Hail to the King

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

This King has keys to all the doors

His throne sits atop a tower higher than all else

But we sit his crown on a shelf

Trying to keep His name alive while removing His power

Shelf life, only used in a struggling hour

Hails to the King

The one who breathes life in your dream

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

His mercy like rain pours

But when rain falls we usually hold up umbrellas

Putting others before our King makes Him jealous

He feeds off the love of His people

And as His people there is no equal

His accomplishments number in the impossible

Hail to the King

The one who breathes life in your dream

His Kingdom isn’t a region, but the entirety of your thoughts and minds eye

The gift given to you, He is the prize

His Kingdom is as far and as wide as space itself

But to Him its small as an elf

Hail to the King

The one who breathes life in your dream

Chain Heavy

My chain heavy man

Hanging from it is Jesus with holes in hand

It lies over my broken heart

I’m hoping the ice will heal that part

My chain cost more than I can afford

Lord help me carry this thing heavy as a billboard

Bright and shiny like my future, but that’s all you see

You see how it lays on the nice crispy tee

You don’t see me lying with it and how it affects my sleep

One eye open, peep

Striving for a false chain, the biggest I can find

But then financially it leaves me in a bind

It’s taking me backwards, this fake Jesus piece chain

But the thoughts of the effect of diamonds is a disease running through my veins

My chain heavy, rope tied to a noose

Hanging from a tree, wishing the links were a little loose

Guess I’ll just chuck up the deuce

Heavy chains hold you down

Slavery bound

My chain weights a lot

Hanging from it is an intricate plot

It begins with 500 years of slavery, chains and whips

Some how we got diamonds and ladies shaking hips

My chain too heavy, take it away

I don’t want to be the one that gets crowned on chaining day

I don’t want the responsibility to lead

All I want is the greed

I want the diamonds and flash

I don’t want to spread it to my community; I want to keep the cash

My chain heavy, yeah yeah my chain heavy

God it feels like I’m carrying a Chevy

I wonder if this is what the cross felt like…………………

My chain heavy, I’m not good enough

It’s too heavy, I’m faking being tough

The people behind me in the 25^th hour

But I’m one sinful man and I shouldn’t have any power

Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em

But if I work out, I can lead longer

Learn my culture, read my bible, and lend my voice I’ll be stronger

My chain heavy but not as heavy as the cross

My gifts didn’t cost me a lot, Jesus paid that cost

With my focus narrowed, I won’t get lost

The heaviness of the chain is self inflicted

Behind “Chain Heavy”

I wrote a poem for my second book (Journey) called “Going Backwards” and this poem “Chain Heavy” could be kind of a sequel to that, but I really just used “Going Backwards” as a reference. For this poem I just wanted to play off of two songs out right now; Kanye West – Chain Heavy and J. Cole – Cost Me a Lot. What’s hanging from the “chain” here are struggles, perceptions, fears, a culture, and faith.

“Going Backwards” (http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=53704047&notes_tab=app_2347471856#!/note.php?note_id=35514313564)

“My chain cost more than I can afford / Lord help me carry this thing heavy as a billboard”

I can’t afford the price Jesus paid for my life. Sometimes life gets heavy and I need strength only He can provide

“Bright and shiny like my future, but that’s all you see / You see how it lays on the nice crispy tee / You don’t see me laying with it and how it affects my sleep / One eye open, peep”

We all have a bright future, but there is work to reach the goals we set and the dreams we dream about. It’s definitely not easy. We always see the success, the end result, but never the hard work in between.

“Striving for a false chain, the biggest I can find / But then financially it leaves me in a bind / its taking me backwards, this fake Jesus piece chain”

When you’re chasing the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, it can take a toll on you. There is always a consequence.

“But the thoughts of the effect of diamonds is a disease running through my veins”

Greed can consume you. The thoughts of what a diamond chain can bring you (fame, recognition, respect) becomes addictive. Kweli said, “The root of evil isn’t money, it’s the pursuit of money.” I can see that because when you get to a “by any means necessary” point, all bets are off. You’ll do any thing, evil things, to get that money, power, and respect.

“My chain heavy, rope tied to a noose / Hanging from a tree, wishing the links were a little loose / Guess I’ll just chuck up the deuce”

Basically killing yourself for that chain. Instead of relinquishing the “chain,” your pride, you’d rather die. “Die enormous then live dormant.” – Jay-Z

“My chain weights a lot / Hanging from it is an intricate plot / It begins with 500 years of slavery, chains and whips / Some how we got diamonds and ladies shaking hips”

The whole poem is basically about what’s hanging from your chain. What’s your mountain? Hanging from this chain is the gap in generation. Hip Hop generation vs. Civil Rights generation. It’s about the responsibility to lead. What’s our mark as a generation? Poverty? Single mothers? Absent fathers? Diamonds? Nice cars?

“My chain too heavy, take it away / I don’t want to be the one that gets crowned on chaining day / I don’t want the responsibility to lead”

From here on its pretty explanatory. When chains were really big, “camps” (like the ROC) would “crown” or put their signature chain on new artists. So this is like running from being crowned. You’re next in line to lead and set the example, but instead you run away from that responsibility.

“The people behind me in the 25^th hour / But I’m one sinful man and I shouldn’t have any power / Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em”

The 25^th hour was a Spike Lee movie; no one man should have that much power was a line from Malcolm X (Spike Lee, Denzel; a white cop said that line to Malcolm) and it also was a line in Kanye’s song “Power.” Linking more Kanye, “Denzel time, get Malcolm X on em” is a play on his line from “Chain Heavy” (Don Cheadle time, get extra black on em) and also more Spike/Denzel/Malcolm X connections.

“The heaviness of the chain is self inflicted”

Life isn’t hard, but it’s pretty tough. Adding dumb choices, fear, and doubt don’t make it any easier. In this world today it’s easy to get lost on a path not of morals and values, but doing so brings more weight to the chain you already carry. You can’t control everything but you can control how you respond to everything. There is a choice in every decision made.

I've Moved...

Check me out @ www.denpoet.wordpress.com

Lips Like Hers

I never kissed lips like hers

The way they connect and the way they curve

When she smiles, the way they shift

Can give a down heart a lift

And a smile from them is a gift

When she licks her lips everything stops

They command attention, watch

I never tasted lips like hers

If I were a cat, you would hear me purr

My spine even misses the touch

Cause the feeling they get leaves em needing a crutch

And when she kisses she does it so perfectly

Its crazy how those lips touched me

When I think of her I think of them

And how everything else around gets dim

And when we kiss they’re all I see

Because kissing those lips is where I wanna be

Those lips those lips

Man I just wanna take a dip

And since that 1^st moment I’ve been wanting them back

To put my lips under attack

Will I ever again get that chance?

The answer lies in her glance

I never experienced lips like hers

The kind to turn my eyes blur

Meaning I’m not focused on nothing but those

And how I wanna be a picture, hold that pose

If I could feel, if only one more time

I would go to jail for that passionate crime

Yes, for lips like hers

In a Box

In a Box

Sly as a fox

My style isn’t boxed

They wanna put it in a box to understand better

Slice it up like cheddar

But why cut up the whole?

To fit it in a boxed bowl?

Why not take it as is

I mean you wouldn’t over water grits…

Everyone wants separation

Didn’t we get over that with segregation?

It can be long or short

Telling a story sending you through a teleport

It can just flow with no point

Or it can be a musical joint

Its poetry, who cares what kind

Sly as a fox

My style isn’t boxed

Is yours?

By the Lake

By the Lake

By the Lake I write
By the Lake out of sight out of mind
By the Lake I don’t fight
Just relax
I listen to the waves crash against the rocks
Like its a test
By the Lake its so nice
Especially at night
By the Lake I finish my poem
Lake Erie and Cleveland, Ohio is home
-Te’erra

By the Lake I hear nothing
By the Lake I see nothing
By the Lake it’s just me and my pad
By the Lake sometimes I get sad
By the Lake I get mad
By the Lake I like to see the sun set
When I’m at the Lake I feel ok
By the Lake I think
By the Lake I share a kiss with her
By the Lake I hope it’s her next time
-Patrick

Sitting by the Lake letting it all go
By the Lake I get renewed like cutting the fro
I take notes from the waves
Brilliant as I gaze
They're receptive yet strong
They'll embrace you or swallow you if you're wrong
Golden waves of Lake Erie
And sitting by the Lake constantly changes my theory
-Dennis

By the Lake I never have fear
Being by the Lake reminds me home is right here
By the Lake where the weather is so cold
It is where I gained the courage to be so bold
By the Lake I gained the strength and wisdom to write
Scribing things to help you grow and not out of spite
Sitting by the Lake watching the seagulls eat
Reminds me that you have to hustle hard on Cleveland streets
By the Lake I always find peace
The only thing that calms like a pen and pad release
-Dave


Get your copy of By Way of Cleveland ASAP!!!
www.wix.com/C_Town/BWofC-Town

The Struggle - Never Hurt Again

I promised I'd never hurt again, I felt that pain
And I never wanted to feel the same
So I locked it all up, my feelings my dreams my heart
If there's no wall to crumble how can things fall apart?
Right?
I'll never feel that hurt
So I'm a zombie, yea that'll work
Living for just the basic needs in life
When a problem arises I don't need to fight
Because the outcome doesn't matter
I don't want to fall so I stay off the ladder
I promised myself, so I make no long turn commitments
Losing out on a relationship, that pain is expensive
So if you need a care, sorry I aint got it
I'm all out of it
My expenses are greater than my revenue and that equals no profit
If life is about risks, well I'm out that game
I'm taking no risk that'll hurt me, that's my aim
Hey I don't hide it so I apologize if the feelings are one way
After he passed I made a promise to myself that day
I'll never feel that pain again

The Struggle - Arctic

Arctic

I don’t love you any more, it’s over…

Those words still surface on the beach of my mind

Like a dead fish fighting time

Slowly dying and eating away deep memories from the flesh

Memories of me at my best

Now when the moment gets deep, I turn heartless

Not totally thoughtless

…but close

The avoidance of pain and hurt is the excuse

The avoidance of suffering and abuse

From knowing the outcome and hanging my own noose

So I’m Davy Jones with my heart locked up tight

But not buried on an island, sunny and bright

It’s in an ice cold fortress

Frozen and voiceless

Buried under, it’s over…

Buried under, I don’t love you…

Buried under, cold feelings

Buried under the arctic

My Back is Strong

I was reading a book of Langston Hughes' poems I just picked up and came across "American Heartbreak" and it instantly stuck with me. I read a few more after that but I had to come back to it. In only a few lines his words were powerful:

American Heartbreak

I am the American heartbreak-
Rock on which Freedom
Stumps its toe-
The great mistake
That Jamestown
Made long ago.

Right away I started writing and words from a Lupe Fiasco song (Put You on Game - The Cool) came to mind. I tried to blend or merge the times and have my take on it. We'll see how it turns out...

My Back is Strong

I am the American heartbreak
The back freedom stands on
It pees on my head and calls it rain
Its suppose to represent hard times and growth
To get a glimpse I have to look at its reflection in the puddle
My back is strong
But to really see freedom I have to turnover
In doing so I shake up the status quo
Then I'm called a thief, a criminal, a ni**er
When I'm only trying to be as free as the next
I am the rape of my Motherland to a murderous regime
I am the next generation, its offspring
I am American heartbreak
But songs of my broken heart are what America rocks too
"And for that paper look how low we'll stoop/
Even if you in a Benz, you still a ni**a in a coupe"
Dear America, my back is strong


- quote by Kanye West - All Falls Down, College Dropout

In the Mist (By Way of Cleveland)

This poem is one featured in my section of the collaboration poetry project called By Way of Cleveland. I'm sure you heard about it... www.wix.com/C_Town/BWofC-Town

In the Mist

Swords clashing and fists flying

Some won’t return and family will be crying

This battle is hard, it’s my first

And my breath is taken away, I thirst

I call to the Lord, protect me

As men are falling all around me

These men are huge and I’m afraid

In one position I stayed

Until I was found and I had to defend

At that moment I felt a brisk wind

The mist came over the area

I hear screams and hysteria

The man would tare me apart like a toy

But in that mist I saw the figure of a man

And he reached out his hand

Be not afraid my son

The battle is already won

He began to fade away into the mist

I grabbed my sword and made a fist

I felt the mist come inside

And I no longer wanted to hide

The man came at me and I laid him to rest

And in that moment I realized it was all a test

Though you may want to cease and desist

In your struggles and battles, God is there in the mist

Alone

Why do I feel so alone, for instance
Everyone is passing through my life or standing at a distance
They all come and go, take and leave
They hand me the tissue after they sneeze
They want something, everything but me
I mean they want me
But not for me
What I can do for them
They get mad when I tilt my brim
Turn my back and walk alone into the sunrise
Its like a costume party and everyone is in disguise
Did I create this ambience?
Or was it caused in the past by another presence?
Am I pushing them away in my defense
Scared to open up as the plot thickens with suspense
Surprised when love gives me a glimpse
But what's so great about me, a flawed man?
A man sometimes scared to look passed his own hand?
I struggle to keep balance and when I practice what I preach...
I then hear, "I think I'm big meech.."
And then I change like clear skies to snow
But you haven't known me long enough to say so
What if I never showed you the real me, how would you know?
This feeling of being alone is eating away at me but its my comfort zone
Its fully furnished with all my amenities, my home
To please everyone I think I'd need a clone
My actions may say other wise, but I'm tired of feeling alone

Rhythm of My Dreams

Lay my head down and close my eyes
I'm hoping for dreams
My mind is then lifted to the skies
I squint at flashing light beams
I'm now in a place to beautiful to describe
Waves crashing, sun shining, God has a smile
I'm suddenly pick up on another's vibe
Sounds like a live band, I'll sit here a while
It gets closer and I'm gripping with anticipation
The earth takes a moment to breathe, there is no sound
There's almost a feeling of intimidation
The rhythm shakes the ground
Up over the horizon and down the hill
I sense its "her," the lady in my smile
The rhythm gets me up on my feet, what a thrill
Glad I waited here a while
She stands at my back and says, "hey papi"
The hairs of my neck stand
No movement is wasted, nothing is sloppy
I dare not gaze upon her for she'll slip away like sand thru my hand
I just smile and respond with a hey beautiful, I missed you
I think she smiles, she lets out a sigh
She missed me too
She leans in and whispers bye
As she walks away leaves with her is the rhythm
And I realize something watching her depart
I gain a little wisdom
The rhythm of my dreams is the beat of her heart

A Different Me

I'm seeing the change in me
The change others can't see
Well, they think they can
But as a man said, I've worked too hard not to change
Can't stay in the childish range
Gotta grow up and explore
And in doing you open up a new door
Or doors
Inside waging wars
Trying to figure what type man I'll be
Trying to find the real me
Looking for balance within
And looking away from her heels and grin
Temptation, so wrong its right
Specially at the height I like
A gentleman is for certain, but what's under the umbrella?
What makes me that type of fella?
There's a different me on the rise molded by failures mistakes and pain
Trying to wipe clean, where's the Gain?
As a person grows they can't stay the same
There's new situations to react too
New angles to view
Different shades of blue
If you're caught up in my changes accept my apology
I am only following my heart, logically
And, well, you know how hard that is

Talking Walls

If these walls could talk
They would start with the chalk
Outlining a dead kid with a shiny face and a hole in the side
Looking like my blackberry where I charge in the ride
But there's no ap for that
Stupid killings over stupid things, so whack
Colors, pride, who is hardest, who is the better rapper
Its really about who is the better actor
Thug class 101
Where did this come from?
We're creating this facsimile
That's being copied and distributed throughout the community
How do we turn these cons into pros?
Only the wall with Jesus' picture frame knows

If these walls could spill the beans
They would tell tales of crack heads and fiends
How greed over took my so called brothers
Crossing the line to take care of their mothers
Is it worth it in the end?
Leading to another's death is still a sin
And taking matters into your own hands won't get the win
Those walls have seen the young die fast
Done in by their supporting cast
Or so called friends
Their speeding down a slippery slope
And that car plus speed gets too heavy for the stopping rope

If those walls could speak
They would tell of crooked policies and people that were weak
Old men with no knowledge of today
Still living in an old and out dated way
Looking for who ever can peak their interest or fatten their wallet
What's his name; senator, governor, or president what-cha-ma-call it
Lobbyist waiting in large lobbies to lobby for themselves
Not the people they were chosen for, to change how they dwell
Rephrase...
Lobbyist waiting in large lobbies to lobby for their pimp
Instead of helping the old war vet living in the projects with a gimp

If these here walls could talk
They would speak of a hard walk
Trusting in God it'll turn out fine
Just a brain in a voice box, speaking my mind
But these walls are talking in the form of a pen
Lord forgive us all for our sin
The ones that go on in between physical walls
And the ones that gather with a voice in a tight area like bathroom stalls
A hole in the wall of my brain has been punctured and starts to leak...
This is how a wall speaks


And then again, if these walls were to let the truth be found
They would tell of 3 kids college bound
A family living for each other
Mother father sons daughter sister and brothers
These walls would tell of faith being tested
But in Gods hands the problems are laid and rested
What do the walls say about you?

Keep it Simple

I want to blow your mind with mental stimulation
I want to speak simple words into existence that reach out and touch you
Not just to say I love you, but 143
No need to be unbelievably over the top
I want you to close your eyes
Hear my voice and travel to an un connecting place in time and space
A place that only we share
Just us, the darkness and the fire in our hearts
No big words for big words sake
Simple straight to the point
Simple as a whisper in an already quiet room
Words that make you feel we're all alone
Simple words
Simple conversations

I want to blow your mind with a simple touch
Whether it be a hug, a rub or a kiss
Moving that piece of hair to look into your eyes
Get your heart beating fast, rate on the rise
I want to simply touch your soul
I want you to close your eyes
Feel my touch and travel to an un connecting place in time and space
A touch that only we share
A forehead a kiss
Holding hands
Standing behind you and holding you securely
Simple touch
Simply amazing

Keep it simple

Everyone loves FREE..

Dear blog reader,

I feel like giving a book away... If you can tell me the first poem I posted on this blog I'll send you a free signed book!

- Find the poem
- Email me (marc_man_arts@yahoo.com)
- In the email: your name, name of the poem, which book (Created to Love, Journey, A Walk Through My Mind), and how you want to receive it (mailed, in person)!

Oh, if I don't get the email by Monday the deal is off! And I'm only giving two books away! Better hurry!

I hope it's you!!

Den

I Love You

I Love You

I love you and I love being in love w/ you
What I have said is nothing but true
The way you walk away
Those little games you play
The way you twist your lips
When you're mad, those hands post on your hips
I love you
I enjoy the moments of disagreement
And the make up treatment
The flowers and candy
Glasses of wine or even Brandy
The moments of silence we share
The look in your eyes, knowing you care
I love you
The random talks and conversations
The moments when we both need patience
But there are times I don't hold up my end
And its becoming a common trend
My actions don't match w/ my words
And I sense you kicking me to the curb

See I love love so much I may be incapable of love
I love the idea of love more than the person that's in love w/ me
So now you see
Why its hard for me to be with one
It may sound dumb
But its true
What am I to do?
When I'm really just in love w/ love

I Live Down Here...... Peace

April 10th a star was born, clap for em.... These two poems are for/about my late grandfather.. I miss him...

I Live Down Here

It will be three years in November
I can see him now laughing and standing tall in his entire splendor
I miss him everyday
To get him back what wouldn’t I pay
But God called him right?
To send him a message I need a lot of string and a big kite
Or maybe a spaceship flight
He’s living in the sky, higher
Still can’t understand why as I get wiser
Still remember a joke he told that never gets old over time
Put his big finger close to my face, makes me laugh every time
“I live down here, you live up there, come down and see me some time”
I would laugh so hard as he ran his finger from my forehead to my chin
Never on a kids face have you seen such a grin
He would then grab me and put me on his knee and say hold on
That is before I got too big and grown
He once told me I couldn’t drive or have a girl til I was 23 or 25
Man oh man I wish he was still alive
To see me graduate and make a beautiful women my wife
Or tell me more things about my dad, my dad wouldn’t like
Ah, I feel an empty space in my life
I miss him saying grace at our Thanksgiving feast
But I feel his presence every time a wind blows from the East
And he lives in me and I’ll never forget
And I know he’s up there in Jesus’ private tent
Big Homie take care of him for all time
Hey granddad, I live down here, you live up there, come down and see me some time….

Peace

I’m not there yet, but I feel at ease
Like a soft summer breeze
It’ll be four years exactly in November
The last thing I remember is him so slender
But as I think there was so much joy
Joy that started when I was a little boy
Memories that last forever
Like when he stepped on a frog, clever
I couldn’t quite handle the line and stand
He went in and grabbed the fish with bare hands
It’s hard not to see the tears in my father’s eyes
I lost a superhero in my eyes
I’m searching for a peace
Something that helps is that wind from the East
And Gods calming influence and words
Hearing the singing of the birds
I don’t have that peace quite yet
So I’ll fly around till I find the nest
Hope in Peace you rest

Through the Cracks

Through the Cracks

Sitting on the dock of the sea
Watching the sun set on me
A lite sprinkle starts to form
Off in the distance a storm
The sprinkles tap me on my head
On my shoulders
On my face
And vanishes with out a trace

Sitting on the dock of the bay
Thinking of my life in this way
She starts to sprinkle down on me
And just when my eyes are open to see
Her kiss taps me on my forehead
Her hands grace my shoulder
Her words place a smile on my face
Then she vanishes through the cracks of the dock with out a trace

Sitting on the dock of the ocean
The dock rocking to the waters motion
Staring her in her eye
With mine I say why
But she doesn't answer, just a smile
And all the while
The storm is here, raining down
And now she's no where to be found
I have this feeling of a monkey on my back
I just sat there and let her slip through the cracks

Open Book

Can't judge a book by its cover
So to get a better look I open her cover
From the intro I read beauty and intelligence
A sense of womanhood, a strong presence
The cover is a sight to see in itself
But open the book to obtain much more wealth
She is a page turner
And I'm a fast learner
Page after page I read about love
And that she needs a lil shove
Her heart shines as I read more
This book is far from a bore
This is how you fall in love with a book
Reading into and not going by the look
The cover just brings you in
So an inside beauty that matches outside beauty is a win win
I see a woman's growth
The rising & falling slope
Each year in life is a new chapter to write and read
Looking for a good book, brothers take heed
Her life reads like an open book
Be careful, her pages will have you hanging from a hook
To enjoy completely you have to read
You need to show interest and plant that seed
Or it'll get cut short like a weed
Cover to cover her open book breathes life
Nice