In Retrospect
I should have taken cosmetology
majored in Computer Science
double majored . . . studied abroad
become accustomed to a day at the gym
in retrospect
I should have had a happy day
and told everyone else to "step!"
I should have gone natural
ten years ago . . . maybe dreads or a fro'
in retrospect . . .
I should have gone with IBM
instead of Apple
I should have made twenty copies
of that lie she told on me
in retrospect . . .
I should have gone to church
every Sunday . . . I should have told her
don't do it because "you reap what you sow"
and I should have waited
in retrospect . . .
I should have done a lot of things
gone many places
said many things
to many people
yes . . . that's all
in retrospect.
For Goodness Sake
you could have said "no"
and left me to my longings
but you took me in
and loved me until my
heart's walls caved in
i know . . .
the care and the courage
you gave so freely
my soul thanks yours
for the beauty of a joyous ending
it's inexplainable
that you could love so
without a single recollection
of the things you'd never know
as sure as angels in the Heavens do fly
the sacrifices you've made won't be denied
surrendering twenty-two years of you
my life to make
and you compromised it all
for goodness sake.
Jazz Thing
I got a thing
a jazzy blues thing
a bee-bopping
heart throbbing
jazz thing
coursing through my veins
Feel me
can't you see
this vibrant vibe in me
leery lookers . . . take a peek
a blues thing . . . a jazz thing
surrounding me
Melody . . . melodically
moving me . . . shaking me
the up and down
of a Coltrane sound
where life takes me
rhythmic destiny
Bee bop
get your bee bop
do wop . . .
get your do wop
Get your groove on
it's a blues thing . . . a jazz thing.
In My Garden
It is an amusing thought
that grown folks could be grown
what you wait your whole life to be
for seemingly an eternity
for some unfound reason
you're never graced with all the gifts
exactly. . . the qualifying equipment
that grants you your certification
the heart and souls of us
. . . constantly changing
living, breathing . . . spiritual osmosis
wreaking havoc on the minds of men
for a thought-triggering time
I bloom like wild flowers
across desolate lands
unfathomed by the seeing eye of man
what I wouldn't give
to see morning dew drops slowly
sliding down perfect petals of roses
in my garden.
The Poet Writes of Fallible Fruit
The poet writes
to exhale life's tragedy
the seven sins, hurt, pain
. . . inhumanity.
The miser lives
to destroy and delete
all of his days
. . . incomplete.
The lover longs
to sensually inhale
breath of sweet kisses
beyond the veil.
The pessimist yearns
to dare and disobey
the wishful eye
that seizes day.
The lark gives way
to sultry singing
as the world listens
to discern new meaning.
The dreamer dreams
to awake afresh
going forth to pursue
life at its best.
The liar struggles
in webs of deceit
to rend dying souls
repulsion complete.
The poet writes
to behold the blind truth
the honesty and integrity
of fallible fruit.
They Trouble Me
They bring the melancholy out in me
the absolute pain and misery
the mistake of my existence
a simple girl child's innocence
and a grown man's persistence
a city slicker's blood runs in me
my veins . . . just bursting with trickery
can't wait to do my next deed
turn someone's low energy into speed
they call me . . . trouble
because I burst bubbles
with my tongue
my sharp, echoing tone
leaves em' stung
they can't handle the melodies I bring
and the troubled lyrics my soul sings
because I'm me . . . a troubled entity
and folks knew all the while
but kept walking around in denial
they had to know that I'd be me . . . eventually
that all the truth would come to show
in whose footsteps I'd grow
I crawled, walked and talked . . . straight into me
quite complex . . . I've grown to be
despite meager beginnings and history
but they won't see the difference
in the color of leaves budding from my tree
deep blue like the raging sea
dark as the veins that tarry in me
waiting for the next heavy rain to come
to drench me, rinse me . . . help me maintain the calm
while they . . . trouble me
(Copyright 2001- All Rights Reserved by Latorial Faison - No reproduction without express permission from the author)
Latorial was featured in the May 2001 Poet Portrait page of Seeker Magazine.
You're invited to visit Poetically Speaking to read more of Latorial's writings.
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Letter to the Author:
Latorial Faison at Faisons3@aol.com