writing SOMETHING cold

i wanted to write something 

 S o m E T H i N G 

 just joking, Ha! 

 listening 2 D'Angelo 
tellin' me 2 send it on
 i realize that 
i 
do 
not 
like
winter 

 or  cold 
 it's chill y frost y

        without warmth 

 of another person near 

 2 snuggle 
chill away 
 tell me spring is on it's edge 

 that's not what I wanted to write either 

 just a sentimental feeling 

 about how much 
i actually 

hate 
winter 

 i always remember my favorite poem 
by Robert Frost                     Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening 

... i have miles to go before I sleep, 
              miles to go before I sleep 

alert to all that is going on around me 
 trying to decide 
where to focus this energy 
 manifesting in me 
 as the universe conspires 
 for me
 to bring me 
to a place 
it says is for me 
be around those 
that are (in)for me 
 want to be with me in spirit, guidance, learning,
 adding more roots to my tree 

 I do not like this time of year 
with consumerism, 
there is no cheer for me 
 celebrating a fake baby 
that did nothing for you 

or me 

not succumbing
 to a fallacy 
 bright and shining star is already present 

 within me 
 i am present, 
 gift  me 
      you are my gift 
 my treasure 
here on earth 

 but i am not seen 
 beneath the dark, cold sky 

 twinkling 
in my eyes 
 hidden by shadows 
  moonlight has yet to capture 
out side crisp night air, 
(in)side a heated space
i will lay my head down 
 dream of sandy beaches 
far away 
 where  warm waves 
of ocean caress my feet 

 i will dream away these winter blues 
believing in warmth 

 summer's radiant hues 
 i'll put on my fuzzy socks 

creating friction
remove chill from my feet 
as i cocoon myself in cotton blankets 

 did i remember to write something?

  S O M E T H I n G 

 i 
do 

not 
like 

 winter 

 it's too cold 

my thoughts are frozen 

(c) 2014 Sharbi3

There's No Justice, There's Just Us

It's not just about Trayvon. 
His murder was a catalyst. 
It's not just about Emmit Till. 
His murder was a catalyst. 
It's not just about the Jena 6 or Rosa Parks. 
It's not just about ...

Ramarley Graham, Arthur McDuffie, James Byrd, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Yusef Hawkins, Oscar Grant, Willie Turks, George Jackson, Derrick Jones, Martin Luther King Jr, Corey Brown, Henry Glover, Alonzo Ashley, Reginald Doucet, Troy Davis, Kenneth B Walker, Michael Griffith, Bernard Monroe, Malcolm X, Khiel Coppin, James Craig Anderson, Roger and Dorothy Malcom, Henry Smith, Stephon Watts, Rekia Boyd, Shaima Alawadi. 

The list goes on and on and on. 

When will it END?

We don't need anymore catalysts, wake up calls, walking/driving while black, stop and frisk, 500 more years.

This is about disenfranchisement, economic inequality, sub-standard living, not receiving a quality education, higher rates of unemployment,  highest rate of incarcerated individuals, too many single-parent households.

Children in Chicago killing each other, for what? Yeah this is about that too.

It hurts. I'm tired.

We're all tired of fighting the same struggle day in and day out to be recognized ...

as H U M A N S

We haven't received reparations,  the Japanese did,  the Jews did, those in the Middle East have. I, we, they are just as human as everyone else. Wouldn't you be just as upset if all you hear and see are your brothers and sisters dying at your feet, down your street, in your city, their town, our world?

There is no justice,  there's Just Us.

- Sharmane 7/15/2013

Parenting

Being a parent is very surreal. You can imagine being one all you want but when you actually look at a replication of yourself there is both a wow and a whoa factor.

You know how you grew up, what you have learned and what you were taught. You know how you react, your mannerisms and quirks. To think that your mini-me, regardless the gender, is your reflection; yet so much different than you are. It's amazing, watching a child, your child or children grow. How they adapt, what they take in, how they react, what they give back.

There is a mixture of you and your ways in them, yet they are unique. Sometimes it can be the best or worst of both worlds. Or if you have more than one child, each child takes on different or similar traits as you.

It's surreal I tell ya, me a parent. Wow and whoa, yet they are mine and I am them. Give thanks.