I got up with the poetry scene over five years ago while living in Houston when a friend of mine from church took me to an open mic poetry reading that was in downtown Houston at a barbecue restaurant. It was on a Sunday night and the place was packed with folks dressed in their Sunday best, enjoying an evening of spoken word while enjoying dinner and having drinks. You "almost" could call it a club atmosphere, but without the loud music, dancing, and smoke. It was chic.
By August 2000, I was living in Sacramento, Ca by myself and with quite a bit of spare time on my hands. January rolled around and I started looking for venues outside of church where I could meet some culturally enriching black folks. Let's just say I was lonely and attention starved. Hey, what do you expect when you move 1500 miles across the nation, sight unseen, and don't know anybody to kick it with?
Needless to say, they had an African-American bookstore right around the corner from my townhouse that was featuring a local poet named Terry Moore. This was new to me, but intriguing. He was promoting his new chapbook of poetry which was mainly about love and the date of the event was right before Valentine's Day. Well, seeing how the place filled up with all sorts of poets and folks, I was hooked by the atmosphere, the spoken word and the creative juices that were at that time dormant, waiting to come alive...in me.
By March 18th, the rebirth of my poetry entered on the page of my poetry journal that once lay lifeless with only horizontal lines canvassing the pages begging to be colored with ink and thought.
The first poem I wrote, was I guess a response to the "flirting" by Terry Moore to me. At that time he was single but unknowingly to me, taken. I think he had what most men who are involved with someone but still flirt with any skirt, amnesia. What started out cute and enticing, turned out to be annoying and definitely thought provoking. So with a fully ink loaded pen, my retort began.
I titled it,
Don't Play With Me:
By Maryee 3-18-01
What are you looking for?
Someone with that low self-esteem?
Someone you can dominate, humiliate, and intimidate?
Boyyyy, I thought you knew!
Do you not know who I am?
I'm the sistah who really can't be bothered with your ishes
You know Chauvinish, Childish,
Pile of Shhhh
It ought to be a crime
to be so divine and blow my mind
with your so called rhymes
Who taught you how to flow like that?
I mean put words together and make them...go like that
Cat, You da bomb!
I'm 'bout to explode off your energy
Your synergy
It's like tryin to get the best of me
But WAIT! What do I see?
Fifteen other chics feeling the same as me?
Who do you think I am, some GROUPIE??
Don't gaze into my eyes unless you want me to gaze right back
Don't try and touch my inner most, unless you wanna get touched back
DON'T PLAY WITH ME!
I read him this poem before departing Sacramento and moving down to Orange County in January of 2002. He liked it and wanted a copy. Go figure.
I had to follow up with a "I ain't sharing" poem later. Terry was indeed a blessing to me, for had it not been for that drama, my poetry wouldn't have been re-birthed. God bless Mr. Moore in his endeavors.
About 200+ poems later and I'm still goin'
From meeting Terry, I was also blessed to meet other poets in Northern California who I've remained good friends since then.
My girl Nicole Romeo
and my main man Nathan Lewis
Both have been quite inspirational and encouraging to me in my writing journey. I miss em' both!
It was through Terry, Nathan and Nicole, I was able to briefly be a part of Born2B Poets, and feature twice at Tower Book Store in Sacramento.
When I moved down to Southern California, another sweet spoken word artist whom I adore and met through my former church Friendship Baptist, is none other than the sexy, classy and sassy, Maura Gale. She said she'd never forget me because her mom's name is Mary Elizabeth. Cool huh?
It's been a blessing just to share my poetry in written or spoken word. I'm happy to be able to host the poetry readings at Beatnix and look forward to offering others an opportunity to express.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
New Poets and New Poetry every Thursday
Last night was fun!! Week number four is next Thursday. All ages, all colors and types/styles of delivery and presentatioin. Even if you don't have your own, come and read your favorite poet's pieces. I read one from Maya Angelo last night and Jen read If by Rudyard Kipling. Come to read , recite, or listen. See ya next week at Beatnix Coffee House!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
JC's Girls Girls Girls
Jen and I went to visit Jane Derrick's mother-in-law, Mrs. Derrick at Providence Hospital last night. She was admitted because she was dehydrated. Being that she was up in age and rarely sick, it was a good thing that she submitted to going in to get checked out last night.
Well the TV was on in her room but the volume was turned down real low. I glanced up and saw some show on TV that had what looked like playboy pin-ups promoting something. I remembered the name and did a search on google tonight to find out what I couldn't see and hear on TV. They are called JC's Girls Girls Girls.
Interesting, to say the least. Go ye therefore...
Well the TV was on in her room but the volume was turned down real low. I glanced up and saw some show on TV that had what looked like playboy pin-ups promoting something. I remembered the name and did a search on google tonight to find out what I couldn't see and hear on TV. They are called JC's Girls Girls Girls.
Interesting, to say the least. Go ye therefore...
Monday, January 23, 2006
Wisdom from a friend
I was checking out a friend of my sister's website. She's a writer who was in the masters program at the University of Iowa with my sister in the early 90s. Jen led me to her personal website and I was commenting on how beautiful her family was and how handsome her husband was. Jen said, "Tab said, 'Marry someone who's nice. My husband was a very nice man when I met him.'" They have three adorable children and she writes books for children and young adults. I was encouraged.
Marry a mean or unhappy man and I'm guessing you'll more than likely have a mean and unhappy marriage. I'd also guess it doesn't matter how he looks, what he does for a living or what side of the tracks he's from. If he's not nice, don't bother with him.
Food for thought.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Your Issue is the Title
This was written Wednesday 1-18-06. I read it the next night at the open mic poetry reading at Beatnix. Your own personal interpretation of what the poem means to you is appreciated. Feel free to make comments.
Click on the link to hear me recite it.
Your Issue is the Title
By Maryee
ominous
It lurks, slinks, swaying, saying something devious, and sly...
to seduce me
to entice me
to entrap me
to encapsulate me
At first I thought you came into my life to entertain me
To take away mundane
melancholy
moments of trite unsunlit grey skies and overcasty
moonless nights.
At second, I felt secure, with you, you sly fox
but seemingly unsure of the subtle enmity slowly developing between you and me.
I was fake as a 3 dollar bill
You were standing in the gap as a known imposture
But I impudently ignored ALL of the passive as well as overt warning signs-
My eyes along with my good God given senses went on a hiatus...
until further notice,
No, until I noticed the spine of my back curling,
irregularly in the most horrid shape-
And I drink milk!
And I work out EVERYDAY!
I then noticed when looking in the mirror
my face
which I religiously mollycoddled often
with the latest creams, moisturizers, astrigents, make-up and the such...
was now dark, scaly, puss-filled
rancid, with absolutely no glow...full of rancor
My face along with my thoughts, depraved from all innocence
external and internal decadence seeping through my pores
piercing even to the dividing asunder of my soul
and my spirit,
and of the joints
and marrow,
of me.
They call if debilitation.
It wants what it wants, you know.
And when it's incessant
constantly digging away with me, not IT
unsheathing the sharp shiny metallic scalpel,
slaying and assassinating ME
And I did it...all by myself
Now there are some things only God can do
And some things only I can do.
God, I hear you're in the restoration business.
Your fine craftmanship is displayed all over this place
and in other venues my naked eye can't fathom
here while I sit flailing in my self-made muck and mire.
My part I understand
is to simply stop, drop, and turn
Turn away from...self mutilization
and...find a better way
a better way to love me
to love you
to love what is good
and abhor what has obvious doom-filled
fatal consequences on ME and MY life
I want to live!
I want to love!
I want to do what ever it takes to get this monkey off my back!
And if it means I need to stop, drop, and turn
BELIEVE and RECEIVE
I'm in!
Click on the link to hear me recite it.
Your Issue is the Title
By Maryee
ominous
It lurks, slinks, swaying, saying something devious, and sly...
to seduce me
to entice me
to entrap me
to encapsulate me
At first I thought you came into my life to entertain me
To take away mundane
melancholy
moments of trite unsunlit grey skies and overcasty
moonless nights.
At second, I felt secure, with you, you sly fox
but seemingly unsure of the subtle enmity slowly developing between you and me.
I was fake as a 3 dollar bill
You were standing in the gap as a known imposture
But I impudently ignored ALL of the passive as well as overt warning signs-
My eyes along with my good God given senses went on a hiatus...
until further notice,
No, until I noticed the spine of my back curling,
irregularly in the most horrid shape-
And I drink milk!
And I work out EVERYDAY!
I then noticed when looking in the mirror
my face
which I religiously mollycoddled often
with the latest creams, moisturizers, astrigents, make-up and the such...
was now dark, scaly, puss-filled
rancid, with absolutely no glow...full of rancor
My face along with my thoughts, depraved from all innocence
external and internal decadence seeping through my pores
piercing even to the dividing asunder of my soul
and my spirit,
and of the joints
and marrow,
of me.
They call if debilitation.
It wants what it wants, you know.
And when it's incessant
constantly digging away with me, not IT
unsheathing the sharp shiny metallic scalpel,
slaying and assassinating ME
And I did it...all by myself
Now there are some things only God can do
And some things only I can do.
God, I hear you're in the restoration business.
Your fine craftmanship is displayed all over this place
and in other venues my naked eye can't fathom
here while I sit flailing in my self-made muck and mire.
My part I understand
is to simply stop, drop, and turn
Turn away from...self mutilization
and...find a better way
a better way to love me
to love you
to love what is good
and abhor what has obvious doom-filled
fatal consequences on ME and MY life
I want to live!
I want to love!
I want to do what ever it takes to get this monkey off my back!
And if it means I need to stop, drop, and turn
BELIEVE and RECEIVE
I'm in!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Dream or Not?? You decide
Since I'm a journaler, I decided to post something from my journal that I wrote 1-13-05, a whole year ago. The question is, was this true or just a dream? You tell me what you think.
******************************************************************************
I was at the Friend’s bookstore in Lahabra. I was there to work, but as usual I started looking at books. I was browsing through the section adjacent to the desk, under the music shelf. There I found a couple of books I was interested in. I pulled out this old dusty grey book that was soft leather and looked bout’ tattered. It looked old and quite used. It had some writing on the cover over which had faded and it was hard to read. I thumbed through the book and saw that it had lots of writing. It looked to be a date book. The writing wasn’t neat and a lot of the entries were plastered on the page with no intent on staying between the lines. I saw the book was a ten-year calendar from the year 1994 to 2004. Someone who apparently died some time last year probably had his or her possessions donated to the library. I thought, “Wow! This person basically documented the last ten years of his life. And he did!” I flipped back to the end of the date book. Near the end I saw an entry that said, “I am dying.” I turned the page and it looked like a couple of the pages were missing, or ripped out. I thought that was quite strange. Then I saw what looked like Jan’s handwriting, like with the last page with an arrow pointing back that said, “Dying.” I figured the person had to be documenting his health and everything over the years and I was amazed at how such a book had ever been created and used. He must have been faithful with his documentation. I took the book and put it on the desk to buy.
Jan was shelving and moving around. I was, too. I went to the wall and saw some roses with baby’s breath and purple flowers on the shelf. They weren’t in a vase. They were just lying there. I maneuvered them until they were all neatly arranged into a bouquet and put them back on the shelf. A lady, who was white, tall, big and looked to be lesbian with short hair came in. She told me she wanted to buy them and asked how much. “I guess”, I said, “29 dollars.” She said, “OK,” but I knew they were worth more than that. Since we were in the library bookstore, I thought I had been reasonable. They were freshly cut and I imagine they’d last some days if well taken care of. The lady and I exchanged dialogue, which I can’t remember now. All I do remember is she asked me to put clear shipping tape in two places on her back. In the middle of the bookstore, she raised her shirt up and I taped two by two inch strips of tape underneath her shoulder blade. Not sure what that was all about.
In the library, Jan asked me if I sold the flowers. I told her, “Yes.” She thought that was good, but I couldn’t tell if she was pleased or not with my price quote. I thought it was pretty dern good. So the lady who bought the bouquet was on the bus outside. I was on it, too. More dialogue. ????
Rev. Harris and Rev. Craig are in front of me. And I think it was I who gave them compliments on teaching 101 class at church. They were both happy and accepting of the compliments.
****************************************************************************
Was this a dream, or did this really happen??
******************************************************************************
I was at the Friend’s bookstore in Lahabra. I was there to work, but as usual I started looking at books. I was browsing through the section adjacent to the desk, under the music shelf. There I found a couple of books I was interested in. I pulled out this old dusty grey book that was soft leather and looked bout’ tattered. It looked old and quite used. It had some writing on the cover over which had faded and it was hard to read. I thumbed through the book and saw that it had lots of writing. It looked to be a date book. The writing wasn’t neat and a lot of the entries were plastered on the page with no intent on staying between the lines. I saw the book was a ten-year calendar from the year 1994 to 2004. Someone who apparently died some time last year probably had his or her possessions donated to the library. I thought, “Wow! This person basically documented the last ten years of his life. And he did!” I flipped back to the end of the date book. Near the end I saw an entry that said, “I am dying.” I turned the page and it looked like a couple of the pages were missing, or ripped out. I thought that was quite strange. Then I saw what looked like Jan’s handwriting, like with the last page with an arrow pointing back that said, “Dying.” I figured the person had to be documenting his health and everything over the years and I was amazed at how such a book had ever been created and used. He must have been faithful with his documentation. I took the book and put it on the desk to buy.
Jan was shelving and moving around. I was, too. I went to the wall and saw some roses with baby’s breath and purple flowers on the shelf. They weren’t in a vase. They were just lying there. I maneuvered them until they were all neatly arranged into a bouquet and put them back on the shelf. A lady, who was white, tall, big and looked to be lesbian with short hair came in. She told me she wanted to buy them and asked how much. “I guess”, I said, “29 dollars.” She said, “OK,” but I knew they were worth more than that. Since we were in the library bookstore, I thought I had been reasonable. They were freshly cut and I imagine they’d last some days if well taken care of. The lady and I exchanged dialogue, which I can’t remember now. All I do remember is she asked me to put clear shipping tape in two places on her back. In the middle of the bookstore, she raised her shirt up and I taped two by two inch strips of tape underneath her shoulder blade. Not sure what that was all about.
In the library, Jan asked me if I sold the flowers. I told her, “Yes.” She thought that was good, but I couldn’t tell if she was pleased or not with my price quote. I thought it was pretty dern good. So the lady who bought the bouquet was on the bus outside. I was on it, too. More dialogue. ????
Rev. Harris and Rev. Craig are in front of me. And I think it was I who gave them compliments on teaching 101 class at church. They were both happy and accepting of the compliments.
****************************************************************************
Was this a dream, or did this really happen??
Friday, January 13, 2006
Maryee's Thought for today-Sin's Baby is Pride
Sin simply means missing the mark. When we miss the mark in our thoughts, acts and deeds, it is considered sin. The root of sin is usually pride. Pride gets most people in trouble in their relationships with family, friends, and on the job.
The pride I'm talking about defined: Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
Pride snuffs out unity, love, and forgiveness. It breeds bitterness, strife and scorn and unforgiveness.
Just thinking about the last time I cut an attitude. Pride stepped in and said, "I'll take it from here." Uckk!!
The pride I'm talking about defined: Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
Pride snuffs out unity, love, and forgiveness. It breeds bitterness, strife and scorn and unforgiveness.
Just thinking about the last time I cut an attitude. Pride stepped in and said, "I'll take it from here." Uckk!!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Maryee's Thought for the day-Dreaming
I really need to get back to journaling my dreams down. I have about a half dozen dream journals and boy are they interesting to go back and read. It's well over a thousand pages or so. Some are long and detailed. Some are short and quirky.
Here's one from my journal written almost one year ago today:
1-11-05
I dreamed last night, but all I remember was a funeral. Who's I don't know. And Marty Sellers moving and talkng about what, I don't know. That's all.
I heard the rain outside and what sounded like someone on the computer. When I opened my eyes, no one was there. That was a bit weird.
****My Uncle WT's funeral is this Saturday 1-14-06 in Houston. May he rest in peace.
Here's one from my journal written almost one year ago today:
1-11-05
I dreamed last night, but all I remember was a funeral. Who's I don't know. And Marty Sellers moving and talkng about what, I don't know. That's all.
I heard the rain outside and what sounded like someone on the computer. When I opened my eyes, no one was there. That was a bit weird.
****My Uncle WT's funeral is this Saturday 1-14-06 in Houston. May he rest in peace.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Maryee's Thought of the Day- God is Love
How do I know? When I try and exalt myself above God and his plan, I will not win!
Maryee-
Maryee-
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Maryee's Thought for the Day-Look Who's Watching
Children are great at emulating whatever and whoever they see. That means they are learning and something/someone is teaching, whether it/they know it or not.
Who's watching you? What are you teaching and do not realize you are doing just that? By your actions, are you teaching love or hate? Sober judgment or reckless behavior? Peace or strife? __________ or _____________?
Pay attention to what you say, how you look, how you view the world around you, and what you do in the presence of God's adorable little creations.
Maryee-
Who's watching you? What are you teaching and do not realize you are doing just that? By your actions, are you teaching love or hate? Sober judgment or reckless behavior? Peace or strife? __________ or _____________?
Pay attention to what you say, how you look, how you view the world around you, and what you do in the presence of God's adorable little creations.
Maryee-
Monday, January 09, 2006
Open Mic Poetry in Waco at Beatnix Thursdays at 7pm
Well, we finally found a venue to perform poetry, music and the such in good ole' Waco, Tx. The place is Beatnix Coffeehouse. The time is 7pm. The days are Thursdays.
Blog with more info is found HERE!
Those of you locals, please come and join us, if not to share, then to listen and support. We really need a nice place of expression for locals here in Waco. This is a lovely place with a right kind of atmosphere for cultural expression. See ya at Beatnix!
Blog with more info is found HERE!
Those of you locals, please come and join us, if not to share, then to listen and support. We really need a nice place of expression for locals here in Waco. This is a lovely place with a right kind of atmosphere for cultural expression. See ya at Beatnix!
Maryee's Thought for the day-Do What's in Your Heart to Do!
If you do what's in your heart to do, then peace will abound all around you. When you're not in your right place, pride, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness will run rampant in your life reeking much havoc.
Remember, your level of peace will determine if you are in your right place. It doesn't matter if it's a relationship, a job, a church, or a lifestyle. Sometimes uncomfortable turbulence comes your way because you need to MOVE out of YOURS and GOD'S way.
Remember, your level of peace will determine if you are in your right place. It doesn't matter if it's a relationship, a job, a church, or a lifestyle. Sometimes uncomfortable turbulence comes your way because you need to MOVE out of YOURS and GOD'S way.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Maryee's Quote of the day - Your Maturity Level
Your maturity level is measured by the degree of attitude you get when things don't go your way.
-Maryee
-Maryee
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Maryee's Thought of the Day-Problems and Conflict
Just because you do not face or address a problem doesn't make it go away.
-Maryee
-Maryee
Friday, January 06, 2006
Lou Rawls has left us today
Lou Rawls has left us today. May he rest in peace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recent_deaths
http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/lou-rawls.htm
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Christian Authors Network Blog
I saw this forum network on blogspot and that gave me the idea for starting the Locked Hair Blog Exchange. I first have to get something published and then, perhaps, I might can join the Christian Authors Network Blog. I think 2006 will be the year of getting quite a bit of my work completed! Happy New Year!
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