Author: poetryfest

I bent down to pick them up
as reached into the opaque fog
I disappeared in the opalescence
and my footsteps faded into memory
when I reached into the opaque fog
I told myself that some dreams are more real than others
and my footsteps faded into memory
only fleeting vapors remained
I told myself, some dreams are more real than others
when the light particles disintegrated
only fleeting vapors remained
with the bones of a whale on the beach
the light disintegrated
and I disappeared in the opalescence
with the bones of the whale on the beach
I bent down to pick them up

a river can have rocks within it
or a sheet of ice going across its surface
or the water can be too warm
that it forms a hurricane
and starts destroying everything
but the point is
you have the power to change me.

you can make my world
heat up
with your cigarette smoke
or higher my vibrations
with your prayers
or inspire passion
with your touch
the point is
I can change the world too.

…

Bio:
HI there, my name is Rejjia Camphor and I am from Baltimore, Maryland. Many people pronounce my first name wrong but I pronounce it like (Ruh-G-Ugh), like it rhymes with Momma Mia! At 22, I graduated with a B.A. degree in Creative Writing, Visual Culture and Women’s Studies from Hampshire College. I have an array of passions but am best known for my hugs, my personality, my poetry and some pretty wild experiences. Right now, I am hoping to center my creative work and writing around the ontology of language, blackness, mental health and healing.

The moment of your loved one’s passing is surreal.
All the things you wanted to say hang there in that moment.
Tears cloud your thinking. You’re not sure he can hear you.
“I love you” becomes your mantra as you attempt to squeeze
Into those words all you always wanted to say but never did.
You hold him tightly as if you can prevent him from leaving.
As he struggles with his final breaths, your mind slips
Into a strange place. Your world has changed before your eyes.
All you knew would happen but never wanted to acknowledge
Is now impossible to ignore. Your mind falters for a moment.
Then your love for him shakes you loose. You rise to the occasion.
You do the things for your loved one you did every day.
You wash his hair. You shave him. You bathe him.
You kiss him one more time. You give him the dignity he deserves.
Then you call hospice and watch them carry out their duties.
You sit nearby and wonder if he’s still there, watching over you.
You rise and go to him. You touch his body gently, caressing him.
You kiss him one last time as they enter the room with a stretcher.
They lift him gently from the bed and wrap the sheet over him.
Your heart tugs, knowing you will never see him again.
His smile, those eyes in which you swore you could see his soul
Would only be memories and images, pixels for you to cherish.
Then they drape a flag cover over his body as your tears flow.
You weep for your own loss and for all the things he wanted to do still.
He was so much more than he even knew and moved the hearts of many
In ways that can’t be written in an obituary. He was a gentle, kind man.
You wonder if your life can go on without him. Tears come often.
Then you remember how much he believed in you without condition.
It strengthens you and commits you to living your life to the fullest
As you know he would want you to do – to make a new beginning.
He will never be gone. He lives in your heart and in the thoughts you think.
You went through the good times and the bad over the years, but
No matter what, you came out on the other side together.
Even though you’re separated by a veil, it can’t rip away your connection.
He’ll always be there for you, no matter the path your life takes in the future.
He is your best friend, the love of your life. His memory is in your every cell.

©2020 Dannye Williamsen

“You’d feel much better,” she said, “If you didn’t think so much.”

“Aren’t you being redundant?” I asked, “Aren’t you saying I would feel better if I didn’t think?”

“There you go again!” she said.

By Cheryl Roma Yarek

IF EVER TO A DINNER PARTY BY THE FAMILY KNOWN AS DONNER YOU’RE INVITED,
IF I WERE YOU, I TRULY WOULDN’T BECOME TOO EXCITED.
IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR ARRIVAL, YOU DISCOVER THAT THEN YOU HAVE TO DEAL
WITH A HOSTESS WHO WILL BE MORTALLY OFFENDED WHEN YOU REVEAL
THAT YOUR STAY WILL NOT BE EXTENDED—
YOUR DIETICIAN RECOMMENDED YOU ONLY EAT A VERY LIGHT MEAL
AND YOU LEARN YOU ARE INTENDED AS THE MAIN COURSE ON THE MENU—
AS A GOURMET SUBSTITUTE FOR A FILLET OF MILK-FED VEAL!
YOU’LL BE SERVED UP WITH BOULIABAISE PLUS A GARNISHEE’
AND ALLSPICE, IF YOU DON’T HEED MY ADVICE AND VERY QUICKLY FLEE!

THE DONNER FAMILY DINNER PARTY HAVE A WELL-HONED APPETITE
THAT IS QUITE HEARTY, ESPECIALLY FOR LONG-PIG, AKA HUMAN FLESH,
THEY ARE ALL FOR CONSUMIN’ IT WITH SPICES SUCH AS CUMIN—
BUT ONLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN BUTCHERED FRESH.

THEY PREFER IT WHEN IT HAS BEEN WELL-STEWED IN A POT,
FOR DINNER, LUNCH OR AN AFTERSCHOOL SNACK;
BUT THEY’LL DEVOUR IT WHETHER IT’S COLD OR HOT,
THEY START TO DROOL AND THEIR LIPS THEY SMACK.
MY MUSCLES WELL-BROILED AND BRAZED UPON A ROASTING SPIT OR RACK……

WHEN I ENCOUNTERED THE JUNIOR BONNERS IT WAS NO CHANCE MEETING—
IT HAD FOR A LONG TIME BEEN THEIR CHERISHED GOAL—
I SHOULD HAVE QUICKLY FLED AT THEIR FIRST GREETING;
THOUGH AT FIRST GLANCE, IT WAS MERELY FLEETING.
I COULDN’T HAVE KNOWN THAT I WAS FATED TO PAY A TERRIBLE TOLL.

ANY ATTEMPTED ESCAPE WOULD HAVE PROVEN SELF-DEFEATING;
THEY WERE DETERMINED TO EXECUTE THEIR CHOSEN ROLE;
EACH TO PERFORM WITH GUSTO—NOT TO MENTION LUST, OH—
WHICH ENTAILS MY STEAMING ENTRAILS BEING SERVED UP IN A BOWL;
MY BODY FLAYED, MY HEAD DISPLAYED UPON A SHARPENED POLE!

THE DONNER FAMILY DINNER PARTIES HAVE A WELL-EARNED REPUTATION FOR MASTICATION…

MY LIFEBLOOD IN A BEAKER WOULD HAVE BEEN BRIMMING,
AFTER STRAINING AND SKIMMING THROUGH A SIEVE;
THE AUVOIR DUPOIS, AFTER TRIMMING, WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIGNED TO SUET;
WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THINKING AS THEY WERE DRINKING IT—
LIKE A CHAMPAGNE SPLIT—

BUT I WAS DETERMINED NOT TO ALLOW SOME CANNIBAL TO EXERCISE HIS MANDIBLE,
WHILE HIS THIRST HE SLAKED,
THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF WITH A CAKE OR PIE IN WHICH MY SWEETMEATS HAD BEEN BAKED……

INSTEAD I VERY QUICKLY DID A FLIT!

THAT WAS THE WORST NIGHTMARE, EVEN AFTER EXTREMELY LIGHT FARE—
I’M REALLY GLAD I DIDN’T DIE—
I’VE COMPLETELY LOST MY APPETITE!

Copyright © 2018

If only I could see
with a mind without
Distractions.
what would I see
would I see me
what would I do
would I take a knife
and then take a life
would I see
clarity
Would I be
Free
Or are the distractions in our
lives the only thing keeping
us : alive, awake, moving, and Breathing
I Care not to Care
but by not going there
Am I impaired?
a Pair of pears
leafy limbs, barky trunk.
dangling tucked
Together
the two
Their branches Bonded
and
the
Bonds of time
simple as a pear
unravel when we Sleep
we escape
Reality when we sleep
Why steep in sleep
Revel in a bottle
waggle and wiggle
giddily giggle
Your awake,
drone
Your senses to sleep
Don’t Be Weak
Don’t Sleep
Keep to your feet
Drink and you can
Sleep Then
Forget
I forgot if it was
worth
Remembering
anyways.
Is any of it?
Worth anything?
at all?

My soulmate is here

Couldn’t be more happier

Our love is clear,

The days are endless,

Our journey has just started

The two years spent

Has given us the strength

We are connected inside and out

No matter the pain or doubts

As long as your by my side

Our challenges that arise

We will have an everlasting life❤️

Jeff Paquet

https://instagram.com/homeboiflicks?igshid=11aslocn8wdta

COME TO ME THIS NIGHT

I AM YOUR BEAST

YOU SHALL NOT FRIGHT

I MISS I KISS YOUR LIPS

WITH BLISS HERE COMES THE TRIPS

BRUSH OFF THE PECK I’M AT YOUR NECK

YOU ARE MY SCORE

YOU YEARN FOR MORE

I AM THE LION

YOU ARE MY PRIDE

I TAKE YOUR HAND

WE’RE NOW IN STRIDE

FALL BACK FALL BACK

FEAR DRIVEN LUST

WON’T BREAK YOUR HEART

WON’T BREAK YOUR TRUST

YOU’RE AT MY DOOR

I’M AT YOUR BUST

TRUE LOVE OUR LORE

NOW TAKE MY THRUST

the dream
the reality
the ghettos
the insanity
the inhumanity
look at the world’s state
poverty
look how power rapes
could I take
dirty water under
the poorest living conditions
still praying, hoping, wishing
dreaming of that new day
dreaming of equal opportunity
how can I not cry for the world
look at everything it’s doing

As I grew up, I hardly knew,

I would find serenity in the arms,

Of the beautiful Dalma Hills,

Of the natural greenery, and the flowings;

Of the winds, and the waters of the rivers,

Through the plateaus of the geography,

That distinguished my native birth place.

I was mesmerised every time I stepped out.

The attraction was great,

The love was bound to be greater.

The love conspired,

The serenity inspired,

And I was writing my thought expressions,

That flew on the spaceship to the,

Wanderings of the parallel universes,

To the sucking center of the black holes,

To the alien worlds somewhere,

Looking to interact with us;

All back to where we willingly long for,

The life that we wait to fill,

With the love of a lifetime.

—————