Symphony

This song is all about the support that we, without condition, give to our friends and loved ones. The support that we rarely acknowlege to each other but that we know exists. After all, what are friends for?

Don’t know what came over me
Why you crossed my mind
It happened suddenly
Wrong place but right time
So I called your number
Just in time to find
That you needed me
Although you hadn’t realised

So life’s getting you down
And you’re feeling blue
My heart must have known
That’s why I called you
Happy you’re laughing
Did I wake up your face
And return your smile
To its rightful place

Your voice is a symphony
Let me be your song
You wanted company
So I came along
So no need to thank me
It’s what I'm there for
Hope you don’t mind
If we talk for a while

I’m knocking down your door
Longing to see your face
And if I’m lucky
Feel your embrace
I wanted company
So I came along
I need your symphony
To sing my song

Your voice is a symphony
Let me be your song
I wanted company
So I came along
So no need to thank you
It’s what you're there for
Hope you don’t mind
If I stay for a while

(Oh) Pretty One

I see the way that man treats you
You are so beautiful
No need to act the way you do
A heart so golden and so true
And yet a life so blue
All you have to do is believe in you

Take the makeup off your face
Why don’t you
Let that natural smile shine through
When you're feeling down
Know that someone cares
Look to the sky and he will be there
(Because)

He loves you
I love you
It's time to love yourself too
Inside and out
Oh Pretty One

God loves you
I love you
It's time to love yourself too
Remove the doubt
You are a pretty one

You don't have to dress the way you do
To please that man's ego
You keep on taking him back
Even though you know
That he's not your Mr Right
He just treats you wrong
Look up to the sky
You'll find that’s where your heart belongs

And those days
When you can't stand the rain
Pick up the phone
Because in me you have a friend
I'll help you take back some pride for yourself
Just remember when you have no one else
(That)

He loves you
I love you
It's time to love yourself too
Inside and out
Oh Pretty One

God loves you
I love you
It's time to love yourself too
Remove the doubt
You are a pretty one

Oh Pretty One

So It Begins (Love Poem Pt 2)

Early to bed
So that I can feel
Some cocoa silk on my body
If just for tonight
I need to feel alright
Like in the movies I want to be moved
Soft and smooth
And can you see the shadows that we create
With minimal words we speak
A special language
That lingers beneath the skin
I caress the skin you’re in
And so it begins

Bring forth the bliss
Through a kiss
In the darkness
We still stare into each other’s eyes
And the sighs that penetrate the night
Fail to disguise our ecstasy
But instead sets it free
My rapture is prolonged
The act is strong
So that as you sing your song
I too sing along
Spiritual in our unification
Like a hymn
And so it begins

It has been a while
And time reduces me to a child
So that I am both surprised and mesmerised
By the feeling between the thighs
A natural high
With no assistance from alcohol
And weed free
Those that have known you would envy me
And in this place
I experience more than sexual gratification
For only you
Could create such a sensation
What we share is almost like a free flowing libation
That fills us within
And so it begins

We reach that point of no return
There are no lessons learnt
We took the journey for the pleasure
And that is what we treasure
I embrace in my arms the softness of a Nubian princess
For you have allowed me access to your palace
And so as we lay
And night becomes day
We can consider
The next stage and whether we should parade
Our consummation to others
Should we worry?
Or consider being sorry?
Some may say it is a sin
But for us
So it begins

On the Wrapper

The reality of a relationship...

You should have come with a label
On your wrapper
So that I could have been aware
Of your intensity
The way that you chose to love me
Was at another level
And higher degree
Passion and soul
Sometimes out of control
Unable to tame
The thoughts that you hold
Bold and yet cold
Not easily sold
By my late nights...

Yet I wanted for nothing
Your dedication knew no bounds
You held me tight
But soon I found
That you stifled with your grip
And I was not well equipped
To deal with the fallout
From your acid lips
So now I look back
And still miss your wild ways
Reminisce on our love
And those lazy Sundays
Pondering whether
Things would have been the same
If I was able to first read your wrapper.

The Love of You

My first public display of poetry was with this poem back in 1996, so it means a lot to me and too the person that I wrote it for...

I wish that I could walk on clouds
There is something pure about the sky
My worries would disappear
And I could live out a brand new life
Then I would be able to love
Just how love was meant to be
You would forgive my past mistakes
And walk upon the clouds with me

I wonder if I could fly
Would the sensation be as beautiful as it seems
Watching the birds soar high
Imagine the thrill and the feel of slipstreams
All my thoughts could be natural and true
No pretence no falsehoods would ensue
All I need is the freedom of love
Whilst soaring the skies with you

I envisage myself as a breeze
Playing lightly across open fields
Rising up to the top of the trees
Swaying among daffodils
Hide and seek with the sun and the moon
Floating high across clear blue seas
Whipping up Sahara sand dunes
In search of the sweet love of you

I sometimes think of myself as a wave
Gently moving towards a shore
To taste pebbles and shingle and sand
Before creeping away once more
And each time I returned I would seek
The one thing that I knew to be true
For despite all my thoughts I am lost
Without the sweet love of you

It Wasn't Meant To Be this Way

In the morning
As I awake
I see no sunshine
Just acid rainclouds in the sky
Man is the keeper
Of Mother Earth
But with this gift we choose only
To wreck the universe
Babies crying children dying
While govenments spend our money
Sending rockets to the moon
And when the judgement comes
As I know it will
I believe that it won't be a day to soon

Because it wasn't meant to be this way

We pass people
On the street
Begging for a penny
Just to have somethig to eat
While politicians
Spend their time
Driving round in limosines
And sitting down to wine and dine
Babies crying children dying
What was once their home
Has been reaped of all its wealth
Telling me I should do more
For my society
Look into the mirror
Before you place judgement on me

Because it wasn't meant to be this way

The Last of the West Indians

This one is for my father, currently sunning himself in St Lucia. He taught me everything about being a man, a father and most of all being Black.

Here I stand
What do you see
A man or an ethnic minority
But wait
Our parents helped
To rebuild this country
Came over in the 40s 50s and 60s
Left sunny isles
For the cold North Sea
The rolling Thames
And grey London City
As soon as he landed
My daddy said no way
He knew from the start
That he wouldn't stay
But didn't realise
It would take him so long
Before he could take the flight
That would carry him home

So now we are left to carry it on
The traditions of food and dance and song
Ackee and saltfish
Green banana and yam
'Calypso Calypso'
And the steel pan
You see
The last of the West Indians
Has just said goodbye
With tears in his eyes
He left his offspring behind
And it won't be easy
To maintain the old ways
We were brought up as English
We weren't taught the same
So no matter what your opinion may be
If you're born here you're British
Though it's not plain to see
Because prejudice and racism
Still lives and breathes
So I choose my standards
From what my daddy taught me
And I can't go back
Like the BNP say
This is all that I know
So I'm here to stay

You see
Just like my daddy
I've paved the way
Through the poor education
I faced everyday
Through harassments
And SUSS laws
And being egged on the street
Through the riots and skinheads
Chasing me just to beat
They accused me of diseasing their nation
I remember escaping through Upton Park Station
But I've paid my taxes and I've paid my dues
Walked with pride in my Cecil Gee and snakeskin shoes
My sister wore her pleated skirt
And wrapped her hair
Sharing her pride but still looking smart
Whilst in my Gabicci and Farahs
I soon learnt to kick arse

So I regained what I had once lost
Became re-educated
Became my own boss
Hoping to reclaim
Some of the pride
That my daddy had given me
That they tried to deny
Now the goalposts have shifted
The fugees are coming
New targets of hate
So can I stop running
I'm no longer the threat
The pressure's off me

So why can't I shift this label...
Ethnic Minority

Now it's up to us
To teach the babies
The history and the truth
How it was
How it is
How it should be
How we fought so hard for pride and dignity
Whilst all the time
We lived in a box
With a label saying
'Negroes - Toxic, Caution, Do Not Touch'

Will the next generation care
Think about it soon there won't be
Any pure Black White or Pakistanis
Take a look on the street
Blacks with Chinese
Whites with Asians
Rainbow children
Soon a rainbow nation
It's hard to believe
Dilution could bring peace
So eventually we become the
Ethnic Majority

But for me
Black is beautiful
So I cannot rest
Until all my daddy taught me
Is passed on to the rest
You see
The last of the West Indians
Is no longer here
So it's up to us
To make everything clear
Our children need us
To teach them their history
The legacy now rests with you
And with me
Because despite what you believe
We're all one and the same
West Indian or British
Same blood
Different veins

FB

Some of the things I come across and that people tell me often has me laughing out loud. Some of you may find the following words familiar, although I must stress that it's not about anyone in particular and certainly NOT ME!

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
Just one look was all it took
My mate said “Nah don’t do that stuff
Giving out info leaves me shook”
Told him “Pete
It’s safe and sound
You control what people see”
He said “Nah it’s alright
Don’t want no one seeing me”

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
Sent her a message
Entitled “Hi”
“Saw you’re a friend of Jimmy’s girl’s cousin
Looked familiar
But don’t know why
If we’ve never met before
Then I’m hoping you don’t mind
Caught a glimpse of your profile
Should have locked
Should have blocked it
Would you like to be a friend of mine?”

Waited one day
Got no answer
The next night
My inbox says two
Opened up one from my sis
Another for some Mistri do
So played scrabble
Sent some greetings
Sent some smiles and kisses too
Got bored
Went off to watch Heroes
That was the end
Of my day two

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
Came back from work
Switched the PC on
Grabbed a beer out of the fridge
It slipped out my hand
I spilt the lot
Some time later
Having settled
Showered eaten
Spoken to mum
Logged on to see just what was cooking
Inbox said that I had one
Opened up and there she was
Changed her profile picture too
She said “Hi how you doing
Don’t think that I have met you.
Yes your right I’m Cassie's friend
But who’s Jimmy what’s the deal
No worries I’m here for networking
I’ll be your friend
If that’s how you feel”

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
We then started nice and slow
After a week of idle banter
I cranked it up
In private though
Facebook’s fun but when your chirpsing
On the down low must be done
She knew people that I knew
This Facebook world
Is a small one

I even found out that she use to
Go to places I used to go
She weren’t single
But she weren’t married
'It’s complicated'
Her status said so

Read her profile
'I like dancing
R&B and soulful house
Reading
Gym
And quiet nights
Films that make me cry inside
My favourite books are Child Called It
Color Purple and I do
Absolutely positively
Love some Maya Angelou'

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
Changed her profile pic again
Not as nice as the one before
Not as nice as her best friend
So we haven’t talked that much
She did invite me to a rave
Could've gone
Would've gone
If her friend was there
I would’ve misbehaved

Met her on Facebook
Met her on Facebook
We don’t even chat no more
Hid her from my newsfeed now
The quickest way to shut her down
It was fun while it lasted
She changed her status
And that was it
In a relationship
Is what it says
So I just moved on instead

Then found out who she is tapping
Guy called Steve
Old Frankie’s mate
We use to drink down at the Nag’s Head
Me and him and Frank and Nate
So just as well
I wasn’t clever
And got to know her a little better
Still won’t let that deter me
Wonder if her friend is free

The Proudness of Melanin

You could never go where I have been
You could never see what I have seen
The punishment which I have had to face
You could not for one minute smell or taste
The persecution which I still suffer
The true description of which words could not be uttered
Yet I have done no wrong
If not for my shade
My history this way would not have been made
For four hundred years I was used and abused
And even now I find myself still often pursued
My contributions are rarely noted
My crimes alas
Are advertised and bloated
Still I am proud for what my God made me
Black is my colour
And I wear it proudly

Breathe

I see you everytime I breathe
I see you with every breath I take
You’re on my mind all the time
When I sleep and when I wake

You are the life within my soul
You make me who I want to be
You are the force that keeps me strong
You are everything to me

Sometimes you touch me like a breeze
On a hot summer’s day
Sometimes you wrap your arms around me
To keep the cold away
Sometimes you whisper words of passion
That melts my heart like heat would ice
Sometimes you tell me that you love me
And take me to paradise

I believe that we were meant to be
I believe that it was destiny
You have such an effect on me
That I see you everytime I breathe

No matter what I say or do
I know that you’ll be there for me
Just as a book needs words to speak
I need you to breathe

I see you everytime I breathe

Leave a Lasting Impression (On Me)

All of the dreams you share with me
All of the things that you see
Makes me glad to be standing
In your light
And despite all that I've been through
I'm willing to spend some time with you
Just a little bit
Of the rest of my life

You see I've
Been running away for so long
But now I've found someone to keep me strong
So when your nights are cold
And you need someone to hold
You can leave a lasting impression on me

All of your joys and all your tears
Are problems solved and heartaches shared
That's the reason why
I'm standing here today
And letting the world know we two
Share the same points of view
Helps me to see
Only the best in you

And there's no way
To change my mind
Now I have someone to show me
The brighter side of life
So when your nights are cold
And you need someone to hold
You can leave a lasting impression on me

Reasons for the Seasons

For the angels that look over us...

I’ve come across many people
In such a short time
Yet seems so long ago
That I left them behind
We have shared romance, adventure
And so much fun
But as they say in any lifetime
Easy go easy come

People come people go
But memories remain
Of summer days in the park
Getting caught in the rain
Laughing hard until
Ribs ached from the pain
With each moment passed
A memory is gained

Some thoughts are like pictures
And never seem to fade
Others seeped in mist
Seem distant and vague
Suddenly a reminder
Takes you back to that place
Where love lived forever
Upon a friendly face

So now
We raise glasses to those
Who we lose on the way
Knowing that we’ll see them
Again some day
For we learn to comprehend
The master’s plan
That there is always a reason
For the season

Unbreakable - Part 2

She shone like diamonds
Was smooth like pearls
I fell for her
She fell for me
I fell for other girls…

Now the story unfolds
And the truth is told
She realised I took her soul
For 40 pieces of silver
When it was worth more than gold
Keeping with the biblical references
I realised the error of my ways
Wanting her only wanting her all
Took my own road to Damascus
Became converted
Just like Paul
But too late…

You see
Whilst watching the world go by
Living the life
Playing the field
Getting high
I failed to see that she was my natural high
And had become
My one desire
She inspired
Had given so much through her touch
And kisses
Through her words of encouragement
And kindness
Her love had been almost unconditional
Given through blindness
Her heart was mellow
And soothing
She held no malice
Loving her was like
Sipping from a golden chalice
I discovered that she was in every song
That I had sung
That she would sing along
She filled the melody
She became the words
She became each rhyme that I now heard

Even though gone
She remained with me
She befriended my loneliness
And when I lay awake at night
In my lonely room
With my lonely heart
She would be there
So much so
That I felt haunted
By her non presence
Her essence surrounded me
And made me see
That I could not be without she

So now here I stand
Still a man
But not complete
I miss the fresh cotton sheets
That we leisurely would soak with sweat
The curl of her lips
And the feel of her kiss
Goodbyes are never neatly folded
Or neatly creased
I left her with ruffled feathers
The pain I inflicted
Will haunt me forever
Because our love was once unbreakable
Or so it seemed
Now I realise
It was unbreakable only
Because she believed in me

Inner Child

The sun was setting in the sky
So I decided to pass by
We sat and chatted for a while
About pleasantries and our lifestyles
Then we thought we’d go and eat
And settled on some Chinese
The won ton soup was not for me
Sweet and sour chicken please

She laughed and giggled
And sniggered and laughed
Before we knew it time had passed
She chatted and laughed a little more
Until she said her cheeks were sore

I asked about her happy mood
In-between mouthfuls of food
At moments I would stop and stare
Just to take in her atmosphere

She said
“You bring out the child in me”
Then with eyes so genuine
She beamed another joyful beam
Another spoonful of ice cream

And in turn
I laughed too
It was all that I could do
She made the evening
A delight
I kissed her cheek then said goodnight

Unbreakable - Part 1

Sometimes we are lucky enough to find true love. When we do the bond can be unbreakable...

She asked me why I smiled
I told her no reason why
While deep inside I exhaled
Let out a sigh
Because my spirit always seems to fly
When I am by her side
And from the day we met
I was smitten
My heart was set on fire
She never seems to realise
How much she fills me with desire
From her hair to her cute little toes
The bounce of each ounce when she walks
The curl of her lips as she talks

When the sun shines
And she opens her eyes to the morning light
Her face instantly begins to glow
As if she is hooked up invisibly
To the rays flowing through the windowpane
When it rains she is the same
As if the pitter patter of the drops
Create a rhythm for her to breathe to
And so every day she becomes something new

And we never forget
How our needs should be met
So that the fresh cotton sheets
Become soaked with sweat
We make each time like it is our last time
And each time we lay
Fill the first few moments with play
I place my fingers there
She kisses me blissfully
Then whispers softly in my ear
‘Thrill me’
And so it begins
Like buried treasure
My inner child is discovered
She treats me
Fulfils me
Completes me
I fill her with heavenly pleasures
From touch to taste
Until we are both laid waste
She loves me like no other
And we both take all night to recover

And yet
It takes more than the sex
For me to be impressed
She carries such charm
She holds my hand
We walk arm in arm
She has grace
She has style
She is smart
Versatile
She knows how to blend in
With my friends
She is all that I or any man could have prayed for
She is in love with me
And she is the one I adore

And so I dream of more ways to please her
Because we are not perfect in our love
And like everyone else
Sometimes we struggle to find that compromise
But compromise we do
In order to make it through
Yes I truly believe that I am blessed
The first time that I saw her
I thought that I was staring into the eyes of a miracle
The first time that we kissed
I could not help but give
A wink and a smile to the man up above
And even though
We are only of flesh and bone
Our hearts and souls are held together
By something much stronger
Totally untouchable
Completely invisible
I call it kismet
But more than that
It is unbreakable

You Say...

You say that love is lost
But you say you believe in hope
You say that love has knocked you down
Like a boxer on the ropes
You say that love has made you fear
But that you still look to stars at night
You say that love leaves you in tears
But also keeps your heart alight

I say that love has passed you not
But is waiting in the wings
I say that love is on your side
And brings gifts of wondrous things
I say that love can be a fool
And still fools can fall in love
I say that love is truly found
In the stars you watch above

You say that love has brought you pain
But you miss the joy it brings
You say you’ve waited for so long
And yet still see it in your dreams
You say that love is not for you
For it never stays around
You say that your love is not compatible
With the love that you have found

I say that love may be close by
If you seek it you shall find
I say that sometimes just close your eyes
And love touches you inside
I say that love will be your friend
And one day will come again
I say that love is with you now
And plans to stay until the end

You ask if love has brought me all
Of the things that I desire
I say love has come today
And has set my soul on fire
You ask if love can truly be
All I say that it can be
I say the truth lies in my arms
If you would fall in love with me.

Escape From Darkness

For those days when we are at our lowest...


Darkness came to tell me
Tonight would be the night
It would take my Dreams and Aspirations
Leave me with Despair and Fright
I huddled in a corner
Confusion laughed in my face
Desperation whispered in my ear
All I had worked for then went to waste
My temple began to crumble
Foundations of stone now turned to sand
Weakness passed by
Stopped and looked me in the eyes
And I became less than a man
My Spirit had almost left me
It had called on Hope to give it a hand
Willpower had very little strength
And refused to help me to stand
Tears of Sorrow were born that evening
Tears of Joy had been slain by Scorn
Yet the smallest of voices kept calling
Deep inside there could only be one
Faith reminded me that it had taught me to crawl
Then to walk and even to run
It reminded me that when I believed in its strength
Of all the trials we had overcome
It was my backbone and unafraid
It beat at my chest like a drum
It gave me belief that we could win again
And beat down our foes one by one

So slowly I arose from my corner
Walked cautiously past Ridicule and Gloat
Reached the door where stood
Twofaced and Backstabber
But Pride helped me on with my coat
As I opened the door Darkness screamed
For it felt the blade of Dawn’s early light
Desperation decided on leaving
For the future looked sunny and bright
It was morning and the sun was shining
Filling the sky with a wondrous sight
Faith returned to my heart
Pride appeared on my face
My Spirit walked in my shadow
Willpower steadied my pace
Dreams and Aspirations followed quickly
Leaving behind Doubt and Distress
Plotting my plans for the future
Wondering what to do next
What of Hope you may well wonder
I knew Hope would never leave me
Closely bonded with Faith
Like twin brothers you see
Then suddenly Sounds of Laughter
Gave Tears of Joy the kiss of life
Best friends since the day they were born
Played together both day and night

So with the old gang back together
Our adversaries long gone
It was time for us to get started
Time for us to move on
We sought out New Direction
Ducking and diving always on the run
He pointed us to the east
And the warmth of the rising sun
In search of the one called Destiny
We nicked named it Our Goal
And the name of my merry band of outlaws
We call ourselves a SOUL.

Sometimes

Life is a journey of happiness and adversity and one certainty, the journey as we know it, will one day come to an end. This next piece reflects the different situations that we tend to find ourselves in at any given time as we venture on our way. The stepping stones, if you like, along our path of life.


Sometimes you may find yourself...

Hanging from a cliff without a helping hand
Alone in a desert with just sun and sand
Going down for the third time far out to sea
In a prison cell on bended knee
Surrounded by the arms of someone you love
In pastures green free as a dove
Laughing out loud at thoughts within your mind
Pleasantly surprised by what you find
Unsure or confused about what to do
Realising that there's more to life than just you
Cheating or lying to someone else
Acting the fool to please everyone else
Questioning the meaning of life
Admitting that you’re not always right
Wondering, why does it always happen to me

Sometimes you may find yourself
Simply feeling happy
Sometimes...

After All That You Have Been Through

After all that you have been through
All you can do
Is look to your future
It is yours
Not mine
Although sometimes
I would like to know
That there is a place for me

But after all that you have been through
It’s time for you
To do
All that you want to
Do not wait on tomorrow
For tomorrow does not wait for you
It will come and go
If you close your eyes
Then you may not even know

So after all that you have been through
Do not feel that the dream must end unfulfilled
Dreams may last forever and beyond
As long as you are able to believe
Then there is nothing that you cannot achieve

And after all that you have been through
Say to yourself that you deserve some happiness
Don’t rely on others to decide that you do
Rely on you
Search your heart for the truth
Put faith in God to see you through

Because after all that you have been through
You are still here
Going strong
And even on sad days
When things go wrong
Strength is within you to rise with the sun
And give thanks

Although after all that you have been through
Do not feel sorry for yourself
This is easily done
Because when you do
You become weak
And then even the most desired aims
Are not achieved

Finally
After all that you have been through
Do not let anyone tell you
How it should be done
March to the beat of your own drum
Have fun
And remember
That you are number one

(for Christine and Ros)

Woman

Her eyes sparkle like sea pearls
Her skin as soft as clouds
Her hands are those of Midas
Her hair sits as a crown
She walks tall and majestic
While her voice could raise the sun
Truly a gift placed by God before us
We must give thanks and praise for woman

She bears not only our offspring
But also dedicates her life
With love and pure devotion
She must fight the good fight
And alongside every hero
Who bears a sword for a just cause
Who braves what he believes in
And sails a treacherous course
She stands and never failing
She is the backbone, the support
She gives strength as no one else can
Let’s give thanks and praise for woman

The Reason I Love You

Sunshine morning
Everything is new
Memories of last night
Daydreams of you
If snowflakes were falling
Love would still grow
My heart stands open
Just like a rose

Even your whisper
Is like a song
When we are together
I sing along
No need to wonder
Our feelings won’t stop
Your love tastes like fine wine
To the very last drop

I ask myself so many times
Just what could it be
I guess the reason I love you
It’s because of the way you love me

Rainbows are beautiful
But love lasts longer you see
And the reason I love you
It’s because of the way you love me

No matter the weather
I will always believe
That the reason I love you
It’s because of the way you love me

I love you
Because you love me

Sweet Woman of Mine

My heart was opened when I met her
I knew from the start
That I would not forget her
I began to believe in the Holy Spirit
When she touched me
Something rushed me
And chills not only ran up and down my spine
But sideways and any which way
They would not obey
And only wanted to play

Her speech pattern
Was too much
That I once saw
(And I swear it’s true)
Several people in the room
Turn their heads as the words
Floated from her lips
Soft and sweet like butterflies
Almost like an invisible treat
To the ears
In response to something that I said

She once told me that I
Had gone to her head
Like intoxicating wine
That made me feel fine
And in response I was forced
Without thinking
To reveal
All that I now feel

In the morning we may lie awake in bed
Grateful for the sunrise
And for each other
Making physical commitments to one another
Despite the urgency of the day
We ignore the tick tock of the clock
In order to caress and kiss
I love her lips
Whether it is sunrays or rain
That fall on the windowpane
We enjoy Mother Nature’s gift
Before she then let’s me love her hips
Allowing me to pull them close to mine
So that we can intertwine
Our lovemaking
Euphoric and sublime
But that is not the only reason
I call her sweet woman of mine

You see
Sometimes she makes love to me
With her mind
And like ropes
Her thoughts bind
And tie me up in a world of mental stimulation
Conversing with her can be such a sensation
Whilst on other occasions
Silence is golden
Days when she is an enigma
And I cannot decipher
She becomes my eighth wonder
She fascinates and at the same time
Elevates me to new heights
So much so that I become
Afraid to let go
Still she reassures
That I have no need to fear
And as such I feel no ill will towards my brothers
They envy me
For her physical beauty
Is a treat for the eyes
So I simply hold her hand
As we walk side by side
To show the world
That I am hers and she is mine
All mine

At last my thoughts of having one so true
Have become reality
That as I said before
I am able to believe
In the Almighty
For only he could have created one as lovely as she
She is not my treasure
What we have is the prize
She is instead my soul divine
And that is why
I call her sweet woman of mine

I Do

One of the young people that I work with once told me that the only reason that I did my job was for the money and that I must get ‘bare douh’ for keeping him out of prison. This was my response…

I do it so that you

Can go to school

And get an education for free

I do it so that you receive a choice

Of what you want to be

I do it so that you can live a life without

Prejudice and fear

I do it so that you feel no shame

In being here

I do it so that I can look you in the eye

I do it so that you have the ability to read and write

I do it

So that you can hold your head up high

So that you shed no more tears

So that you do not die

Before the age of 21

I do it so that you have no reason to cheat or lie

Or steal from your mother

Or slap down your sister

Or diss your brother

So that you realise the meaning of pride

And wear it upon your body like skin

A choca mocha locca coat

Of history and dignity and self love

So that you do not allow

Knowledge to slip through your fingers

But instead let it seep into your mind

So that you find value in the sun and rain

And learn from your mistakes

I do it so that you do not make my mistakes your own

So that occasionally you will step out

Of your comfort zone

And try something new

Instead of feeding the stereotypes of the many

Who would have you remain one of the few

I do for you so that you do for you

And only ask that you do too

I do it so that

You stay true to the dreams

Of those that went before

I do it so that those that died

Died not in vain

For you are their legacy

And should shine like the Nubian star

That glorified the way to freedom

For those stubborn slaves

I do it so that you see beyond

The bling and rap superstars

The bitches and hoes mentality

That so tightly grips your reality

And strangleholds our community

So that you believe in yourself

And not those that say

That the only way

Is to get rich or die in the process

I do it so that

You will do for your children

And they in turn will do for their children

What you have seen me do

I do for you so that you do for you

And only ask that you do too

For the right to vote

To earn a decent wage

To live in a decent home

Filled with warmth and love

I do it so that those that do not

Can be stopped in their tracks

As they attempt to attract

The negative in us all

So that the positive in your heart

Will steer you away from the opposing path

I do it for you and your brother too

Your father sister and mother

So that they are secure in the knowledge

That their brother and son

Is safe and of solid mind

I am no martyr

I am only a man

But I do because I have to do

I do because I can

What no one else would want to do

Or is able to

I do so that you will aspire to be

And just like me

Eventually find your own inner peace

I do for you so that you do for you

And only ask that you do too

I Would Like...

Occasionally we will meet someone and instantly know that they are special. This following piece tries to reflect that.


I would like you to understand me
And know how I feel each day
What makes me smile
Why I cry
The things that bring laughter my way

I would like you to know me
And spend time in my shoes
Walk to the places I walk to
See you as I see you

I would like you to know all my favourites
Colours and movies and songs
The things that I like about summer
How I feel when I get something wrong

I would like you to sense what I’m sensing
Without prompting or seeing the tears
So that you could in turn give me comfort
And help to ease all my fears

I would like you to understand me
What value I place on you too
So that you keep in mind you are precious
And I think you are wonderful

I would like you to know that I love you
It’s a lie but I wish it were true
So that all of these things I have asked for
In turn I could do for you.

The Power of Love

At least once in our lives we will be lucky enough to fall truly, madly and deeply in love. The rest of the time will have us flaffing about trying to make sense of whatever relationship we are in at the time. I've tried to reflect the confusion that love brings within this poem.


The first time that you tried love
It wasn’t the right love
Never knew love
Could burn so deep and hurt love
Now you’ve kissed love
Can you resist love
Do you miss love
And long on your lips…
Love

Isn’t it a waste
Once you taste
To not take the bait
And hesitate
Our faults dictate
That it has become too late for love
If we choose to analyse and decipher too much
Of what we are feeling
So that the feel of the feeling
Becomes less revealing
Then eventually
What we first perceived as love
Becomes nothing more than infatuation
A passing fancy
A want
A need
A kiss
So why resist
If what we seek is love
Then why deny love
Instead try love
So that we can fall in love
Give love
Receive love
Achieve love
Become love
“As one love”
For surely Mr. Marley cannot be wrong
Sing his song
“And you’ll feel alright”
In the morning light
As you wake beside love
Even if it was just a one night love
Embrace the ecstasy
Laugh at the insincerities
And most of all enjoy the journey
Of life and love

For they say that love
Comes from above
To be romantic
You could add
On the wings of turtle doves
They also say that love hurts
But that’s being dramatic
Even if love is never static
Isn’t that part of the pleasure
That it brings
Like change
It never stays the same
Takes you high then down again
Rollercoaster ride of emotions
And not even a magic potion
Can fill us with the true knowledge of love
For it is destiny
Written in the stars
That’s what I believe
From birth like a seed
As the gift of love
Is planted within our hearts
Waiting to be touched
By another who like no other
Makes that love grow

So before I go
Let me remind you so
That at some point in our lives
We are given love and take love
We taste love and waste love
We want love and need love
We look for love
And deceive love
We miss love
And diss love
Give in to love
Abstain from love
We return love
And yearn for love
We make love
And fake love
But most of all
We will forever grapple with the concept
At first sight or over time
What it is to you
Will be different in my mind
But no matter how I or you
Choose to define
We always underestimate
The power of…
Love

Darker Shade

Within the work that I do with young offenders, I often come across lost and confused black youths. This is the legacy that we, the 80s child, has left behind. In an effort to rebel against what was then, a very racist British society we lost sight of our goals, perhaps because we had little guidance (we were born with little sense of our own identity, black culture made to conform to white society).

The confusion that we felt was passed on to our children and in turn they now seem lost. (I'm generalizing, as the young people that I work with represent only a small minority of the ethnic youth, despite what the media may have us believe).

I have always been a fan of Ken Boothe's 'Is It Because I'm Black?' from the 'Let's Get It On' LP, but was unfamiliar with the original Sly Johnson version until about 15years ago when I happened upon a compilation LP whilst cratedigging in a shop in Camden.

Listening to it the other day, made me wonder, can we still use racism as a reason for the position that we as a people are in today? I have my own views on the subject but thought that I would pose the question by writing the following poem. It comes in two parts, the first addresses the adversities that we as a black nation have had to overcome and the second part looks at the legacy of being black in Britain (or indeed any western society). How much of our predicament have we created ourselves?

I have posted three versions of 'Is It Because I'm Black' in the Back In The Day music section below, including the two mentioned above and an interpretation from Sly Johnson's daughter Syleena. I have always admired Ms. Johnson and there could be no fitting tribute to her father than to cover this track. She stays true to the original whilst still making it sound fresh and when you listen you'll realise why she is known as Syleena 'The Voice' Johnson. It's a song that lyrically captured the mood of the time and was very relevant to me whilst growing up in East London. Is it still relevant today? Some would argue that like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On', it's just as relevant now as when it was written. What do you think?

Hope you enjoy the poem and of course please offer your opinion on the subject.
BA


The dark brown shades of my skin
Only add colour to my tears
Three white brothers on the corner
Only adds to our fears
Yet the only difference between us
Is our position on this Earth
Your destiny you see
Was decided even before your birth
To be born and raised
As a brown child
Determines our status
Fate was also sealed
By where God placed us
We didn’t choose our social position
We didn’t choose to be black
We didn’t choose to be slaves
But we chose to fight back

Through the message of the drum
Human railroads formed a path
To freedom so they thought
But then came the aftermath
Liberation wasn’t something
That we gained overnight
Buffalo soldiers
Tuskegee
We had to die we had to fight
Then came the 60s and civil rights
And we would not be here today
If not for those who paved the way
Still
Something’s holding me back
Is it because I’m black?
Perhaps

You see
Things have changed
We shared the winter in America
And Gil Scott Heron’s revolution may not have been televised
But we saw it with our own eyes
And had revolutions of our own
Brixton, Tottenham, Toxteth
Our oppressors heard our voices
And responded through screeching tyres
Of the Black Mariah’s
They gave us carnival
At first as a novelty
So they could see
The monkeys swing in the trees
Then as a way to keep us all in one place
So we couldn’t spread out
And disrupt their Bank Holiday

And all this time while we laughed at Love Thy Neighbour
The Real McCoy and danced the soul train
The education system stayed racist
Still watching Kunta Kinte eased the pain
Put fire in our veins
But then leaving school
No jobs could be found
That paid us a wage for which we
Could be proud

So we made our mistakes
Baby girls had baby girls
Boys joined the penal system
Our only true liberation
Was at the blues dance
Shocking out to the sound systems
With the words of Enoch Powell
Ringing in our ears
We faced the BNP head on
But never faced them with any fear
And so we earned our position
Pulled ourselves up from nothing
Paid our dues
Became something
Nurtured our children
Not to make mistakes like we
And so got them a babysitter
By the name of MTV

Looking back over my false dreams
Wondering why my dreams never came true
Not wanting the same for our kids
As we went through
Their life chances are better
The ghettos are few
Even though we know the system
Hasn’t changed that much
Affirmative action
Has kept the ball in touch
So now things should be for the better
But what’s going on
Too much skunk in their belly
Idleness is strong in this one
Obi Wan

Get rich or die trying
Is the moral of the youth
They live without faith and hope
And steer away from the truth
Shank him
All because he looked at me funny
Twelve year old youth
Gets stabbed in an alley
Still the future looks better
Barack is the new lick wood
Bringing hope to us all
At least we believe he should

But the cleanup must first
Come from within
The problem is now
So where do we begin
We were murdered and raped
And enslaved and for what
In the 21st century it should have all stopped
But we’re still not free
We’re still not free
Will we ever be free
Only if you
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
The problem is we don’t know
Who holds the key
And complain we don’t have the time

Education unemployment and incarceration
Are still prevalent throughout
All dark skinned nations
Teenage pregnancy homelessness
Will it ever end
If you’re a non white
Not for you my friend
So we sit and debate
The state of our people
And suggest through conversing
How to deal with it all
But before we consider
Who’s to blame
And ways to clean up our act
Ask yourself this question
And see what comes back

If something is holding me back
Is it because I’m black?
Perhaps