Month: August 2021

Writers: A Challenge

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Naturally Weird “In Five Words”

Mushrooms. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

What you see before you are mushrooms growing in several different spots here in my apartment complex. We’ve had far too much rain recently and the ground opened up and spouted Earth’s funky looking fungus, so . . . I took a couple of photos.

I am not a lover of mushrooms, not even the edible kind. I don’t care for the texture or how they feel when chewed. Ick! I’ve always found them naturally weird. So, that’s the challenge. Tell me about something you think is “naturally weird” but using only five words.

Here’s mine:

mushroom invasion
perfect funky
fungi

What about you, writers? Can you handle this challenge? Be creative. Flaunt those skills. Tell me all about what you think is naturally weird but use just five words. Let’s do this, beautiful people!

Feel like dancing? I do too. Outkast, Morris Brown

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Originally shared on Medium.

So, You’re Thinking About the Last Time You Kissed Someone

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And if it hadn’t been for that one commercial, you probably would’ve forgotten it.

The words “Heart Breaker” are painted in white on a jean jacket or jean pants.
Photo by Michelle Cella via Redshot

Have you seen the “First Kiss” Hershey’s Kisses commercial? You know the one with “Eric” mentioning all the positive aspects about the kiss while “Lisa” shares the negative aspects about it? Yeah, that one. The first time I saw that commercial I thought to myself, “What is this business? I hope they’re not an actual couple.” But then I thought, “Hmm, when was my last kiss?”

I mention my last kiss because I clearly remember my first one. I was thirteen, in my last year of junior high, and gearing myself up for high school in just a few months. My boyfriend was a tall, heavy, beautiful black young man, who was originally from Florida and played football for our school.

He would go on to be scouted for a high school other than the one I was expected to attend and make quite the name for himself.

We dated for three years. He got a head-start on cheating on young women well before his late teens and our breakup was disastrous. His mother adored me and I loved her. I hated that her son and I ended the way we did. But we grew to respect each other enough to be cordial as we got older.

He even asked me out again, which was quickly shut down before he could mumble any other words. I had my fill, and I wanted no more of him.

But our first kiss, although hurried and done in a sneaky way, was also extremely memorable. His lips were full and had just the right amount of moisture. There wasn’t a lot of tongue — just enough to be coaxed into a soft lulling — eyes temporarily closed, heart racing.

We pulled away from each other and smiled. Then we held hands. We were official.

I am certain that for as long as I live, I will remember that kiss. It taught me many things about love and lust and being lost all at the same time.

Have you thought about the last time you kissed someone? If you did, where did it lead you? Hopefully, you didn’t scramble down the rabbit hole as I did.

My last kiss . . . When had it occurred and with whom was it? This was my struggle topic. But the more I saw that commercial, the more my memory bank deposited blips of its happening into my view. I believe I blocked it out because he is married now — happily married.

For some odd reason, I have it in my spirit that I am not supposed to think about things that brought me joy if the person with whom that joy had been shared is married to someone else.

Is it wrong? Does it mean I lack respect for what he has gained? Am I allowed to reminisce and not fall for those memories once again? Can I?

One thing I loved most about our relationship was kissing and his hugs. He gave “come-to-me-bear-hugs” and I would lose myself in his embrace. He would also do the forehead kiss, then lift my face to his — my lips to his, and I would melt for him.

We didn’t last. We couldn’t last. But we remain friends.

When he sent me the invite to his wedding (to view it online, because, you know, a global pandemic), I was excited. I pondered about what to get the soon-to-be-married couple. I decided on matching aprons, a book about lasting love, and his and her “married to” bracelets. I beamed looking at the photo of the two of them and nodded my approval.

He deserved this — to be happy — to find his match. I tell anyone willing to listen that we had a great thing. It just wasn’t the right thing. Our schedules never meshed. He worked odd hours, and I had a job that required a lot of me and my time.

It was only fitting for him to reconnect with someone from his high school days, fall in love with her once again, propose, and the rest is history. His being happy makes me happy.

But his was the last kiss I had — the last real kiss. My ex after him never drummed up enough sensual intensity within me to move us from dating to intimacy. I just couldn’t connect with him in that way, and eventually, we called it quits. It was well overdue.

But that commercial . . . That damn commercial. If they did not produce it, would I still have that last kiss memory buried deep inside my mind? And now that it has returned, what am I to do with it?

I think one day soon, I will hoist it back to the lone corners of my mind only to be conjured up once again when “the last kiss” is up for discussion.

It has a home. Maybe it will end up there again for safekeeping.

Originally published in Age of Empathy via Medium.

The Goods

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Photo by Yuri Manei via Pexels

A Rapid Rhyme (Audio)

He calls her up, one more time
for a memorable event
Blessing her with extras like
they do Jake cuz she’s got great rates
Put the money where it hides
tips her more than she desires

She doesn’t even count it anymore
lets it pile up like before
She’ll have enough for a new car
new house . . . new life
No more sticks
No more stones and absolutely
no more broken bones

He woos her with his lisp
showers her with special gifts
She pawns them at “The County Dime”
They pay her for her time
She leaves him empty-handed
Ole boy is whipped and stranded
She doesn’t even look back

Girl’s got moves to make
hijacks his heart and that’s the breaks
No one comes to his aid
this is what happens when everything
you want isn’t stamped “paid”
He searches for an exit

None can be found
None is at the ready
She keeps things nice and steady
Prepares herself for a new leaf
changes colors . . . changes beliefs
But still remains the same

Writers: A Challenge

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Nostalgia In “Five Words”

Griffith Park Bench. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

When I took Jaidynn to the park last week, I thought about all the fun my brothers used to have when I would take them to the park. And naturally, I thought even further back to the fun I had when I went to the park. There’s nothing like being a kid and sliding down the slide, swinging on a swing, climbing on the monkey bars, and tackling the jungle gym.

Watching Jaidy as she played took me to an extremely happy place. However, I had forgotten I don’t have nearly as much energy now as I did twenty and thirty years ago. Lol. 

So, I thought the theme for this week’s challenge should be “Nostalgia.” Take me back to your happy place or things you believe are nostalgic to you but do so using five words only.

Here’s mine:

summer fun
brings
back memories

Writers, come with it, please! Take me back, tell me of your past; instances that make you happy, or drum up nostalgic reflections, moments, etc. The challenge, though . . . Use only five words.

And now, the music. Missy Elliott, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)

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Originally shared on Medium.

I Thought the End of the World Would Be Different Than This

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Senryu, 4 Parts

Photo by Julia Volk via Pexels

Armageddon now
a crazy virus still spreads
killer on the loose

time to shelter up
and watch the shitshow for free
popcorn by the pound

so this is life, right?
scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours but
stay six feet away

text me when it’s safe
I am closing the blinds soon
the end is calling

Lioness Love

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A poem for Jaidynn

Jaidynn, my favorite girl. In the first picture, I caught her while she was moving some candy around in her mouth with her thumb, she is not sucking her thumb.

it seems like yesterday, I was holding
you up to the sky, above my head,
listening to your giggling gurgles,
then bringing you back down
to me, the look of complete satisfaction
planted on your infant face.

you were a lightning bolt of energy,
an independent force who learned
quickly how to move around 
in our crazy world and now, at age
6 . . . I feel like I’m losing you.

a trip to the park becomes bonding time
your GiGi says we need and I walk
with you, your hand in mine, as we sway
them in the summer breeze.
you are a gymnast — bending and flexing
your way through obstacles, nothing fazes 
you — nothing stops you.
I wish I had your courage— did I ever?

a Leo in a land of lions, you are 
inquisitive with just the right amount
of curiosity trailing every question and 
I hope I have shared the best answers
with you, my love.
these days are passing us by
quicker than I can count them and
I pray I am not missing out on 
bigger things keeping to myself as I sometimes do.

but you know me, you see my smile
as a welcome mat and you pounce
on me — clinging to my chest and 
I wrap you in my arms for the 
longest hug I can give. I don’t want
to let go. I never want to let go.

I have to, though. eventually, I
will have to let go and watch you
become the lioness the stars 
blessed you to be. while I nestle
over here in the shadows of 
your love, please don’t forget
your big cousin who will pull words
from the sky’s heart, wrestle a 
world of liars, and battle a 
carriage full of woe-is-me-ers to
keep you safe.

anything to gift you mother earth’s
peacefulness and blessings.
you deserve nothing less.

*Today’s Jaidynn’s sixth birthday. My lil puddin’ is quickly growing up to be a not-so lil puddin’ anymore and well . . . I am a bit in my feelings about that. Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

Originally published via Medium.