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POETRY by Stephanie Danforth

Standing tall
We’re intertwined
Our souls collide
Then we divide
We’re faced with obstacles
From multiple directions
Then we return
To deal with life’s pressures
The fort we build is an unbreakable bond
Try to burn one you may burn us all
Despite our differences,
Our colors still glow
Like a rainbow
Or more like a forest full of soul

Charlie “Bird” Parker and John Coltrane
Jazz music legends.

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ART + POETRY
by Stephanie Danforth

The sounds that they make
Are the sounds that we take
So when we give props
We need to set the record straight
The noise that they shared
Came from Rhythms & Blues
From a place so deep
It was sure to move you
With horns that could blast
Legacies that would stand
And blow you away with the music that would last
Great musicians of our time
Came correct in their prime
And the way we repay them
Is with these simple nursery rhymes?

Part of original mural painting in Detroit, 1976.

POETRY
by Stephanie Danforth

My journey is filled with decisions I must make
Chances I must take
And For my mothers sake
I often revisit my childhood
One filled with religion and full of hope
She tried every tactic in the good book
But prayer is no match for the streets,
At least it wasn’t for me
I tried to do right, I meant to be there
To make up for my own father not being there
But life isn’t fair, As if they actually care
I was sought out by the man,
It’s like they dragged me by my hair
Come with me and be my slave
A slave to the environment that we put you in
An environment that you can’t escape
And when we’re done with you,
We’ll brainwash another
So is there really hope for the next young brother?

Words (c) Stephanie Danforth, All rights reserved 2009

WANT MORE FROM THIS WRITER?
Twitter @StephDanforth
Website Venus Diva Magazine
Blog Rhythmic Soul

POEM: by Speaks Beliefs
you dare define me
mold my reality
predetermine my destiny
rewrite my history
i study your theory
and see your acts
are cowardly
so I scream loudly
and do this proudly
closed fist raised above me
thirsty for freedom
you denied me
and I am worthy
oh yes, I am worthy
and those that
stand with me
fifty times fifty
times fifty times fifty
we REBEL!!!

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Words © Speaks Beliefs, 2009. All rights reserved.

ART + POETRY
Poem by Mark Dews (@TearLessPoet)

Rhythm seductive
from head 2 toe
it flows,
beauty
in motion
even has the wind
in a twirl,
laugh so sultry it
dances
through your heart,
a hypnotic dancer
like poetry
in motion,
vibrant dance
is the embodiment
of art.

dawn of man
by Speaks Beliefs

sun rises over Kemet
absent are souls and companions
inspired is the lonely Artisan
thoughts of mortal caretaker
over all the earth and its magnificent creatures
formed of the dust of the ground
beginning as silhouette
outline in mind’s eye
clay and water mixed to obtain perfect blend
life to be fashioned with golden brown skin
molding head and torso and arm and leg
delicately designing foot and toes on which to stand
and hand and fingers with which to hold
shaping heart for love’s capacity
sending blood through body
flowing through veins like water from Nile used to create her
forming womb to incubate the creation’s creation
and beautifully curved and supple bosom to sustain it
finishing by breathing into her nostrils the breath of life
and woman became a living soul
beautiful she appears in the image of the Artisan
she is Sa.t Kemet, the black woman divine
lonely she is, like she who created her
Artisan empathizes, then reaching down she touches her
on womb
it begins to grow and swell and widen
woman grows tired
the sky is black, and she rests, not yet understanding life
or her place in it
she sleeps
with dawn comes pain and discomfort
Nile falls out from between legs rushing to ground below
remaining drops flow from thigh to knee
the creation’s creation, Sa Kemet is born, the black man
this was the dawn of man

© Speaks Beliefs, 2009. All rights reserved.

CONTACTING THIS POET:
Twitter ~ @SpeaksBeliefs
Blog ~ Evolution of the Lost Poet

PROUD not cocky
just sure of herself,
no boosting just embracing
beauty of self,
proud to be aware
and at peace with self.

~ poem by Mark Dews
Twitter: @TearlessPoet
Blog: Words of My Dryn Tears

PROUD… beauty that can’t
be kept under wraps
with a shroud.
Curves screaming loud.
Proud.
Able to halt a crowd
with the simple act
of curving her hips
and lifting her brow.
Wow.
Proud.
Words dipped in wisdom.
Proud.
Passion the color of crimson.

~ poem by Tracy Renee Jones
Twitter: @TracyReneeJones
Blog: Me..being Anonymous

Limited Edition Canvas Print #1-100
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ART + POETRY
What is your value?
Do you feel fine?
Are you happy,
in your own skin?
Aged like fine wine.

Do you rejoice
in your mind,
Despite trials and
strife?

And find the value
within yourself,
every single day
of your life.
I VALUE ME.