What is this? This is a place where I will share my Poetry online. I'm open to feedback and criticisms and comments - Poetry is art - and I enjoy the good and the bad criticisms. I will be using this post to showcase my poetry for my own amusement - here are four recent works I have written. I write to take for a challenge - either self expression or exploration of a mindset or idea. I try to touch on life, love, loss, current events and politics - I'd say i'm heavily influenced by the hip hop culture from mainstream to the underground over the past 20 years. As for myself, i'm no writer, English was never my strong suit, I preferred History,Science and technology in school, but i adore the thought of creating something I hope if you take the time to read my poetry, that it entertains you, inspires you or touches you in some way - hopefully it doesn't waste your time [hide=The Ocean: Night Vs Day] I can think of nothing as contradicting as the ocean sea The contrast of it during night and day is different to me In day the water stretches to the end of the horizon and shines bright The waves crash playfully and unpredictably in the days light The birds walk about and the place is so serene You feel at one with yourself and the world if you know what i mean The salty air creates a fresh and energetic feeling The solitude of the ocean at day is so healing. At night it's like the ocean brings out Mr Hyde. Waves crashing with reckless abandon as they collide with the unforeseeable coast line at night the water and the shore align to make music that sounds so sublime Nature going at it's own accord in the darkness i feel restored the waves crash with fierce intensity nature acts with it's own independent propensity the waves sound so rough but i take comfort in their struggle knowing deep down what the night manages to smuggle It's funny how something as little as your sight Can change how you interpret what happens in the night The day can make the beach so beautiful and tranquil I stand on the sand, Arms outstretched alone in the Bastille The water rushes along my feet to and fro I don't know when the water will come or recede absent of the moons glow I feel one with nature, with the universe, with god tonight Inhaling the cool salty air in the dead of the night Nothing distinguishable in my sight.. Just the sounds of one of natures delights In this moment, I feel smaller than ever before as the water comes and goes ashore... I sink to my knees in the wet sand Theirs nothing in the world I can't withstand I thank god for everything's he done for his mercy, for his love and his son I stand and walk to civilization humble Content as I hear those waves rumble [/hide] [hide=Overcoming Adversity]The past few days have been tiring and unforgiving, took me awhile to move on took lots of talking to god, self reflection trying to hide the fact I'm withdrawn Got to learn who I really am What really makes me a man I knew I'm not special, I knew I wasn't perfect But my Honor and Integrity shone leaving myself with self respect. The toughest thing I ever had to do was confront my growing fear Handle it with professionalism and tact and not run and disappear When All I wanted to do was hide, vanish from sight How dare you tell me everything will be all right You don't know how I feel, You can't relate to my pain Someone Hold me, Don't say a word, is it inhumane? I guess I now know why I'm religious, it's something more than Holidays and a Business In my darkest hour when my life was spiraling out of control When I wanted nothing more than to Scream obscenities and let go Christ comforted me and my friends supported me in my darkest hour Weeks later, I emerge stronger. It will take more than that to make me cower. I made a mistake, it's an instant regret. Whirlwind of emotions none of them taking set Twist the knife deeper and gloat Go ahead, finish me, slit my throat. Nothing can top the shock of what I went through First was the anger, how I wanted to curse and spew I was Livid, I was pissed, Never saw it coming The angering growing, I only thought about a way to make it numbing Drinking down my woes, trying to find a release Anything to get my mind to get these thoughts to cease The feelings of you questioning everything about yourself that you know Evaluating you're strengths, weaknesses where you need to grow. Sometimes a crisis can redefine who you are Weaker being s crumble when the door to their emotions is kicked ajar. You gotta be careful to let it not bring you asunder You got to not be overwhelmed with the Shock and Wonder Sometimes bad things happen to good people who don't deserve it But lifes not fair, not every innocent man has gotten acquit To be fair, I made the best of what I had at the time I didn't realize one day my Utopia wouldn't be sublime Innocent actions can turn sour The Backlash can Devour Should I let it be a regret? Does the view look better from another Minaret? I did what felt Warm and Bright, felt right Delight turned into Despite then to Incite I can't beat myself up for doing what I did Nor can my actions I can completely forbid For i'll do it again another time another place Every detail will change, but ultimately I will replace My failures and fears and hurt with something more New Memories to make, More life to explore. I can't say that I wont make another mistake But I want to live life fearless and risks I'll take Not all situations turn out the same I guess in some respects Life is a game When you fall, you got two choices, stay down or get on your feet Victory after complete and total failure will only taste sweet. Life can't stop me, Fate can't control me, and a bad experience won't slow me I'm going to live life with no regrets, and try to "Just be" The future is as bright as you make it and life's one [bleep] to who I will not submit I could stand afraid looking back at how things didn't go how I wanted. But I'm strong and will take the hurt and stand alone undaunted I made it through my trials and tribulations tougher than ever Thanks to friends who will stand behind you Whenever, Whatever wherever. Another day awake, another lesson learned More Life experience, even if I got burned. Not to sound Cliche, but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger My pain, My failures, My emotions will hold me down no longer. I stand today more resilient than ever Ready for even worse weather. I look into the sky with a smirk, Resolute With a laugh I think...It will take more than that to get me destitute [/hide] [hide=overcoming adversity]I cant help but to fear the unknown it's something I've done as I've grown All I want is to feel like everything's all right I don't want to fear the anguish when I stay up at night I long for companionship, to have a void filled Give me a Glass of Love Bartender Distilled. Take away the parts of pain and longing just leave the parts of happiness and belonging I've wanted lots in life, and seldom been let down if love was a drug I've never been high enough to come down I want something special, Unique Got a college education and smarts, but I don't know what I seek I want to analyze everything i hear or see try to figure out what it means for me it gives me something to take my mind away I stare into the moonlight, the sky is Grey Half ignited, half alive The rest of the sky may as well died. Love, illogical, unquantifiable Yet emotional, the need for it is undeniable Any scientific formulas for it have proven unreliable Can I question true love and my faith in God be Viable? Lots of questions, few answers would feel more efficient trying to cure cancer I try to hide whats wrong secretly listening to another song about love, loss and pain Hiding it all is so f**king easy to feign opening my emotions is something i try to hide I don't want to look weak and let people think I've cried it's hard to find a balance emotions and testosterone is a tricky dance whats accepted whats not? Will love ever give me a shot? Who knows, who can say I know Who i am and at the end of the day I like who I am, I'm proud of what I do is it wrong to want someone who feels the same way too? they say it's never wrong to dare to dream.. But sometimes the impossible is so daunting it seems. [/hide] [hide=A Rap: Written to the Beat of that Airplanes song] I wish she knew I exist Instead of being a guy in her midst I often wonder why I even try Some days I dont even know why Gotta Get it off of my chest That i'm not the same and i'm a cut above the rest But i go on unoticed by the ever beautiful hostess Everday feels the same Work, sleep and try to prove to myself I have game Generally from the melancholy I abstain Yet it's a cause for celebration crack the champagne Drown my sorrows in a glass watching my time slowly pass I look into the mirror and see my reflection Confident, strong yet needing affection The Days grow old The winter feels cold Faith in the Power of prayer To combat the lonely despair The need for another comes and goes As I pen another lovesick verse I suppose Time goes by, My hair turns grey I wish for true love for yet another day Can't see the lights in the sky tonight The CLOUDS cover up the planes in flight Gotta Stay optimistic melancholy or hope - which one is it? Tommorow is another day I don't give a f**k what people say everyone has a weakness I ain't affirmed running at preakness No matter how strong you are Something will hit you with the force of a speeding car From 87 to 2010 i've been a warrior since i've begin At times I feel I walk alone reaped the seeds i've sown never said anything I regret I stare into the sunset Watching planes fly by Making wishes, might as well try they may be Unlikely to come true Truth is i'm overdue I'm the best damn catch in any state Guess i'll just have to wait For someone to finally see Who I am - and like me for me Until the day life goes on In the meantime...[/hide] [hide=Demon in a Bottle.] Dear, Demon in a bottle How I want to throttle. Myself, Over and over again Why? Dont even know where to begin I got a lot of good things going on in my life A job, an education , why focus on the strife? I guess it's easy to dwell on everything negative All it does is frustrate me to the point I want to use expletives Drink another swig It wont Renege false hope that it washes away the pain Down the bottle in a desperate attempt to not feel the same if only I could have more control.. Maybe another sip is more medicine for my soul.. will life get ever better? My problems are hidden, not even a scarlet letter Drink to remember, drink to forget wake up from my sleep in a cold sweat it's just a dream my fears induce a scream as i adjust to my eyes to the light I realize i'm sober from the fright My fears are paralyzing the dreams I have are Tantalyzing Day after day, I do the same thing Eat, sleep work, try to get ahead Guess i'll do it until i'm dead I know what I want,but is it obtainable will i be able to keep it sustainable? I wish I was perfect, I wish I was special Maybe then the uncertainies wouldn't have my stomach in a pretzel. Another day done, more dreams and desires unfufilled. need a heart of stone with my veins chilled Maybe then I wouldn't care I'll Down another bottle...what do I care Anything to numb the pain Maybe when I wake the f**k up..I won't feel the same Whats real? Whats percieved and not there? What happens tommorow? is life fair? More questions that can be answered Refill the Tankard Complacency seems so simple Let my emotions be crippled anything to end the pain To get these thoughts off my brain Eyes heavy, can't stay awake My body is too tired to let the heart ache Asleep now I dream of the perfection Happy people, everyone has a beautiful complextion I guess everyone hurts But my pain is so subvert Will it ever end? Alarm rings, time to live life and hide it all under a feigned grin [/hide]