Poems Celebrating Poetry

Poetic Praise

2006-04-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

Children bow, choirs chant
Hands lift to the sky
Many are thy miraculous
Prophetic plans on high

Women weep, men meditate
For the presence of all fate
Divine answers findeth them
Thy goodness never late

Joseph dreamed, David danced
I compose for thee verse
Professing love where love abides
All because you loved me first

Copyright © February 2005 Latorial D. Faison

What is Poetry?

2006-04-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

when you ask me
"What is poetry?"
take a good look
it's my destiny

poetry is the muse who
comes to my rescue
saves the soul in me
from a headful of insanity

poetry is my shrink
my music, my ability to think
the air that fills my life's lungs
defining me as I speak in lyrical tongues

poetry is my evolution
my God fearing constitution
the love of my life's charm
my calm before and after the storm

poetry is my God given seed
daily reviving in me a new deed
it's the Word growing from within
the mirror reflecting my soul's sin

poetry is my conquered fear
my security when a world of danger is near
it's my philosophy, my morality
the complicated methodology of my duality

poetry is my good sense
my faith, my hope, my pretense
I can't life, it's my third eye
it's my answer to the question "Why?"

poetry is my history
my country girl life's mystery
it's my ocean and sky
my fun, my freedom, my high

poetry is my prayer of consecration
my lit path in valleys of desolation
it's my moving, my grooving
my balm, good and soothing

poetry lines my soul
God gave it to make me whole
He sent it to set me free
God made poetry my eternity

poetry is where I begin,
my end, my truth telling friend
my stoning of misery and strife
"What is poetry?" Poetry is my life!

Copyright © 2003-2006 Latorial Faison

The Garden Effect

2006-04-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

one bite
     re a r r a n g e d
the cosmos

fate
     what the world fears
     fell on Eden and

left
     mankind looking for peace
     waiting for
d e a t h

The Struggle

2006-04-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

Lost and unleashed in
A weary world often
Too chaotic for the complex
On any and every day writing and
Ranting poetically
Inside mental, transcendental walls
Always in search of truths
Left untold

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

Mr. President

2006-04-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

Go to Iraq; bring back
Every American soldier
On your back
Remembering that slow
Goes the slaughter and wars
End

When pride is given up

Bring
Us our
Sons and daughters
Home

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

Writing Poetry

2006-04-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

Pausing to write reality
Odes to kindred spirits who will read
Experiencing
The moments that
Remember
You

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

The Street

2006-04-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

don't think I'll ever
understand the street
what about it makes
brothers get knee deep

in love and trouble
sworn in by fast money
drama and drugs
on the double

education is overrated
honest jobs a joke
the topic of interest
"whose got the next smoke"

cruising and smoozing
on the boulevard
living ain't easy
so you gotta be hard

there are no friends
just enemies in this game
next thing you know, the
feds are changing your name

Copyright © May 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Unknown

2006-04-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

we've got way too many people
walking and talking inside us
people the world will never know
and it's an ironic sadness
a stillness that calms the craziness
that meddles with our minds
to deceive and leave our eyes
ego tripping . . .

There's nothing shallow in between
but the spirit man they've never seen
who calls my real world make believe
making reality of all my dreams

white folks can't explain it
black folks call it crazy
I just call it what it is . . .
unknown

Copyright © 2004-2006 Latorial D. Faison

Individuality

2006-04-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

let me
be
and I'll
be
myself
while
watching you
be
someone
else
I'll pray
let's pray
for new
words
to say
our styles
new trials
and
individuality

Copyright © 2004-2006 Latorial D. Faison

Where to Now America?

2006-04-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

Where to Now America?

Do we avenge perished souls
Exemplify a peaceful nation
Listen to God, pray for solace
Play politics or wage war

Do we tear up lands, tear down walls
And strive to build them back up again
Do we hide behind creeds and patriotism
Or press on with greed and cynicism

Where to now America?

Our actions and intentions are unclear
While half the world fears an end is near
Are we chess players with partisan orders
Claiming countries, moving men across borders?

To humanity, to money, to leadership or to love
To east, to west, to intelligence or to ignorance
To salvation, to destruction, to right or to wrong
To honor, to shame, to peace or to war

Where to now America?

Copyright © January 2005 Latorial D. Faison

London Bridges

2006-04-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

Where are the people?
Where are the bridges?
Where are the churches?
Where are the religions?

Where are the terrorists?
Where are the bombs?
Where are the leaders?
Where are the alarms?

Where are the nations?
Where are the pacts?
Where are the weapons?
Where are the facts?

Copyright © July 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Epiphany

2006-04-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

To view rainbows for
The first time colored, not in
Strands of blacks and whites

Copyright © July 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Orientations

2006-04-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

Orientations

Are they
overrated
orchestrated
confiscated
syndicated
trimmed down
to nothings
of loves and laws,
forgivings and flaws
philosophical extremes
mental notes
and conscious
streams?

Copyright © July 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Healing the Breach

2006-04-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

long range missiles
disarmed

biological weapons
destroyed

Iraqi egos nailed
to a cross

doctrine and patriotism
lost

evil men
evil times

evil thinking
evil minds

White House
video games

giving life, taking life
it's all the same

brand new wars
in the name of peace

where verbal lies
are healing the breach

Copyright © July 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Cycles

2006-04-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

I lift my head
from the palms of my hands
and extend them to you

come and be my dove

and I'll set you free
to dream, esteem
and tell little black babies

what America means

I close my eyes
as the blood trickles down
youthful cheeks and frowns

burning with desire for babies

whose babies
are not yet born
the beautiful ones

often born without a chance

Copyright © October 2005 Latorial D. Faison

From My Cross

2006-04-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

Father remove these cups from me
The curse of lies, lust and trickery
Repeat after me and we shall see
If the promise of God deliverance be.

Life is laced with seduction and surprise
And the ways we're seen through others' eyes
"To err is human" -- the great disguise
Leaving scholars the world over to philosophize.

Come death to do us thy diligent deed
Carrying crowns of glory upon thy steed
For we fail to call upon thee but for greed
Having chosen the abyss from which to feed.

We utter in want "thy will be done"
Without accepting the flesh of the Son
One's left to live not as the chosen one
In denial that the Truth would ever come.

Father remove these cups from me
Selfishness, vanity, hate and disbelief
Entertwine within our spirits for the world to see
A love that's lasting, unconditional and free.

Copyrighted 2001-2006 by Latorial Faison

The Poet Writes of Fallible Fruit

2006-04-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

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.

Copyright © 2001-2006 Latorial D. Faison

For Too Many Dead Poets

2006-04-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

they listened
as their ears rang
with loud silence
whispered thoughts
inner children
couldn't dream of
places they couldn't go
people they'd never know

they left this world
calling it crazy
and being called so
because some days
the muse is not afraid
to die

Copyright © March 2005 Latorial D. Faison

Twist of Humanity

2006-04-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

man's needs are irrational
only to lead us into temptation
never into the
eternity of
yet another god
casting
our cares and
mercy
effortlessly on
those who seek
oneness
may take us to a place
ever filled with love
not this humanity
our fathers and mothers
would scorn

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

The Fate of Unity

2006-04-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

more than
a million have
realized that this life
really
isn't
all that it's cracked up to be
given the history of love, hate, politics, and society

every little disaster
in this world
seems to come
a little
bit closer to home
in the dark of night
to
catch us all dreaming of
how we're gonna make it

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

The Resurrection

2006-04-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison
presented Easter Sunday 2006 at Williams Temple C.O.G.I.C.
1500 N. Union Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri

Close your eyes. Come go with me
To a remarkable place, Mount Calvary.
Can you feel the hatred that is displayed
In a world that by His hand was made?

Can you envision them mocking our Lord
As “King of the Jews” with a crown of thorns,
The Son of God hanging way up high
On a rugged cross beneath the sky?

Can you see the blood come streaming down?
Can you feel His pain? Can you here the sounds?
The Christ’s last words upon the Cross,
Shall live forever to save the lost.

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Even through the passion of this final hour,
He took the blame that is really ours.

“Forgive them . . . they know not what they do.”
His gracious Word is forever true.
“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”
He promised a thief who shared His demise.

We stand here, at the foot of the Cross
Where our Savior and Lord paid the ultimate cost.
It was Divine destiny. He came to fulfill it,
So said He “. . . into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Right then and there our Lamb, the Christ,
Was accepted by God as the ultimate Sacrifice.
“Woman, behold thy son!…behold thy mother!”
Until the very end He spoke with concern for others.

Our Messiah and Savior who walked the earth
Further proved his humanity as he uttered “I thirst.”
He was born to be the Lamb of God.
Scripture was fulfilled in the lands he trod.

But here on Calvary the hour had come.
He said “It is finished!” So it was done.
He redeemed us through death, paid our sin debt.
Now on the right hand of God the Father He sits.

He rose three days later, to the surprise of man,
Got up from the grave with all power in hand.
Power over Heaven and power over earth,
That same power that ordained His virgin birth.

What will you do when you leave the cross?
Will you wander about unsaved and lost?
Will you take the suffering of our Lord in vain?
Will you turn away when He calls your name?

Will you, like Adam and Eve, run and hide?
Will you deny the calling you feel inside?
Will you let Him take away the pain,
The anger, the hurt, the guilt and shame?

He is everything that you've never had.
He is your balm when you're in Gilead.
He came that we might have new life,
Not lives of pain, misery and strife.

We all have a date with destiny
At this historic place known as Calvary.
It’s an important place that we all must find
We must keep its memory in heart and mind.

It was there that our Lord was crucified,
Because of Him we can be whole inside.
There is only one God. There is only one way.
He gave His life for us on Resurrection Day.

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

War Dreaming

2006-04-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

by Latorial Faison

I know
too much
that galaxies
could never
separate
us

we are
the great
beyond

two hearts
sharing
one beat

and
though you
sleep
one moon
away

I
still
hear your
voice

I
still
feel your
strength

surrounding
me with
love

while we
live a dream
that
screams
to be
deferred

Copyright © April 2006 Latorial Faison

Inner Thoughts

2006-04-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

I can't let you in
that would be a sin
and I'd have to confess it
all over again

tainting your smile
with two lips' denial
that's a trip
nobody calls worthwhile

too often I keep me
bottled up inside
where layers of life
are a great place to hide

my fears, my foes
the hurts and the woes
of common place, everyday
stompings and blows

it's no mystery, just history
a mere reality
that people in my life
may never understand me

Copyright © 2004-2006 Latorial D. Faison

Where Have You Been All of My Life?

2006-04-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

Where have you been
All of my life?
Held up in another state
With four kids and a wife?

For years you've been ducking
And dodging a secret
What I want to know is
"How in hell could you keep it?"

When I was little
I wanted to know your name
Now that I'm grown
I want you to share the blame

Or is it the stain
The shame or the pain
That causes a grown man
To become so lame

No matter the reasons
They're all just words
Lies travel in packs
Cowards in herds

If I'm angry, disgusted
Or just a little pissed
Just add it all up
It equals being dismissed

Disregarded, discarded
Left to find my own way
Lies, lies and more lies
Haunt me everyday

When I come to myself
Every trace of you
Burns within my skin
Rendering lies true

Where have you been
All of my life?
I've been through hell
unloading this strife

Even if I live
Even if you die
A question remains
That no one explains

"Why?"

Copyright © April 2005 Latorial D. Faison

A Spiritual Decision

2006-04-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

by Latorial Faison

The Master knows me inside out
My thoughts, my ways, without a doubt

So why do I forget He's there
When life brings me to pain and despair

I err and stray and hide from Him
Afraid to seek Him when the way grows dim

For he proposes the narrow and the straight
In hopes that I will choose to enter His gate

It's trickery . . . this life of material things
That causes me to forget about earning my wings

That I might one day fly away from here
Above worldly moments to a lifetime so dear

Teach me daily to be small and kind
Show me Your way, a real treasure to find

Lord You know me inside and out
And yes, you love me without a doubt

But at some point, it's all up to me
To take up my cross and follow thee

Copyright © July 2005 Latorial D. Faison