APOOO » April is National Poetry Month

Farewell to National Poetry Month

APOOO — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:21:31 +0000

FAREWELL TO NATIONAL POETRY MONTHVIRTUAL SPOKEN WORD SHOWCASE UPDATE! Voting occured! Polls closed! We have winners of the first-ever APOOO/Urban Echoes Virtual Spoken Word Showcase. Thanks to all the participants as they were all very, very good and a special congrats to the FIVE winners! Without further ado and a DRUMROLL PLEASE…the winners are:

Fourth Place: MarinathePoet

Third Place: KL the Writer

Second Place: Jewel aka Ju-Well

First Place: Ebony Farashuu (aka Black Butterfly)

GRAND PRIZE: Dana aka Your Royal Princess

ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, the MySPace Next Top Poet/MNTP contest is underway and you can still participate; CLICK HERE for details. More details coming regarding The Scavenger Hunt which will begin tomorrow.

Farewell to National Poetry Month is a post from: APOOO

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April is National Poetry Month–Mikaylah Simone, April 30

APOOO — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:27:49 +0000

Biography: The precision and elegance of a poets words can make readers pause to appreciate their own perceptions or examine their feelings. This can surely be said of one new poet Mikaylah Simone. Mikaylah is an emerging African-American poet whose simple, yet visceral, style brings poetry back to its basics as a social art through her affirmation of cultural identity and personal redemption. Leaving her Texas beginnings, New York soon became the ideal stage for her “one-woman show” of life. From the “Lone Star” (unfashionably dressed in black skin), to the “Big Apple” where black is “vogue” on the Harlem runway. Mikaylah’s poetry communicates consciousness and passion out of her strong desire to transform thoughts and experiences into art.

About the Book ‘My Manufactured English’:Mikaylah Simone displays her liberating experimental form in her debut book of poetry “My Manufactured English.” Her provocative poetic style embraces cultural identity as she intermingles Swahili roots with modern issues in pieces such as “Belly Full” and “Consciousness” along with ancestral platforms found in “Sankofa” and “Maji.” This premiere work includes chapters of penetrating poetry concerning varying themes and layered meanings of politics, religion, violence, community and the complexity of love; all revealing the fresh insight of this authors journey that is honest, sad, comical and true. In the spirit of the artist community, Mikaylah’s last chapter includes the contributed cameo appearance work of Blue (The Great Persuader/New York based poet) along with two additional new poets on the horizon Troi Miller and Dayna Smith.

Why Did I Write This Book: Multiple layers of emotions and moments in life, frozen in time within the confines of pages–I could only write so much before the pile of notebook papers on my bottom shelf started collecting dust. I wanted to talk about the difficult issues that cause passion and anger in most while creating enlightenment for others; looking at what we have become and what we are becoming. After knowing the truth, can you really hide behind ignorance and look at yourself in the mirror the same? Most would ask me ‘Why not start with something small like a poet’s Chap Book?’ Ugggh–NO! If I do nothing else &this should stand the test of time, when I leave this earth&this should still be here. The only consistent thing is change, I willingly embrace that and if my thoughts and convictions ‘piss-off’ a few people, then I celebrate the fact that I’ve brought fourth emotion in callus hearts.

CLICK HERE to listen to Mikaylah’s works.

Visit Mikaylah on the Web: http://www.myspace.com/mikaylahsimone

April is National Poetry Month–Mikaylah Simone, April 30 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Poetry Month–Poet Elissa Gabrielle

APOOO — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:19:05 +0000

Only in My Empire by Elissa Gabrielle

These Visions of Grandeur
Promote deep-seeded, uncultivated feelings
That sorrowfully soar throughout my soul

Awaiting you
Debating you
Resisting you, yet missing you.
Is it wrong to love you?

Because damn–I do.
And my sweet Visions of Grandeur
Have me struggling in a world where
Time and Space and Reason and Righteousness

Have No Place
It’s just you and me and we
For we are a set of free spirits yearning.

And My Love
I want to lock you up in my Empire for days
To complete this fantasy–this craze
Nah ‘Hell No It is truly beyond that.

To fulfill what is so unfulfilled
To both you and me and we.

Perhaps we should alter the rules,
Transform the Earth
To have it rotate on our axis
Because this world as we know it

Is not designed for what we believe
You needing me and us needing we

And You and me carouse ling thru this galaxy,
Making eternal history,
Exploring the possibilities infinitely
This mesmerizing infatuation is beyond my understanding.

It Will be next lifetime, sweet friend.
And my Visions of Grandeur
With my wet-sticky-day-dreamin’
Envisions a time where

You will journey to a light at the end of my fantasy/fallacy
And penetrate so deep that you will caress my soul
And touch my spirit with the endowment that God has blessed you with.

And I grab a hold of visions and refuse to release them into this world
Where vultures and rhyme and reason will devour them.
Cause it does hurt like hell
To not possess you the way that my entire being needs to

How every breadth I breathe needs you
So let me just hold on
And never let go,
Knowing that if I step back into this harsh reality,
I will realize that I confused it with fantasy.

It was only after I looked into your eyes,
That I saw Paradise
And every woman wants that.

Suddenly I realized,
That you could be my Savior in disguise.
Is it wrong for me to love you?

Cause right here, right now, baby,
Damn–

I do.

ELISSA GABRIELLE is the author of two poetry books, Stand and Be Counted and Peace in the Storm, the highly-acclaimed novel, Good to the Last Drop, and the sequel, Point of No Return, as well as the much anticipated novel, A Whisper to a Scream. Gabrielles literary contributions can be found in ZANEs Missionary No More: Purple Panties 2, Erogenous Zone: A Sexual Voyage, Mocha Chocolate: A Taste of Ecstasy, Seduction from LadyElle Publishing and The Triumph of My Soul and multiple poetry anthologies. She is the founder of the greeting card line, Greetings from the Soul: The Elissa Gabrielle Collection. Gabrielle has graced the covers of Conversations Magazine, Big Time Publishing Magazine, and Disilgold Soul Magazine.

Elissa Gabrielle is also a publisher of Peace In The Storm Publishing, and will sign and release ten best sellers of all genres in 2009. She is the founder of the Triumph anthology series, and the first anthology is the highly acclaimed The Triumph of My Soul.

CLICK HERE to visit Elissa on the Web.

April is National Poetry Month–Poet Elissa Gabrielle is a post from: APOOO

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April is National Poetry Month–Poet Kim Miller

APOOO — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:17:58 +0000

Kim Miller was born in Brooklyn , NY . She resided in New York for 34 years and later moved just outside of DC. She has a passion for writing nonfiction, (real life issues) and thought provoking poetry. She has a fun, spirited, sense of humor that is evident in her writing. She speaks and writes with clarity, this makes her focus very apparent. She is the author of My Soul Was Screaming & I Wrote Down What I Heard (Poetic Gifts From One Soul to Another).

She can be found on the Web at: www.ineedapoem.com

Why don’t you get me?

I am so clear
I am so transparent
So why the dilemma
I don’t think you get me
Why don’t you see me

I told you everything you need to know
Why question me
I am secure in me
What are you questioning

I don’t have a man
I don’t need one to be happy
Really

You don’t have one because you request too much
You push too much & you know too much
You spent your time examining him
You list his faults like they are lyrics to a song

But when it comes to yourself you can’t sing a single note
He knows you not because you don’t know yourself
How can you expect anyone to know you
When you don’t even know yourself

Who are you
You are no video but shaker
Yet you are no church scholar
Which is fine but don’t expect me to find you
When you don’t even know that you are lost
Stop avoiding it

You are not something to wander past
You are something to explore
You are worthy of your own time
Invest in you & stop running

He can’t help you define you
Only you, God and a mirror can accomplish that
Stop asking a man to define you
Stop letting people label you

Your definition can not run past someone else’s lips
Only you can describe the inner workings that contain your soul
Stop running past your reflection
Avoiding it will not change the view

Dust off your thoughts
Look at yourself
Not your hair, size, or weight
Look at yourself

Don’t rush
Take a moment
Know who you are
Know who you aren’t

Work on who you want to be
But first you must say I am
And you must know what I am means
Let the excuses go

It’s not his fault that you dont know you
Take the “everyone else is” wrong suit off
Take the “it’s my momma fault” shoes off
Look solely at yourself for in the end you define you

If someone else holds that power then once again
You have failed yourself
Decide who you are & revel in you,
Once you know you
Others can get you

Once that happens you won’t care
For you will be you
No longer the unknown puppet
But instead a person whose knowledge grows
Do you get me

I no longer care
I get me and that’s enough for me

This copyrighted poem were created by Kim B. Miller and it can not be reproduced, copied, used or sold in any way, shape or form without the written consent of the author. All rights are reserved

April is National Poetry Month–Poet Kim Miller is a post from: APOOO

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April is National Poetry Month–Latorial Faison, April 29

APOOO — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:28:52 +0000

Poem: “I AM”I AM by Latorial Faison

(from 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History Volume 2)

I am somebody on my way somewhere

I am she who interrogates those who stare

I am too much for this wayward world to digest

With pen and paper, I paint pictures with frankness

I am the pages, I am the pens

What whiteness begins, my blackness ends

I am the black man’s rage, the black woman’s stage

If you care to recognize, just turn the page

I am the journey, the memory of yesterdays

I am the surprising result of evil ways

I am Jesus Christ crucified,

They hang me high and stretch me wide

I am the ears that hear the cries of the deaf

I am fingers picking up those pieces left

I am the hands that write the words

I am the prophet you’ve never heard

I am the music that bears the beat

I am the stranded enduring the heat

I am the parent who lives with the shame

Of children who step outside the family name

I am the rape victim turned inside out

I am the child abused who cannot shout

I am black America’s complex

I am white America’s “What’s next?”

I am Dr. King’s Dream,

I am Malcolm Xs extreme

I am the Catholic Pope’s next big issue

For every child politics leaves behind, I am the tissue

I am the dream dared, the broken repaired

I am the truth challenged, the minority compared

I am the arrival of hope, the departure of pain

the explanation of turmoil, sanity for the insane

I am somebody on my way somewhere

I am she who interrogates those who stare

I am too much for this wayward world to digest

With pen and paper, I paint pictures with frankness

Bio: Latorial Faison is a poet, author, educator and native of Virginia. She has written four books of poetry: 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History Volumes I and II, Secrets of My Soul, and Immaculate Perceptions. In addition, Faison’s poetry and nonfiction writing has been featured in various social initiatives and literary publications all over the United States and abroad. Latorial is a graduate of the University of Virginia and VA TECH. She spends a great deal of time teaching poetry in schools and spreading awareness through poetry in her community. Faison’s poetry has been compared to that of Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and the profound Angela Davis as she strives to poetically speak through literary verse on social and political issues of the times. Faison resides on Ft. Lee in Virginia with her husband and three sons.

April is National Poetry Month–Latorial Faison, April 29 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Poetry Month–Vernon J. Davis, April 28

APOOO — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Vernon J. Davis, Jr. has been writing poetry since the early seventies. Davis’ very first published poem,”Beautiful Black Woman”(the basis for his poetry book) came out in 1978 in a magazine called Black Forum. Mr. Davis has also taught Creative Writing and recited his poetry in talent shows, church gatherings and open-mic forums.His creative collection of Love poems,”Love,is, the Beautiful Black Woman” is his first book.

Orginal poem–HOT CHOCOLATE

SHE SLIPS INTO THE ROOM SO SMOOTH AND SULTRY

HER NARROW EYES SLIDING FROM SIDE TO SIDE

HER RUBY LIPS ARE TEPID AND SYRUPY

AND HER SKIN IS DARK AND SLEEK AS THE SKY

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

SENSUOUS, SMOOTH AND SOFT

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

AN EBONY BROWN BROTH

THE SOOTHING AROMA OF HER STUNNING PRESCENCE

BRINGS OUT VIBRANT CAFE’ AU LAIT EMOTIONS

THE SILKY GLOW OF HER STEAMY ESSENCE

POURS ENCHANTING AMBER LOVE POTIONS

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

RICH, DARK AND WARM

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

IN EXOTIC SUCCULENT FORM

HER WAFTING MOVEMENTS ARE TASTED BY ALL EYES

HER SOFT VOICE LICKED IN BY YEARNING YIELDING EARS

WHO IS THIS WOMAN THAT NO MAN CAN DENY

HOT CHOCOLATE, WHOSE LOVE AROUSES INNER FEARS

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

SWEET, LUCID AND BROWN

SHE IS HOT CHOCOLATE

WARM DESIRE IS HER CROWN

CLICK HERE to listen to Davis recite some of his works on a radio talk show.

April is National Poetry Month–Vernon J. Davis, April 28 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Month–Poet Charles Chatmon, April 27

APOOO — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:30:56 +0000

Charles L. Chatmon is a native of Los Angeles, California. He is the author of The Depths of My Soul and The Voices of South Central. Also, he has written articles for colleges and community newspapers. In addition to his writing talents, Charles has performed in various spoken word venues in the Southern California area and has read his poems on television and radio. He conducts free writers workshops and currently serves as the executive director of the Los Angeles Black Book Expo.

CLICK HERE to hear his podcast.

Website: www.charleslchatmon.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/chatwrites

April is National Month–Poet Charles Chatmon, April 27 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Poetry Month–Alyce Wynn, April 26

APOOO — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:32:03 +0000

Alyce Wynn is the author of Come Joy! It is the personal testimony of a spiritual journey in progress. Written in varying voices, its four chapters represent what the author considers to be the main components of life that all people experience. It is a relationship piece, between self, loved ones, nature and God. They are songs from the heart, hymns from the soul that will uplift, edify, and even entertain. Taken from the colorful pages of real life stories, the reader can relate on an intimate level, recognize the value of the midnight hour, and find his or her own path to joy in the morning.

Provided below is a sample of Alyce’s work:

Come Joy! by Alyce

…with all haste

come and flow through me

perform what you do

so wonderfully to me

bring back my laughter

loud, let it ring

hum in my ear that sweet song

angels sing!

rain down upon me

fill up my heart

fashion my smile

that I had at the start…

Come Joy!

I implore you

that others may

adore youI lift up my hands to the heavens

and wait for you…

CLICK HERE TO listen to a spoken word performance of the poem–My Peace- used as the foreword in my book, “Come, Joy! Songs from the Soft of Night.”

When she’s not waxing poems, Ms. Wynn can be found on the web. CLICK HERE to access her MySpace page.

April is National Poetry Month–Alyce Wynn, April 26 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Poetry Month–Poet Vicki J. Austin, April 25

APOOO — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:33:33 +0000

WE
We are the wind

the waves

Life’s sun rays, because we are Women.

Our living waters are blessed

our minds conscious

of our yesterdays and tomorrows…and

we are happiness displayed in spite of past sorrows.

We dare to be bold

from the young to the old.

We are bursting at the seams

living our dreams and networking among other things

because we have found that UNITY is a much better position to be in!

We see things as they are

so we push far..

far beyond the imagination,

beyond stagnation,

beyond common places of inhabitation,

cuz we are Queens, We are sisters we are women…

driven, shake, rattle rolled

We are gifts; priceless

beyond fortunes told.

We are women

Our beauty outshines the rest

when put to the test…we win

again and again

We are partners with God

So, when the road gets too hard

We bow our heads and drop on bended knee

before El Shaddai because in HIM WE are free!

He molded us

so in HIM we trust

to guide us over the many bumps of life.

Over jealousy,envy, pain and strife…

we trust Him to do just what He said with our willing vessels.

He created every nook and trace

We stand together shoulder to shoulder

fingers laced

We reverence our appointed time

cause’ He’s always given grace….

to the ones who endure to the end…

We no longer call ourselves friend

We call ourselves Queens, Sisters, Women!

We call ourselves little ‘g’s’

because we are women!

Women of purpose and passion

we string our lights together, so that the lost can be found

the chosen wear their crowns…and the cold and dank places

are better to be around, because,

We are nurturers– We are Women.

We take no crap! Tell a sister she can’t and you might get slapped.

Tell a sister that she can’t win…stand back and watch her begin

to make a lie out of you, yes

what they say is true…

We are strong

We are the lyrics to life’s song…

they may not want us to–but We belong

We are beautiful…. celestial beings.

We are large and in charge and

we are living and loving….

sisters, we are queens,

We are women…..

No Ghetto Queen

I can’t pretend, I m a young girl now

struggling to become a woman

the inner confusion can wreak havoc in my life

but I press on past pain and strife

The world i live in doesn’t make it easy for me

negative images are all I see

on videos…shows about pimps and hos’

yet I know I am destined to be

successful if I just believeMy circumstances don’t define who I’ll be

a Doctor a Writer an attorney.

Though days are long and battles are on the rise

I intend to play no games, nor wear a disquise

I continue to be open

not succumbing to liesFor I am what I am

just for the time being

if you could see what I see your eyes would be gleaming

I am contuously dreaming

and in the end when I raise up out this mess,

you will see I was a work in progress.Don’t undersestimate me

labeling me a young ghetto queen

Yes, I come from the hood, but

I am the best of what is righteous and good.

Determination is my key to success

God only knows how hard I press

I press forward past misery – though it cuts like a knife

I will make it and have joy in this lifeso take a good look at me while in my evolution

stand back and watch my self revolution

When I come into my own then the world will see

A ghetto queen I am not meant to be.

Vicki J Austin(C) Copyright

All Rights Reserved2008

I Be Like The Sun

Forever shining

Like the sun burning bright

Intensely shining and casting light.

Drifting with the clouds heavy with rain

I am eternal, part of God’s heavenly frame.

Skin burnished,copper,tan,beige, pecan

caramel cocoa brown

hot like good lovin’ no man can turn down

I be ever evolving and coming back with persistence

Causing mental melt downs…pioneering in this earth…

I understand my worth.

I know my job in this universe is…to nurture the weaklings!

My temperament elevates and then goes down,

at dusk I am lost but at dawn I am found

Yesss, I will always be around….

because my sons and daughters will always procreate

No matter the state..of affairs this world is in,

or how much injustice is rooted in sin

Rising over the horizon agin and agin

bringing second chances to help make ammends.

Or should I say I rise and set?

Either way I am infintely blessed!

A child with lineage that reaches across the middle passage

to my ancestor’s distant shores…..

I am still a mystery,

Many want to know my secrets,

for not an unsaved eye can see…

How I got over??!

How when they hung me..

I still survived, still I thrived and I’m still alive

still I soar and shine

Still I am intellectual and connected to the divine.I am like the sun,

but like an inferno I can also burn.

Like a scorching brand to hateful heads and hearts

don’t underestimate me or dismiss my smarts!

Old as time…yet ageless

Just like the sun, my work will never be done

From the beginning of time until the rapture is come

I am forever…Shining.

God’s Peace (Hatred and Sin – World Wars)

Born into a world of sin

It is not difficult to comprehend?

That evil is there on every hand

on distant shores and on homeland

This war is waged and

Far too expensive

Got nations on the defensive

Are we our brother’s keeper?

Do we pull out now or go in deeper?

We need to turn into a position of prayer

As a country then and only there

Will we find God’s abiding love and careHis instructions plain

If my people who are called by my name will

humble themselves, seek my face turn from

Their wicked ways then will they hear from heaven and

I will heal their land

Woman child and man

Where do we begin?

With purity in heart is a start

Lip service is cheap

What we sow we,

shall surely reap!

The death toll is steadily rising

While we are told we will not desist

We will not have peace &&.

peace can not be bought or sold

nor bartered for oil money diamonds and gold

Lets put an end to hunger hatred and killing

Evil and unjust dealing

Prejudice and pride

Lets let love abide

That is how you fight hate; with love

And in so doing our Father above

is given an invitation

For the United States and all nations

to do just what He said

seek not your own will but seek my favor.

Renounce the world and take the hand of your neighbors

Families and those on distant lands

Love your neighbors as you love yourself

All the laws and the prophets hang on these two

So America what are we going to do?

I wish peace for me and mine

and of course for all mankind

Unity breeds peace of mind

Lets come together and break bread

Let God be the head

Let the sin and hatred cease,

Let God reign

And fill us all with His peace.

April is National Poetry Month–Poet Vicki J. Austin, April 25 is a post from: APOOO

April is National Poetry Month–Marcus Harris, April 24

APOOO — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:34:41 +0000

Little Colored Boys (Part I Kamilah’s Prayer)

Lord,

I wish my boy could grow up to be

a king or an emperor or even President

even though I know he’s really gonna be born

with one arm tied behind his back

just because You happened to make him

a little darker than everybody else–

but that’s okay, Lord, ’cause I’m sure

that’s just part of Your plan but I still

just wanna ask You for a few little things

before he comes:

when he walks let him leave footprints

forty feet long and twenty feet wide so

this world will never forget where he’s

been or what he’s done and everybody’ll

know they’ll have to work ten times as

hard if they ever expect to fill

even half his shoes

and

when he talks let him speak as pure as

five angels and with the voice of ten prophets

so this world will always recognize and

respect the divinity that gives life and

power to all his words

and

when he acts let him move with the

wisdom of all those who came before him

and sacrificed to prepare this world for

his arrival and let the light of that wisdom

guide him as he adds to this world’s eternal

memory of our people’s greatness–

but I guess all that does seem like a bit much, Lord,

so if nothing else please just give him the

strength to fight the same demons that

chased his daddy away and stole the light

of love from his eyes because I guess

all I really want after all, Lord, is just for

You to help my boy make You proud

of having made him.

Amen.

CLICK HERE to listen to Little Colored Boys (Part I) Kamilah’s Prayer

The award-winning author of Songs In Search Of A Voice, his bestselling debut collection of poetry, Marcus Harris continues to make incredible waves throughout the literary world. Naturally gifted in communicating a range of issues via a variety of different voices, Marcus has become highly respected for his ability to relate universal truths that span the boundaries of race, color, creed, and gender and address the everyday lives interwoven throughout the global community. His writings have appeared in Essence Magazine, TimBookTu, Chickenbones, and numerous other literary & media outlets worldwide. In addition to being an author, Marcus is also an educator, mentor, community activist, and highly successful entrepreneur. As Founder & CEO of Urban Echoes Entertainment, he has fostered the creation of Apex Reviews, Ghostwriter Extraordinaire, and numerous other programs & organizations designed to enhance the talents of authors and other figures in the publishing industry. Forever vigilant of the impact of our individual actions on the world around us, Marcus lives by the mantra ‘Touch One, Reach A Thousand.’ His hope for us all is that we continue to uplift one another in this great ongoing struggle called Life.

April is National Poetry Month–Marcus Harris, April 24 is a post from: APOOO

APOOO » April is National Poetry Month

Farewell to National Poetry Month

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