Addiction

I'm going to be the ONLY person sitting in a 12-step AA meeting for my one true addiction!!!

Thanks, Costco Food Court!!!

And thank you, too, Cold Brew Latte Freeze!!! ❤️❤️❤️

THE OPTIMIST CREED

Optimism is absolutely everything to me. 

Well, that and frozen margaritas!!! Haaa!

This writing by Christian D. Larson is great at reminding us what's really important!!!

So...

I had to record it!!!

FREEDOM

I was introduced to this spoken word piece by its author, Mr. Sean Hunter, via a direct message on Instagram.

Apparently he had listened to a poetry recording of mine, then asked if I'd consider recording his poem.

So...

Here I go!!!

I HAVE YOU IN MY HEART

I don't know who wrote this poem, but by golly, I like it!!!

A lot!!!!!!!!!

So...

I just had to record it!!! 😂😂😂

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

This poem by Peter Dale Wimbrow, Sr. truly speaks to me. 

Mr. Wimbrow originally titled the poem, "The Guy In The Glass," but by the time I discovered it, the title I have included here is what I first read. Either way, the poem's message is the same.

So...

I simply HAD to record it!!!

I HAVE OUTLIVED MY PECKER

Oooooooooh weeeeeeeeeeee!!!

The GREAT, GREAT, GREAT Willie Nelson penned a great one!!!

Well, only fellas of a certain age will get it!!!

And boy, oh boy, do I get it!!!

Recording a voiceover to Willie's all-too-honest testimony is something I simply HAD to do!!!

Haaaaa!!!

It is what it is!!! 😏😜😏😜😏😜😏

DEMOCRACY

Reading works by Langston Hughes is a true delight for me!!!

ENVY

My voiceover below is a quote by #1 New York Times bestselling author and poet, Rupi Kaur, on a subject matter that has far too many folks in a chokehold.

BE YOURSELF

It's my pleasure to read this insightful poem by Ms. Ellen Bailey.

WRINKLES

One of my sisters sent me a video on Instagram, featuring a delightful, elderly lady named Patricia Bramer Russell Richard.

Patricia read one of the poems, WRINKLES, from her book of poetry: Pat's Poetry. 

And I LOVE it!!!!!!

So, I'm gonna read it here my dang self!!!

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Robert Frost, as we all know, is a poetry great!!!

I was introduced to this poem in second grade.

My neighborhood buddy, John-John, read it aloud in front of the class and our teacher, Mrs. Hazelwood.

And now, I'm reading it aloud!!!

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP

This poem is engraved on my mother's gravestone.

For that reason alone, I simply HAD to record myself reading it!!!

Interestingly enough, its writer, Mary Elizabeth Frye, wrote the poem in 1932.

That's the same year of my mother's birth.

Well, Mama, aka "Miss Juanita," I miss you and wish you well!!!

HARLEM

Langston Hughes was a trailblazer of the Harlem Renaissance!!!

This particular poem reminds me of my first introduction to Harlem: my performance at Amateur Night at the Apollo.

I was 24 years blessed and had recently uprooted from Indianapolis, IN to fulfill my dream of becoming a world-renowned actor. 

Now, I am 60 years blessed.

And I'm not a world-renowned actor.

Was my dream deferred?

For better or for worse, I want to believe it was.

I refuse to believe it festered like a sore.

I simply refuse. 

A POEM FOR THE CLOSETED

When I saw this fella's poem online, I immediately wondered: who is he?

Is the poem HIS story?

Or someone he knows?

A Poem For The Closeted speaks to feelings that I suspect many men and women have experienced.

Sadly, I suspect there are many who still are.

I hope my reading of this poem reaches its writer: Troy Steadman.

If I ever met him, I'd ask: "Are you really OK?"

And I'd tell him: "Thankfully, I am."

ASH TAYLOR SAID...

I don't think what I'm reading here is an actual poem, but I liked it so much when I came across it online that I just HAD to record it anyway!!!

THE POWER OF THE DOG

Rudyard Kipling certainly had a way with words.

Here, I read his The Power Of The Dog poem.

I tell ya, a dog's love is immeasurable.

And so is the pain we feel when their time with us expires.

LOVE on them ANYWAY!!!!!!!!

AS LONG AS FOREVER

I stumbled across this poem online: As Long As Forever, by Starry Eyes.

Since I love dogs so much---especially German Shepherds---I had to record myself reading it!!!

I'M SO ANGRY

 As I recorded this poem, I couldn't help thinking that I'm soooooo thankful I'M not this angry! 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO GOD

English poet, William Cowper, was quite renowned in his day, so it's a pleasure for me to record a reading of his poem, GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO GOD.

I have to apologize for possibly mispronouncing his surname.

I say possibly because some folks pronounce it COOPER, and others, COW-PER.

Either way, his poetry is music to my ears!!!

GROWING OLD

I often say, "Growing old ain't for the weak."

And I truly believe that!!!

I stumbled across this poem by British poet and literary critic, Matthew Arnold, and felt compelled to record it!!!

COPING

I'm reading COPING by writer, professor and LGBTQ+ advocate, Audre Lorde.

EGO TRIPPING (there may be a reason why)

When I was a senior in high school, one of the colleges I toured was Grinnell College in Iowa. 

During that visit, I attended a talk by poet, Nikki Giovanni.

I was fascinated by her candor and the way she delivered one of her poems.

So, here I am reading one of her poems that truly moves me.

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

 

IF

I have decided I'm gonna record myself reading poems I have enjoyed over the years.

IF is a poem my mother introduced to me. 

She truly thought if I followed the dictates of the poem, I'd grow into quite the man.

Well, if she was alive today, I hope she'd be proud of the man I am.

Back Down Memory Lane

 

Twenty-one years ago I sat down on the front steps of a friend's condo building so he could practice taking photos of a black person. 

Haaaa!

He shot me in black and white because that was the medium he liked best.

Truth be told, it's the medium I like best, too, 'cause to me, everybody looks great in black and white.

Well, I'm still caught up on the fact these images were from 21 years ago.

I was 38 at the time.

WOW!!!

WHERE, oh WHERE, has all the time gone???

All I know for sure is that I'm gonna enjoy whatever time I have left.

As PEACEFULLY...

And as THANKFULLY as humanly possible.

That is all.