A poem a day for 2015 - day 90 - Free

Happy hour now
Smile throughout the day even
through surprises new

Gratitude

I am thankful for my eyes opening on this beautiful day
This precious gift of air and breath and ease
I am thankful for my friends and family
For my son
My mother
Sister
I am thankful for the children in my life
For their safety
For the health and safety of all of us
For you too
I am thankful for you
I am thankful for work
For meetings to attend
For speeches to write and perform
I am thankful for listening ears
I am thankful for D's progress
For love and patience
I am thankful

A poem a day for 2015 - day 89 - On

I feel strings in the
air like the eyelashes of
angels sending love

Family. Mom. Hang.

Sometimes I need family. Last night I did. Last night felt good to come to my mom's house and hang out with my family. I slept in the bed with her and listened to books on tape. That's what we do. This morning I am about to go and work out with her and her friends. This should be interesting. I have already taken my niece to school. I do love my family. I do love being able to need them and being close enough to be with them. So. Yeah.

Gratitude

I am thankful for this day
For love and peace
I am thankful for my son
For his safety and health
For his friends and family
I am thankful for my friends
For my family
For the time spent taking my niece to school
For our exchange of I love you
I am thankful
For food and shelter
For thanksgiving and poetry
For words and art
For all that there is to do today
I am thankful today for being thankful

Speech

I'm writing a speech for Take back the night (sexual assault) for Cal State L.A. and it is as triggering as writing for Black Lives Matter. The place where black women's lives intersect is an emotional one. I had to take a break from it today but will be back at it tomorrow. I will deliver. I will.

Project

I'm all caught up now on my poem a day project. I'm not as rigid as I was last year and the year before with time. If I miss a day I make it up the next, or the next. I'm giving myself space and grace. I earned it. I think. I'm taking care of myself. I'm trying.

I'm open and sensitive. D is still in hospital and it's weighing on my head. It is. I am praying. I'm thankful for spring break. I needed the time away from my students. I really did. My son is on break. He is with friends. I'm always praying.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 88 - God be a fence

God be a hand above my son's head
Be good sense in the car with his friends
Be calm
Be a joke
Be a wise word
Be a memory to cherish
Be easy moments
God be a breath during their hangouts
Be a teenager
Be an elder
Be blessed traffic
Be a gentle spirit
Be counsel
God be good favor
God be wheels
Be air in tires
Be eyes on road
Be safety
God be good times
God be fun
God be good
Good good
God be home

A poem a day for 2015 - for day 87 - With her

I rode to Walmart with my mother this evening / and I have a policy about not shopping at Walmart / because of Walmart and you know / but the thought of one friend in hospital gave me pause about saying no to my mother / my only mother / my only living parent / I have not changed my mind about Walmart / but I will go to Walmart with her / with her / I have her / I will follow as she pushes the basket / I will / I will reach for pumpkin spice and vanilla / I will / I will / I will laugh with her / I will stand in the long line and put groceries on the rack / I will / I will / I will remember to cherish this moment / even this / even this Walmart moment / with my mother

A poem a day for 2015 - for day 86 - For you

All the fragile moments of our lives
The simple hellos and carefree goodbyes
Times we forget to remember and give thanks for
We are complex and breakable
I forget
I forget that tomorrow is not promised
I forget
You make me remember
How changeable easy moments are

Parking gods.

The parking gods are always with me. My friends know this is true. Even if a lot is full cars part the the  Red Sea when I am around. I always have a good spot. I don't know why that is. The parking gods are real. Don't believe me? Ride with me. It works. I can even send the parking gods to you if you want. If you really want and you believe. I am believing that the money gods show me the same favor. Because there is such a thing, right?

Spring break. Teaching. Blessing.

I leave for work in about fifteen minutes and I am so glad that spring break starts tomorrow afternoon, for my students and for my son. And I pray my students are not too much of a handful today and / or tomorrow. And God please bless me to be who I am supposed to be for these children.

I teach children, I have to remind myself. I have to remind myself what an opportunity that is. What a blessing that is. What a responsibility. I remind myself often. I remind myself that I have to show up powerfully even when I don't feel like it. Sometimes I don't feel like it. Often I don't feel like it. But I show up. Powerfully.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 85 - For DL

I will go to hospital after work and visit with you / and we will talk / and I will watch you sleep / and I will bring you the Los Angeles Times as you requested / and I hope I am in time for your meal because watching you feed yourself after not being able to brought me so much joy yesterday / and I will pay for parking and wish is wasn't so expensive / and I will be glad I am paying for parking and watching you heal instead of the alternative / and things take time / like healing / healing takes time and I have time and the patience to watch you heal / and continue to pray for you / and there are a team of people praying for you / did you know / did you know that folks on the other side of this country are praying for you / folks you don't even know / and every day you look better and better / and here's hoping better and better continues

V.

Today V. Kali is speaking to my class. I am honored to know such a powerful woman and be close enough to her for her to agree to speak to my youngins. Dear God, let my babies hear what this wise woman has to say. Bless her thoughts and voice and give her energy to share what You would have her to share.

Prayer

Sending prayers today for my son
And his friends
And their safety
And their laughter and joy
I pray for God's hand to cover their heads
For their peace and happiness

A poem a day for 2015 - day 84 - Forward

To my delight I
Saw you lift spoon to your chin
Praise for this progress

Should it show up for you this is what it looks like

A poem a day for 2015 - day 83 - Red

Flowers bloom like free
Birds above a cloudless sky
I sight I will glow

Gratitude

I am thankful for this day
I am thankful for my son
For his friends and the circle who holds his head
I am thankful for his safety and intelligence
For the love that surrounds him
I am thankful

I am thankful for my family
For my friends
For my health
For forgiveness
For kindness

For my anxiety at rest
For sadness lifted
I am thankful for ease in the moment
For food
For clothing and shelter

I am thankful for feeling thankful
I am thankful for the moment

A poem a day for 2015 - day 82 - Present

Feelings lift like sky
I am easy and water
Blessed as a blue moon

Valerie Bridgeman

Because conversations with Valerie Bridgeman make me smile. And I had time and she had time and I was parked and she was driving and we made time to catch up with feelings and lives and sisterhood.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 81 - Ahh

May the new week bring
Relaxed shoulders and great ease
Opening vision

A poem a day for 2015 - day 80 - Praise God

To see you today
Without the tubes without mask
Made my soul leap joy

A poem a day for 2015 - day 79 - Now

This stuck is heavy
This heavy is molasses
This molasses burns

A poem a day for 2015 - day 78 - DL progress

So happy to see
you open your eyes today.
Prayers lifting for you.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 77 - For DL (praying for laughter again)

Life changes so fast
One minute we are laughing
In the next panic

A poem a day for 2015 - for day 76 - DL

It hurts to see you
quiet and in hospital.
Sending you power.

Prayer

There is a huge missing in my day today. A dear friend I would be laughing with right now is in the hospital. I'll see him tonight and hopefully he will be awake. Sending prayers and love to you D.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 75 - Prayer

Forgiveness gentle
as dawn. Necessary as
breath. Now as ever.

A poem a day for 2015 - for day 74 - Like life

We touch like living.
Like connect is needed for
life. Food and water.

WomanPreach! / Sophie's Table at Vanderbilt University 2015

Rev. Earle J. Fisher, me, Rev. Cedric Von Jackson (top)
Rev. Carla Jones, me, Rev. Catherine Cummings (bottom)

This coming Saturday!

The Ebony Repertory Theater and The Nate Holden Theater present ALONG CAME SERENITY, a night of Art honoring Woman's Month.
Featuring works from Ms. DDenise Mecha'le Wilsonand Sage Gallon. There will be Special Guest Poets including Jaha Zainabu and Deana Reed, a great time had by all.
Please join us this Saturday night, 6pm until 10pm at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington BLVD. Los Angeles, 90016. No cover, dress comfortable.

About Red Stories last night

Thank you so much to those of you who came out to Red Stories last night! Special thanks to S. Pearl Sharp for featuring to Bridget Gray for being the special guest! Always thanks to Nishati Vibrations for being family. And to my mother Patricia Davis Turner for being in the house. And to all who support. I greatly appreciate you all.

Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman with Rev. Dr. Emilie M. Townes at WomanPreach / Sophie's Table 2015 Vanderbilt University

Keshawn Brooks was only fifteen years old and was stabbed to death walking home from school in Long Beach. He was not in a gang. He was not committing a crime. He was walking home. Another black boy gone too soon. I can't get his face or name out of my head. None of us should. Say his name. At least say his name. Keshawn Brooks. Keshawn Brooks. Stabbed to death because another teenager wanted his backpack. This is no way to die. This is no way for us to live.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 73 - Hot

This heat covers me
Like water softly boiling
Wilting the flowers

I had a great time in Nashville, TN at Vanderbilt University with WomanPreach! As usual it was a life changing event. I'm never the same when I leave there. There is so much there to take in. You had to have been there. Really.

I'm happy to be home now and looking forward to some good rest tonight. I so need it. I'm incredibly low on energy. Looking forward to Red Stories tomorrow though. S. Pearl Sharp is going to be the feature.

This free write is short and boring and sweet. And so what. Until later.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 72 - Story

Telling the truth now
Authentic voice is freeing
Release the old news

A poem a day for 2015 - day 71 - Ever

I honor my call
To create and tell stories
Until end has come

A poem a day for 2015 - for day 70 - Red Stories

S Pearl Sharp to be
at Red Stories this Sunday
I hope to see you

A poem a day for 2015 - day 69 - Today

Will not rain today
Sun will shine the whole way through
Effortless beauty

A poem a day for 2015 - day 68 - V Kali

We laugh together
Remember good times we had
Ready tomorrow

It's almost Red Stories time again!

I am looking forward to witnessing the greatness of S. Pearl Sharp at Red Stories on Sunday at Vibrations 2435 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 7:30, $10.

A poem a day for 2015 - day 67 - Women's Day

I am a woman
Free as sky and bold as life
See these waves I birthed

A poem a day for 2015 - day 66 - Breeze

Fast as time go by
Best keep singing and dancing
Remember good days

A poem a day for 2015 - day 65 - Release

Creating spaces
Letting waters flow between
Valleys of old ways

A poem a day for 2015 - day 64 - For Jasmine McClain

Jasmine McClain was only ten years old
A black girl
A black girl like me
North Carolina black girl
Hanged herself and took her last breath in her mother's arms

Jasmine McClain was bullied in school
In school
School
Ten years old
This is not God's plan
For our babies to have hearts that break so snap
That tears rush inside and send messages to fingers
Little fingers
Little hands
To hang

Somebody saw
Somebody heard
Somebody felt

And now she is dead
Dead
Jasmine McClain is dead
Sticks and stones rarely break bones these days
But babies die from words
Words
Hands
Little fingers
Words

Me at The World Stage

A poem a day for 2015 - day 63 - Moment

Reaching for sleep now
For ease of ache of this head
Thankful for life now

A poem a day for 2015 - day 62 - Above

Sister moon full as
pie, watch over me tonight.
Hold me miracle.

Days

Some days I know this book will be finished on time and some days I have my doubts. Today I have my doubts.

Days

Some days I can check all of the messages in my email and some days it's all too much. Today it's too much.

Gratitude

Today I am thankful for my open eyes
For conversations with my son
I am thankful for love that surrounds me
For my health and strength
I am thankful for a long bath tonight
For a headache slowly going away
I am thankful for my family
For my mother
My son
For my friends
I am thankful for my safety and
The comfort and safety of my loved ones
I am thankful for being thankful
I am thankful for this moment
And this one

My art

A poem a day for 2015 - day 61 - Bless

I connect with the
power of this day. I hear
guidance in the leaves.

My art

A poem a day for 2015 - day 60 - Like this

Feed my soul with sun
With art, poetry and love
Flowers and good talk

V Kali, me