Congrats Uraeus

I haven't written about it yet, except in the spaces of all of my insides, but my son graduated from middle school and I am so proud of him. That night was the best night of my entire life. All of it. Seeing him walk across the stage, watching him sit there on the stage, mostly though I enjoyed the family gathering together after the ceremony to eat. Laugh. Celebrate. His father, stepmother, sister, mother, grandmother, aunts, cousins around one table celebrating...life.

I thank God for him. Every moment I do. My son has parts of all of us and his own parts too. What a life. My son. Our son. Reared by a village showering him with prayers. This young chocolate man. Taller than I. Beautiful. So beautiful. Growing. Wise. What a life indeed.

Deja

my niece lives basketball
softball
soccer

she loves to play
in a crowd of Mexican boys
she is the brown shinned
black girl whizzing by
with ball at foot

braided black hair
small mouse face
holding brown wide eyes
eager to know

are we there yet

star of every show
pink tights
cloth boots
bows and head bands
belts and bell bottoms

she dance to whatever tune you play
aint got no shame about it
no matter the crowd

breathes beyond the fear
at any fight
stands a foot under her brother
but taller than any tree you name

long legs
hoop dreams

Deja is a river

racing through
grades
sports plays
Sundays

she spins, turns and skates
grass
flowers
houses
birds
she swoop through the street so fast

Deja is the sun

laughing at the wind
crying with the worms

park
beach
school
church
home
sky
thunder
unicorn
fairy

this world is small
Deja can hold this globe
betwen the space
in her teeth

we better hope
she don't bite down one day

we can learn something from Deja

how to play
when to cry
why to laugh
always to forgive

loving to be

What is Red Stories?

"What is Red Stories?" Well, Red Stories is a monthly event I created and host that happens the last Saturday of each month that features one or two special guests. The guests are usually poets or musicians (but will expand soon). You know how usually when you go to a poetry event there are about maybe ten or so poets and you get to hear the poets do maybe ten minutes each? They share about two or three poems. Well, I am a poet and I enjoy those nights. I enjoy hearing the talent of each poet. Sometimes, especially with poets that simply blow me away I want to know more about them. Their story. I want to hear more.

Enter Red Stories. I created this event because I wanted to give my favorite artists a chance to really stretch out and share their talents as well as their story. This opportunity is not just for the artist but also for the audience. Yes you, the audience. At Red Stories you get a chance to know the artists in a way you won't get to on any other stage. Sort of a "Behind the Music" each month from the artists mouth. You may ask questions, have conversations and engage in ways you won't be able to at many venues.

I wanted to create a show that I, as an artist would want to be a part of. I would love for a promoter to call me up and say, "Hey Jaha, would you come down to my event and share your story? Tell a few poems sure, but really tell YOUR story in your voice. Speak to my audience. And get paid for it."

Where is Red Stories? It started at the theatre at Lucy Florence in Leimert Park in November of last year and then moved over to Blessed Vibrations at 2435 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA where we are now. The doors open at 7pm and it's magic time from then on. Guests in the past have been Makeda Kumasi, Nikki Blak, Kevin Sandbloom, Deana Verse, Reverdia Trammell, Red Storm, Food 4 Thought, Socks, Lynette White and Janet Gonzalez. This month, June 25 I am honored to say we have Venela Flagg (V Kali). The cover is only $10 and you get a serious treat. Really, come out and enjoy. I hope to see you there.

Jaha Zainabu

Saturdays

there is a white couch
always a white couch
or white covers
and plants
leafy plants in cream pots

a wall of my paintings
of children
green
white
purple
black
orange children
playing
running

a ceiling fan spinning slowly
a rainy day and Breakfast at Tiffany's
The Cotton Club, Sparkle, Mahagony Brown
Law and Order marathon
CSI
something
and you

with your reading glasses and gray at you temples
scrabble game unfinished on the coffee table
wine glasses
red
white
champagne
strawberries
bagels
pizza
clam chowder
whatever

my feet in your mix matched tube socks
three blue stripes
four green

we lay on the couch
white couch
white covers
or cream
whatever

you wear white footies
I massage your toes through the socks
as I solve each case
NCIS
The Closer
The Good Wife
who cares

eggs
grits
cheese
pepper

chips
hummus
chicken

you are reading
a book you've read before
with pen
circling sentences
making notes

thunder
lightening
t shirts
boxers
sweat pants

we laugh at the commercials
ignore texts
you answer your phone
put your head in my lap
my lips on your forehead
nose
cheeks as you talk

I sit on the floor
you rub my shoulders
neck
back

shave my head
olive oil on my scalp

peach wine cooler
scrabble game continues
dishes pile

poetry
stories
Eric B and Rakim
Ice Cube
Guru
LL Cool J
Donny Hathaway
Aretha Franklin

Fyodor Dostoyevsky
John Grisham
Judy Blume
James Baldwin
Toni Morrison
Terry McMillan

this is our weekend
that starts on
white couch
cream walls
black and white photos
of you
falling asleep
writing
reading

of me
wishing