Just Gotta Have a Man! - A Spoken Word piece, by Vee

...So Speak it With Rhythm;-)

Girl,

Why you always acting like you just gotta have a man?!!!

What is it about you that says alone you can't stand?
I mean,

don't get me wrong...

Right now I'm single too and sometimes I feel a little lonely,

But I know I loooove me some me.

And when I find that special one,

I'll make him my one and only.

But until then,

I refuse to run behind,

someone not even worth my time,

tryin' to use me or take what's mine,

and think it's his God-given right

...just cause God made him fine.

Believe me, what I have is awesome,

and definitely worth preserving.

Not to be given away so easily

to someone so undeserving.

So whatcha think 'bout what you got?

Is it worth a dozen roses, or a single forget-me-not?

And tell me, what values are you really teaching your daughter?

You're not taking care of yourself and your house ain't in order.

She's learning from you

and at the same time raising herself

And you want to know what HER problem is?

H#!!

Ok, so why is it okay

that he hit you last night?

Eye still black. Lip "swole" up!

But I guess that's just alright,

huh?

Why is it okay

that you're alone this holiday,

while your man is having the time of his life

celebrating at home with his kids and...his wife?

Why is it okay

for him to hurt your kids and treat them bad?

And you wondering why they're making bad grades in school

and always looking sad.

whew!

And last, but not least...

Why is it okay

for him to talk to you like a child?

For him to belittle you and call you names

and wonder why you don't smile.

humh!

But you should be smiling

and you could be smiling!

Drop that &^(%##!!,

pick up the phone and start dialing...

Your loved ones, your friends,

the ones you trust to be there thru thick & thin.

You want a new life?

You want to be happy?

Then this is where you must begin.

Think support system, think sympathetic ears.

Who will listen and won't laugh at my tears?

Who will allow me to speak it out loud and release my fears?

And please take some time between this one and the next.

Every guy I hear you mention, you're calling him your ex.

Spend some time with you just getting to know yourself.

You've got to be confident and comfortable in your own shell.

Find a hobby.

Do you even know what it is you like to do?

Oh, I get it.

It's been so long that you've forgotten what pleases you.

Ok, so join a book club.

Take down a book from the ole dusty shelf.

Get back to loving your kids,

and honey get back to loving yourself!

Occupy your mind.

Fill your thoughts with sunshine.

Invite your kids to share with you their hopes and dreams,

and how they spend their time.

Plant a flower garden.

Dig in the soil and the dirt.

You know there are many hidden treasures

here on God's green earth.

Find someone or something else to give life and light to

besides that guy who so "thoughtfully" hurt you.

Drop them bags like Erykah told you to.

Be true to yourself and simply do you.

But forgive him

and all his deeds just the same,

So you can take back your power and

reclaim your true name.

QUEEN!

Stop being his victim of shame.

And don't forget, exercise is always good,

especially if you'd like to shed a few pounds.

Try Yoga classes to relieve the stress.

You'll start to have more ups than downs.

Now,

You've worked on your mental

and you've worked on your physical,

so complete your circle, sis,

and work on your spiritual.

Before you know it,

you'll feel like a different person.

Oh, you'll still be you,

but just a better version.

Then...

You'll be ready for a partner.

Not just a man or any man,

but someone you can actually start to:

Share your dreams with,

watch TV and laugh with,

comfort and make love to,

or simply relax and chill with.

Let down your guard and cry on,

someone you can depend on

to see you through the tough times

or guide you through a storm.

And sweetie,

the men you will then attract

will make them sorry Kats look so slack.

Cause they will be kind, and gentle, and sweet.

And you won't have to ask them to watch your back.

So what about me?

I know so much, where's my guy?

Well I'm truly not a hypocrite,

so I will not lie.

Right now I'm still working on me.

Trying to be the best me I can be.

Not yet done with my metamorphosis,

But he should be along shortly is my guess;-)

So again I ask you...

Girl,
Why you always acting like you just gotta have a man?
What is it about yourself that you just can't stand?
I mean,
don't get me wrong...
Right now I'm single and sometimes feel a a wee bit lonely,
But I know I looooove me some VEE.
And when I find that special one,
I'll make him my one and only.

How's that for some Jowaje Philosophy?

Peace,

love,

Light,

& Self Respect My Beautiful Sisters,

Vee

The Afro, by Vee

To me
The Afro signifies power and strength.
With just a hint of militancy, it whispers to those who are listening, "I am free! And I am free to be me."

It's naturally regal edginess personifies the struggle of a people to first understand, then overcome and overstand.
But not only to overstand what's right in front of us and what should be apparent, but also the lessons of the ancestors...
the lessons of the past.
To overstand the oppression and the fight.
To overstand the self-doubt and self-hatred that has been buried deep within our subconscious minds.
To move ahead to self-acceptance and appreciation, and to self-love.

To me,
The Afro represents determination, perseverance, and the ability
To rise again and remember who we are,
and what we are.

To me,
The Afro is symbolic of a people digging up their rightful crowns and
hanging them where they belong.
Need I explain that one?
No, because I'm sure you know.
On some level, you already know.

So this week, I'm wearing a big Afro wig.
And even though I'm loving my short naps,
and absolutely was delighted with my bald head,
and will probably do the big chop once more before I let it grow much longer...
I look forward to the day when my Afro is as big and woolly as it is in my pictures.

The day when I
can pick up My crown
and wear It with honor, humility and grace.

February is Black History month, but I say let's celebrate it all year long!

Vee

(btw, this was challenge 6 in the Miss Nappturality Contest. I won this one;-)

I Love Your Naps (Napturalicious Poem) by Kamal Imani

Loving Me Some Nappy Nappy Video just released!
Watch it here.
And guess what? I'm in the Video!
Her sweet kinky naps go back to electromagnetic cats from the land of the blacks where the sphinx naps her sweet kinky naps go back to electromagnetic cats from the land of the blacks where the sphinx naps
I need a Nappy Headed Diva!
In her I'm a believer
I get high off her like ganja
I'm her quarterback
She's my wide receiver
Forget what society thinks---------------------------------- Kamal on Myspace!.
She's a high achiever .

Thought I told you before yo
I'll never leave her
I had to hit her wit a friend request
A myspace link
When I heard her playing Lauren Hill
And saw her khemit kinks
She's a lavender flower
In a world that stinks
When she walks by like Ms. Sadey
That's a sophisticated southern lady
Even the devil winks
But 666 can't have her
Cause she'd rather
Have the kushite deity
And baby that be me
See
I ain't gon through struggles for nothing my struggles my initiation and when I saw her on the street there was no time wastin no procrastination Harlemite born, yo we don't play I stepped to her with no delay like "sweet Jesus can I touch the hem of your garment?"
And of course she laughed
As I asked for her business card
And her autograph
Some matrix type chicks would have walked pass but her dread type natural naps served as an antenna that detected this bredren right here was a winner
Cause her sweet naps go back to electromagnetic cats from the land of the blacks where the sphinx naps so as she walks the streets all she hears is raps like" yo, ma holla back, can a brother get some play?
Yo what's up wit that"
Cause brothers use to believe that light skin was in whether temp or perm or contract but never a double chocolate delicious diva with black naps I'll take either one I'll take them as they come all shades of the black spectrum those khemit kinks remind me of the African village tribe of shabazz 9 ether smoke incense and drums If those naps were a snack I'd keep them in my poetry back pack throw the seeds in a farm harvest them and get phat When I run my fingers through those naps it's nothing like that thoughts of our collective middle passage experience stringy hair, my Akashi fingers couldn't feel that your naps reveal that I love every square inch of your reflection which means I love being black.
Her sweet kinky naps go back to electromagnetic cats from the land of the blacks where the sphinx naps
Kamal Imani c 12/29/07 Shout Outs to Auset 999

Also check out, "ALL SHE REALLY WANTS IS LOVE" by kamal


The 2008 Tribute 2 Ms. Melanin Calender

Click pic for larger
view or to order!

Couldn't Sleep...

Couldn't Sleep... written on 10/02/02 @ 0625

As I lay my head sideways upon his chest,
nestled safely in the warmth and strength of his bosom,
salty tears snake across my face
-slithering, burning, searing my sensitive flesh.

I sob, I dab, I wipe.
My finger, the pillow case, the sheets.
But my muffled sniffling is in vain!
I don't want him to know I'm crying.
Oh but he does know.

He sees the dark cloud encircling me even in this darkness.
He senses my sorrow in the air.
He saw me pray.
He feels it in the nonrhythmic rhythm of my breathing
-and the uncontrolled twitching of my body.
Thought I was being quiet,
yet he hears me even in this silence.

He holds me, caresses me.
Not exactly sure what to do,
but instinctively does what I need him to.

He holds me, squeezes me, caresses me
'til my breathing once again matches his.
Never once uttering a word.
Never once searching for the tears,
he gave me peace, reassurance, and serenity.
He gave me him.
He gave me love!

Job well done,
he rolls over but continues to give reassuring pats.
He lays his leg next to mine, touching
'til he slumbers off to sleep.

I need to write this down!
If I get up will I wake him?

I'm thinking about you Momma,
remembering this night three years ago.
Remembering my thoughts, my feelings, your words, your face, your eyes.
Watching you. So strong.
Praying for you to softly slumber off to sleep,
but secretly wishing you could stay with me.

Momma I love you,

But maybe now I can fall asleep too.

A poem: The Tree of Life with roots and hidden fruit

Definitely a piece of art that can stand alone.
I started to post it simply for you to use your imagination and come up with your own story, or poem, or epiphany! But then it wouldn't fit into a blog, now would it?


Eerily romantic, and hauntingly captivating, I call this piece The Tree of Life with roots and hidden fruit.  Wonder what the artist calls it. 


It is so...so...
thought provoking.
Emotion evoking.

It's vintage with a hint of new age.
The sky is the limit,
the whole world their stage.

A soft kiss
A warm, but strong embrace
Bodies - still, silent movie
No name, no face.

It's no one
It's everyone
It's love and life
and Divine union

Barbaric, yet gentle
Naked, but unobtrusive
The secrets to life
So simple it's Elusive

With time, will the colors eventually turn green and blue, with hues of orange, brown?
Will there be water and stars and leaves to blow in the wind and fall down?
Will there one day be birds singing and animals playing and running around?
Or will the picture always be sepia-toned with the same message playing out loud
...feel me, see me.
What do you think of when you look at me?

It's vintage with a hint of new age.
The sky is the limit,
the whole world their stage.

Barren surroundings,
yet the tree brings forth life.
But where did he come from?
From the earth or from the sky?
Did he drop down from their loins
and travel through the root cave to the light.
Or did he simply fall from a branch,
you know the one with hidden fruit and remains out of sight?

Sensual and mysterious,
It makes me curious...
Will the babe grow up,
wrap his arms about his parents making the tree ever so much stronger?
Or will he simply crawl away, find a mate,
and plant his roots even longer?

It's vintage with a hint of new age.
The sky is the limit,
the whole world their stage.

Dark and ambiguous,
It makes me curious...
How tall are the branches?
How far do they extend?
How deep are the roots?
Freeze frame deception
-so what did the artist intend?

It's sexual and erotic,
enchanting and exotic.
Profound, and yes to some profane.
But what anyway is in a name?
As Shakespeare so eloquently put it,
titled by any name, it's still the same...

True Art!

PS.   And if you're reading this and know the artist's name, please let me know.