4AM

Daybreak in Baltimore

Starry dark blue skies

Brought forth illumination

Over the city during the night.

As Baltimore begins to waken,

Sunlit trees and dimmed street lights

Quietly exchange posts signaling

The start of a brand new day.

Footsteps rhythmically collaborate as

As car engines rev then idle

Making their presence known.

A bit tired I rest my eyes a short while

Before I finish the last 2 hours

Of my drive from NC back to Jersey.

Silently I sit as I await my friend’s

Return from work to “recharge” my

Batteries with silly jokes and stories.

And within that moment of his arrival,

It was like a cue from a director:

Lights, camera, endorphins!

The shenanigans had started!

We exchange greetings and laughter

As character voices replace our own.

We converse over ...

Invisible Wounds

Invisible wounds, hidden by smiles
Run deep beyond the surface
Like rivers for miles and miles.
What can you see in invisible wounds,
Can you see the pain?
Can you see the hurt?
Do you see the scars left behind?
Do you see the mental breakdown of the mind?
Can you see blood dripping from the cuts?
Of course you can’t and may never will.
One never knows what someone else
Is going or has gone through.
So much wrong goes on in society today
That some of us judge
From programmed mentalities
Instead of empathizing with shared commonalities
Having never stepped in opposite shoes,
Invisible wounds felt only by
Their victims are oblivious
To the rest of the world.
Can you sympathize or do you empathize?
Before you speak, ask yourself
If you ever had the experience of
Walking in someone else’s shoes,
Would you b...

What He Said: MLK Day 2023

What he said 55 years ago,

Changed millions of lives

Stirring hearts and minds

Yet angering some to a point

So piercing he was assassinated for it.

Did you know that he was the

FBI’s most hated person?

And despite being that,

This one man decided within himself

That a change had to take place.

He along with countless others

Attempted to put an end to

Racial discrimination and prejudice

At a time when it was at its peak.

But it was when his judgment

From mankind was brought to

The nation’s center stage

As he read his now iconic

I have a Dream speech that

Changed the dynamics of

What was to come.

What he said was

He had a dream

And that despite all the atrocities

He experienced over that time

He was happy that n...

Midday Friday: An Unexpected Guitar Serenade

Blessed are his fingers that

Grace the strings of the

Acoustic guitar he gifted me.

I sit transfixed with awe

Lost in melodious notes

Groovin’, reminiscing and writing.

Watching my friend create such

Beautiful music and playing

Some old familiar tunes,

Is so soul relaxing

I find my fingers moving

And head bobbing

As the memories flow.

In my mind, we’re vibing as

I play along with him

And everything is everything.

We are in such a rhythmic groove

That we became the music,

The lyrics and the melody

As my guitar playing dreams

Manifests in front of me.

But as I dip and dab

Back and forth

In and out of highness,

I don’t let my thoughts

Get too far away from me.

I don’t play the guitar

But I will...

Looking for Forever

Looking for forever in a world of uncertainty.
A place where lost hopes
Find empty dreams of you and me
Searching to live happily
Even after lives were ripped to shreds,
Because Willie’s syndrome-tactics (syndrome-antics)
Created syndrome addicts
And most of us are still hooked.

Yet as though we move on,
We ask ourselves
Will insanity regain its composure and
Untie the complexities of our understandings?
Or will they relish in their complacency
And let things remain as they are, as is?

Will we ever figure it out?

Looking for forever in a world of uncertainty
A place where renewed faith and hopes
Lost in fulfilled realities of we and they
Were found living happily
Even after lives have been ripped to shreds,
May seem farfetched
But it’s not impossible.
Because Willie’s syndrome-tactics (syndrome-an...

Friday Night in the City

First time out in so long

Flying solo but invited by an acquaintance.

I would’ve had some company

But it was meant for me to

Do this on my own.

Since I’m not a fan of the city,

My defense modes were fully engaged;

Not scared just on alert as I

Approach the establishment’s entry

Loud grooving music plays

As I go up the stairs.

Instantly recognized and welcomed

I’m dressed up just a little.

Something old, something new

Nothing borrowed but everything true.

Tan & black with just a touch

Of makeup, enough to

Enhance the features of

My lightly melanated skin.

A few pieces of jewelry

Some gold bracelets touched

With red to compliment

Cinnamon toast colored lips

And olive green to match

Transitioning irises that adjusts

Day After Day

I awakened one Monday morning

Ready to start my day

It went on as planned

And ended just as well

So just before midnight struck

I asked Monday,

Why are you leaving?

We were having a great time.

Monday said my time with you

Is ending and you have

To keep going.

There will be other Mondays.

Without hesitation, Tuesday says

I am next in line

All things come and go in due time

And just like Monday, I too will go

When the time comes nigh.

But enjoy me for now so you’ll

Awaken to Wednesday’s morning sky.

So as time went on

Each day came with something new

Thursday said,

“Be sure to make the best of your time

Each and every day

Time can be swift and without notice

Before you know it, it’ll be Friday.

With th...

Goodbye Wednesday

Flying through the mid night’s sky

On the way back home

The flight is fairly quiet except for

Occasional baby cries.

My fellow passengers both are resting

With their heads on the trays.

I respectfully have pulled down

My seat’s window shade and

Placed my phone in night mode.

The cabin’s lights have been dimmed

Since takeoff.

Soft blue overheads softly

Illuminate as individual lights

Count each row of seats.

Most are out though as

Random clicks, taps and other movements

Play alongside the engine’s roar.

Some light turbulence gently rocks

Us as we go about.

The babies are now quietly sleeping.

Perhaps God heard my prayer

To comfort the babies and allow

The weary passengers to rest.

The stewardesses make their

Way with refr...

Time Traveling

Traveling back in present day’s past

On my way to LAX

Got the best seat on the plane

The window seat.

Cruising altitude is 32K feet

High above the ground

And just about touching the clouds.

The sun brightly shining

Classical music comfortably plays

Making for yet another awesome

Experience despite nursing allergies.

It’s been 8 years since I was last

In view of the blue and white.

It’s so awesome up here.

Prayers were in place for all

From the moment I sat down and

Will continue until we’re safely

On the ground.

The sun has began its descent

As the sky has hued to a bluish gray.

A few rays still light the distant horizon

As the clouds seem to pass by

In slow motion.

The wing’s strobe light beacons

Throughout the fl...

4AM

Couldn’t sleep much so I just laid there

Staring into my room’s darkness

Congested, I could only breathe

Through my mouth.

Slowly inhaling and exhaling,

I do my best to drift off to sleep

But I can’t.

My mind is running with

Constant thoughts of you.

With only cold sheets and a blanket

For comfort, imagining you beside me

Was the only thing keeping me warm.

But eventually the bedding reclaimed me

As I tossed and turned trying to

Find the right position to sleep,

I was unable to find one.

As time passed on, daylight

Slowly crept its way into my room

With my mind still active

I sought the comfort of my recliner and

Try to relax myself more and hopefully

Get a few hours of sleep in,

After being on my computer didn’t work,

I started w...