Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder/Self Image

 I  often  wonder  why  we  as  women  put  so   much  emphasis   on beauty, makeup  and  how  much  we  weigh. It  is  like  we are  obsessed  with  it   and  do not realized  that  beauty  is  really  in the  eye  of  the  beholder.   Not everyone  can be  a supermodel  like Elle McPherson,  Christie  Brinkley   or  Naomi  Campbell.   I often  wonder  why  do  we  want  to  try  the  latest  diets,  hairstyles  or  makeup  and  then i   realized  that we  are  following    celebrities  and  other  people  from  Hollywood.  Is  it  Godly   to  be  focus  on  beauty, have  we    forgotten  that  we  all  are made in  God's  image?   Why are  we  aiming  to  look like   Mariah  ,  Nicki  Manji  and  whoever   is the  flavor  of  the    week .   Why  cannot  not  aimed  to be  like  Deborah, the  3  Mary's, Esther, Ruth, Hannah   and  why cannot  we    look  at positive   real women  to   admire and copy  them.
What is  beauty? According to  the  Webster  dictionary   beauty  is "the quality of being physically attractive,the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind" .



So with this  definition I can assumed  that anyone  can  be  considered  beautiful  once  they  give   pleasure  to  our  senses or  our  minds.   We  shouldn't be  held   by  Hollywood's standard's  of  beauty.



   Some  years  ago   I was just watching this Cover  Girl  ad with the actress Drew Barrymore and realize that women and especially young girls are bombard with images of women with make up, size o and who has had  work done on their bodies. I have nothing against makeup because i wear most times but i just realize that the images we as women get are that you put on some make up and all your problems will go away. We live in an age where the media shows celebrities, actors , singers etc with long straight hair, skinny and long legs. There is little diversity from the media on portraying how real women look and are. Not everyone can be a size zero but I digress.  Not   everyone  has  the  time  to  go  to  the  gym,  Not everyone has  the  money  to afford  personal  trainers, chefs or  even go  to  expensive  health  restaurants.




I have notice that because of those images on television, cd covers , magazines etc women and young girls have become self loathing. Women are now trying all kind of diets, buying the latest outfits and clothes that maybe Mariah Carey, Madonna or Halle Berry wore. Women  are  becoming anorexic, bulimic or suffering from any weight issue or disease and becoming overwhelming unhealthy. Young girls don't have the self confidence because of what they see  and what they are experiencing. Many young girls are being bullied or being made fun because they not the size zero or 2 like the popular girls in school or they were braces or and they don't fit the general consensus of beauty.   They  are  bullied  because  they  not  the  most attractive  girls  physically  or  they   do  not  fit   society's  standard  for beauty.




We have women damaging their bodies and skin by having botox or, bleaching  or  lightening of   skin and  spray tanning themselves not realizing g the effects of these beauty enhancements would do, tans and bleach  can cause cancer, botox can go wrong. we as women should forgot those media images and forget those celebrities and have more love for ourselves and realize that though those famous women portray themselves as perfect they are not and its all smoke screens to make the world believe that they are perfect.




Society has to change its perception on what is beautiful and what is great self image. we have to be careful of who we call beautiful, we call fat. There should be more diversity in the media, in magazines etc of how a woman looks not just the tall, skinny, long legs, long hair women that we see but we should we have a more diverse group not all of us are skinny but we are curvy , few extra around, short etc, We need to see more women of different sizes,, textures so that we don't have the case of girls having a bad view of their selves and their body image.



Why  can  we  stop focusing  on  physical  beauty and  focus  on the  inside, why  don't we celebrate   the  female   lawyers,  female  doctors, female   inventors,  why can't  we  focus  on intelligence  and  how  someone  treat us  not  the  physical because  when  all is   said and  done  your  physical beauty fades  and  all  we  have  left  is the  inside.    Girls and  women  need  to  focus  on   what  God  has  called   us  to   to  be   Godly women  and   focus  on  what  is  pleasing  to  him.
 Women  with  a good  self  image   have  the  power  to change the  world!



Lets all forget about the Hollywood stereotypes that we are bombarded by and just love our selves for differences.  Let  us  focus  on   raising  women who  love God  and  want to please  him  not vainity and things  that  fleets away.Lets  focus  on  raising and encouraging more  female  doctors, mathematicians,  biologist, chemists, teachers, therapists. Let us  embrace  the female  intelligence and  kindness and  not  on how   a woman look
Beauty is  in the  eye of  the beholder !  we  all are beautiful in our  own way.  We need to realize  this but  I digress!




I  know  its  hard  to throw away  society's  definition  of  beauty  because  we are  bombarded  by   these  images. I understand  because  I am one  of  these girls  that's insecure   about  my  weight and  beauty and   I often think  ways  that  i  could   change my looks  maybe  have  longer  hair, have  lighter  skin, be  taller, be  thinner. But less  I focus  on   this  culture's and   Hollywood's  sterotype  of what is beautiful,  the  more i focus  what's inside.
It  is the  inside that counts  not  the  outside!  Beauty is who  you  say and what you see  not  the  media but  as   always  I  digress




As  Madonna  says  " Everyone  wants  to go  Hollywood"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYIVIgfEaXc

"Love For Literature Part 2: Know Your Audience"

Devin Joseph Metz

I can recall a time back in 2007(easily one of the most enjoyable years of my life regarding music and literature) when I received a heavy amount of exposure to the immensely valuable experience known to Poets worldwide as spoken word. At the time, I attended classes at community college in the mornings and afternoons while working at a local supermarket in the evening. My schedule wasn't always favorable as far as I would have liked it to be; so I really had to attend these spoken word(or Open Mic sets as they have been more widely known as) sets when I had very small windows of time to get from my job to my house to where we were performing that night sometimes. 

Take into consideration here that I had no transportation for myself, of course. Thank God that my cousin was working with me at the time; so that was one less issue to worry about. Back then, we would attend open mic on Friday nights at the Quality Hotel. Very intimate setting, open bar, candles at each table, dim lighting, bar food, and a stage most adequate for spoken word poetry: Drum set to the back of the stage against the curtains, bongos on the left, chimes on the right, stands for guitars and various other instruments and dead center in the front of the stage is a microphone stand.

My cousin and I arrived to this scene every time that we were able to attend. There was a calming, comfortable mood about those Friday nights there; but simultaneously, there was definitely an excitement and anxious aura about that stage and everyone who graced it. The host at the time would always carry that clipboard to the stage and anyone just sitting around as a spectator could easily look out into the room and pick out who was set to perform if they had not seen the ledger just yet by watching who responds to him walking towards the stage to announce who was coming up next. 

So this had been maybe my second or third time attending and I was set to recite one of my pieces this particular show. As much as I am able to recall the scene and overall atmosphere of the venue, memory doesn't serve me completely as I cannot recall which of my pieces I read that night. I do remember, however that I was somewhere quite delicately placed between anxious and apprehensive; and right when I came to this realization while seated at my table with my poem in my hands, a silence came over the crowd as the host called up the next speaker:

"Alright ya'll. Give my girl another round of applause. That was mad sexy for real! *crowd claps* Alright...*reads clipboard*...next up to the stage, ya'll give it up for my dude. Very talented writer. C'mon up to the stage, Dev."

So I gather myself, get up on stage and I actually felt a degree more ready and relaxed than I was initially. So I recited my piece and got a decent reception from it; but I couldn't ignore the reaction that I was getting from the crowd when I glanced up every now and then as I read my piece. It isn't an extremely accurate depiction, of course as the crowd didn't necessarily show disinterest or boredom; but I still felt that the overall mood was akin to this visualization:

Not the favored visual for any spoken word performer of any variance.

It was at that moment that I saw firsthand how important it was to gauge one's audience when getting ready to perform on stage.

My blight was easy to recognize. The artists that took the stage before me captivated the audience with energetic, sexually charged pieces and songs. The crowd was stirred well with the lively yet very enchantingly mature tone of sensuality.......

............................and here I come with my piece laden with insecurity, relationship trouble, despair and any other somber emotion that could be mixed within this intricate cocktail of rhythmic literary detail. 

The crowd was deflated because I took into account what I wanted to convey instead of what the audience wanted to experience.

Literature is both a personal and public vocation simultaneously; but one must know when to distinguish between the two; and I know what you're thinking:

"How could you have known what the audience wanted? How can anyone know that?"

Well the answer to that is simpler than most will realize. When it comes to going to venues where you plan to perform, it would behoove you to assume the role of spectator so that you can gauge the crowd in a very effective manner. Had I done this instead of simply adhering to the message I wanted to convey, I would have been better prepared to entertain the crowd.

Now of course, entertainment is not the sole manifest of spoken word and it shouldn't be in my opinion. There are times when a message must be shared with the masses; but just like the institution of faith and the first shot of tequila, one must never look to impose or force upon anyone anything just because he or she feels like it is important. There must be a level of tact and respect to accompany the art of conveyance.

The crowd is but one part of this undertaking, though. Take some time to check out the atmosphere; both physically and figuratively. Does the place look appealing to you? Is there a certain ambiance or flare to the surroundings? How is the lighting? What is the overall reception from the crowd to the acts that grace the stage? Is there a recurrent theme to these acts or is there a mixed variance of sorts? How does the crowd respond to this? Do they like variety or do they want the theme to remain constant? Does the possibility of a recurrent theme sit well with the audience or does it incur mass boredom? Scan the crowd. Pay attention to them instead of the performances every now and then; especially if you notice them giving off this reaction:

What's this look, you ask? This is called intrigue. Intrigue is very important. Critical, even when it comes to that relationship between a performer and his/her audience.

Intrigue is the bonding agent of sorts when it comes to the art of conveyance. Whether conveying a message, sharing information from another source, addressing the masses or in this case captivating and entertaining the audience, aspiring to intrigue them is a key that unlocks a myriad of doors when it comes to performances that will ensue henceforth.

Remember that old adage about first impressions?

Cheesy as it may sound to all of us, it is definitely true. One bad debut can spell bad luck going forward for a spoken word artist. Does this mean that there is no chance for the artist in the future? Of course not. It does, however make it increasingly more difficult to break through that wall that is thickened and bolstered by initial criticism. Criticism will always exist, of course; but any tenured performer will tell you firsthand that initial criticism is harder than most any other form to push past or get rid of completely.

It is often expressed and proven that the path to where a performer wants to be must and often does start, progress and end with the his/her audience. I have developed some close friendships with Poets, Singers, Comedians and other stage performers that have built a veritable reputation on their ability to captivate the audience. My hope and wish for each of them is that they get to the point in their individual paths with their talents where their intrigued crowds become fanatics like this:

 

 Disregard the girl reading the text message from her soon-to-be ex boyfriend.

There are some crowds that will be subtle when expressing their displeasure for the performer that is on stage. Some will be so subtle that they may even offer the audience equivalent of a golf clap as you make your way off the stage. Every audience isn't as friendly, however.

This is yet another reason why it is important to go through the aforementioned measures when going to a place where you would like to perform. The reaction an audience gives off is merely a reaction to the performer; not an overall indicative attitude of the the crowd. The crowd can be a pretty enthusiastic group of people and one performer can get on stage and stink it up so bad that a majority of the audience is irreversibly offended from that point forward.

Conversely, I have seen performers grasp the heartstrings of some of the most critical crowds a performer could ever look to stand in front of. Preparedness is one part of this performer's success, though. I believe the other part is speaking with conviction and having exceptional delivery with your content.

That's for another post, though.

Conveyance in the open mic setting in my opinion has very little to do with the performer relative to the content therein and the audience he or she is performing in front of especially. 

My readers from here in New Orleans know about a cozy little place known as Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club. As the name implies, it is a club primarily aimed towards Blues and Jazz music; but they do hold an open mic night for spoken word artists and other performers alike. The few times that I have been privy to this show, I must say that I definitely enjoyed myself. What always stands out to me is how the crowd is just as active as whomever graces the stage; and they aren't afraid to express their displeasure or full approval of who is up on that stage; which I believe is fair enough.

All of us who take part in performing on stage owe it to ourselves to make sure that we are prepared to some degree; especially since we will never be fully prepared in any sense of the term. We also owe it to the audience to make sure that we can appeal to them when we choose to perform for them.

Take the time to get to know your audience. Doing so may just make sure that they always know who you are.

"Idle Thoughts Part 3: Wallpaper"

"Idle Thoughts Part 3: Wallpaper"

Your curvature my compass.
Even closed eyes honor footsteps.
My ears their accomplice;
Willing to accompany every request laden.
Perceived a maven for decisions
Made without conscious precision,
I am upholding my mantle tonight.
Few lights blink above porch steps.
Ponds darker than the last drink.
I need time to think;
But I only recall your wink
With my head buried with your sink.

Sank too deep for slumber.
No degree of hunger;
But my intrigue surely piques.
Your hands cup my cheeks
Like that of clay you've spun around.
You don't make a sound.
You have yet to say a word.
Only footsteps I have heard.
This room filled with words
That I've only read in tomes.
Secrets fill this home.
No wonder you're alone.

Phrases remain jumbled;
Only humbled in your shadow.
I feel your mystique in my marrow;
Scratching against my bone
As if I were your clone.
In that very moment,
I felt pleasure and atonement.
Beneath the pungent bile,
I can taste your contradiction.
I request valediction;
But instead, I choose to stay.
My liquor will burn away;
But not the ashes of the past.
I have seen what lasts
Flailing fresh against these walls.
I remember calls:

Late night requests from another
While over her I hover.
You climb under covers
while I recall their mother.
Haven't heard from them in years.
I can see their tears
As they sat on the back seat.
Their warmth at my feet
From each daily meet and greet
No longer their greatest feat.
My legs held within their glow
Replaced by wet socks and snow.

It's time for me to go.
There's nothing to show
And I question your feigned interest.
At your best,
you've placed guilt back on my chest
And at your worst,
You have replenished my thirst.
The bar doesn't seem so far.

Tucked you in tight
Before dimming your light.
Your countenance would glow
Like the one I used to know:

Imagined the disgrace
When I couldn't recall her face.
He who sips from an idle glass
Incurs thoughts that barely pass
When questioned for authenticity.
She was my divinity:
God's gift complete with hymns.
She was no seraphim;
But her wings would cross my heart.
Her voice like heaven's harps;
Strumming even in her slumber.

I've surely fallen under. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

"We're Not Ready For That Yet..."

Devin Joseph Metz
Amber Chardonnay Crawford-Metz

We've said it so often. All of us have, honestly; and it doesn't matter if you are in a committed relationship, if you are married, single or just bringing it up in casual conversing.

We have all at one point or another in our lives said "I/We aren't ready for that just yet."

What would constitute as "That" in this realm of speaking? Parenthood, of course.

I can say that I have only recalled saying this myself when in a serious relationship; especially after getting married this past January. Actually, I believe that frequent usage of that statement has increased in volume now that we are newlyweds.

My wife and I have always conversed about it in a playful or optimistic manner(you know: "Our kid is gonna do this/be like this/have this trait, etc.); but we have recently had much more in depth conversations regarding the institution of parenthood.

I can recall a conversing with my wife that took place late one night a little over a month ago on the whole concept of being ready for parenthood. We talked about what the future holds for our relationship, our plans as far as where we would like to be years down the line(both geographically as well as in other terms of discussion) and definitely the time frame for when we would have our first child.

Of course I went on rambling about all of the usual reasons why one would state that he/she isn't ready for parenthood:

"I want to make sure that we are financially stable first. I don't want that to be something that we have to struggle with for our child."

~Or~

"I want us to move out of Louisiana before we have our kids. I don't want our children to experience what we had to growing up here."

~Or~

"I would like us to do some more traveling beforehand. I'm not sure we would get the opportunity to do so if we had our child first; at least not to the degree and volume that we would like to anyways."

~Or~

Pretty much any other tidbit of reasoning that one could tie into this conversation. That was when my wife asked me an extremely poignant question:

"Baby, how do you expect to know when we'll be ready to have a child? What makes us so sure that we can plan for something like that?"


I ask that question because something I've come across at work is #1:

Sheer surprise that I'm even married at my age; and #2:

That I don't have kids already!

I'm one of two women on my shift that doesn't have children. So while I'm asking them,"How are you dealing with having a kid at this point in your life?" They are asking me, "What made you get married so young?"

Those questions and answers have changed my picture of child readiness altogether! The questions that I use to temper how ready we are have changed from financial to conditional/environmental. There's less thought about how many million dollars it takes to raise a child and more about where and how we are going to raise a child:

 Where are they going to go to school?

Who are they going to be around?

Are we as parents going to have some support where we are?

And you know what?

Those are all valid inquiries indeed.

Amber and I are always swapping stories back and forth about our coworkers who ask us about when we are gonna have some kids. I tell her about one of my officers that is striking days of the calendar in hopes of Amber and I conceiving before the end of this year.

As only Amber can coin this phrase, she always says "WHY IS EVERYBODY PLOTTING ON MY OVARIES?!?!"

I never get tired of hearing that. Sheer hilarity.

Upon further examination of all of these "reasons" that one would provide to substantiate why he/she isn't ready to have a child, I considered the slight possibility that there may be gender specific reasons expressed relative to why we tend to tread with great caution when talking about parenthood.

There are things to consider on both fronts.

I've recalled some of my male peers say things along the lines of "I'm far too busy for a child" or "I can't really see myself raising a child just yet. I'm still too reckless."

Now that last one really gets to me. Claiming to be "still too reckless" at a point in your life when you are an adult endowed with certain responsibilities that include quality of life just does more to elaborately expose your lack of fortitude and maturity.

As far as I am concerned, although I know that there really isn't a surefire way to plan parenthood, I do think that there are things that would be somewhat instrumental in preparing me for that next step in life.

I do believe that I would like to have a degree more space for raising a child. Not that our current living conditions are a far cry from favorable, of course. I just believe that would be a healthy advantage for our child to have.

Additionally, although this isn't something I have complete control over as of right now, I definitely want to be at a certain condition financially so that we could support our child with a reasonable financial bolster while nurturing him/her.

I'm sure there are a number of other things that would make me feel a little more ready to have a child. The aforementioned are two main concerns for me immediately, though.

Honesty I don't really worry so much about some of those things as much as I used to. I mean, yes, having more income and more space would be awesome, but I think if a kid decided to pop up at random right now, I would be more concerned with my mindset and attitude. I don't know if I'm at the point where I can get my mind kid-ready in 9 months or less! Because that is what it comes down to... Are you going to be prepared for the baby once it actually shows up. Will the countdown be enough? O.o

The undeniable truth here is that there really is no foolproof method when it comes to preparing for childhood; and I'm somewhat okay with that.

Just think about it:

If there were a universal way for future parents to prepare for a new life to emerge, that would likely mean that there is also mean that there would be a universal way for parents to raise their child; and that takes away from the authenticity of these children and the parents that raise them.

Who wants to live in a world without originality, individuality and authenticity? You do? Well count me out of that...

Maybe not knowing that you're ready will actually show that you actually are ready should you become a parent soon. Maybe that which we don't know beforehand will positively impact what happens on the back end of a situation. This isn't always a good thing, of course; but is that for us to determine in the first place?

I think that is better reserved for a higher power and influence.

In the end, I believe that a lot of those "Not ready for that  yet" statements are directly linked to one's fear. It may be a fear of commitment in that realm of reasoning. It might be fear of responsibility. It may be a true fear of failure. Whichever of these it may be, I think that they all may inadvertently serve as a means of motivation to those who find themselves in the role of future parents. 

After all, those who are positively motivated to do good for themselves and others are seen as the ultimate role models for our impressionable youth. 

And what greater role model is there for a young child than his/her parents?

The Thin Line between Discipline and Abuse: Can we tell the Difference

The Thin Line between Discipline and Abuse: Can we tell the Difference.

I cannot speak for people of the Asian or Caucasian descent nor can I speak for all peoples of African descent but I have come to this opinion we as a people don't know the difference between abusing a child or  disciplining one. I must state before I go any further explaining my opinion is that the means of discipline that we use on our children, nieces, nephews, godchildren or our friends children ( If they have given permission to discipline their child) were the same ones that the slave masters, overseers and planters used on our ancestors So I beg the question do we as a people really want to use the means on our young that were used  on our ancestors and for some of us even as near as our grandparents? Many people are going they say or quote the verse from the book of Proverbs: Spare the rod , spoil the children. The correct quote is Proverbs 13:24“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” But  what is the “rod” many of us interpret that scripture as it being a stick or meaning to hit or beat your child. Many of us would not come to the conclusion that this quote may be symbolic like many of the scriptures in Proverbs and the other biblical books of Wisdom.

Many of us say that we survived the beatings that their parents gave , so it is ok for their child to be beaten the same way. In response I have always stated to people who have said this to me that:

If you were hit across your head with a kitchen pan, that was abuse!

if you hit with an electric wire that was abuse!

If your mother took her heels and hit you across your head or your body that is abuse ( hitting some one with  heels can send that person to the hospital)!

If you mother called you retard or stupid that's abuse!

If your parents keep hitting you and leave bruises sending you to school those bruises that hurt and are bad ( then they cross the line between discipline and abuse)!

If they curse at you like you some grown up ( That's abuse) !

I can go and on with examples , I am not against disciplining or even spanking with a belt but we as people of African descent are quick to say that this child didn't get beat enough or are quick to pick up the “ rod” to disciple our children without even trying out the other forms of discipline.

Some of us in my opinion have crossed that thin line by picking frying pans, broom sticks, whips, electric wires, shoes and even excessive beating with a belt or your hands and hitting our children. Yes we want our children to honor and respect us but do we want them to not disobey because they are afraid of that next beating or do you want them to not disobey because they know it was wrong.

I have had many conversations with friends of mine about discipline and one thing I have noted is that they say that they feared either their mother or father or even both. Some have said in not so many words that because their parents have put the fear of God in them they knew what not to do.

I think putting the fear of God in your children while disciplining children is abusive. God does not want us to fear  him and obey because He scares us but He wants us to obey and follow because He loves us and we love Him. Shouldn't every parent want their child do right because they love them and not because they fear them.

Abuse is about fear and control, and many of of us and some of our parents without realizing this “ discipline”  our children because we want to put the fear of God in them so that they won't do or say something or when people tell us this child is “ out of control” we discipline that child so that he behave and be back in control

Discipline should never be about putting fear in your child or even placing them back in control. Children are not animals , they are human beings. There other ways of disciplining a child if we try. But I believe we as Black people are too quick to pick anything to discipline our children and maybe because of that some of us without knowing have crossed the line. May be we are so quick because it is condition in our mind set that we spank or beat or don't spare the rod on children because the rod wasn't spared on our grandparents and ancestors all the way back to Massa's house. Heck the overseers, planters , merchants and slave masters use to put the fear in God in our ancestors house, they may have even whipped the slaves because a near by overseer told them that their slaves were out of control. Just a thought maybe we as black people are repeating those same abusive patterns like slave owners did to our relatives.

There is a thin line between Abuse and Discipline, some of us may not know it, some of us may not care and some of us may not think that there is a line but it is there and we need to address it.   Maybe it  is  time   to use  Positive  discipline . One  shouldn't  be  ready  always   to pick  up  a belt  or whatever  to discipline, there  are  other  methods  that  works   sometimes  just  as   well.  But I usual I digress !

"Home Plate"

"Home Plate" 

Hands peel back tension like doors.
Separation intangible.
This is standard for us.
You and I,
seldom locking eyes
but yearning for every glance.
Given one chance,
how much would we capitalize on?
Would wrong tarry long
so that it all felt right?
Would it be foolish to fight?
I'm not ready for the light;
so we rendezvous late nights.
Close enough to greet and speak
yet far too somber and meek.
Fingertips and body heat.
Your nails coiled within your hair
while I'm counting threads in pairs.
I'd gaze forever if you'd let me;
but this neck so weak and heavy......
heavier this air I swallow.
Still in all, I'd wax and wallow;
anxious to be here with you.
Waiting as if something new
will take over, hearts that smolder
remove boulders from our shoulders
and allow some interaction.
Incur progress with this passion.
Passive bodies, racing minds
but we're always left behind;
holding fast to run away.
Swore that we'd embrace today.
Promised I'd have things to say.
Just delay to my dismay.

Far away from where I fell,
submerged deep under this well:
fear so great I've lent it hours
pretending to harness power.
Your demeanor my consolation.
I engage the consultation:
Signs that I am not alone;
not forlorn within this zone.
Nothing gained as muscles rest.
Both enveloped at our best,
but our worst won't step aside.
We seem trapped here on this ride.
Sudden strides to walk away.
Increments between delay.
Start then stop but won't confront it.
Two hearts sinking to their stomachs.
If I leave, what have I learned?
If you leave, you won't return.
That's the outcome I will earn.
End result for all concerned.

Labyrinth of silk and sheets.
Survey slightly past your feet.
Less discreet and more for certain.
Deliberate when parting curtains.
Dubious in my design.
Breaking code and crossing lines.
Daring deviant display.
Antithesis of prior days.
Tension still slips through the cracks.
More through dripping pores and backs.
Was too nervous to relax;
now I serve til you climax.............

..............did that feel good?

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

"Beneath The Patches"

"Beneath The Patches"  

 

You've seen it

and I know you've seen it.

The landscape is bare,

but you pretend that its scenic.

Couldn't see the grass for the tree

yet you ravaged for free.

Silken stains from your membrane

brushed across the patches.

You're intertwined in my locks.

You mingle with my vines

even when I stand behind.

The last of this measure

only keeps you in the fields;

roaming with no purpose

aside from what is on the surface.

That's what I often fail to mention.

 

What's on your menu of dreams tonight?  

The flight. 

As you float, 

tales of the unseen in your heart. 

Making room for me there. 

To guide you, 

through trails and triumphs wins and tries, 

despising the things that say we aren't forever. 

Welcome me. 

Open arms. 

No apprehension.

Actions speaking louder than words. 

Unnecessary to mention.

 

 

If you wish to view my ledger,

it may likely serve you better

to take a third glance first.

A veritable bevy

rests on this mind of mine.

I can't conceal it all in time.

Not around you, at least.

Arose for every occasion

whether alone at home on the phone

or face to face observing grace.

I've fancied it easier

to stand this tall

when more than walls stand between us.

Forgiveness is requested.

You've bested my endeavors

to avert your calls and letters.

Leather seated near my feet.

I perspire from your feats;

marveling at my defeat.

I guess it does pay to compete...

 

I am not a worthy opponent. 

To go against the King or even the grain 

won't prove victorious for me 

and I love it. 

The agony of defeat is sweet 

when served by your hand. 

Stronger than this situation of space. 

Faster than time, 

my heart beats out a rhyme 

same cadence as your words, Love. 

The above thoughts make me smile. 

Stay awhile...

whether it be in the physical or in my mental state. 

Wait out the lonely knowing you're coated in my presence. 

Present yourself to me plainly, but coy.

Ahoy, come with me 

for you are so much more than this letter...

heart to heart, proving WE are better..... 

I presume you've seen this outcome beforehand.

Before hands graze, I am fazed.

The delay in circumstance

would not claim your chance

to implore that you stay with me.

I note the reasoning in your tone.

I've been alone among the crowds

that become increasingly loud

but the warmth of you is enticing.

Exciting as it seems,

I've yet to disclose my dreams.

I will not give way to judgement.

 

I wish silence didn't cause us to go deaf. 

I mean so so deaf 

that only our hands can drown out the sound, 

standing around in every corner 

that you failed to look. 

Around that last bend before you gave up, 

you are enough. 

I wish you knew it. 

From nothing we grew without;

sticks and stones breaking the bones that had our backs...

built this shack that covered our hearts from the beatings....

meeting me with that glance I love for it is you...

tired of wondering...

simply stated:

What you gonna do?

 

 

Everything I can if you believe me.

I'm wound up far too tight.

Can't deal with the deceiving.

Won't uphold interaction

if it serves as mere distraction

for the underlying ulterior.

I'm jaded; not inferior.

I'll peel back my interior

if it means my heart well.

The nights are long,

The rum is cold

and my heart swells.

Fear rung for years;

echoed in a well of tears

but this may be worth it.

Never met perfect.

Not face to face, at least;

but if you wish to roam these fields,

I hope to find some peace.

The wholesome has its piece.

Each piece is but a portion.

The picture clear when you are near.

Make short work of distortion.

 

Written By: Shequita Brooks and Devin Joseph Metz