knees, his heart freeze
Here I go again I stop to think but I'm pushed to brink and my heart just again goes to sink
But I revive I survive, and people pass by
Looking like if I wasn't alive
But I strive to go all out
But with no doubt, no words come out my mouth
Everyday I'm scared and alone now I'm prone
Everyday I lose my tone, my temper, my heart turned cold
I stand here a piece of garbage
My heart, my mind fell into the pit
Got stabbed just a little bit
And make it lit
Into a big fire, just let burn it doesn't concern
Me I been humiliated
This is my lesson to learn
I never know, life is story untold
My story is cold; Stage fright put me on hold
You never know, what the hell going to unfold!
Stage Fright scattered my life and my career
But that doesn't matter
Because my heart isn't here
Anymore, what will do?
My whole life is strewn
But now I am a fool
Because I will never give up I never will now and ever again!
Because I turn back because of humiliations and people
That stupid when will I learn
That the only thing that concerns
In life is what I earn
And not what I receive so everyone believes…
You will never know if life is story untold
But keep pushing
Pass the arguments, and humiliation
Here's an emancipation of you
Dream
When the lights of life flickered
i befriended my shadows
Darkness was my shroud
In which no one can see the tears
You see the sun
setting in my eyes
You reach out in the public eye
Yet you let me go in solitude
First came hurt then came pain
Finally anger showers down like falling rain
Slowly now i gain control of them all
wiping my eyes till next they call
For now i keep my feelings under wraps
Hopefully there is no mental lapse
There they will stay until it's time
to realease them in another rythme
I hide my fears from you
you can't uderstand how i feel
you can't know what goes on in my head
You know what
Your smile doesn't fool me and your stupidity makes me sick
I may have been crazy once but i am not that thick
To think that as you stand before me
acting like a fool
I could not think about how i like you
I thought about the situation
But it never made any sense
but then it came to me
and i realize that this whole thing was nothing but a
DREAM!!!
i befriended my shadows
Darkness was my shroud
In which no one can see the tears
You see the sun
setting in my eyes
You reach out in the public eye
Yet you let me go in solitude
First came hurt then came pain
Finally anger showers down like falling rain
Slowly now i gain control of them all
wiping my eyes till next they call
For now i keep my feelings under wraps
Hopefully there is no mental lapse
There they will stay until it's time
to realease them in another rythme
I hide my fears from you
you can't uderstand how i feel
you can't know what goes on in my head
You know what
Your smile doesn't fool me and your stupidity makes me sick
I may have been crazy once but i am not that thick
To think that as you stand before me
acting like a fool
I could not think about how i like you
I thought about the situation
But it never made any sense
but then it came to me
and i realize that this whole thing was nothing but a
DREAM!!!
Do You Really Know
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you really know that as you talk about me your failing yourself and i'm living on
Do you really now that as you talk about me your dying and i'm surviving
Do you really know that your wasting your time
Do you really know that my aunt just died
Do you really know that your just like everyone else
Do you really know that your not better than me
Do you know if your eyes are opened and if you can truely see
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you know that as you talk about me your killing yourself and i'm striving to survive
Do you know that i'm talking to you and your still not listening
Do you really know that i can't stand the way you act you don't even got my back
Do you really know that people walk by the poor and not give them a dime
Do you really know that their just like you and not a waste of time
Do you know that the world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you know that theres people that think about suicide
Do you know that babies have been beaten within an inch of their life
Do you know that there are husbands that killed their loving wife
Do you really know that a woman was raped and left to die because she told a simple white lie
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you really know that im saying this poem from the top of my head
Do you really know that you talk and talk and there's no progress
Do ypu really know that i have said the same thing over and over and your still not getting it
Do you really know by saying this poem i'm being just like you
Do you really know that people can't be happy when they are treateed so crappy
Do you really know that it is hard to smile and laugh because their mind is still living in the past
Do you really know that this poem is not for you but for me
for me to love myself and know what ever you say does not matter
Do you know that the reason i'm saying this poem is because i have so much stress locked up inside pf me it's unbearable
Do you really know that i'm a poet and you don't even know it
Do you know anything about the person your talking about
Do you really know that by saying this poem i'm acting just like you
You know what, NO, 'cause what i have to say is true
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you really know that i have stood here taking up about 2 min and i don't even know the reason for this poem
Instead of standing here for 2 min the real question should be DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?
Do you really know that as you talk about me your failing yourself and i'm living on
Do you really now that as you talk about me your dying and i'm surviving
Do you really know that your wasting your time
Do you really know that my aunt just died
Do you really know that your just like everyone else
Do you really know that your not better than me
Do you know if your eyes are opened and if you can truely see
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you know that as you talk about me your killing yourself and i'm striving to survive
Do you know that i'm talking to you and your still not listening
Do you really know that i can't stand the way you act you don't even got my back
Do you really know that people walk by the poor and not give them a dime
Do you really know that their just like you and not a waste of time
Do you know that the world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you know that theres people that think about suicide
Do you know that babies have been beaten within an inch of their life
Do you know that there are husbands that killed their loving wife
Do you really know that a woman was raped and left to die because she told a simple white lie
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you really know that im saying this poem from the top of my head
Do you really know that you talk and talk and there's no progress
Do ypu really know that i have said the same thing over and over and your still not getting it
Do you really know by saying this poem i'm being just like you
Do you really know that people can't be happy when they are treateed so crappy
Do you really know that it is hard to smile and laugh because their mind is still living in the past
Do you really know that this poem is not for you but for me
for me to love myself and know what ever you say does not matter
Do you know that the reason i'm saying this poem is because i have so much stress locked up inside pf me it's unbearable
Do you really know that i'm a poet and you don't even know it
Do you know anything about the person your talking about
Do you really know that by saying this poem i'm acting just like you
You know what, NO, 'cause what i have to say is true
Do you really know that this world is twisted and rotated in an evolution
Do you really know that i have stood here taking up about 2 min and i don't even know the reason for this poem
Instead of standing here for 2 min the real question should be DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?
Nov 10, 2005
New Era
Make way for the one and only
The number one poet judge solely
On how I make my poems and how I say them
I'm not the person that raids them
I am the new generation can anyone stop me?
My poems are crazy, people just don't copy
People just don't know a wave is on the way
Now people try to step up but have nothing to say
I am the new era in this business
Now people are coming up with all sorts of craziness
Soon I'm going to have my show
For people who know my flow
That's they way it goes
People want to say something but they know they can't
They worried and scant
And now everyone going to make some rhymes
And they are killing their time
Because no one can stop me
They don't know because they didn't see
Me in action and how I perform
They think I'm just a kid in uniform
It's a new Era make way for a new time
I'm spitting these crazy rhymes in my lines
But now listen to this
I'm making more rhymes I'm making a list
Yes indeed and while you sit around
I'm literally you to the pound
I'm approaching and quite quiet
I'm powerful I'm my own silent riot
Okay what are you going to say?
Don't you want to play?
My little game you already lost
Meet my trainer it's Mr. Craig Moss
Now you're lost my fog
Try to breathe in but now its clog
Feel the pressure you're going to choke
In front of your family and own folk
A New Era is coming towards you
Your eyes turned gray and the sky is blue
You're scared and it's curtain close
Now I'm finally going to destroy my horrible foe
Make way for the one and only
The number one poet judge solely
On how I make my poems and how I say them
Now everyone saying I've already lost to him
Even if I've made a error in this era
A new one's coming and I'm pulling together
I'm pushing forward and everyone jealous
But no one not even you can come close to this
My line knocks you out
Come on now there's no reason pout
Just try next year because my time is now
I use words that are not allowed
Words that make you think
I'll take your adipose, dissipated image to the brink
And skate around you like a rink
And just like quicksand, make you sink
Be circumspect I'll tell you now
I'll take your smile and put it upside down
I'll take that grin and make you frown
Who's good now?
Even if I've made an error in this era
Even though I'm clever
Even if it's my last year my diamonds are forever
It's just a new era
The number one poet judge solely
On how I make my poems and how I say them
I'm not the person that raids them
I am the new generation can anyone stop me?
My poems are crazy, people just don't copy
People just don't know a wave is on the way
Now people try to step up but have nothing to say
I am the new era in this business
Now people are coming up with all sorts of craziness
Soon I'm going to have my show
For people who know my flow
That's they way it goes
People want to say something but they know they can't
They worried and scant
And now everyone going to make some rhymes
And they are killing their time
Because no one can stop me
They don't know because they didn't see
Me in action and how I perform
They think I'm just a kid in uniform
It's a new Era make way for a new time
I'm spitting these crazy rhymes in my lines
But now listen to this
I'm making more rhymes I'm making a list
Yes indeed and while you sit around
I'm literally you to the pound
I'm approaching and quite quiet
I'm powerful I'm my own silent riot
Okay what are you going to say?
Don't you want to play?
My little game you already lost
Meet my trainer it's Mr. Craig Moss
Now you're lost my fog
Try to breathe in but now its clog
Feel the pressure you're going to choke
In front of your family and own folk
A New Era is coming towards you
Your eyes turned gray and the sky is blue
You're scared and it's curtain close
Now I'm finally going to destroy my horrible foe
Make way for the one and only
The number one poet judge solely
On how I make my poems and how I say them
Now everyone saying I've already lost to him
Even if I've made a error in this era
A new one's coming and I'm pulling together
I'm pushing forward and everyone jealous
But no one not even you can come close to this
My line knocks you out
Come on now there's no reason pout
Just try next year because my time is now
I use words that are not allowed
Words that make you think
I'll take your adipose, dissipated image to the brink
And skate around you like a rink
And just like quicksand, make you sink
Be circumspect I'll tell you now
I'll take your smile and put it upside down
I'll take that grin and make you frown
Who's good now?
Even if I've made an error in this era
Even though I'm clever
Even if it's my last year my diamonds are forever
It's just a new era
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