People say to write about what you know… I’m here to tell you, no one wants to read that, ’cause you don’t know anything… So write about something you don’t know. And don’t be scared, ever. ~ Toni Morrison, USA Today
It’s so easy to get caught up into the formulas for writing, especially if they’ve brought you a fair amount of success. It’s safer that way, isn’t it? But as creative individuals—we thrive when we’re challenged. We thrive when we’re put to the test. We thrive when we let go of our inhibitions, take on the unknown, and, without over-thinking, simply create that which fuels our souls.
You learn more about yourself, others, and the world when you step outside of the realm you call home. Get unsafe. Move beyond the known. Embrace the unknown. Be inspired by the unknown. There’s no telling what magnificence may come about.
You can’t even give a little bit.
You won’t even try.
You fail to do anything that you think is going to challenge your ego.
You’re afraid of compromise for fear of losing yourself.
God forbid you should ever have to change.
But compromise is the key to keeping the scales in relationships balanced.
You can’t be the tyrannical controller and think you won’t get checked,
or think that I’m just supposed to go along with it.
You shouldn’t have to brand yourself differently to make our relationship work.
We have to accept each other as we are;
Else, our problems are much larger than we both can see.
I’m willing to make it work,
But if you aren’t—there’s nothing I can do to make you save our union.
It’s better to be selfish when you’re alone.
And we both know we can do better than that.
So if by now you haven’t changed your mind,
then consider these parting words:
Can’t deny I won’t be sad,
but I’ll get over it;
and you will too.
I’ll just wish you well
And I sincerely hope and pray that you find whatever you’ve been looking for
Cause it obviously isn’t with me.
Get over the fact that no one will ever be the same.
Get over the fact that there are multiple umbrellas, and everything and everybody will
never live only under one.
Get over the fact that most people have no desire to (and will never) reside in the same
space, because complacency is equivalent to death.
Acceptance, change, growth, and progress are pertinent and inevitable.
Let it be!
I was also honored to be featured with Rashid Darden, Monica A. Hand, and Red Summer the Black LGBT head / heart / love poetry reading (I’ll post video of my reading soon). It was a phenomenal experience. The energy from the audience was great. They were really feeling our poetry (which is always a plus). And the turnout was excellent. After the show I received lots of kudos from members of the audience and my fellow poets from the reading. It was also touching to have some of my family and friends present at the event. If it wasn’t for a solid support system, I wouldn’t have made it this far. My support system has definitely helped me prevail.
~ BuddahDesmond
No matter what happens in this life—we must prevail. Check out the title poem from my book Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics, featured in the “Life” section.
Prevail
Blocked,
To prevail.
© 2012 BuddahDesmond
Prevail: Poems on Life, Love, and Politics is available at iUniverse, Amazon (Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle), Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million (Paperback | Hardcover), and other retailers.
Until you’ve freed your mind from the people, situations,
and other assorted bullshit that ties you down—
You’ll never truly know or be able to experience freedom.
If you can’t act independently,
think independently,
live independently,
or just be independent—
You’ll never be free.
Release the chains.
Get free!
© BuddahDesmond
For the last few weeks I’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way Every Day: A Year of Creative Living. I find the information to be very inspiring, motivating, and refreshing. Being a creative, artistic person – this is the jump start I need to begin the new year. I’ve noticed since late last summer that I’ve had very few opportunities to delve deeply into my creative self. And it’s been killing me. I feel like I’ve been neglecting a part of myself that I’ve otherwise had no problem nourishing. And considering the fact that I started nourishing this part of myself at the early age of four – I’m like, “What the hell happened?” But I won’t fret. I’ve never been one to force my creative self into doing something just to do it. I have to feel it. I have to be in the mood. Each time I force myself into doing anything in this regard I hate the outcome. And whatever is produced usually goes in the trash. I realize that I need to give my creative self the space to process, exist, and grow. And that I need to uplift and inspire my creative self just like I would any other component of my being. I can move on now with a better perspective. Here are a few takeaways from the book.
From January 11: “We expect our artist to be able to function without giving it what it needs to do so. An artist requires the upkeep of creative solitude. An artist requires the healing of time alone” (p. 17).
From January 13: “Writing goes much better when we don’t work at it so much. When we give ourselves the permission to just hang out on the page” (p. 19).
From January 15: “When we open ourselves to something or someone greater than ourselves working through us, we paradoxically open ourselves to our own greatest selves” (p. 21).
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Now playing: Mary J. Blige – Each Tear
via FoxyTunes
They’re up politricking on the hill,
Taking lobbyists’ dollar bills,
Claiming they keep it real,
When they can’t give us something we can feel.
They make promises they can’t keep,
Forgetting that what they sow, they will reap,
Lyin’ to themselves and others to get a seat,
But when it all falls down the incumbent will get beat.
Your approach is haughty and self-righteous.
You come off cocky, act like you’re the second coming of the Messiah.
So sad—people caught on to bullshit,
Discovered you were only looking out for personal interests.
You’ve got it bad and that ain’t good,
Got the nerve to say you were misunderstood.
You give politics and government a bad name.
Liars, thieves, cheaters, adulterers, and politicians—
People will say they’re all the same.
You’re oblivious to the people you represent;
You act like this is a game when it’s a commitment.
You constantly cut and run and confuse the masses with doublespeak,
While your quest to save moral values has only divided and made us weak.
The time has come,
And the people see you for what you are.
They’re ashamed they let you get this far,
But when the time comes they know exactly what to do:
Find the next best thing and get rid of you.
© 2012 BuddahDesmond
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Now playing: Janet Jackson – Feedback
via FoxyTunes