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I’m tired of living in the hood

Where gray is brain and red is blood

And children would leave if they could

And poor families are often misunderstood

I’m tired of seeing young folk roll in chairs

with wheels who can no longer climb the stairs

not because they were born with such disableness

but because they were shot; blessed to live no less

I’m tired of seeing mothers sobbing and crying

whild holding a child on the street that is dying

I’m tired of seeing fathers sigh

while cursing God and asking why

I’m tired of seeing brothers and sisters mad at the world; feeling defeat

because their brother’s been killed by their friend down the street

I’m tired of seeing whole neighborhoods in dispair in need of repair

And everyone talking but nobody’s walking the walk or showing they care

I’m tired of praying for an uneventful day

Instead of for real things, like people should pray

I’m tired of the fear to walk to the store

or call the police for fear of turf war;

for fear that my own children will bear consequence

of me aiding the law makers in stopping the noncense.

I’m tired of not having the words to say to a relative

whose lost her son and is trying to live on and forgive

I’m tired of not knowing just what to convey

to that parent at the funeral – tell me what would you say?

I’m tired of mothers and fathers not teaching their own

about life respect and those many seeds that should be sown

instead of street, drugs, disrespect and tit for tat

thinking thug is cute; in the drug game with wallets fat

I’m tired of parents loosing all control

of their own self-respect to their 12-year old

I’m tired of parents being too lazy, tired or scared to disipline

Or trying to be cool; you can’t be a parent and be his friend

Even a real friend tells a friend right from wrong

Not leave it up to him to find out on his own

I tell you! I am sick and damn tired

of young babies with babies who end up expired

before they are 20; oftentimes even younger

What happend to neighborhood unity; I wonder!

I’m tired of everyone scared to speak up

of the filth and the rubbish that is all down the block

In fear of that thug down the street with a glock

I’m tired of whispering a prayer of relief when I find

out the teen laying out on the street is not one of mine

I’m tired of no activities; no community centers

No movies or skatelands; no positive mentors

We’ve all dropped the ball on a whole generation

of young people who know no love from our nation

I’m tired of those who refuse to inconvience themself

for the benefit of the life of a child, inspite of themself

I’m tired of the talking papers, the reports and surveys

The crack and the smack and lean that causes brain decay

I’m tired of the empty prayers placed on the shelf

I’m tired of the hood; I’m tired of myself.

~Written by CordieB. 

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Update on Deshun Taylor’s case: 

All three suspects in the Wednesday killing of an East End seventh-grade middle school student have been arrested, a crowd mourning the death of the slain boy learned last night.

The mourners were gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil in the 2200 block of Fairfield Avenue, near where 14-year-old Deshun Taylor was felled by a bullet Wednesday about 2 p.m.

Alicia Rasin, an advocate for the families of homicide victims, announced shortly after 8 p.m. that interim Police Chief David McCoy just had told her the third suspect had been caught.  Read More . . .

More Posts and News

A few of Comments from Richmond Citizens

Vigil Photos

Weeping Willow ~Courtesy of Sheep Purple

The Weeping Willow sings a somber song
Of distant seasons long past gone
Of present moments seeming far too long…
Of lovers gazing into each other’s eyes
Perhaps returning with sad goodbyes
Of mothers wishing upon far away stars
For safe return of sons and daughters in wars
Of fathers praying please send him home
Alive and well; safe from harm.

As I sat beneath the old willow tree,
I watch the children play freely
A priceless price was paid to watch them run
And jump, and skip beneath the sun
I know a war is over there…
But in my world war is everywhere
The war of boys who think they’re men
Killing neighbors’ sons; even their own kin
Senseless violence with no meaning…
Communities too afraid or complacent to intervene

Teens toting guns like boys with toys
No one’s brave or angry enough to make some noise
For every young man killed in Iraq
Might be two or three fallen around my block
Not for the freedoms we believe we know
But it’s the same old story; just a different show
Ego tricked minds taking what they feel is there’s
In Love and War, they say all is fair…
Youth brainwashed to take what’s not
The bigger the weapon, the bigger the lot

Gently, old Weeping Willow sways to and fro
Shedding dew drop tears for us below…
So here I sit under old Weeping Willow Tree
As she weeps good will for humanity
Lovingly we send a prayer with the passing wind…
God bring our children safely back home again….
And, if it’s not too much and in your plan
Please instill more love into the hearts of man

~Written by CordieB.

Happy Birthday Dr. King. Thank you for paving the path for equality in America in a time when speaking against inequality and racism in America often costs the life of  Black people. I was a Colored girl as a child, born in the early 60′s. I vaguely remember seeing signs posted, “Whites Only.” I was too young to truly understand racism, as I personally was never exposed to racism and felt love all around me, from people of all colors.
As I grew older, I came to realize that all people were not as friendly and loving as those who were in my comfort circle as a child.

Blatant racism has diminished in America and for that I am thankful. Yet I see a tide that seems to be turning back to those days, when I was a colored girl. I see and hear hatred brewing in America, and I must remind myself and the world  that we must remain vigilant in love for all people, less we may slip backwards.

Your dream is materializing each day in the hearts and minds of many people! I pray that this abundance of love will overshadow the few whose minds and hearts are bent on ignorance and hate. I vow to continue in your legacy and pass on your dream!   I vow to not  allow my own comfort and/or fears to silence me or defer the Dream of equality and love for ALL people!  Not just Black people, or White people, or straight people, or gay people, or Jews, or Latinos, or Asian, or Middle Eastern, or African, or Indians, or old people, or young people, or handicapped people, but ALL people!  Let us not defer the Dream of Equality for All.

Here’s to you, Dr. King!

Dreams Deferred ~By CordieB.

What happens to our dreams deferred?

Unacted upon desires that are seldom heard . . .

Do they wash away with the crimson tide . . .

By the sands of time which can’t be defied?

What happens to our dreams alas. . .

which we sadly allow to simply pass. . .

or hold at bay for a better day

Do they await our return or simply fade away?

What happens when we put our dreams on a shelf?

Do they wait patiently for us to find ourselves

Or do they float away to an unknown dreamland

Where dreams deferred converge and reemerge once again . . .

In the soul of another child-like spirit . .

with the heart to reclaim our neglected dream’s merit

Who will take the forsaken dream and caress its face

And abandon not its saving grace

Allow not our dreams to become deferred

Unnurtured; Seldom talked to; Barely heard. . .

For without our love, passion, and concern

Our dream will whither; thus our heart will burn and yearn. . .

Yet the dream will one day find another

Who will embrace that dream like a new found lover

And the dream will lovingly reciprocate

But sadly for us, it will be too late;

Yet to ease our minds, we will call it fate.

—–

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thru the Fire ~CordieB.

Misaligned with my spirit

Disconnected from my core

And my ego was screaming. . .

Give me, More, More, More!!!

Empty feelings of needing

Disenchanted with my life

Whilst my Ego continued…

causing Strife, Strife, Strife!!!

Persevering the battle

Looking inward for relief

Yet my Ego remained…

causing Grief, Grief, Grief!!!

Tried to detach from all

Tried to let it all go

Still my ego was strong

She refused to let go!!!

Then along came compassion…

to my rescue she came…

with humility’s lesson

she revealed my true name

Thru the Fire, I emerged…

Free of  judgement or blame…

Realigned with my spirit!

Reconnected with my core!

Love’s unveiling my true identity

As I explore; as I implore…

Love, she sustains… "Overjoy, Overjoy…"

 ~Written by CordieB

Click on image for full view.

Troy Anthony Davis!

Remember Troy Anthony Davis. . . ?  I wrote a post on him some time ago.  Well. . . we must remain vigilent in our endeavors.   I truely believe in Troy’s innocence.  And the facts speak for themselves, he was not afforded a fair trial.  When there is any doubt, I believe the weight of favor should be given to preserve life at any cost!    Please read the letter below, written by Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, Director, Death Penalty Abolition Campaign,  Amnesty International USA.  Take time out to watch the video and send a letter to the Governor of Georgia.  Our voices may save Troy’s life.

Strength, Courage and Wisdom ~~CordieB

One of the greatest gifts given to me by God is the ability to change my mind ~CordieB.

Let us stop wasting valuable energy trying to change the minds of other people.  It is not our job.  How and what people think is advanced or limited by their own experiences–their own life lessons–and how well they apply those lessons. 

In our presense, other people have the opportunity to grow and perhaps even learn something.  Our actions in of themselves will promote change in the hearts of others.  When we express ourselves as being capable of loving, listening, sharing, and understanding, we promote the change we so often try to force upon others. 

Let us be an example of that we wish to change.  Let us spend less time worrying about what other people are thinking or doing and more time creating positive change in ourselves.

If you can’t seem to get it together, it may be that you have given too much of yourself away.  It may be that you have compromised, over-compensated, given in and given over so much of yourself that you no longer know where all of the pieces have been scattered.  Perhaps the things you thought you needed to do to get love, to experience yourself as loveable, to be acknowledged, left you splintered, shattered and broken into so many pieces you feel like you will never be able to pull yourself together.  Don’t worry!  You have simply experienced an invasion of the body snatchers!

A body-snatchers invasion will distort the truth about you.  It will make you forget your true identity.  it will make you feel guilty about your desire to take care of yourself and honor yourself.  It will point out the wrongness of your choices, the dangers of your decisions, the impossibility of your visions and the fallacy of your beliefs.  A little nip here.  A little peck here…

There is a way to pull yourself back together when you have been accosted by body snatchers.  You must examine all the times you gave others the right to make your decisons, when you expected others to do for you what only you had the power to do, when you gave others the right to decide your destiny and when you dishonored yourself in order to pelase others.  When you remember what you have done, forgive yourself!  Most important, you must say, "Never again."

Until today, you may not have realized that you had been invaded by body snatchers who have dismembered pieces and parts of your identity.  Just for today, protect yourself!  Be aware of the things you do that deminish and distort the sense of wholeness, worthiness, and your ability to make your own choices and decisions. 

~Iyanla Vanzant

Troy Anthony Davis, Execution Stayed on Tuesday by U. S. Supreme Court, Let Us Pray Justice Prevails!

Sweet Revenge Turned to Eternal Regret

~By CordieB

Fellow writer, Paisly has taken on a brave effort to bring our attention to the many executions that have taken place and continues to take place in the United States in which the evidence is based soley on eyewitness testimony, cohersed testimony, and false evidence; many, many of which are later proven by DNA evidence to have been wrongly accused.  The statistics are staggering.  Statistics show for every seven executions, one Death Row inmate has been exonerated.   Although guilty individuals may receive stays; it takes extreme evidence to the contrary to be "exonerated."  This figure will increase, as more and more people are convicted of capital crimes, proponents push for speedier executions, and legal help becomes less and less available for those who are accused of committing capital crimes.

Like Paisley, I have been quiet to this complicated issue we face; as it has never really effected me personally.  However, as a human being; a person who speaks and writes of unity, love, and freedom; I can no longer sit still without speaking out.   As a free nation, I feel it is barbaric that we, the Home of the Brave, Land of the Free, could actually be putting innocent men to death.   Also, like Paisley: 

"i believe the only real entitlement we as humans can lay claim to at birth,, is a little something called common sense..  and as i employ mine,,  it becomes increasingly impossible for me not to realize that given the right set of circumstances,,  it could (and very well might some day) be me,, for which they come….."

Sunday Afternoons After Church

Sunday afternoons after church in the 60′s were so full of neighborhood and family values: Families and friends gathering together for Soul Food, good conversation–everyone wearing their Sunday best – so full of love and tradition. Boy do I ever miss those days. I myself often carry out the Sunday tradition; but unlike the days of old, it’s always me doing all the cooking and most of us did not come from church! Wow do I miss the days when many of the women gathered in the steamy kitchen talking trash, laughing – whilst the men, admiring their families, talked “business” in the dining room. Now I know that we’ve progressed so much from the 60′s; but some things, in my opinion, did not promote progress, but a sense of individuality bringing forth separation that saddens me. No longer do I see the community and family unity – everyone’s for self now. This, in my opinion, has caused depression, poverty, violence and a malady of social problems. So today, let’s strive to live that life of the 60′s, and bring family and community together.

Sunday Afternoons After Church ~By CordieB

Oh how I miss the days of old . . .

When family unity was the goal

Of every bright or weary soul

Oh how I miss the lost tradition

When helping hands was the mission

When we knew all our neighbor’s names

When we’d speak to all who peacefully came

walking down the clean sidewalks

stopping for friendly gossip and small talk

When neighbors would watch over the young

and everyone knew every one

when neighbors could spank that ass

for talking smart or acting fast

and then I’d get another one

after the neighbor told my dad or mom

When children still played hide and seek

When strong families always helped the weak

When unity meant what it should

and not simply another cliche’ buzz word

When fathers could not abandon theirs

without humilitation, points and stares

and of course lots and lots of old folk’s prayers

When the corner store owner lived in the neighborhood

and there was no such thing as “living in the hood”

And people usually acted like they knew they should

The Sunday afternoons after church dismissed

When family and neigbors gathered to reminice

And laugh and cry and love each other

and every one was treated like a sister or brother

I miss it all, but alas life goes on

So at least I’ll carry the tradition on

So if you miss those days, come visit soon

My home on Sunday Afternoons

~Written By CordieB

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Have a soul filled Sunday!