Muted

I hear myself as I shout
But it seems like nothing’s coming out
I know I said the words
Yet it appears no one heard
Then my reflection reminds me
That I am not one that they see
So my voice dissipates in the wind
As mindless chatter descends
Upon the masses inebriating
Ensuring that they’re deviating
From all matters that elevate
Or that threaten to educate
So here I stand voiceless, screaming
Praying, Jah, that I’m dreaming
Because I see the wall of destruction nearing
And I try to warn but no one’s hearing
Muted and invisible in isolation
I ask for no dispensation
Lessons will surely soon be learned
Perhaps then my voice will be returned

The Moon Also Shines in Africa

The moon is so big it doesn’t seem so high
It looks like it’s threatening to consume the sky
I wonder if the same moon shone for you
Did you gaze at it in wonderment and awe too?
Or were you too distracted by your hunger pains
To care whether the moon waxes or wanes
I wish I could fill your belly and return your smile
And enable you to be a carefree child
I wonder why the world treats you with such disdain
Thinking if they help what would they gain
They only see Africa as a treasure chest
Not caring about the children in their quest
They don’t even talk about you, like you’re not there
But I see you little one, and I do care
I promise you I will make my very best plea
And until you are nourished I’ll stay on my knees
The moon shines like a beacon of hope in the night
Keep your eyes fixed on it and together we’ll fight

Love Jones

Love is my addiction
And sometimes my affliction
I love because it feels good
I love those no others would
Because I know love can change
It has the power to rearrange
My love sometimes looks like hate
Tough love can sometimes separate
Better an open rebuke than love that’s hidden
True love should never be forbidden
I have to love you, I can’t help myself
I’d rather have love than material wealth
I hope this love jones never ceases
Because love has become my life thesis
It is written on the pages of my spirit
I’ll read aloud for all to hear it
Let love be your gift to me
Love is what sets me free
Free from those who despise me
Because love is my disguise see
It covers a multitude of sins
Where there is love everyone wins
Yes, love is my crack
If you love me then I’ll love you back
Even if you don’t, I’ll love you anyway
Love is my drug of choice everyday

How Strong Does a Black Woman Have to Be?

How strong does a black woman have to be?
Strong enough to create civilization
And then educate a nation
Strong enough to carry the burdens of the world
Yet turn the lessons into pearls
Strong enough to endure heartache and pain
While not allowing her dignity to wane

How strong does a black woman have to be?
Strong enough to do hard labor with poise
And in her spare time make men out of boys
Strong enough to struggle with ease
While other women do as they please
Strong enough to face her fears
Never revealing her private tears

How strong does a black woman have to be?
Strong enough to bear solitude
While outwardly letting confidence exude
Strong enough to call on the Most High
When no one else hears her cries
Strong enough to know when to say
I don’t have enough strength today

Name the Fruit

Are you hungry? It seems that you are
In your eyes I see.. dancing stars
Do you think I’m tasty? I know that you do
But when you take a bite of me, name the fruit

The sincerest form of flattery, maybe so
Or is it that you’re lazy, I don’t know
I’ll share the best from my orchard, yes it’s true
But when you take a bite of me, name the fruit

I understand, if you can’t plant your own trees
If you need to feed off of my crop, well then please
Taste the fruit, let the nectar run down your chin
But name the fruit you bite, I won’t tell you again

If...

If you knew all the things you do to make me smile
Would you try to do more of them….
Or would you run away?
If you had any clue that for you I’d go the extra mile
Would you look my way then….
Or would you remain blasé?

If I told you, you make me want to be a better woman
Would that warm your heart…
Or would you not care at all?
If I hold you until all of your pain is forgotten
Would that be a start…
Or would my dream stay stalled?

If I laid my heart out like cards on the table
Would you consider me…
Or let me down easily?
If I played my part and showed you I am able
Would that be the key…
Or is this not meant to be?

Thank you Jah Jah

When all is said and done
And you think the battle can’t be won
Your spirit rises to the surface
To show you that you’re in the right place
Then there’s nothing left to say
But thank you Jah Jah for a beautiful day

When the tide keeps rising high
And every ship seems to pass you by
From nowhere a life ring appears
To rescue you and allay your fears
Then there’s nothing left to say
But thank you Jah Jah for a beautiful day

When loneliness creeps into your door
And you think you just can’t go on any more
You remember one who’s closer than your kin
He loves you as you are and there will be no end
Then there’s nothing left to say
But thank you Jah Jah for a beautiful day

When you rise with the morning sun
And see another lovely day begun
You have your health, your mind is clear
And all is well for those whom you hold dear
Then there’s nothing left to say
But thank you Jah Jah for a beautiful day

Your Absence

Your absence digs a hole in my spirit
That can only be filled with the Majesty of the Divine
I say that as though you were once here, but you never were
Yet the knowledge that you are out there somewhere
Fills me with the hope that you will be here again
I say that as though you were once here, but you never were
I wake up every morning, retreating inside of myself like a turtle
Knowing I must go to work repairing that black hole you’ve left
That sucks out the beauty enjoyed by everyone else

I can live happily without you, in your absence
Fulfilling my purpose, loving, laughing, creating
But I don’t want to because your absence reminds me
Of colors I can no longer see, textures I can no longer feel
Again, I say that as though you were once here, perhaps you were
Are you a memory? Did we have a past life together?
I don’t know, your absence is too consuming to think about it
In your absence, I will assume the duties of making myself whole
So that upon your return, you will find no holes, I will be complete

Love Verse

No matter if you give me half or a whole of you
I can always feel the entire soul of you
Taking control of my heartbeat
You move me from my head to my feet
Always on time with the right words to say
You rock me, and your rhythm takes my blues away
So much harmony whenever you are near
You’re in tune with me that much is clear
One drop of you quenches my thirst
A day without you is certainly the worst
Sharp as a two edged blade
Even flat your beauty never fades
You’re the one that makes me feel free
Revealing the soul of a melody
I will never ever let you go
Oh music how I love you so

Mr. Dogooder

Mr. Dogooder you wanna do good
But you won’t go into the neighborhood
Thinking only of the bottom line
“Let’s raise money, as long as it ain’t mine”
Deciding what’s best for the poor
Just to keep them from your front door
Mr. Dogooder you wanna do good
Sayin to yourself “I wonder if Jesus would?”
Choosin who deserves help most
So on Sunday morning you can boast
Service becomes your payment for sin
Donations are write offs it’s a win win
Mr. Dogooder what good are you
When all your good doin helps so few

Judge Not

When you get an education outside the university
When your mind’s on something besides your money
When you know what it’s like to not feel free
When someone else chooses your possibilities
When you can’t figure out how you will fill your belly
When your child isn’t taught his own history
When you ain’t just tryin to taste my honey
When learn to recognize true royalty
When know how to honor your own body
When you feel the pain of senseless tragedy
When the roof of your house is stamped with GE
When you’re innocent but still have to take a plea
When you're not even allowed to keep your dignity
When you finally realize it’s time to take a knee
Even then you won’t be fit to judge me

Daydream

I saw you today, sitting under a tree
Reading a book, probably history or philosophy
Or something too complex for my state of mind
You are so peaceful in your silence, but I find
The silence to be deafening, and as I drew near
I wanted to run over and shout, “hey, I’m here!”
You probably wouldn’t have even seen or heard me
Sitting there alone, guarded by that tree
Immersed in your solitude without a care
Or was she there too? I didn’t notice or dare
There was a glow around you, beckoning me, a tease
If I came any closer, you’d disappear in the breeze
So I stood there and watched you not watching me
As you sat there alone, reading under that tree

My Joy Has Roots

You cannot steal my joy because
My joy is rooted in the knowledge that
I come from the land where civilization was born
My joy has the strength of a continent long desired
for its beauty and bountiful gifts
You cannot steal my joy because your hatred comes
from your own insecurities of your self imposed inferiority
To the wisdom, strength, and capacity for love that my ancestors
Passed down to me, my legacy
You cannot steal my joy because my joy is rooted in a beauty
That is lasting and strong enough to mix with any blood
And still pass it on to many generations
My joy is rooted in creation, revolution, resilience, and love
My joy is ethereal, omnipotent, merciful, and terrible
You cannot steal my joy with your worldly schemes and
Wicked devices because they are powerless to my joy
If you would just accept my love and allow yourself
To love me the same way I love you, we could
Change the color of sunsets and set the world on a new axis
But you are determined to steal my joy in all of your jealousy
Well I have a secret for you, my joy is immovable, because
My joy has roots.

Life's Journey

Drifting on the lonely sea
Rough winds come to bother me
Can’t I just drift peacefully?
If lonely is where I must be

Treading down a ragged road
Toting my own heavy load
Snakes come by just to goad
My patience will certainly soon erode

Finally at the mountaintop
Never got weary, so I didn’t stop
Looking down it’s quite a drop
But my journey I wouldn’t swap

Soaring above the clouds in the sky
An angel did come flying by
And with a twinkle in his eye
He said, “I always knew you could fly.”

Serendipity

Come with me tonight
Leave all your worries behind
Let your heart take flight
And unchain your mind

This is our moment in time
Our morsel of eternity
Allow your spirit to climb
To a state of ecstasy

Trepidation has no place here
Hesitation murders chance
Relax and release the fear
Allow our souls to dance

Fate may per chance fail
To yield to us forever
But passion will prevail
In the moments we’re together

Would fortune ever dare
To smile at destiny
My love it is rare
This serendipity