Poems

Tonight was the last night I will ever get the chance to physically see my grandmother. A week and one day ago, her time here with me came to an end. A woman, who has been a part of my entire life second to only my own mother. Saying that I will miss her encompasses only a small part of what I am truly feeling. The love I’ve been able to receive from her, shaped me into the man I am today. I have always been thankful that I was blessed to have my mother and my grandmother raise me.

The poem I am posting was read to her tonight, the first time I’ve ever read her any of my work. When she first heard I wanted to publish my poems, the joy and pride in her eyes pushed me further to do it. Any dollar amount I needed, she was more than willing to give to see that dream come to life. And when she finally held the book in her hands, she kept it on her bed with her, or on her dresser right next to her bed. When I’d walk into her room, she’d point to it with this smile like a kid that I will always remember. I wish this wasn’t the first time I read to her, but I am happy that despite that, she was always proud of my work.

Lenore Ivol Parris, I love you dearly. Until I see you again…

Sunset

The hours have ticked away
Her last minutes have met an end

No more moments can be shared
No more shoulders are left to lend

A full life has ran its course
One that’s filled with a selfless love

One that’s dealt with many trials
But always showed what she’s made of.

The bond that we shared through life
Could’ve been seen from those around

She’d never just let me lie,
She’d pick me up, right off the ground.

Always saw me as a star,
In her eyes I couldn’t do wrong.

Wish to see those eyes again
Staring at me with life so strong.

To hear her voice once again
The one I’ve heard since I could crawl

Hear her tell me once again
“But Kevin, how you get so tall!”

Every time I’d walk those stairs
How you’d great me by your door.

Asking me if I was good,
Then asked again just to make sure.

Always offered all you had
I can’t ever thank you enough

This lost of you in my life
I cannot lie it’s truly tough.

All I have are memories
And a family born of you.

My hope is that we grow strong
Respect your life in all we do.

Mommy Lenore you are gone
Those words will always bring a tear.

But I’ll see you soon again
With that thought this pain, I can bare.

So, I’ve asked a few followers of my work to pick my next poem to dissect. While I wait on those submissions, here are two more poems to choose from. In one, I play with the idea of thanking people for the negative they bring into one’s life, because without it, the many positives that came afterward would’ve never happened. So for that reason alone, I felt a slight thank you had to be shared.

In the other, I just wanted to start the conversation of whether the way our society is structured is in fact the way we want it. And if not, why not make that society’s main focus. Enjoy the words, ponder their meaning, and don’t forget to thank a negative contributor to your life today – they are opening the doors to something greater!!!!!

Thank You

Thank you for breaking my heart
Setting me onto a path

Although at the time I saw
No end to my pain and wrath.

Couldn’t make sense of your words
Or find meaning in your choice

Just wanted you out the way
While still craving for your voice.

But the wounds finally healed
My faith in love was restored

Found solace looking anew
Her beauty –its own reward.

The moments we could enjoy
Were a gift wrapped up by you

Setting me onto a path
Filled with love – lasting and true.

Thank you for making the call
That brought day out of my night

Taking a boy who was filled
With a rage, ready to fight.

Answered the question that plagued
Yet he never dared to ask

A question that ruled his world.
Covered his life like a mask.

Made the world easy to bare
At least knowing that you’re real

That weight, off of my shoulders
A strain I’d learned to conceal.

Take notice of who you are
Learn the good, mixed with the bad

And then hope that I succeed
At being a better dad.

Thank you for all of the doubt
It’s kept us perched on our toes.

The fear of failing’s been high
A truth that nobody knows.

A pressure kept on myself
Has always been my belief.

To keep me from living life
With days that have no relief.

Where we go from here is left
To the steps we chose to take.

The path behind us just gave
A lesson we can’t forsake.

With hope I look to what comes
With thoughts of all that we’ve seen.

Hoping to mirror a life
Filled with days that are serene.

Robbing the Hood

All the plights of our days
Giving life to your works.

Yet our days never change
While you enjoy the perks

Our young are being fed
From a hand that’s so worn

In a place that’s so bruised,
A people that’s so torn.

Those that have, tend to feel
Nothing more can be done

Their riches have been made.
Poverty’s on the run.

Yet their dough finds its growth
By our hands – by our feet.

Shouldn’t more come to those
Who keep their life so sweet?

All their songs and their films
Bringing light to our dark

Bring more net to their worth
While our lives miss that spark

A handout will not do
More care needs to be shown

The platforms they command
Some ills should go unknown

School labs lacking the tools,
To fairly educate

Ten cars – while people starve
Can’t see how that equate.

The poor gives to the rich
With small gains in return

Will the poor seek a change?
Is this not of concern?

Through a writer's mind

My thoughts, your views, our experience.

In Memory

Meaning Behind the Words