POETSPEAK

ISSUE 14 SEPTEMBER 2012

THE ELEMENT OFPERSEVERANCE

BEING STEADFASTINSPITE OF TRIALS

P O E T S P E A KPoetry Submission Guidelines

1.) Poets can submit up to 3 poems2.) Work must be original and the sole property of Poet3.) Work can be of any length from 4 lines on up4.) Work can be any subject, any topic5.) While we believe in free speech, if your work is filled with excessive profanity(orany profanity) it will not be chosen for publication (words like"hell", etc., will beacceptable if it is needed in the message; if you are not sure your poem fits theseguidelines then please ask)6.) Copy/Paste your submissions into the body of the email and type "Poet SpeakSubmissions" into the Subject field of the email (If you find it easier, then you cansimply "Attach" your poems to the email)7.) Type your name, City/State, and email contact info into the body of the email soreaders can contact you directly if interested in more work from you8.) All poems will be Edited for spelling errors (We realize you have Poetic License andthe content and message of your work will not be changed; If there are certain wordsthat you are using as "play on words" like "Poetik" then detail this in your submissionemail and we will not change it)9.) Take a deep breath and just have fun! Congratulations, you are on your way tobecoming a Published Writer!

EMAIL submissions to: ihearyou2005@yahoo.com

PHOTO CREDITS:

© Copyright 2012 Front Cover - Luigi Diamanti; Pg. 6 - Anekoho; Pg. 9 - Adamr;

Pg. 10 - Savit Keawtavee; Pg. 12 - Danilo Rizzuti; Pg. 15 - Farconville; Pg. 16, 17 - Yvonne Scott;

Pg. 19 - Victor Habbick; Pg. 21 - Pixomar

Editor-in-Chief/Publisher:

Jeffery Asheley Brown

Editorial Dept: ihearyou2005@yahoo.com

Published by:

Poet Speak Publishing

Monroe, LA 71201

(318) 807-8361

Distributed by:

Magcloud.com

CONTRIBUTORS:

Rashine McKoy

Dorothea Appling

Yvonne Scott

Shantell Cooper

Kentrell Blanche

Message from the Editor:Poets are like Literary Prophets/Visionaries....Chosen just like Moses to stand on the peak ofmountains and commune with God and receive instructions to take back to the masses....Comeon Poet...go ahead and Speak!!!!

-J Asheley Brown-

Editor-in-Chief

Mission statementWe want Poets to realize that they are needed in this world. Poets inspire andinstruct, teach and reach the hearts of the people all through the use of words. PoetSpeak is committed to carrying out this duty and showing fellow poets/writers howto light the match and pass the flame around.

www.poetspeakpublishing.com

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P O E T S P E A KISSUE 14 SEPTEMBER 2012

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Can’t Sleep

RASHINE MCKOY

Up late!Can't sleep!Memories disturbing my peaceCan't breathe!No space!Every time I close my eyes I see your faceWe laughedWe criedTrue feelings too difficult to hideMasquerade along with charades we playedLet go!Came back!So many opinions left with unknown factsThe tracks of our Tears are like bread crumbs in a forest that bring us back hereOh dear!What NOW?!!!Instead ofSHOUTING!!!Letz talk it outBefore foul words come out of our mouths and the problems linger as we turn around and startwalking outNothing resolved!Guess I'll get the pillow and sleep on the couch,OUCH!Many sleeplessRestless nightsUncomfortableAngry and distantFar from what we pictured when we open up the booklet and look back on our wedding picturesHad a notion we were always like a ceiling lightA permanent fixtureDamn I miss ya!Without youTime moves slow like water out of a dispenserCan't dwellMust move on if I'm willing to prevailSo my Heart and Mind can be aligned with the starz and not reminded of the battlefield scarz we bothtook partI know now if your thinking is transformed, positive thoughts and things will conformEnergy drawnFrom the Heavens"LET GO AND LET GOD"Dat is the messageGreatness!I know I am destined

But somehow it has eluded my presenceShredded dreamsI was writing these themes before I was 13teenLike "CHUBB ROCK" didn't come on the scene with a pocket full of greenJust a mature n more diverse outlook on thingsIn the church I used to usher n singBefore "USHER RAYMOND" came on the sceneStrayed away from the path of a desolate King with no QueenEverything is not always what it seems in the grand scheme in what you trying to accomplishTold you beforeI'm not from this era!Family not what it wasI was taught to stand together n face your fears head on!No matter the pressureI watched and listened as my grandmother became the bearer of wisdom and grandpa was at the "HEAD OFTHIS SYSTEM"Church in our house was like a "Tradition"Yes I'm a Christian!But it's not about your ReligionEveryone has a different dialogue and faith"DAT JUST CAUSES DISSENTION""HAVEN'T WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM MAN'S WORLDLY AMBITIONS"?DATZ WHY I TAKE MY TIME AND GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY'S INTENTIONSGOD WANTS US TO LOVE EVERYONE!!!NOT CAUSE CHAOS, TENSION, AND DIVISIONI'M NOT BABBLING!THIS IZ NOT A PREMONITIONI know you can't hear my voice but you can see the "SINCERITY" in every sentenceIt don't matter cause despite what I sayIn the Bible it's written and right now some of this stuff is coming to fruitionI thought "FAMILY MATTERS" when I saw different topics when the Winslow's and Urkel use to go at itNow our children are growing up on this fake synthetic fabricWe've Replaced the " COSBY SHOWS" with "REALITY SHOWS" and that's not even the reality most of usknowMarriage is being disparage because "FAITH", "COMMUNICATION", N "TRUST" is not a continuing habitTHE LORD'S PRESENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IS SUBSTANTIALLY LACKINGSome divorced after 5 years not willing to work at itTRAGIC!!!!!I believe even with "GOD" It's about the relationship you haveA personal and intimate oneSomething we should teach our daughters and sonsBut not force on themEmpowering our youth is just as important as our parents and teachers as well as the confidence we display andexude from out of our featuresThe reward of succeeding as a human being goes with being an adult, a mother, a father, husband, wife, whichfeels very prestigiousBut GOD'S LOVE is far greater and never exceededWith HIMWhatever we wanna beWe can be it!

© 2012 Rashine McKoy

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 7

So used to being overlookedThat I have learnedTo not expect;So used to peopleTaking me for grantedThat I no longer get depressed..I go where I wishAnd do what I please;Sitting at home all alone-That is the last thing I need..I refuse to dwellIn the thought ofThe chapters of my lifeWhich I will never tell..I rather be stripped and robbedThan sit at homeAnd dissolveIn the dreams that never came true;I rather beSome other man's good timeThan sit aroundAnd drive myself crazyOver you..You took enoughWhile you were still in my bedAnd now that you are gone,I refuse to allowAnother tear to be shed;I rather spread myself thinThan allow you to dwellIn my head-I rather be all over instead..For the record-I am not betterBut,I won't feel this way forever..I will get over you-And soon,You will be but another story to tell;I wish you well..On a silver platter,I offered you your last chanceAnd you took the chance;You found someone elseAnd I just do not understand..I thought that it could have been meBut,You are a traveling man indeed

© 2012 Kentrell Blanche

Every man wants to flyBut,Sturdy wingsAre not formed overnight..It is a long journeyTo true peace of mindAnd it is not alwaysThat easy to recognize the signs..Traveling all overOn weary feet,Our yearning soulsAlways seem to haveOther places to be..If only we would take a momentTo listen for a wordFrom HeavenInstead of taking it upon ourselvesTo configure our own solutions,Perhaps we would rapA more prominent evolution..I have tested the watersOnly to draw backDue to chilling uncertainty;Fear of change binds us internally..Every man wants to fly but,What is a journey beyond the skyWithout true appreciation for life?

KENTRELL BLANCHE

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 9

Can’t Believe You Left MeI cannot believeThat you left meWith all of these emotionsOn my plateBut,I dare not callAnd give youThe satisfactionOf knowingThat you have been on my mindAll day..You are all over-Every placeThat you do not need to be,Dragging alongPieces of meEvery time you leave..I could probablyFind youRelaxed in the valley;But,Why go out of my wayWhen there is no guaranteeThat you will have me?If you wanted me,You would be right here;If you needed me,You would not have left meIn the companyOf my tears..Somewhere,There must be a melodyThat inspires me to dance;But even after takingChanceAfter chance,I find myselfWith empty hands..I gave it all awayJust to please;I gave it all awayJust so thatYou will haveEverything that you need..After everything,

I cannot believeThat you left meWith all of these emotionsRoamingAll over the place;You are happyExactly where you areAnd who am ITo disturbYour smiling face?

After a long day of work,I am left to the silence;

Alone-No one to spend time with..

All I have is list of inadequate namesCalling to see

If I am offeringThe same thing that I gave away

Last night;Give in to temptation once

And you are branded for life..Am I any less than human

For not passing upOn a touch

When my skin yearns to feel?My mind delivers reason

But,My body has its own will..

All at once,I love;

All at once,I trust..

Rising to the occasionJust to give my all;One would think

That I enjoy the fall..But,

What is a cloudTo a man

Who has never rested his headUpon the ground?

What is a soothing flameTo a man

Who has never knownThe winter’s pain?

Going out of my wayJust to feel;

PerhapsI made mistakes

When there was time to killBut,

Do I not deserveSomething real?

Something Real?

© 2012 Kentrell Blanche

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 11

On my journey to the next phase of my lifeI feel I have strengths I never knewBut when I need them most they don’t come thruFeels like my prayers aren’t being answeredGetting mocked daily am I just a foolSo I continue to go throughWhy because I loved someone whoIs deemed to be not goodI guess he can play the villainSo it gets me to continue to moveI’m not harping on him anymoreAlready closed that doorI see we not meant to be

Journey

DOROTHEA APPLING

I’d really like to forget himBut the world won’t let meIf I see things that remind of himOnly makes it harder to get over himBut I’m stronger than what I seeSmarter than what they knowU can mock me through it allStones you can continue to throwWill not deter my journeyOnly I can do that alone….

In the mist of the fog the deep graysShadows of dark blues, the silhouette ofblackThe colors are shifting relighting my pathHighlights of lavender, pink and yellowsThey are becoming brighter vivid inclarityUnderstanding more about meThe undeveloped girl reentering the worldBlinder removed open to the newThe world seems different not as friendlyEven though those shadows show fromtime to timeThe beauty is not hidden from me anylongerI accept the tranquil moments that the daypresentsMeditation on God and let the negative bepresentI see the rainbow after the storm reasonenough to accept the rainNo more does she wither in shamestepped in the lightHe gave me a renewed fight a spirit to livelife to it limits

Rebirth

What is my purpose my passion’s I’ve foundMy life and existence that I can contributeMy gift that I share giving a voice of truth

Blessed to have released my fearThe unknown reality of how I’ll be receivedTo liberate and live my maximum potential

To become a shining exampleTook me some time to reflect completely on this

Had to shed some baggage and negative isshMy dreams keep screaming you in the way

Give me an opening and let God light your pathAnointed to put my thoughts into words

I can only hold me back from my purposeBeen holding myself back for many years

Wondering why I shed all these tearsMy purpose was wrong all along I found

This is my truth in my words I revealSo much gratefulness for my journey

On my trail to find my gloryYou may not understand my purposeYou may not understand my passion

Just watch me work to get to my dreamTravel in passages yet unseen

There may be bumps along the wayI’m driven in my passion and my vision is here to stay

© 2012 Dorothea Appling

My Purpose

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 13

Went to bed last night with problems racing through my mindSo much to doSo little timeWoke up the next morning with tears in my eyesReady to toss away these shattered dreams of mineWhy should I even continue to try?As my tear drops fell one by oneSomething went off inside of me like the pulled trigger of a gunOne of my tear drops went its own separate wayIt fell and landed on my notebook pageIt was at that moment that I saw the lightGod sent a sign from Heaven that told me to continue to WRITEThrough my toughest TrialsGod showed me smilesI thought that the show endedso I sit waiting for the closing of the curtainsGod showed me that my life has purposeTherefore, I will continue this fightI pick my ink pen back up and continue to WRITE...

The Show Must Go On

Life is a rocky journeyAt times we feel that the problems in life reaches much further than our reaching abilitiesOur lives have already been mapped out and plannedIt is not for us to take destiny into our own handsWe all have a duty and a purpose to fulfill our life plansNever be afraid to ask God for a helping handThe birds were made to fly in the skyThe fish were made to swim in the seaAs Humans, we are expected to be the best that we can beWhile on life's journey it is best that we leave all unwanted passengers behindFollow those that God has placed in your lives to share space and timeAvoid the people who don't have the gift of believingInstead bring the people on your journey who get a natural high from achievingIf all you have left is one broken wingIf you believe in yourself more than anythingAsk God to repair your wings so that you can flyWhenever you are going through rough times just trust in the most HighThis will connect your soul to the Heavens and give your eyes a beautiful viewOn this rocky journeyYour Determination and Faith will make the Rocky Roads easy and Smooth...

The Rocky Journey

© 2012 Yvonne Scott/QueenFlo

YVONNE SCOTT/QUEENFLO

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 15

Though we are connected to a heavy ball and chain...These chains were locked on our feet before we even knew our names...We must use the heavy ball to enhance the strength in our legs and feet ...This strength will help us fight whenever we get weak...God will help us to pull through yet another day...Remember that you have a calling on your name...We can all make it through ...Though we are dragging a heavy Ball And Chain...

Ball And Chain

© 2012 Yvonne Scott/QueenFlo

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You know Sometimes words get Distorted, Twisted Like a Contortionist when angles gets Deserted...Leaving Bent Minds That can't Comprehend they Own Awareness, Fabricating Fibers in Measuresthat Can't Compare Us...  I Fell through the Seams of some of these Hand Woven Threads, Hanging bythat loose End as my Hands Profusely Bled... Listening to Shallow sounds that Hollow Out, Peoplewho Say they Got Ya Back Then Move About... Leaving Marked and Unmarked Stitches, Velcro triesto adhere them together but Fall short from Its Britches... How much Material does one need to Uphol-ster these Samples, How many Spools does it take to Complete a Prime Example... Unless I'm totallyExempt, Those not Understanding Raw Silk Verses Nylon Imprints...  Sometimes things are often  Ir-regular, But you have to see Deeper in the Creation and that takes more than Ocular to Make it Spec-tacular... Many Mistakes get made like pricking your finger, when the Needle open its Eyelet It'sfocusing on Singular... One Interaction, One Common Goal, One Hand Stitching Even When TheEyes are Steady being Closed.... Trying to Complete a Garment for a True King’s Adornment, I'm Fix-ated on Tailor Made While you sit there being Dormant....

THE THREADS OF LIFE...

THE ESSENCE OF BEAUTY IS WAY BEYOND SKIN DEEP, IT'S THE LOVE IN THE HEARTTHAT HELPS ONE MAINTAIN THE FOOT STEPS THAT HE KEEPS...  ALWAYS WILLING TOBE SEEN AS AN EQUAL, COMBINE THE ENERGY WE BOTH EXUDE AND BECOME BETTERPEOPLE... SOME ASK FOR WISHES BUT DON'T SEE WHAT'S BEEN GRANTED, BEENSEEING WHAT'S NOT RIGHT FOR SO LONG THEY EYES BECOME SLANTED... I BATHE INTHIS EUPHORIA AS MY SURROUNDINGS BECOME VISUALIZED, PACE SETTING MYDESTINY BECAUSE NOW I COME TO REALIZE...  IT'S NOT ME WHO ISN'T  EVOLVING, IT'STHE WRONG DOOR YOU KEEP GOING THROUGH THAT'S STEADY REVOLVING...

REVOLVING

© 2012 Shantell “Shan-Teazy Ledgend” Cooper

Poet Speak Magazine Pg. 18

SHAN-TEAZY LEDGEND

THIS SHYT RIGHT HERE IS ABOUT TO BE MY MAGNUM OPUS, THE BADDEST CRE-ATION EVER SO LISTEN AND FOCUS... LYRICALLY EXPRESSIVE WHEN I'M EXPRESS-ING BOUT ME, I DON'T GIVE UP MY GUN POWDER CAUSE MY WEAPONS AIN'T FREE...SO I KEEP MY SHIT IN A MENTAL PRISON, SHEDDING JUST ENOUGH LIGHT TO SHINELIKE PRISMS...  WHY WASTE ENERGY ON BLUEPRINT DRAWINGS, I MAKE APPEAR-ANCES LIKE RARE RECORDINGS...  FANTASIZE IT LIKE YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY,CAUSE ONCE I GET IN YO MIND IT'S NO GETTING RID OF ME.. ELUSIVE TO EVERYTHING KNOWLEDGEABLE, I HAD TO GROW UP ALONE BECAUSE MY ATTITUDE WASINTOLERABLE... RUN WITH A FEW AND THE MIGHTY CHOSEN, MY CIRCLE IS TIGHTAND IT'S STEADY CLOSING... DEVASTATION INK WITH A GUILLOTINE TWIST, I BELIKE THEM GORILLA'S WHEN THEY COMING UP OUT THE MIST...  AND THIS JUSTDON'T PERTAIN TO NO FACEBOOK, I'M ON A DIFFERENT WAVELENGTH SO YOU GOT-TA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK...  SO WHEN YOU ASK BOUT ME YOU ALREADY KNOW THEANSWERS, NO NEED FOR HOSTILITY OR FORGED DOCUMENTS OF CANCER.... THE RE-ALIST OF EVERY THING BREATHING, IF YOU AIN’T SOMEBODY I'M FUCKIN THEN IDON'T GET UPSET WHAT NOBODY SAY OR BE BELIEVING... THIS IS ME RAW ANDGRITTY,  DRAMA  IS LIKE MY KITTY KAT WHEN IT GETS ALL STICKY... HARD TO LETLOOSE SO DON'T GET STUCK,  THOSE THAT HATE ME I DON'T GIVE A FUCK....  CAUSEI'M ONLY DYING FOR MY THREE KIDS, THE SEEDS THEY PRODUCED SO THEY TOOCAN LIVE....  NOW I'M DONE AND READY FOR THESE TREE'S, SO IMMA STAND HEREON SAFE MODE TIL I FEEL ANOTHER BREEZE...

MAGNUM OPUS

SOMETIMES PRIDE AND PREJUDICE JUST DON'T MIX,  THE REMEDY IS FLUENT BUTYET IT CAN NOT BE FIXED...  TRIALS STAND TALL BUT GET ASSASSINATED BY TRIBU-LATIONS, THE MOMENT YOU LIVING IN IS A VISION OF REVELATIONS.. I OWE NO MANNOTHING BUT THEY WANT TO TAKE EVERYTHING, THE VOICE THAT USE TO WARNME OF DANGER HAS BEEN REPLACED  WITH PUPPETS ON A STRING...  GHEPETTOWANTS TO BE MY CREATOR BUT I AIN’T BUILT FROM NO WOOD, THE STONE THAT'SIN MY CHEST HARDEN SO NOW MY HEART IS ALL GOOD... EVER FOUGHT FOR ACAUSE ONLY TO HAVE IT FIGHT AGAINST YOU, AND THE BLOOD THAT YOU SPLITWAS THROWN OUT A BROKEN WINDOW... LIMITATIONS AND LIGAMENTS GET TORNFROM IT'S CAVITY, CAUSING ME TO STEP BACK AND EXAMINE THE REAL REALITY.....

PRIDE OR PREJUDICE

© 2012 Shantell “Shan-Teazy Ledgend” Cooper

©Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Pixomar