Category: Music

better at home & we all feel, and he didn’t + Jill Scott

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Two poems shared on Substack notes

Homemade salad: diced chicken tenders, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, & Colby Jack cheese. I drizzled the ranch dressing onto the salad after I took the photo. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

better at home

fresh fruits and veggies
diced chicken tenders with cheese
creamy ranch dressing

AI-Generated Image: A Black man dressed handsomely in a jean jacket, cream-colored shirt, and jeans, standing on a porch in front of a door. He has a pensive look on his face.

we all feel, and he didn’t

he was too
equanimous. you
maybe thinking,
“that’s not a good thing?”
and I’m obligated to tell you
that I needed someone who
would explode with anger if
the world caved in on him…
eventually.

I needed to know that he could cry,
would cry if his heart
were crushed with grief.
but he didn’t know
tears—he hadn’t been open
enough to let them cleanse him,
and I couldn’t continue to love a
man who wouldn’t emote.

I understand strength, the rearing
of holding back emotion when you
can release it was
always weakness to me.
I wanted to know that
if I broke down, he could break down
with me, and we’d lift each other up.

but in a world that
tells a man to be
stone in order to be
loved, he couldn’t
hear my cries.

Jill Scott—Pressha

Scattered Words: Hardcover $26.00 USD|Scattered Words: eBook $11.00 USD|Scattered Words: Amazon

“Lord I Need You”, Because I Truly Do

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Lady Harmony: Too Street for the Church, Too Church for the Street

Lady Harmony: Lord, I Need You

Every morning/before my feet touch the ground/
In the afternoon/when I’m up moving around/
In the evening/when I lay my head down
When I can’t see for myself/
I need you to have my back, Lord…

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

This Video Still Gives Me So Much Joy

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Dance the pain away

Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free. – Rumi

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.

“Cuz My Heart Can’t Hurt Nobody”

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Good Intentions by Lady Harmony

Good Intentions by Lady Harmony via YouTube

“And if I ever hurt you, I’m asking you
To charge it to my head and not my heart.”

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about recent events with a previous place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination, growth from the transition after resigning from that company, and life’s foibles and overall experiences. I welcome your visit.

away from you & death from cold

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Two poems shared on Substack notes

AI-generated image: Two Black women; one has an afro and is wearing black rimmed glasses, the other has locs and is donning massive gold hoop earrings. They both have pensive expressions on their faces as they hold on to each other in a sinkhole.

away from you

Con Funk Shun
plays, and I finally
hear what I need to
in Michael Cooper’s
sultry voice…
“That’s the way it
goes on Love’s
Train,” and you
begin to fade from
memory.

As soon as you float
into another part of
my mind, The Gap Band
plays, and then
I hear, “Keep running,”
and here I am… trying to talk
myself from chasing
after you.

I am slowing down,
finding my own beat,
and my own words
to get far away from
you.

death from cold

cold weather
moves in without an
invite–banging at
the doors of the sky,
willing to lap dance
the day away, as
long as it’s paid in
full before the next
business day.

its pimp hangs out
around the corner,
strangling the sun
and threatening to
take the heat from
it.

we all layer up for
safety. we don’t want
to catch our death
from cold.

Love’s Train by Con Funk Shun:

Yearning for Your Love by The Gap Band:

He Keeps On Waking Me Up/Thank You Lord

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Lady Harmony, He Keeps On Waking Me Up/YouTube

“I’d never would’ve made it this far without you” is a straight-up testimony that resonates with me.

There were many days when I didn’t feel like getting out of bed, but my eyes were open. My limbs were agile. My heart was beating. I had breath in my lungs.

God did it, and why, I may never know, but I’m so glad he keeps doing it.

This dropped in my spirit during my workout on my Gospel workout mix, and maybe it’ll work for you, too.

I feel like I’m not the only one who needs to be reminded — who really needs to know that God hasn’t given up and will not give up on you.

Hang in there, please. Hang in there.

Peace and blessings.