Color Collective Poem

Benjamin Moore Cocoa Brown 2101-20

the sweet jazz music as I walk down the alley

the Jazz flowing through their blood

huge grins on their faces

the scent of chicken so good I can almost taste it

dilapidated houses

fathers home from

a tough day at work

but they don't care

smiles on their faces

the jazz in the background the sweet oh so sweet melodic tunes

the music talks in my ears

the strumming of the guitar ever so gently

I can feel the pain and all their sorrows

through the sweet melodic tones.

the pain on their face

the only way they can express themselves

Once its over the huge grin returns 

no worries anymore

children running around

the rhythmical bouncing of the basketball

thump thump thump

the rattle of the chains when somebody scores

superficially its happy and calm

but underneath the music and all the smiles

lies sorrow and pain

But why

why o why

do we discriminate against our fellow brothers

we are all equal

in the eyes of our creator

we are all endowed

with certain unalienable rights

that cannot

should not be tampered with

and why o why

do we look down upon our brothers

why do we fear them without knowing

is it that we fear them

or we fear the unknown 

Why do we look down upon them

or do we just envy them

envy their abilities

their endless talents

their people

from Langton Hughes ability to play and use words

to Duke Ellington’s ability to make his music flow ever so beautifully 

Yet the African American culture is rich 

5th avenue and 135th street hold more history

 more dreams, hopes, laughs

more pain than most America

it holds rejection, poverty, drugs

yet still richer than Beverly Hills

I come across a small kid

left there alone, it pains my heart to see him

its the survival of the fittest here

its eat or be eaten I do what I can

I toss him a coin its clings on the ground

before he reaches for it

his eyes lighten up at the sight of it

he clutches it close to his chest

like gold 

As I walk

I hear people talking

talking their slang

talking their culture

shouting and chanting

their proud words

I see people praying

bending over and asking for help

hot tears roll down their cheeks

hands up in the air

singing the words of god

singing louder and louder

their powerful and ever so sweet voices

their faces light up as they shout hallelujah

in the name of god


For more poems go to http://middlemindz.blogspot.com/2012/05/choose-benjamin-moore-paint-color-and.html

Where I'm From

I am from Bananas and Tangos.

 I am from sweltering sunny days

 and white sandy beaches. 

I am from exotic plants(So many I can not recall) 

I am from saturday night movies

 and Risk every other day. 

From Malecon 2000 

my heart beats faster every time I’m near it. 

I am from Ale que Chevere and my Caleta. 

I am from he changed me

and made me a better person.

 From Sundays night only means one thing. 

I am from the big city of Guayaquil 

where its eat or be eaten

 and from you’d better watch your back.

 I am from Seco De Pollo 

 and Pan de Yuca. 

From Mom’s passionate hugs

 and from logical debates with dad. 

I am from picture books of my youth, 

which will always be treasured and enjoyed.

I am from political unrest

and the corruption of Ecuador

to the political soundness of Switzerland