Thank you for taking time to read my poem. I appreciate all of you who come here to read and comment.
First, I would like to thank Christine and David. Christine, thank you for the nomination to be PoW. David, thank you for your time and effort in organizing and bringing us the W3 poetry prompts each week.
This is a first for me (pun intended) 😊. Hosting a poetry prompt, I am humbled. I hope you all enjoy and I am excited to read the responses. Have fun creating!
Reminiscent Summertime
An echo poem
It all began with a glance glance A quick look that had me in a trance trance Butterflies in my stomach do a dance dance Not like the two-step but the Harlem shake shake
My first adolescent crush crush Had my face all flushed flushed Suddenly cheeks turn beet red like blush blush Ah this puppy love, what a rush rush
Holding hands at summer camp camp Eyes light up bright, like a lamp lamp Sweat beads on my forehead, damp damp Oh, I wonder if he thinks I’m a tramp tramp
Only one thing is for sure sure Summer camp is nothing but pure pure Hot fun in the lush green land land One must experience it to understand understand?
Answer me this Bring awareness to the Complex idea about love Does it happen organically Exempt from conditions Free of judgments Gratuitous just for its existence Hopeful for its longevity Imagine finding lasting love Just once is enough Knowing some may never have Love is like a cup of tea Making the heart feel warmth Needing no validation from others Only building excitement for Pleasure purpose and peace Quick to turn away opposition Releasing any and all doubt Soothing the body mind and soul Tension leaving with each tantalizing touch Unleashing stress from the day Vanquishing control with each caress Wishing the best for all Xenodochial by nature Yearning for that feeling Zen is the ultimate goal
Thank you for taking the time to read my poem. Love is Like a Kaleidoscope was written in response to the W3 Prompt for this week.
I hope I followed the rules for the prompt. Apologies, if I missed the mark. It was a lot of fun writing this one. Enjoy!
Christian “Cece” Worley. A woman who faced discrimination by her employer. Ms. Worley requested time off from her employer when she experienced pain, due to a medical condition called endometriosis. It is a condition affecting women that causes severe pain.
Denied accommodations is what led her to file a lawsuit. She was told that her condition does not meet the requirements for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What
Ms. Worley won a case, the first of its kind that now qualifies for accommodations for endometriosis under the ADA. To her surprise, she won the case, against the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, by representing herself. Perseverance and knowing that so many other women experience the same condition is what motivated the filing.
Although, Ms. Worley initially lost her suit, she did not let that stop her. Advice from various legal counsel told her that this was not a case that was likely to win in court. Ultimately, successfully winning a ruling has proved otherwise.
Who- Najah Aqeel, a teenager who was not allowed to play in a volleyball match. Why? Because of her hijab. A hijab is a head covering worn by Muslim women as part of their religious beliefs. It holds the meaning of identity, faith, and modesty, among other things. She turned her disappointment into triumph.
What- At that time, a rule by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association was in place. The rule stated prior approval was required by the National Federation of State High School Association. Prior approval to wear any type of head covering.
Can you imagine! Needing to get permission to practice your religious beliefs. Najah and her family, along with the American Muslim Advisory Council has changed the ruling.
Najah Aqeel has affected change, and now student athletes are free to participate and wear their religious head coverings.
Where- Valor Collegiate Prep, Nashville, Tennessee
David Price a young man who was taught as a child to be aware of his surroundings. Especially when it comes to traffic stops for the Black community. A traffic stop is a very tense moment for Black drivers. David saw the need to come up with something to help make it safer. The release of his product cameduring a time of heightened police brutality.
What
The Safety Pouch holds documents needed at a traffic stop. A tool invented by David Price to aid in making interactions between Black drivers and law enforcement safer. The Safety Pouch is hung from the visor or driver side window and provides increased visibility. It eliminates having to reach for registration, license and insurance from the glove compartment or middle console. It is only available in one color, Orange. The bright color makes it easily seen and less mistaken for a firearm.
Where
The Safety Pouch is available to buy on the site. You can buy it at online stores like Amazon and at national retailers like Walmart. Reasonably priced too.
When
The product was made available to the public in May 2020.
A traffic stop is a high anxiety exchange. The invention by this young man is needed and can help to make these stops safer for all involved. It does not provide all the answers or solutions. Although, it is a step in the right direction. Kudos to David Price for his ingenuity.
The bright color of theSafety Pouch is a smart idea. Often times, wallets or other document holders are dark colors which law enforcement can mistake as a weapon. The bright orange color leaves no mistaking for a weapon.
Thoughts invade my mind Trying to sleep, I count sheep One, two, three, four, five Doze off for thirty minutes Beep, beep alarm clock goes off
A related post titled, Better Sleep for Increased Productivity can be found here. I wrote this back in March 2024. It is a helpful addition to the poem about insomnia that reflects the importance of sleep.
Thank you for taking the time to read my poem, Held Hostage by Insomnia. 💞🙏🏽
Who-
Claudette (Austin) Colvin was an unsung civil rights activist. She helped to end segregation on public transportation, as one of the four plaintiffs in the federal case of Browder vs Gayle.
No stranger to the plights of Black people in an era when racism plagued the African American community. She was one of the first to protest for her rights. As did Rosa Parks, who also stood up for what she believed in.
What-
As a teenager during a time of segregation and oppression, she bravely refused to give up her seat on the bus.
Where-
Montgomery, Alabama
When-
March 1955
Claudette demonstrated her refusal of injustice by standing up for her rights. She lived until the age of 86. May she rest in love and peace. 🕊️
"I always tell young people to hold on to their dreams. And sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right even if you have to stand alone-" Claudette Colvin
closets overflow shoes, dresses and jewelry must haves, impulse buys space is tight, what can I do make room for new trends, donate
The challenge this week for Tanka Tuesday is to focus on cleansing/purification. The poem I wrote looks at cleansing from a spatial standpoint. I used this definition as my guide to shape the poem for this week-to rid of something seen as unpleasant, unwanted or defiling.
Cleansing by way of removing clutter is wonderful. Donating all those things no longer needed or wanted, gives those items utility. A second life, if you will. Someone else can enjoy the items rather than throwing them away. Spatial freedom makes way for clarity.
Thank you, Yvette for the prompt this week. Also, thank you to all for stopping by to read. Stay well and be blessed💞
Love Gives the Courage to Hope and instills Passion to enjoy Embody, realize Happiness when it shows up In your life, it is not luck that Money flows your way, sheer fruit of efforts
The poem Essentials of Humanity was written for the prompt by Sadje. Thank you for taking the time to read.🙏🏽💞
Learn dancing, greetings, table sets Talking skills null and void Lacking Words like hello, please, and thank you Take a back seat to sass Slick talk
Social education for kids Grace, respect, etiquette Manners Timeless skills to carry you through Being a lady, young Man too
A cotillion is an event for the youth, ages 11-13. It teaches manners, how to conduct yourself in public situations. Social skills that help them build confidence and conversation skills. Also, how to properly set the table, ballroom dance too. Young girls and boys learn etiquette that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Valuable skills to learn.
I am not sure if cotillions still exist, but it needs to come back. Sadly, too many of the youth of today are disrespectful and lack essential social skills.
The Cotillion is written in response to the prompt. Thank you for reading🙏🏽💕
Mama Ayo made Black Love Day February 13th Kings Queens
Commemorate love, family Self, people, don't forget Show heart
Thank you to my readers for stopping by. The poem Black Love Day is to highlight a day that was founded in 1993. The woman who started this day is D.C. native, Ayo Handy-Kendi aka Mama Ayo.
Black Love Day is about loving the creator, love for self, love of family, the black community and the people. It is a day to spread love to each other, no matter your race. Also, this day seeks to stop violence and racism.
You can share your stories and experiences with the black community on your social media platform. Write about the things that you admire and any positive reflection that is personal to you. Positivity is the general theme and purpose of the day.
Some ways to celebrate the day are to connect with the culture, strengthen relationships with each other. Uplift a loved one, support black-owned businesses and/or causes. Wear purple and black to show your solidarity.
February 13th is also an alternative to Valentine’s Day. Show your loved ones, family, friends and lovers just how special they are by spending time and showing your love, in a way that is uniquely you.
The day is less than a month away. Look out for different activities in your area. How will you celebrate?
Finally a new year is here With everything you have hold on tight New goals and ambitions appear Finally a new year is here Stopping old habits the slate will clear Just as day turns into night Finally a new year is here With everything you have hold on tight
That one place Place no one knows Knows not where to look Look but unable to find Find your place of peace Peace not to be disturbed Disturbed for only one minute Minute that feels like eternity Eternity only an exaggeration Exaggeration of time Time only imagined Imagined to be infinite Infinite it is not Not by a longshot
That one place Place now found Found, no longer sacred Sacred, private, peaceful Peaceful once, now tarnished Tarnished, perturbed, just bothered Bothered, tense, no longer a place of refuge Refuge from the outside noise Noise like loud and quiet chatter Chatter unnecessary and shady Shady in times when light is needed Needed to block out murder masked as self-defense Self-defense now used as a cover up Cover up for ill behavior of the letter groups
Can’t we all just get along Along with each other Other people, faiths and skin tones Skin tones, just the outer part Part of the core of a human Human, we bleed the same as you You are not entitled to harass at will Will led by your lack of understanding Understanding nothing when it comes to rights Rights to which you are not the dictator Dictator to all people you deem unworthy Unworthy to be here just like you You in all your glory are delusional Delusional, unfair, self-righteous to a fault
Place of peace, interrupted
As I write this, I am thinking about everything going on in the world right now and in the recent past. Too many people are senselessly losing their lives, and for what? People who feel that they are more powerful than you. People who feel that we are not worthy of life on this earth. The same way they are living and breathing; we have the right to be here too. The world is in chaos and a lot of us are experiencing unrest. Any semblance of peace, fading away. It is a sad state of affairs.
I can go on, but I think from the poem, you get where I am going with my sentiments. The price of peace should not be this expensive. Such a simple concept seems like too much to ask. Peace looks different for all of us. Be it 10 minutes alone with your thoughts, a one-hour nap, 20 minutes of meditation or cherished time with loved ones. Maybe, a day of not having to look over your shoulder in fear of being snatched up on the street.
Thank you for taking the time to read the post. My hope is that sooner rather than later, things will look up. I know in my heart that better days are to come. Prayer is always bigger than any problem.
