Tuesday, August 28, 2012

One Man's Garbage
Another Man's Castle 
by: N.C.

Once again, I'm awoken by the sounds of passing feet,
On the streets of New York City outside the place where I sleep,
It's not a house, It's just a box, but it's mine,
King of my castle
Plus it's convenient I pay no rent, live where I want, there's no hassle,
The problem comes with the winter,
When it's cold or when it rains,
But when the weather is really bad I bum two bucks and ride the trains,
Today it's nice not too hot, 
A perfect day to walk the streets,
A quarter here, a nickle there, within an hour, I should eat,
That's the part I hate most,
Asking people for money
They look at me like I'm a nuisance or even worse like I'm a dummy,
At one time I had it all,
I have no home, I am just lost,
But that's the past, what's done is done,
My stomach, hurts, damn I'm starving,
A little girl with her mother looks at me,
Like I'm a martian,
I heard the daughter ask her mother why his clothes are full of dirt,
The mother says cause he's a bum to stay away, he might hurt you,
I keep on walking asking people if they got some change to spare,
Only one guy helps me out, all the other's just don't care,
I pass McDonald's and on the floor I see a bag that's full of fries,
And as I eat I see a man stare at me with sorry eyes,
He walks up to me and asks me why I won't just go into the Church,
I say cause after that I'm in a shelter,
and in my opinion there's nothing worse,
I turn around to walk away,
The man says wait and gives me a buck,
I tell him thank you and God Bless,
He says be safe and best of luck,
With that buck, I have 4 dollars,
It's time to get me some liquor,
I haven't seen my baby brandy since lat night,
And boy I miss her,
But I'm still hungry,
What should I do,
Stop a second to sit and think,
And when I sit, my hands start shaking,
It's then I know I need a drink,
So, I'm off to the store,
To get a nice big jug of brandy,
I always say hi to the cashier, I'm never short,
But she still can't stand me,
I take my liquor and go to the park,
Now it's time to have some fun,
Cause when I drink I feel great,
I'm a normal person, not just a bum,
I find a bench and start to drink and before I realize it's after nine,
That always happens when I drink,
I just zone out, lose track of time,
I'm really drunk and my head is pounding,
All I want to do is sleep,
I start walking home so I can lay down,
And rest my aching feet,
I find my block turn in the alley,
And what I see leaves me in shock,
I was a bum but now I'm homeless,
You see someone threw away my box










*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
My Baby Girl- by: N.C.

I remember the days when we'd go to the park,
With joy and with love you'd fill up my heart,
We'd go to the swings you'd laugh and you'd smile,
I'd look to the sky and thank God you're my child,
Since the day you were born until the day you grew old,
You've meant more then the world you're my life and my soul,
I'll never forget the first time that I held you,
I love you Alexis I just wanted to tell you,
I can't wait for the day to pick you up in my arms,
Give you a hug and a kiss and protect you from harm,
God blessed me with a daughter who was funny and smart,
An adorable little girl with a beautiful heart.



*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Kind of Poetry I Like...-by The Voice

I like poetry with rhythm
and flow
that doesn't conform to the norm
or the status quo
I like poetry that speaks politically
Spiritually
Socially
Psychologically
Scientifically
Realistically
I like poetry
that's non-fiction
that causes friction
that gives a true and accurate depiction
that uses both slang and proper diction
Poetry
that enlightens
that heightens
that educates
that elevates
that argues
that debates
I like poetry
that speaks to the masses
to the upper
the middle
and the lower classes
Poetry that speaks about
freedom- justice and equality
Poetry that doesn't sugarcoat or sellout
no matter who it's against or
what it's about
Poetry that reminds me of Martin
Malcolm
Ghandi
Garvey
Mandella or Muhammad Ali
Poetry
that reminds me of History
that salutes those who personify
courage and humanity
Poetry
that salutes the Martyrs and Heroes
the "Sitting Bulls"
and "Geronimos"
Poetry that hasn't forgotten the action
of Attica
of George Jackson
like poetry
that's Revolution
waiting to happen!!!
Now what kind
of poetry do you like?





*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
If I Had 24 Hours To Live- by Sica

If I had 24 hours to live
And I was locked up
I'm a brake a hole in cell wall
And wildout
I would make it back to the block
Tell mom I love her
And wipe a few tears from her face
Before I hug her
Ima tell my sister
Here's money for the family
But I ain't gonna tell her that I just robbed a bank randomly
24 hours to live
So I won't care
Ima say a few prayers before God takes me there
Since I ain't got a girl Ima get me an escort
The whole hour hear her complain about the headboard
Then I gotta bounce
So I could smoke my last ounce
Cause if I smoke in heaven
God would probably kick me out
So I know that I won't
And god would probably talk about all the letters that I wrote him
On my last hour Ima submit my last poem
To Links Not Chains
Tell them thinkin 'bout them on my last day feel strange
My last 10 minutes Ima sit in front of my church
Happy that I completed my mission on earth














*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.
Next Letter to Sica- by Sica

Sica where you at, I ain't heard from you in a while.
People think I'm crazy cause I thought of you and I smiled,
All these days have gone by and I'm lost without you,
Wow.
I thought maybe you would have wrote me back with all the love I've sent you out.
I know that you love when it rains so I stand at my window cause I know somewhere you there.
It's ok if you don't write, cause I know deep inside your heart you really care.
Sica, this is the plan, and I'll always be, your fan.
Till the end, you'll never lose.
I've sent you over a thousand dollars for commissary when I sold my jewels.
I love you that much and you don't even know me.
I pray that I'm a juror when I know you 'bout to go in front of the jury.
There's no more lines on the paper, so write me when you get a chance.
I love you.
I'll save you the last dance,
This is the plan-





*The work displayed in Links Not Chains belongs to the authors exclusively and the content reflects the opinions, feelings, and observations of the respective author only. Some of the names have been altered in order to respect privacy.