 Well, thank you, so nice for you all to come out this evening. My name is Linda Brooks Burton, and I am the branch manager here at the Bayview-Wadden branch. I've been here for about 11 years. And through all those 11 years, we've always had a poetry recital. And we have broadcasted it or had it videotaped for the last 16 or 17 years. But it's actually been going on for 29 years. So we've corrected our publicity to say that we are now in our 29th year of this poetry recital. So it's my pleasure to introduce our host for the evening, who has hosted all those 29 evenings. And it's our own local Bayview historian and local poet, Larry Ware. Let's give him a big round of applause. Thank you, everyone, and a good evening. And it is indeed a pleasure to see all my friends here. And let's give Linda and our cameraman, Dave Swabby, a great round of applause to two really wonderful people for Dave and the staff for coming out here covering this event. And I'll tell you, it was 29 years ago in this room. We had a vision and a dream. And I had poet friends and writers. And I say, hey, let's get together. And we sat in the round table out there and brainstormed. And I say, hey, I'm going to get this poetry thing started. And here, 29 years later. So, and come. I'd like to start this program out with a poem, being that this is a public library. And we want to promote literacy and promote all of the children that come here and adults to read books. And a quote that I wrote many years ago, libraries are the fountains of wisdom. Do not ponder or wander, but always have a quench and thirst for knowledge. And this first poem I'm going to do is entitled, Write It Out All the Way to the Top. Inner self-respect became the light of my soul and a way of life. And my heart became entrusted with the virtues of dignity and pride. And my outer appearance was just an inner reflection of self-esteem, self-love, respect, and understanding. As I stood alone at the top of my world, I became the builder, engineer, and architect of my own destination. Then I started to write it all out all the way to the top. And as I became totally immersed in the stream of life, I started to write it all out all the way to the top. And as the eyes of truth got brighter, self-love's surface and warm horizon turned golden as timeless wisdom dazzled in a wave of beauty and splendor. And as the gray clouds filled with rain get kissed by the lovely sunshine, the skies turn lovely blue. Then I knew that I could see forever and ever. Now I'm in harmony with myself as the spirits in a temple of wisdom touch my heart and filled my soul. And I became enriched with the many qualities of life. That which appear, disappear, then reappear, seek the plateau of the horizon for your field of vision is clear. And when those creative, productive, and constructive thoughts begin to fill your minds, and you know you've got it, go for it. Because at one solid moment could strike any minute now. I desire to blow my own horn at a band of glory because I've seen the light of many dawns. I do not lust for sows of unworthy self-glory, for I will reach for the fire that will bring me rain and give my heart for the cause now because we have a chance for righteousness and be the dream of the dreamers. So right your way out, right your way up, right your way over, right your way to the top, and don't stop. Then light up and write it all out, all the way to the top, and ride on. Fulfilling are the virtues of emotional poise, composure, and self-control. So exert the leadership qualities, lead the way to the top, and ride on. Thank you. I'm going to introduce our first poet. Thank you, Linda. Our first poet is going to be Brother Patrick. Let's give Brother Patrick a great round of applause. Brother Patrick has participated several years in our recital. OK, that brother. Very strong offer, too. Good evening, everybody. It's very nice to be here. The first poem I'd like to read, I wrote in February 17, 1994. It's entitled, Do You Read Me Over? Not long after the death sentence I had received was lifted and I was exonerated, my spirit was revived. I decided that a change would be necessary in order to prevent me from falling victim to the same circumstances that had impaired me before. Not allowing nothing to persuade my thinking or intrude upon my concentration. The first thing I would have to do is to develop my thought perception to its strongest possible degree. This would enable me to block out any and all irrelevant, unuseful conversation that only served to diminish my mental state of well-being. This would also shield me from the unwanted pain and misery that people tend to impose upon you when they fail to communicate their thoughts properly. No longer shall I be drawn into meaningless chit-chat that's based on that he say, she say, shit. Spare me the pain. I will not serve as interpreter of senseless illogical words that's inflicted with ignorance and stupidity. You'd have to know what you're saying and say what you know. I'll be as aside. Be aware, all information not intelligently thought out before transmitted would be blocked to ensure against misunderstandings. All clear signals containing valuable information will be properly interpreted and be responded to in the same fashion that it's transmitted, just eliminating all forms of miscommunication. Do you read me? Over. The next poem was even written before that. It's called Better Off Dead. It's an addiction poem. How long will you let things that you know are wrong cripple you in your head, not even lifting a finger to help yourself or, brother, you're better off dead? Don't tell me. Let me guess. You like being down on your ass, waddling in your own self-pity, blaming others for your troubles, not allowing a positive thought to creep in your head. Where, brother, let me tell you, you'll be better off dead. Your mind is not strong enough to put the past to rest. You could call it a mercy killer if you like, but I think I'll pull the plug because you're not doing nothing with your life. So, brother, you'll be better off dead. Thank you. Thank you, brother Patrick. OK, our next poet is going to be this young man is a brilliant and gifted musician, and you're going to hear a lot about him just recently met him this year. He's a member of the Clyde Street Band. He's here with his mother, and I invited him as my special guest. Remember the name of Brian Flack? This is a genius here, but he's a brilliant poet. Him and his mother, they're multi-talented. So, from the East Bay, let's give brother Brian Flack a great round of applause. Good evening. The poem that I'm about to recite is a poem that I wrote, actually, for one of my close friends. He's going through a hard time. He's been down the bad road most of his life trying to turn his life around, got his GED, and just got accepted to him. We'll be attending Texas Southern University in January. Very proud of that. But as usual, there are always those naysayers, those people that try to get in your way. So the poem that I wrote is entitled, You Will Move. Try to wrote it to inspire him, ended up inspiring myself, and I hope it will inspire you as well. You will move. Get out of my way. I refuse to let you or your negativity drop stumbling blocks in my path today. You will move. You will not stop me from achieving anything that I want to achieve. Now, you may think that you have the upper hand, but don't celebrate too fast, because I still have a few more tricks up my sleeve. You will move. You will not inhibit me or stop me from reaching my goal. Now, you may think that you have me surrounded, but heaven has my back and my Savior has my soul. You will move. I will not let you rain on my parade, because I'm walking towards the sunshine, and then I'm going to lay down and rest in the shade. If you're a mountain, I will move you. If you're a brick wall, I will knock you down. I will break up the negative vibes that you send my way, as if I were a jackhammer and they were the ground. Lord knows I've been tested, and I've had to endure and overcome a lot of frustration. So anytime that I thought that it was starting to get to me, I just remembered one simple phrase, and that is that adversity is the birth of inspiration. So you will move. You've tried so many times to discourage me or deter me, and yet you still haven't had any success. Well, you can keep trying and keep trying and keep trying and keep trying until your head hurts, but you're going to fail just like all the rest. You will move, because I've come up against and conquered obstacles that were a million times bigger than you. So instead of sitting around dreaming up ways to try to bother me or get my attention, why don't you find something else to do? There will be no bad notes in my symphony, and the road that I travel will continue to stay smooth. I overcame obstacles, I overcame adversity, and I overcame you. I told you, you were going to move, and you will. All right, brother, let's give another great round of applause. That was beautiful there, brother Brian. Our next poet is going to be Elizabeth Hope. Let's give Elizabeth Hope a great round of applause for the first time, OK? Slightly different tenor here. My first one's called Air Holes. Now that my friend Maria is off in New York having an affair, I'm going to visit bringing her cat. Collecting the cat from Maria's husband is not so hard. Ted and I and the cat look at each other. I remember Ted and the cat. The cat goes in a cardboard box. This is the last shipment of possessions. I recall how Ted took Maria to the airport in their small convertible now sold. That last day, she said she'd take the shuttle, but he said, don't be silly. Now he asks, if I'll be all right with the cat in the box. I say, yes, there are air holes. Here's one for my daughter. This is called Miss Fisher. In sixth grade, she asked the class how long we could look at the ocean. I listened for the right response, waited for the usual smart kids to respond with their straining hands. The answer undoubtedly in some book assigned last week I hadn't read. 10 minutes said one kid, an hour, someone else. Arms waving, each flailing to be called. She let them speak and then announced that she could sit all day and watch the waves and not be bored. I watched her closely now, Miss Fisher, who often had her fingers in my upper arm, sent me to the hall with Sarah at Christmas time when we gunned each other with our egg cart and reindeer. She wished my handwriting were as nice as Julie's. My book reports is neat. At report card time, she wrote, I wouldn't keep my desk clean. Miss Fisher with her tight dresses, skull eyes, her salt stained underarms, bony jaw. When Cheryl stayed at my house, we burned her paper effigy on the fireplace bricks giggling. I have at the beach watched the waves for hours. I love all water. Miss Fisher's aberration in the classroom is years old. She gave me something briefly I could think about. I'm sure if I'm remembered, it's not like Julie. The waves come in, the waves go out. Thank you. Thank you very much, Gary, Elizabeth. Our next poet is gonna be Pamela Flack. Let's give her a great round of applause. This is Brian's mother, and what a wonderful poet. It's a pleasure to be here. This is my first time being a participant. So I thank you for inviting us. And it's a blessing to be here to say some words that I hope will be of inspiration to you this evening. The poem that I'm about to recite is a poem that I actually wrote for my son, which you've already met. He was a lot younger when I wrote the poem. It was right after the Rodney King incident. And he looked at me on the way home from school and said, mom, if people can do that to you, then why do I need to try to be the best I can? Why should I do my best and strive to be as good as I can be if people are allowed to treat people like they did Rodney King? And I looked at him and I said, you know, I don't know the answer. I do know that we have to continue. Every American is asking the same question that you're asking right now. And the Lord sent me this inspiration. I wrote it for him to recite. But tonight I'm going to deliver the message. The poem is entitled, We've Come a Long Way from King to King. We've come a long way from King to King, from peaceful protest to a riot scene. If Dr. King was still here somewhere, he'd think his dream had become a nightmare. We've come a long way from King to King, from we shall overcome and be free to videotaped brutality. Now, brutality isn't anything new. It's been an issue all along. But with the Rodney King beating on videotape, we thought at last we could right some wrongs. At last there was irrefutable proof and our voices through Rodney could be heard. But when the verdict came out not guilty, we were shocked and angered by the words, freedom isn't ringing from the hilltops, instead injustice rings bitterly through. Even with a videotape, we can do what we want to you. We've come a long way from King to King, yet both kings asked the world for peace. For the violence and destruction to end and injustice for all to cease. We gotta be proud and believe in ourselves, have faith in God and pray. And no matter what happens, hold on to the dream, cause we shall overcome some day. We come a long way from King to King, but don't you lose that dream. Thank you. Thank you. Let's give Pamela a round of applause. I'll tell you, when I met Pamela over there and he sped, she would have decided to pull him there at the first round knockout. I said, Pamela, you and Brian, y'all got to be on my show this year. So wow, thank you, thank you from the heart like you. Hey, y'all blessing, everybody's blessing, but that, amen. Yeah, our next port is, hey, Jesse, what? You next, our next port is gonna be Proto-J's brother, Jess. He started out very young here, and this young, that's Denzel, right there. So Jesse Wiley's gonna come up and do some poetry. This brother's a super heavyweight. Let's give him a big round of applause. Now a few Denzel Washington, who am I? You're, yeah. They call me Mr. Timbs. Man, brother, man, brother, man. All right, so, see, I like this, all eyes are on me. It's my fantasy, man, I have all these black faces and Spanish faces and white faces on me. This is called come and give me more of what I like. Bave me in the blood of my ancestors. Wash me in the saliva of their tongue. Comb my hair with their fingers, come, and give me more of what I like. Show me pictures of Africa, the Caribbean, Jamaica, or West India, where I would have run with my brother, where my ancestors are from, come, and give me more of what I like. Shallow me in embraces of Hughes and Baldwin and Wright and Haley, Du Bois and Hines, and Sir Gerner and Tubman, just to name some, come and give me more of what I like. Come and give me more historical insight into ancestors I wanna be like, like Shaka and Turner and Atux and Sincay, people I wanna be free like, those I wanna march with down, sell marolds to the beat of footsteps and rhythm where we shall overcome hymns, ancestors with God sown into the hymns of their hearts. Come and give it to me. Ancestors who raise me, men and women who gave me stories and poetry and song and dance and art and war and street lights and a map of the stars like Bannaker and so many uses for a peanut like Carver and so many ways to be melancholy like miles and coal train and bird. The birth of the cool, a bitch's proof of my ear when I'm kind or blue, I'm in love supreme listening to your birth sweet, eating strange fruit with Eleonora. I want all of that shit and give me more martini, more Malcolm I you added along with Garvey, Marley, Evers and four little Birmingham chicas and throwing some of that fried chicken fresh from the coop spitting game to a shorty while listening to old men in fedoras and zootsuit crashing bones on a granite stoop of Louis Brownstone and Harlem where the Renaissance is still being realized post-mortem. All I need to sleep is Luther, Sam Cook and Marvin on repeat, come and give me a dose of the sweet sounds of one or all three. Give me freedom in knowing my past. Give me the honor of knowing each path they took to get me where I've crash landed and am now looking for my purpose in books and music and paintings and math until it all adds up to me a curious cat who even if the cat got his tongue is still able to write down what he wants and he wants you to come and give him more of what he likes like picture photographs and countless paragraphs of people, places, dates and times, reasons and rhymes, subliminal, subliminal secrets hard to find like scavenging through photo albums looking for Nina Simone records are suddenly seeking several soothing songs such sassafras for my soul. A whole entire lifetime of food for thought come and give me the closed-eyed puffy cheek Gillespie bebop beat, come alliterate all of me liberate all of me with Ella fading skating through scat that jazz blues hybrid way past being a genre it's become a way of life come and give me more of what I like Thank you I have two more and this one is called not a peace this is not a peace and my revolution won't be televised or prophesied on the streets or in church but still my work is purposed and has value beyond a page or a stage or a surface of ego trippers and lonely men lusting over the microphone like John's over strippers Jack Tripper over Mr. Roper Oprah over Harpo et cetera and et cetera excedrin for my headaches as I've always been for the people and not enough for myself so nothing else matters anymore but me now and this is the best I felt in moons and many would pay boku de bloons to feel as I do exhilarated and emancipated from who I was just another where we'd pour it in the spotlight just because for no particular reason just because but I'm neither judge or jury or God or Lucifer or some important diplomat from Afghanistan who has Islam as advocate and bombs strapped to his chest an aggregate hatred in his soul for the U.S. and his people and I still cannot help a cab in a land where all men are created equal but separate and minority folk are still sequestered in ghettos that they embrace with fervor as Iraqis do their Quran they will also kill for it for a couple of dollars a corner or a block they will serve a couple of years for it no peace this is but a poem of millions and millions hoping pray for it every day along with love and lottery millions civilians and aliens alike a light across America searching for freedom and refuge but the fight is unfortunately as few towers life in prison with no chances of parole all appeals off or not I thought the world technicolor until I start reason with my sister and brother and all I could see was black on black menstrual seeing hate mongers and I heard nothing because not a single soul said shit to make me feel good so I became honorary and even the pen dishonored me and I began to pin pieces to make everyone else feel as horribly as I did and crumble into so many pieces that was little that could be done to salvage their souls but I told you this is not a piece this poem has vegetable oil and chicken grease stains peppered about each stanza and blood flows rapidly through each and every line infected with AIDS breast and lung cancer and sewage treatment plants Philip Morris and unsafe sex or the cause as women and small children take pause to die waiting for the 15 for an hour while men and boys have power struggles by food and liquors wearing full metal jackets with magazines beneath they pull triggers and are niggers to each other in awe and in awe dozens will see their rise and fall and demise and fall when leaves begin to fall burnt orange and brick and stick to the ground like blood so thick it shall remain until the earth evaporates or each one of us sinks so quick into the sands of time that will finally be a piece so sublime it channels us back through time and instead of dying again we begin to live and give ourselves over to love like Romeo and Juliet Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee and I love this Harpo God knows I do but I kill him dead love that hurts and works miracles that is purposed and has value beyond a page or a stage or a circus piece okay so I'm being greeted and I have one more poem and I want to end on that note and it's called edging towards the fall and then I'm done and by the way I'm taking donations for the Jesse the Hill Jesse fund so we're starting off at ten dollars okay going up to five thousand so the money can be paid ATM I take ATM cash or even food stamps outside I'm taking I got a sign up sheet so edging towards the fall if the world was flat I'd happily jump off the edge and fall forever because forever is for always and I want to be eternal given the chance to build the new black nation somewhere in Africa if all of us Negroes and Creoles and mulattoes could set sail today with money equaling the price of forty acres and a mule me and mine will be picture postcards tomorrow picture postcards tomorrow picture postcards tomorrow of me and Ghana me clothing can take off me ducks the post against his things and marvel at our resemblance you can replicate Egypt on my face just cut away my nose to find your way and I'll return to my hourglass when time fades away if I can't choose where I return to in Africa be as me adieu but if reincarnation is true I'll use the sand I came from and re-imagined myself anew and I'll do the same as before fall into the floor like men fall into the floor before the one plus four comes abashing through the door looking for a score of crack in horse and money and men in white tees and he's no criminal she's in the wrong place and we've got to jump off the face of the world and fall because forever is for always and I want to be eternal like promontories and unbroken promises paragraphs of promenades past the people parks garden parks eternal like pictures stark and vivid violets or red forever I want to be infinite as time and never stop being like breathing is for always until the trees stop growing and topple over like dynasties or two tall aborigines or basketball players above the rim looking out into the distance they can see my chest rising and falling as I dream I am them as tall as the wind is mighty in the winter when snow falls in flurries and blankets the earth so snug it is actually warm outside and I am falling and it feels tremendous inside and now I am weightless capeless carried along through space by faith and sea spray nakedness no matter laughter fills the void and all the freedom gives me joy ever after and if ever there was room for bliss it's now falling through time no more time there's only now no more fear for the clock stops here and here is forever and I can hear time slowing to a crawl because I will always be here no matter the world be flat or a sphere warm as soft music in my ears or as cold as ice landing chill or men who cry blood in place of tears matter it not race color creed gender preference for how many years I've lived my life once I've thrown myself off the edge all that concerns me is flight and day and night will be as one and like the sun I will burn a path across the universe and become like Haley appearing ever so often every hundred years to give the world a glimpse of a falling star who connects space and time and designs direction on the sky like Rembrandt scientists reflection on canvas call me Copernicus a miracle of Christ forever and for always eternal let's give brother just another great round of applause just as one of the most gifted ports on this planet uh... this is a real special time here my little princess is in the house now yeah uh... precious and uh... cat Catherine Kathy uh... they're gonna do a poem uh... dance routine so uh... this is princess precious here that's my little precious in june a little like that precious say mother and father say give your daddy a break and say this is my part no this is my part precious have a head over here in june have his head over there so I got two hearts right there that's my little princess there who loves you baby who loves you I couldn't hear you now jr said little spike in big spike now who big spike who let who's big spike in a little spike I'm I'm big spike who big spike and who little spike okay they got a uh... we got a little thing going there uh... okay uh... let's uh... introduce let's give them a great round of applause hi good evening it's a privilege to be here um... precious and I are a church family that's how we know each other and at st paul tabernacle baptist church which is like down the street and around the corner um... we have a dance ministry we have the seeds of a dance ministry that we're sewing and so one of the things that we have learned to explore uh... within dance is moving to spoken word you know not just music and uh... this is a prayer that uh... basically means a lot to me it's come to me in my journey in recovery uh... it's called the st francis prayer sometimes it's called the eleventh step prayer and uh... but mostly it's a prayer of healing I think and uh... and so it was purely by i think our friendship precious was reading it while i was moving to it when uh... evening before a program and uh... it was just really a delight you know to hear the words come from a child's voice so uh... we're both very bashful performers so uh... we we jumped on this opportunity as a way of just getting used to you know sharing our art they make me a channel lord make me a channel of that that where there is hatred i may bring love that where there is wrong i may bring the spirit of forgiveness that where there is discord i may bring harmony that where there is error i may bring truth that where there is doubt bring faith that where there is despair i may bring hope that where there is shadows i may bring light that where there is sadness i may bring joy lord grant me i may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted to understand to be understood to love than to be loved for it is by self forgetting that one font it is forgiving that one is forgiven it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life amen here's another kodak moment another special moment uh... very special lady just entered the house here uh... you know i'll tell you yeah this is uh... joyous night here uh... i want to introduce you to a a very special lady in our life a wonderful lady uh... like i mentioned to some of your people here uh... a mother she uh... a wonderful lady a wonderful spirit my mother had a heart attack over two years ago she's been in a coma three separate times and been on life support three separate times by the grace of god she is here in the house let me introduce you to my mother this is Dorothy Mehta come with us on slide promise Linda, a hundred people we're coming next port is gonna be uh... Eliseo Castillo uh... Le Mans let's give this gentleman a great round of applause this is the first time here my name is Eliseo my name is Eliseo Castillo-Limones and uh... I'm glad to be here and uh... so far it's been beautiful and i think uh... all of you have been real great uh... hope i do a good job uh... i would like to read and the first one is going to be called uh... the weeping candles okay, they're crying and uh... the way i conceived this uh... this verse poem is that i uh... uh... my mother died december the 31st of 2005 on september the thirteenth of uh... two thousand and six was her birthday and i was thinking uh... if i could write something for her you know think of something to write for her and i said well let me see so i started calling it uh... the missing birthdays which is not here, first birthday is not here so i said uh... okay well that's good then i ended up writing and as we do you know we ended up changing everything around after about the first uh... two hours i'm saying i came up with something totally different so i named it, i named it the weeping candles okay and that's one right here so that's uh... dedicated to her and to her struggles uh... hard worker and uh... good person and to all those uh... people who uh... who had their first birthday which they are not here and we're all going to have one of them missing birthdays and i called it the weeping candles okay so here we go weeping candles a song verse poem i think about the weeping candles are crying and crying once again today's someone's birthday that's not only living here they come and see you smile but instead find you sad someone went to heaven and to the perfect place to live and they can see when you are lonely and also went in pain sometimes they come just to see us and can stand very very near when the storms come to bring when the storms come bringing the waters from the heavenly man there are still weeping candles though now waiting sadly in the rain a box of weeping candles are crying crying and crying again today is a very special someone's very special missing day and we'll have one of them but the special someone someone someone is not only living here a box of weeping candles are crying and crying once again now we are like the famous theater whose stars have moved on and on left on its left on its on lit stage alone and alone are those lonely plastic candle props that that that us okay the next one I named the OG prayer and for us to don't know what the OG stands for in the inner cities it stands for OG prayer old gangster middle-aged guys a lot of us are here you know and we go to that stage where we start to lose our knees I almost started to hurt and we started to become an OG okay this is called the OG prayer we're praying to God okay that hey man I can feel something different here brother what's going on I like to pray to you even though you know sometimes I I skipped I skipped times in my life when I've gone months without talking to that to that man upstairs and that's wrong and one day you wake up and you go wait a minute I gotta talk to him you know I'm getting you know I need to get serious with something you know with God right so I named this the OG prayer okay and as for us man probably mostly it starts like this in this inner city talk okay so it'll be the kind of language hoping not too busy to hear a cat like me or to hear one whose grew down life like thee prayers thickens coming from cats in need and other ones who think of self is clean or players coming from wealth thus free aging is up on all things this includes me my turn has come again to wrap a tail on big G mostly about a planet unlike any that I've ever seen had a hard time since 10 couldn't beg for a lick your time is always right being hit of within couldn't speak their language which so I was only mean G you've got to give me some some extended credit never once turned my dreams or back on thee my face I was a wisdom you once told me one who hated him is again clearly hating from the deep you know what that is working hard with sick and kin to entrap the free and lonely being blinded by blind ones needs who have been blinded by the haters crafty deeds need to pray for them may be we can set them free yeah yeah yeah free free free free free free let's set them free that's that one okay okay this right here I can see back and when I was 1957 I was I was four years old it was a dream and then I turned into a verse poem but that was years later and we used to live in central Mexico and it was like living in central Africa uh... real hot terrible harsh harsh conditions uh... shortage of everything water everything was short okay so here's a uh... a dream that can see back when I was a four years old but I turned into a poem later on in life and something like this okay I live my own private mansion and this mansion and this private mansion is me as I do try to be all those things that he tells me I should be in my private mansion why I have just about all that I need why I have my own DVDs and a thin and huge computer TV now I'm seriously thinking about coming on MTV and I have this one love seat and a big wonderful place to sit sometimes I even get to see my small circle of the finance of friends we sit we chat drink some hot cocoa or sometimes delicious coffee you would not believe what happened on a cool summer's eve it was not other than jesus who came by to be with me he told me about yesterday's at first it was great then very sad they told me about tomorrow's and I couldn't help it I cried they told me more and more and more still I couldn't help it they told me about the heavens and about the powers of love he humor me with fairy tales that would place any author in awe told me about his favorite angels whose only job was to spread love in the morning he said he really had to go said he loved my private mansion thanked me for being so kind but he had a very busy place he had to go see said he had many things to do and even more people like soldiers in their final days to go see plan to visit this soldier's seven-year-old boy in thoughts and thinking to end it all tell the boy to come by and join me in my mansion since I never strayed too far from here walk them out towards the orchards then for as long as I possibly could see thank you brother Jim Martin this gentleman is another extraordinary poet so let's give brother Jim a great round of applause listen can we give Larry applause for being so persistent at this it's doing a wonderful job wonderful job because I know you everybody said brother brought a computer and I really did I left my paperwork at home and I just happened to have my computer with me my work is on the computer but that's fortunate because also is my music and so I've got a few things to share with you and I like to start with trying to determine if I do the one that I of a hundred and fifty pieces I've got I've got one memorized and let me just try that one for you you know I came home one afternoon one evening after being a lot of community meetings and and working on the issues that we deal with in our communities on a regular basis and I got home and I I went into the dining room and sat down on the dining room table was late at night and as I was just getting relaxed and kind of getting comfortable I heard something outside the house I heard what it was just after the 4th of July I said I hope what I just heard was firecrackers but I knew my heart it really wasn't it was bang bang bang one after another it was the loudest bangs I'd ever heard they must have the biggest gun in the world and immediately after that I heard screams I heard screams behind those shots and I heard a mother crying she said my baby my baby my baby she's just going on if you have never heard a mother crying for her son who's just been shot down laying on the sidewalk then you really don't know pain so I had a chance to experience that and I heard the fire engine's got the police cars coming so when I peeked out my door and I said I don't want to see anymore I just went home and for three days I didn't sleep and I said why did this happen in my community what's going on why did this continue to happen and I started to think about the cars I see coming through the community stopping at the corner bringing that kind of commerce into my community and so and I realized it wasn't only people from our community feeding into this some folks from outside had good jobs in making things happen so I decided to dedicate a poem to them I call it down low habits you're making sixty thousand dollars you're doing very well everybody in your office says how good you smell you wear Italian made shoes with your Versace bag and you keep the people laughing you ain't never been a drag you go cruising down the highway in your big Mercedes Benz things are going so well you can't even count your friends but it was bound to happen to you sooner or later because now your spirits are running low and you've got to find your savior it's not God you seek it's not a church we speak you're sneaking off to the ghetto finding homey in the street with your down low habits we just ain't gonna have it you've been trippin' a long time you barely can't control it keep it on the down low ain't nobody supposed to know it wearing long sleeved shirts cause you can't afford to show it always wearing dark glasses people think you're so cool you can't afford to take them off cause then they'll know you're full with your down low habits we just ain't gonna have it we got some programs in the jails trying to get some brothers free and there's a brother sitting in there with a PhD you ask me what's wrong with that and why am I so angry you say that all I got to do is just left the brother be well it's easy for you to say with your head in a sand always working on your game to get closer to the man you see that brother sacrificed that all his people were proud he spent years of hard work just to stand out in the crowd with all his efforts and achievements you know he worked damn hard but now he's wasting his life walking around the prison yard cause here's down low habits he can't afford to have it now you just picked up your trash and got high on his father and it comes out on the speaker a young brother's been shot they say it went down on the corner of the ghetto in the hood but you don't give a damn cause now you're feeling so good you got your spirits back on high no worries no troubles then it comes back on the speaker that the homicide was double cause of your down low habits our children can't afford to have it by the time you get home to tuck your good babies in there's babies laying dead in the streets where you just been cause of your down low habits our communities can't afford to have it we got neighbors telling neighbors this ain't how it's supposed to be but we're really under attack by the bourgeoisie listen if you think it's so important to do the ghetto some good why don't you stop it by that crap in your own damn neighborhood with your down low habits we just not gonna have it you ain't cool, you ain't down, you ain't nothing but trash you're making all that good money then killing babies with your cash I don't know if the cops will leave the dealers where they are but you come back to my hood you're going back without your car with your down low habits we just ain't gonna have it so the next time you wanna brag about all your ethnic pride why don't you stop and try to figure out how you laid your conscience to the side with your down low habits we just ain't gonna have it thank you I was talking to had the opportunity to talk to some young people just before I came over here we talked about the fact that one of the issues, the great issues in our community is that for whatever reason, all the reasons there are it doesn't matter but we don't have the respect for ourselves as we used to we don't have the respect for one another as we used to and the reality is in a meaningful sense nobody really wants to talk about the love that we no longer have I call this piece love a brother back I'm not hating on you I'm just trying to love a brother true I just want to know can you love a brother back watch my back share with me the things we all seem to lack don't hate me when I'm doing good and don't kick me while we're down I want to know can you love a brother back I don't care what they're rapping about I just want to know that we can share each other's cloud I can't be up as long as you're down and I cannot stand by while they keep you on the ground alright maybe I am the square but that doesn't matter we still have to treat each other fair okay what if you are the one that's cool that doesn't mean that we can't still live by a golden rule treat me the way you want me to treat you I need to know will you love a brother back you call me your nigger and I say that you're my brother black if you think it's right to put our people down I got to tell you I just don't have that knack not for drugs or for money or for anybody else's rules nothing but love in my heart for my brothers will ever be found but I just got to know that you can love a brother back can you treat the precious women in our world with real respect when somebody wants to step up in your presence and show them disrespect can you be the hero stand up for her be down with her and tell the coward that he's about to feel the power of your personal reject you got to know that's part of loving a brother back what about your family what about the children that you never get to see can you help me make their world the best it's supposed to be what about when you see me walk up to you on the street can you treat me like a brother that you're really glad to meet can you shake my hand with a smile on your face can you trust me just for one minute my brother to be in your space can you understand that you and me are in the same contest in somebody else's race come on black man tell me can you love a brother back with all the troubles and opportunities that brothers got in common unity and respect between black folks should not ever be a problem just forget about all that crap that keeps us dying in somebody else's trap I just want to know why don't you love a brother back we can't love ourselves or our people while we sit up in jail with all the games they've been playing it's not enough to just make bail the work out here is dangerous and it is hard as you can see and when we look around for somebody to help us do it ain't nobody here but you and me so I need to know can you love a brother back when the world outside is trying hard to take our people out will you stand there and pretend that you don't know what it's all about when everything they do is meant between me and you to create strife can you stand and let them know that you will never ever take another brother's life I want to know can you love a brother back can you love a brother back can you love a brother back understand that because a brother loves a brother it doesn't mean that a brother is gay it simply means that in the course of life you found some sense along the way and some love for your people that will make you stronger day by day maybe they'll say it ain't cool but don't listen to them don't be a fool don't take a brother's life don't use a gun or a knife and don't do the evil way that others are waiting for us to do and don't be ashamed to love me my brothers the same as I love you our people need to know are you willing to love a brother back love a brother back love a brother back are you willing to love a brother back I love you my brothers let me back thank you if you don't mind I would do one more thank you for that this is I'll just kind of lighten it up just a little bit if you don't mind this is a piece I call the parade and it's got a little something that goes with it here if I can get to my technology right early one Wednesday morning about nine a.m. I went downtown just to sit in the square and look around I was getting my life and my mind ready to pound the street and look for a job my pockets in my life were so low I sat there feeling like I had just been robbed I watched the working people come and go I sat there as the morning started to come to life watching people in business dress moving to and fro the square started to jump with activity all kinds of people passing right in front of me there was so much going on that I could even smell in the air and all the while I was feeling invisible nobody on that busy street even seemed to know I was there just then I noticed a commotion to my left down the street I even thought I was beginning to feel some heat if you can imagine it there was this strut that was really creating a part in the crowd moving out of steady cadence each strut was grand and proud I stepped up on the bench where I sat because I really wanted to see and in just a few seconds that elegant confidence strut was passing right in front of me and all I could say was oh baby walk that walk there I was standing on my seat watching a one woman parade marching down the street I caught myself bouncing to the rhythm of her feet she was the most elegant woman I had ever seen in all of my life she made me forget about my problems and at that moment I was no longer thinking about my plight now you may not believe this but it wasn't even about a sexual thing but just watching that woman strut with her head held high was making me feel like from that bench I could almost reach out and touch the sky I watched her proud strut as she walked away she made me feel like this was going to be my brand new day just watching her strut was making me feel confident and proud I was beginning to feel like even I could stand out in the crowd I watched at a distance as she began to fade all I could think of was oh my dear how much I do love a parade my mind started shutting off all of its resistance to the task ahead of me I wanted to pull myself together and stand up with some dignity so now feeling much more confident I stood down from that bench telling myself how much I really had to offer and right about then I felt her presence like chill bumps under my skin like magic my eyes were drawn to the right and there it was again in full sight the parade had finished its business down at the other end had turned it around and was coming back my way again then I heard my own mouth say out loud be still my heart as the street crowd began to get into part and sensing my own intuition I knew it was time once more to assume my form of position so I stepped back up on my reviewing stand this parade was making me feel glad to be a man I began to gloat as I watched her float and I heard her marching band all around and I saw the flower petals as they covered the ground along her path I watched as this extraordinary parade of inspiration held my total concentration as her perfect strides urged me to turn the negative ties I felt the spin of a powerfully positive new world under my skin new world unfurled my head began to whirl I was caught up in a swirl I jumped off that bench and as my feet hit the ground from the depths of my lungs I let out a sound that must have been heard for miles around with my mouth open wide I howled out with pride you go girl this time I was not going to let her out of my sights I was not about to let her fade so I stepped out I straightened out of my tie and stood up straight and proud then with the stride of my own I stepped into the part in that crowd I fell right in step with the pulse of her band that played by the next thing I knew I had joined that parade so my brothers and my sisters if you ever see that struck coming your way get ready get set it's about to be your brand new day Lord how I love a parade it's time to break off into some less mechanical and it is trying to make it real compared to what? Deanna is going to be our next poet so let's give Deanna a great round of applause and then we're going to do next time still I rise you may write me down a history with your bitter and twisted lies you may try me in the very dirt but still like dust I rise does my sassiness accept you? accept you? why are you beneath the gloom? because I walk like I got oil wells pumping in my living room just like moons and like suns with certainly of tides just like hopes springing high still I rise did you want to see me broken bow head and lower eyes shoulders feeling with oh shoulders feeling down like tear drops weakening my soul's hopeful cries does my happiness offend you? don't you take it awful hard because I laugh like I got gold mines digging in my own backyard you may show me what your words you may cut me with your eyes you may kill me with your hatefulness but still like air I rise does my sassiness accept you? does it come to a surprise I dance like I got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs out of the heads of my history of shame I rise up from the past that's rooted pain in I rise I'm a black ocean leaping in white welling and suing I bear in the tide leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise into daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise bringing the gifts and then ancestors my ancestors gave I'm a dream and I hope and the hope of us lives I rise I rise I rise once again this is a very special time among mama gonna come up and do some poetry so uh I tell you mama's a extraordinary and very wonderful lady and lord bless us to have a wonderful mother and uh let's give mama a great round of applause to brighten up the days who shows concern and interest with their thoughtfulness and caring who gives their best and adds a touch of fun to everything are those who most deserve to have the best that life can bring if anyone deserves a date that brings an enjoyment good enjoyment it makes a happy heart we know that once someone is you you're constantly thinking of others and putting their needs and your beautiful spirit that way it's such a joy and privilege to wish you and express your gratitude appreciation and love that is always in our heart for you you know thus uh tonight so far we see what this is all about our people just people treating each other not some time most of the time but all the time with courtesy dignity and respect see how a bunch of us could get together and have a real good time good down home people that's what I'm talking about yeah that's that's right this people treat each other like human beings it don't cost a cent it don't cost a cent so uh I'm gonna um our next uh poet is uh gonna be um uh this uh let's see uh brother evid ryan uh this this brother's participated several times so let's give a brother evid ryan a round of applause and then uh next up is gonna be uh Beverly l kareem and then um brother um randell napatin okay in that in that order and then we'll follow with the next three okay so let's give brother uh ryan evid ryan a round of applause with me here and I'm gonna thank you guys for being here and giving such a wonderful show appreciate it everybody's poetry is uh sounds real good in here and I hope everybody keep writing and keep expressing and um you know with community being going through a lot of hardships uh relationship-wise along with just uh family-wise uh depression-wise and all the things that we learned over the past years that we all been knew that let's say you can train to open the eyes to um write about things like uh portness in black people in America where the situation hasn't been straightened out but there has been a struggle a struggle that has been set and a foundation that has been laid that uh seemed to be getting laid down on in some respects as some of our respects to one another as a people and um we have a high crime I have a brother in the hospital right now with a shot with a soft rifle you know in the community recently you know luckily you're live um uh I have sickness that has hit my family that took members had the drug abuse that done took members of my family along with uh they're still raping my raping my family and in a sense uh there's been some things that you could be grateful for like a good job or to keep yourself just saying and right and safe you know thanking God for every day and uh but we still have these these things you know I've I've written all kind of poetry we uh me and um brother Patrick here was in a drum group together and we sang a song called why we got to be pulling America and I read a lot of poetry you know just off of that and it's a song and stuff but uh we have some things I'm gonna start with a one that's called uh thank you for the love it goes your beautiful personality is aura even when it's altered my conversations with you are most meaningful although sometimes they hurt me with smells of fresh fragrance well dressed in angelic lights there were looks of disappointments as I stood next to your life that smile is the light of my heart in the joy that I'm the one who bought it turn envy gregariousness if someone else will cause them not an obsession because I'm always thinking of you while I sit all along in the company of other people when you reached out your hand there was no tick before it was taken well if we never see one another again my heart is left here saying I love you and I love you forever thank you for the love now I'm gonna touch on uh fear these uh heartbreaking lives that we're living with just uh news I'm uh I'm gonna say about something today and I'm gonna speak about the executions that's happening today and the last execution and I wrote something about the last execution that they had in california here all right uh first one I did the last time I was here I'd like to do that again because uh it seems like nothing's uh changing too much but you can see that it is a change because people getting tired of it and uh people are starting to stand up and we're living in a world of terrorism when we're being terrorized by ourselves and I and it's it's it's coming to a head and that's what's happening all right so this one's called faultless crime faultless crime driving in the town on a clear seeing evening stopped at a corner store where people were lingering crime has gotten out the world's conversations ruling sound when the roar of death claimed a horrific horrifying crime someone was falling as we all jumped down while two in a car left face from around someone's more than injured and a family slaughter someone's handed the news and final expenses looms cost them no one's called and helps without with this faultless crime running about looking for a person that can't be found apb and search days have passed now the whole nation's worried and faith is now faced is faultless crimes missing person's case in attendance at an event smiles were plenty and entertainment was gifted mingling with people from all around when someone found anger and another one smile the stab was low put the smile on the floor mixed in the crowd hit the cold and a tragic afflict of a perfect event a smile couldn't prevent being turned to torment falling victim to faultless crime innocent bystander slain didn't know nothing now all's covered up with reason screaming saying nothing another love cost happening faultless crime visits to family not to mention the people who go out to do something about it taking the calls until their own hands add more fuel to the fire before they discover what they have did they've already added to faultless crimes list living in the area that don't talk the law death toll astonished and bleeding heart sequels home blaming authorities that no one's held to account for this faultless crime we can't do nothing about if one knows anything about file playing don't say that's the reason for faultless crimes day because faultless crime has touched many causing hurt and pain and lies of misery the loss to cost overwhelming thoughts what was the faultless crime all about angers roman and life is mad with but a horrific appeals on her with faultless crime i have to touch on one more and this is about uh i wrote this tonight they killed uh brother took it when you stand and took it winston's up the sand quitting and uh no matter what nobody done um even um with this last one on hold i'm glad it's on hold they need to keep them all on hold they need rose bird back to cut it out you know make everybody stop and you know uh it's bad enough you know it's like no cakewalk if you are in prison so this one's called the executions of life the world's epitome a starved being never given anything now life is called the bones called struggling flies the land from death by death to beget the ones whose hearts are unsympathetic and a cause of life where dysfunction and ignorance was leading to be the leader that's being led astray about what others did to represent what's meant in this execution's date now a long time it has been spent in solitude where that good person was found to be in itself where this decision had already been found to find it's too late to be good in the executions of life there are many of us who makes the big mistake deemed as good and get along in the world of civil liberties and ends up in the judicial system a law so judged in fate the mistake too late to be good in mistake correction of facilities still called death where we even have to be redeemed like names in the past good as noble for a peace prize of clemency hardened hearts and heard a blind mercy in future's humanity kill them we killed them now who are we to be weapons of mass destruction in the name of honor defend the country you kill we kill until the world can see it's too late to be good our good will not be seen even as a juror who voted for death just as the courts and governors won't grant us their clemency now the whole state's hands are dirty and the date that has been set and when the moment has happened we're all one and neglect our country has gave the illness as the ones we put to death until we stop world killing forgive and remove this bad element of unnatural death and executes lies a prosperous work and especially full of happiness it's too late to be good our good will not be seen in the executions of life the world's epitome yeah let's give brother ever another great round of applause okay our next port is gonna be uh brother uh randell napotin let's give him a great round of applause this is first time all right brother i just really want to say again thank you one man's dream is another man's escape you know to keep him from the streets and everything uh i'm gonna read a poem uh meet versus my faith and uh it's it tells a lot about my story i'm coming to christ and everything i feel my writing is uh very selfish and uh until i shared it with a couple of people they said it's enlightening so again this is my first time so don't do too good on spotlight okay let me verse my faith in a dog eat dog world we race to knock the next one down in pain of a hot steady pour our slander is beyond sound but faith is to believe a different prize through unmistaken grace deceived by fate in various style in sight of the same place to trust in god's word that life can be forever yet supernatural thoughts seem absurd seem absurd at times of story weather so i believed in me putting my faith in my faith only letting myself down upon conquering this place gather new souls in need to gather myself as my life is told and seen as an example a sample of simplicity and contrast to a complex prude as as common as a soft answer for one who's used to being rude but as often as righteousness doesn't really go on is as often as we need to see how we're never really wrong because a mistake in the mind is a heart that made a mess as i'm sending your heart is your mind failing test so as the bars reset to greater and higher planes it is still your flesh that is greeted by your christian friends again i speak to my flesh to question my faith that i be not deceived by my family's face because their smile tells me to keep on going in whom i've done much for yet for the kingdom nothing so greatness so does greatness lie within all that i show as my holiness tends to creep slowly out the window now my days are filled with now my days are filled with looking back to grab on to what was once my best searching for new days of positive hope because the ways of my faith question if i can really cope now that's just me leaning on myself trying to learn dignity in accepting his help or to humble myself before my pride and still thank god for giving me this life so trust and believe i still pray for forgiveness because i never asked for my mind to be such a mess thank you i got two more and this was fairly short but uh again it just it speaks about my experiences and stuff uh coming up this is love paused in me love paused in me before my adolescence it was at moments of imagination in perspective of life's appeal when morals seemed unreal love paused in me with the conviction of curiosity no conviction of curiosity pleased my immorality yet a pain of sensitivity and a lust for creativity love paused in me so alone i wondered quietly wanting to be heard by a love i couldn't be but was obvious to me love paused in me manipulating what was fervent when i was discontent with while struggling with patience to finally love again love paused please press play please press play excuse me that was it so this one here's the last one is uh again it's just a selfish piece to just kind of again you know your your dream to have this place is is is a fulfillment to me for being able to share here it's very therapeutic for me to share uh going through recovery and so forth so uh this one is called try him for years i've been chasing things i can see simply contradicting what i actually believe i was in a world of contemplating fantasies denying my potential and all possibilities i hid myself from ever being successful simply afraid of doing things i was able to do i could only understand the things that i controlled constantly neglecting what i was being told so how could i imagine these christians were wearing praising faith and things far out of sight to me it was like walking straight backwards closing my eyes that i could see the real world now they told me to surrender control that i may gain peace and in that joy he will make me feel free as his word said the goals those are the goals of my faith the revealing of christ through me in every way so of course it didn't take of course it takes time to get out of worldly expectations and by his greatness i have overcome some limitations and through christ i have been made more than a conqueror as he was in hebrus the same yesterday today and forever so as it is written the great i am is and always will be lover of his people provider of family so i put my trust in him for he said he would never leave thus i will be content with god for he will never forsake me all right brother that was wonderful let's give a brother wonderful round let's give him a big round of applause there all right um we're gonna have a uh two more ports and then i'm gonna finish up with a finale and then we're going to have uh refreshments there and uh our next port is going to be um uh rake rakell smith uh b r a pappy better known as pappy on let's give her a great round of applause and then we're going to follow that with our sister uh bevelie l carine and then i'll uh finish out the program so good to be here all right i want to know support is everything and i just want to give honor to you mama can i call you mama i just give honor to you because it's because of people like you that all of this is this stays strong this stays believing in always has open arms for those that they love it's important to know that we are loved i just want to start off to warm up a little bit i'm a senior i love something unity can make a change my first piece called when will my day come my day come kingdom come who will be my king to crown me their queen take away these mean lines round my forehead who will head my pain take away tortures remains who will lay down with me in my ugly days who will stay by my side not pride who will show me i have no need to hide who will chide me with tender kindness be mindless but heartfelt who will belt my misery and treasure me will you will you take the time needed to stand with me needing me will you will you fight for me the one dying for the one who is crying will you hear me will you come by my way will you cradle the hurt to the hurt is gone are you the one are you are you the one who will hum a song with me together can we feather a bed for all of us to rest are you the one who will show me what's best will you confess the wrongs that you know so that we can all better get along are you the one who will lead us to become one are you the one does your mind say yes less be I more be we when will our day come kingdom come kingdom come this was the first poem that i wrote is real short like one line probably if i wrote it and i just want to just say a little about inspiration see a lot of times you have to introduce a person to what their gift is because they don't see theyself and there was this one teacher who was inspired by her spirit and this is how she got down before class started you had to write in your journal and she would read what you wrote and this was the first time pen went to paper from me i see only what's there to see i know only what's told to me i love only that i can be away from this world's misery you want me to do with that show you want me to come back and do another and then we'll start okay thank you thank you okay our next poem is poet is going to be uh sister beveley our kareem uh thank you for being patient and you know the beauty of this thing is i just want to let you know it's just a blessing that we're able to do this here and been doing this for 29 years and guess what next year it's going to be 30 and after that it's going to be 31 then 32 back past baskin robbins so let's give this sister a great round of applause here let's give this sister a great round of applause just go way back thank you so much and it is a pleasure my name is beveley our kareem i'm a poet i read around in the city and i'm gonna get started right away so my first piece is a very popular piece that i read around in the city of san francisco and east bay and it's called have you ever walked down golden gate avenue you start to walk and notice the lines people sitting on the side dark faces of crime singing a sad song that keep them bound walking around with several frowns walking down the streets of golden gate is an illusion of time wondering what's on these people's mind and then you started to notice the homeless the prostitutes the pimps and the hustlers too and i say to you have you ever walked down golden gate avenue you notice several others asking for change to buy them something to eat someone with the nailer and their arm of feet a glass pipe in their mouth that's destroying them as they fight to stay alive to get the next high and then you walk down to leavenworth passing larkin and hide hoping to make it to the other side trying not to show the sadness that's prevailed on your face when you know that god can give these people grace disappointment rejection and resentment has captured this poor lost souls a major confusion and corruption creeping all around this little part of town someone's mother father even a child that has fallen into a world of crime trying to escape a world of misery dishonest and forbidden zone that wants to sing a better song have you ever walked down golden gate avenue finally you get to the end and you see the beautiful theater that's ahead and the people that's trying to see a good play to be entertained and motivated to escape the drama and a world of dismay and then i go afar standing on the golden gate bridge feeling the fog as a creep then watching the images as they appear in a melancholy form only to forget that horror zone to know that today i walked down golden gate in a courageous way thank you this piece that i i wrote was from um a theater in los vegas i worked in a theater there for a few years had the opportunity to work with some very good people and it's called and so it was we walked by each other when our eyes met his smile appeared like a telescope out of nowhere we said hello as our hearts jumped up and down with joy singing and praising as we acknowledged each other realizing that it was time to come forward as we chat we agreed that we should meet a day to see and so it was we danced sang and romanced then he tried to control when he reached this level of love that satisfied his soul suddenly out of nowhere it came rising in the early morning like an overdose of madness trying to destroy my joy and then i said recognize i'm a lady with my own style covered in the blood of jesus soaked in the power of love over joy with admiration blessed with the germ of wisdom so why do i need to acknowledge a mass amount disappointment superficial love misleading and negative words a death of destruction and aggressiveness that tried to cripple my spirit as i refused to let go my assurance came from my savior when he said i am the way the truth and the light followed me and i will always make things right and now the love that i embrace has floated to another dimension of my faith and so it was i'm gonna do one poem and this poem is um i wrote a while back uh and that's this is the way i really feel about life you know and family uh this poem is entitled uh love is life love is life and life is so very very nice when the atmosphere is pleasant and thoughts are peaceful life for living is like a warm and beautiful feeling touching me touching you as i look into the beautiful horizons i see children playing warm and safe under the loving eyes of the friendly skies vivacious energetic and so full of life and love is life as the wonderfulness of the day settles in a lovely lady place a warm and sweet kiss on my lips my heart has been touched and blessed this beautiful feeling created by me and you was made to be shared always remembering the beautiful days of summer love is what we make it and may it always be something beautiful dear near hearts love is me touching you love as you touching me love is being in touch with each other's feelings love is giving sharing and caring love makes two hearts singing harmony love makes wedding bells ring love brings rain to the flowers and trees and helps them grow beautiful and tall love is you and me and a family together living for the love this beautiful life has given us and one more and then uh sister um uh papiana is going to close out um uh this uh uh with everything going on in the world like i i uh warren things and wore out here in the streets uh i'd like to dedicate this to um those who are not uh it's customary that we do this every year um those that are not here to celebrate this moment with us there's a lot of people who have passed this past year so i'd like to dedicate this to all of them um and our good friend mr jimmy lustre a wonderful gentleman and at one time the number two rated middleweight in the world and our good buddy uh mr henry clark uh this poem is entitled um somewhere someone has said and done something beautiful out of the midnight blue as a gentle breeze tamed the turbulent winds and the pouring rain then as the rainy clouds parted the sunshine smiled upon all of the people of the world then the eyes of the sky opened and gave us a beautiful day in the sun people open their eyes with the profound respect for life people open their hearts and gave love that filled other people's hearts with appreciation for life people open their minds the reservoirs of wisdom and poured golden knowledge into the mainstream of society as hearts of love and rhythm with life get ready to set sail from which the ships of friendship will sell carrying the cargo of love trust unity brotherhood friendship and understanding the rages and seas have mellowed down from the love touch waves tranquility and sweet serenity is the music we hear somewhere someone has said and done something beautiful i've touched upon every shore as my desire to rise to the golden heights inspiration elevated my heart and i sought above every mountain i spoke of unity for all mankind and the skies were peacefully filled in fire in rain in darkness in times of storm in times of uncertainty i know that there'll be sunshine because somewhere someone has said and done something beautiful and tonight you've all said and done something beautiful with your poetry and god bless y'all and sister uh papillon she's gonna come up and finish up the program so let's give her a great round of applause ask you guys a question are we cursed are we blessed we are blessed now listen this is called cursed me a blessing she cursed me so bad felt like welts to the back of my bones she cursed me a blessing she cursed me so bad the tears stinging down my face hurt so bad i hid in shame she cursed me a blessing now listen she cursed me so bad i began to curse myself she cursed me a blessing i got so good at cursing myself till the day came i realized i could bless every curse she gave me she cursed me a blessing the day came i realized i could bless every curse i gave myself she cursed me a blessing then i blessed her no more cursing from her no more putting out what she never should have gained no more misbehaving no more caving in to that you see she cursed me a blessing now you hear what i'm saying she cursed me a blessing be blessed be blessed be blessed once again i would like to uh thank you all very much uh once again this is a another positive example of what a beautiful thing we can do when we come together and i personally from our heart would like to thank you all for attending this event this night and it it has truly been a blessing like tell you it hit me right there in the heart like to see mama and a little princess there i know a big spike at he's out somewhere but uh good to see uh brother reggie brother ryan uh brother neil uh sister smith uh brother patrick uh all uh let's give another great round of applause for brother brian and and mr pound for coming over here from the east bay the east bay connection and let's give brother diallo the wonderful artwork is from a brother here right here in the community brother diallo and uh also we have another brilliant artist here brother every ryan is another brilliant artist see we've got world class right here in the neighborhood see that's a blessing see okay once again let's give uh our cameraman mr davis swabia a great round of applause for his wonderful work here thank you davie we love you we appreciate everything you do and let's give uh linda britz burton our branch manager and staff a great round of applause uh come on up linda yeah linda we we greatly appreciate everything you do every year you you help us make this a wonderful thing while i have the mic though i would like to make a little announcement uh there's another program for the public library is putting on it's called the unsung heroes program we've been doing it for 18 years and what this is is we like to seek out and recognize those in the community who go above and beyond the call of duty in what they do to serve their community and we actually have a winner from last year reginald stevenson right here who got an award for um his community work uh doing his vigils out on thursday where there is still a lot of devastation even today we've had some um you know terrible news out there so um keep up the good work brother reginald and if you have anybody i know everybody can think of someone that they could nominate this is a great way to have them recognized you know because a lot of people go and do work and they never get money or any recognition not that they wanted but this is a good way to surprise somebody in your you know in your circle so i have these applications will be out there with the food please pick up one and think about somebody and thank you and thank you larry ware for 29 wonderful years i haven't been here all those times that's him you want to say some precious yeah precious yeah you say something uh little princess precious say something baby yeah my baby who loves you baby you huh i can't hear you you who i can't hear you you you yeah yeah you my little princess god bless you you want to say something baby okay once again we're gonna have refreshments right now and again thank you very much uh and next year number 30 all right thank you all right i'm a princess