1. Restoration- It is funny, I have been on a journey in this new year to find out what is next for me personally. I was just telling a friend on yesterday that I have a few things that I know I am good at. I am a good husband-at least I work hard to be. My wife is my best friend and so I think what we have works. I am a good father. Again, I work hard to be. My kids, well they are the best of me...the love between my better half and I epitomized in the human form and I will do anything for them. So yeah, I am good at being a dad because I truly want to be. But, what am I good at personally...where is my career going? This has been the question of 2015.
I have been questioning how to get to the next opportunity-job, wealth, happiness (with me)...all that. So, in that space the Shenandoah Arts Center reached out and asked did I want to perform in a program during Black History Month. The irony in the request is that my parents, who now share the love of painting in their retirement, both had pieces hanging in the Arts Center gallery and would be part of the program. So, here I am, wandering a bit in regards to where am I going and this blessing comes about.
It is a blessing because I feel I am good at writing and reciting poetry. It always feels somewhat vain stating that, and from my good ol' poetry slam days I wonder what would other poets think if they heard me, or rather read my words. But being brought up in a hip-hop culture, bravado and understanding your skill set is simply a prerequisite to truly being great. If you don't believe you are the best, or in this case at least good-then...so I believe, no I know I have skill here. So the request, in the state of unknowing by which it came to me, allowed me to find myself in a place that was familiar. The Shenandoah Arts Council gallery, in Winchester, with my parents and family, on stage (so to speak), reciting words from within my soul. Restoration.
2. History- Black History Month, wow. I cannot truly express what my feelings are with regard to African American aka Black History Month are. For many years I have been given the privilege to share my poetry or storytelling gifts during the month of February. My history and culture are very important to me, and I think to the entire American story. My efforts during this time in the past have been to be a guide into my people's rich past for those outside my race and a beacon of light for the brothers and sisters within, that may just be unaware of their beauty. I simply will not and cannot turn down any opportunity to share during Black History Month. It is an honor to honor the ancestors, the named and un-named in any celebration. I could go on and on here, but how dare I turn away from a request to enlighten others on our journey, as well as dig within myself to produce something worthy of our collective struggle. I was given these gifts, writing and speech, by God in many ways for this simple purpose. Period.
3. Poetry- I am a poet. Not so much in the literary sense, as I do not have volumes of books that I have created, or published. But I write. Not even because I can as much as there are moments when I have to. I mean I become overwhelmed with words and they pour out of my spirit on paper...or now onto the keys of my computer. I sit and wade in emotions and rhythm and just allow the moment to take me there. For this show, I wrote several new pieces. When I read them it felt good, I mean they have not been digested within me yet, where I can play with the melody but the gig got me writing again. It got me thinking about America, and tapping into my training as a political scientist to then give commentary to that which is happening here and abroad.
Poetry has always been used to push forward political ideas, as a means of social engagement on issues of equality, justice, freedom and democracy. As a poet I am driven that way and with the atmosphere in America what it is today, there is just cause to write, and write, and still write more. In conjunction with the need to create I feel that this poetry, the way that it is born within me is not simply to be read-although this year I need to figure out how to publish the book-but it must be spoken, "The power of words are greater, when words are spoken."
4. Performance- I love to perform. I thrive off the crowd, the attention that all are paying to the words...the exhilaration of the moment. Performing has been something I have been doing on a very local level since I was a child. I was in my first play around 6-years-old, and the stage had me hooked. I do not get to have these moments in my normal work life, and well that is a conversation at this point for me but moments like Friday are just few and far between. But magical. Not simply because of how I feel performing, but I always connect with someone on almost a spiritual level at one of my shows. Often it is a young person, which makes it all worth while. Friday was no different.
I met a young man named Cedric who had a wonderful spirit and seemed to really enjoy the show. He and his mother were beautiful people and the interaction with them stands out to me because it was so pure and genuine. He was a young man who I knew loved art, even showed me some of his work and I pray that my performance reinforced the fact that art is okay. Painting, dancing, singing poetry...it is all okay. Be yourself and love that person. I was encouraged by the light in his eyes when we were talking and it was the energy transference that I get out of performing. I cannot get that any other way...it is just beautiful.
So, I have the bug again. The Spoken Word bug :-) The art has me hooked and where we travel to in this stage of the journey I know not, but I am more in tune with the fact that I must take it all much more seriously. Life is very short and the opportunity to be who you are and do what you love is not promised. I must live in this moment...before it is gone.
Like dust from whence we came
we shall return
and all that we have gathered on our way
will be lost to the never
again
to be seen
so why hide your talents
in the ravine of your existence
wasting away
as if buried in your prime
to be resurrected at another time
but the gifts
given
in this life
were not truly for yourself
but for everyone else
to simply experience
the God in you
so how dare you
be
ashamed
of how these abilities
came to be
for all that came to
be
came
through he
and he is God
and you...
me
mere vessels of his choosing
using the talents
placed within us each
to speak with his children
directly
in this space and time
connecting us all to
to us all
for everything
is simply a continuation
of a single stream
of consciousness
these gifts...
water to thirsty
food to the un-nourished
enlightenment
to those wandering
in the wilderness
lost...looking desperately for the
talent
that lies within
as if carrying the sands of time
between
open fingers
leaving the
dust of what could
be
on your
hands
RMC Copyright 2015
