DEDICATION

THE DR. IS OUT
for Maya Angelou


Without knowing you
Taught me the meaning
Of love and understanding
Of myself as a person of
Color in all things to no
Longer be afraid to lift
My voice and sing rise
Above the friction of life
Relegated to the second-class
Citizenship lane to rise above
Life sentenced to the iron bars
Of a caged in soul which now
Sings all praises to you daily
For healing me for making me
Well enough to lift my voice
To rise still rise

POETIC BIRTHDAY

AUDRE LORDE was born on February 18, 1934 in New York City.

The youngest of three sisters, born to parents from the Caribbean, she was a poet and writer.  A recurrent theme in her writings explores pride, love, anger, fear, racial and sexual oppression, urban neglect, and personal survival.

Audre wrote her first poem when she was in the eighth grade. After high school, she attended Hunter College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1959. Two years later in 1961, she received a master's degree in library science from Columbia University.

Her first volume of poetry was published in 1968. A second volume followed in 1970. 

Throughout her career, Lorde wrote at a feverish pace; and as she grew older her poetry became more personal and open. To her, writing was more than a choice, or a way of making a living,  it was her responsibility. As a result, she has produced numerous poetry and non-fiction writing collections.

Audre Lorde died at the age of 58 in 1992 .

To read a more detailed bio and check out her poetry collections Google-search her name

POETIC BIRTHDAY

***A REMEMBRANCE CELEBRATION FROM NOVEMBER 13TH

Wanda Coleman was born on this day in 1946, in Los Angeles, California (Watts). She was a poet, writer, journalist, and spoken-word performer.

As a child she was encouraged to read by her parents and as a consequence, she developed a passion for books. She began writing and publishing poetry at a very early age.

She also had a love for the visual arts, theater, and public speaking.

Anger, unhappiness, hate and violence was a vital part of her writing and poetry readings. She was known as a dramatic public performer, with a "take no prisoners" attitude, and  was unapologetic about the stance she took.

Wanda Coleman was dubbed, "The LA Blueswoman," and as a result of being a compelling force on the L.A. poetry scene, she became known as the "unofficial" Poet Laureate of Los Angeles.

Over the years she won numerous awards and fellowships. Her book of poetry, "Mercurochrome," was nominated for the 2001 National Book Award, and was one of the finalists, winning a bronze medal.

Her poetry and writing was devoted to the themes of racism, the female experience and growing up in the city she loved, L.A. (Watts), California.

Wanda Coleman passed on to the realm of the ancestors on November 22, 2013.

TO READ A COMPREHENSIVE BIO, AND SAMPLE HER POETRY, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

poetryfoundation.org, poets.org,  afropoets.net, AND poemhunters.com   

TAKING CHALLENGE 10

**********************************************
THE DOCTOR IS IN
(A Poem for Maya Angelou)


without knowing you
taught me the
meaning of love and
understanding of myself
in all things
to no longer be
afraid to lift my
voice and  rise
above the friction                      

of life relegated
to the 2nd class
citizenship lane of
life sentenced to
the iron bars of
a caged-in soul
which now sings
praises to you daily
for healing me for
making me well
enough to lift
my voice
to sing
to rise

THE POETS GALLERY

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A MEMORIAL POEM FOR MOTHER'S DAY - By Shakira Ibrahim***
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
***Guest poet in THE POETS GALLERY
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Mother,
A name to match the spirit of the woman
We all keep in our hearts.
And though her body returns to the earth
Her spirit remains just there, within us.
All the smiles, the laughs and
Moments where you'd hear the famous "aww me."

All the times you'd look at her and see
That with her family, she was at peace
We were her peace
We are her peace
She came in  the earth with a smile
And that's how she leaves.

She has lived a life full of love
And she sits on a throne above
In a spiritual world much greater
Than the imagination
She watches
She watches over us.

She is now our protector
Stronger than man
Stronger than all evil
With her spirit, as tough as a lion's roar
As gentle as a baby's soul
She stands as our guardian angel

Protecting us from all seen and unseen
For that is her new mission from the Most High
He gave her the strength
That last bit of strength she needed
To say
Her final good-byes

And what more  can we wish for?
Her pain was eased
And she passed in her sleep
For  now she is at peace
She has loved and has been loved
By us all

So don't cry
For it is not a time for crying
Don't  weep
For it is  not a time for weeping
But remember, remember her eyes
Her eyes that gave forth kindness

Remember her heart
The heart that gave forth beauty
And her soul
Her soul that was so wonderful

Her love remains our music

And although she is physically gone
She will always be here
She knew we loved her
She knew we cared
Her memories will live on forever in our hearts
As our dearest Mother.


**For my great grandma...I LOVE YOU.
R.I.P.   Adele Dudley

 

TO MOTHER WITH LOVE (2010)

Since you've been gone
I'm always lookin'
For your presence
In rain clouds passin'
Through dark skies
Hopin' to see
Your smile                                    
In bright flashes of lightnin'
Hear your voice
In the boomin'
Aftermath of thunder rolls
Feel your love
In warm rays of sunshine