



Feeling It!
Thoughts of Mine by
ADRIENNE IJIOMA
Like thunder in a rainstorm,
like lightning, like being born,
like the chill of the wind, making freezing rain
dangerous and attractive at the same time
these thoughts of mine
of happy and sad times
Like rainbows on a sunny day,
like birds singing after the rain,
like snow melting it all away
and bursts of color, blooming in May,
like afternoon sun
washing blues away
this hope of mine
anticipating better times
Rage on the Road
I gotta get in
I gotta go
But lady in front of me
Moving to slow.
Using my signal
Blinking: lane change
Then guy in the pickup
start eyeing me strange?
He’s speeding up,
I’ma speed faster
Can’t get behind him
‘cause that guy’s just backwards
Master the road,
Defensive driver
You cut me off
And then blew out a tire.
Tryin’ not to laugh
As I’m driving on
But I’m still ticked off
As I arrive home.
Next day at work,
He sees my car
Man, didn’t know he would
Take it this far.
Slammed in the back.
Spun me around.
My mouth wide open
As I hit the ground.
All I can think
As cop car lights flash:
When I get out the hospital
I’ll whoop that asp!
Ask me what happened?
Thank God, I’m alive!
I’m not at fault here.
He just can’t drive.
People too slow,
Move out of my way!
I’ve got something important
To get to today!
Yeah, I know the limit
That’s not about me
Don’t you get I
Got somewhere to be?
Now, another red light!
I’ll blow my gasket
Yeah, I’ll slow it down
When I’m in my casket.
I gotta get in
I gotta go
But soccer mom in front of me
Driving too slow!
.

When There He Lies
Time moves too fast
in the good times
between sunshine and fun
You don’t know to keep records
of the smiles, the laughter;
how the wind felt on
your face, driving with the top down
on a Saturday a!ernoon.
Signs all read: No storms ahead.
It’s not easy when she cries…
Game shows are hardest -
Spinning wheels, turning letters,
solving puzzles in unison,
Realizing how in sync you were
in that and other areas
that seemed so trivial then
but too late - they mean everything now:
these old, tear-stained memories
crashing in on you like tsunami waves;
It’s not easy when he dies.


SCARLET NIGHT
Scarlet night,
silver moon
Raindrops ending soon
Cold air filters in
Through the cracks
against my skin
No sleep, no desire
In my heart an endless fire
Daylight brings pain
wanting to stay
Cannot make it go away
In the past music brought relief
Now if fights me, brings me grief
There was a time my heart had room.
Different me.
Same old moon.


Losing It!
Daydreamin'


SUN
Solar circle lights the sky
Warms the earth below
Soft caress straight to the core
Basking in its thermal glow.





A Woman Is...
She is
that bright array of sun-kissed color out in a field of green,
orange and red and purple hues growing for no reason at all.
She is
that first breeze from the a/c cooling your neck and making you catch your breath, gulping it in on the hottest of summer days
She is
that sound of sizzle - fresh on the grill, sending up smoke
and wafting out that tantalizing scent that makes everyone stop, look and wonder: Who? Where?
She is
the answer to the equation you worked out all night long,
only to see the obvious answer right in front of your eyes
She is
an ocean – deep, vast, all-embracing, unrelenting,
inspiring, refreshing, filled with sustenance and life
She is
fierce, awesome, rousing, brilliant, glowing, necessary
yet, demeaned,
disrespected, belittled, downtrodden,
rejected, unappreciated, taken for granted, underestimated,
ignored, overlooked, insulted, injured
aggravated, assaulted
a storm – brooding, tumultuous, unpredictable
like rain – lulling, calming, soothing
She is
desperate, self-assured, afraid and fearless
scattered and focused, certain and doubtful
She is
strong like a tree against the wind
bending but not broken
because she knows
she is real.


#MeToo



Dignity
Like summer cockroaches
they come out hot & defiant -
scattering swiftly in all directions.
Breaking free
from decency
like snakes shedding skin.
Their clothes wear thin
displaying the lack of decorum within.
What some women have lied for,
some – beaten - have cried for
Yet more and more have died for it –
what you are simply giving for free.
With unchecked tongues they call you ‘hoes’
With heaving breasts all exposed
Midriff bulge, thick with thighs
to the extreme, burning our eyes.
Don’t give it up for free
It’s not about the poo
I’m just speaking Dignity
I’m simply talking to you.
What we see is not what you think
No one ever taught you value?
So you can’t see what’s true.
Like roaches in the night;
You get blinded in the light
Thinking the sound you hear is applause.
That’s not what you got climbing the walls
Predators, like centipedes, also hitting the streets
Tens upon thousands on the prowl;
You’re the prey they will eat.
With no apologies to hear,
say they’re just trying to survive;
it’s hard enough out here for us all
without you trying to glamorize
the sleazy, the skeezy, the greasy and the easy.
Come back to thee, sweet Dignity.

smh, smh
What's next?
Stay tuned!!!

I Am Not My Circumstances
I am not my circumstances.
You can’t define me by my skin.
You cannot judge me by my income
or the zip code I live in.
If I’ve had no education or
have many letters after my name,
it does not mean you can deem me ignorant
or guarantee that I’ll reach great fame.
Don’t assume my husband’s my boyfriend
just because you can’t commit.
And don’t ask ‘if the daddy’s still in the picture.’
My kids are not illegitimate.
When you brag on your last vacation,
don’t apologize like I’ve never been.
You can’t begin to know my travels
or the countries that I’ve lived in.
You don’t see my designer clothing?
I don’t need to advertise what I wear.
And if my kids don’t have an Xmas,
does that mean that I don’t care?
You make presumptions not based on fact.
Your calculations are severely flawed.
You laugh at me for not chasing dollars?
I’m the one who stands appalled!
You can’t define me by my circumstances
because you don’t know what they are.
You cannot determine by my high school
if I won’t succeed or if I’ll go far.
You try to say because I’m female
that I am lesser or I don’t count.
Don’t presume you have me sized up
or try to guess what I’m about.
I’ve walked through palaces and gardens
of princes, kings and queens well-known.
I’ve traveled railways back through history
and walked down paths my ancestors roamed.
I’ve climbed mountains and roved castles
and have seen views from the top of the world
Compared to me you’re but a newborn
you know nothing of this girl.
I am not my circumstances
Don’t pretend you’ve browsed this book.
I have stories on pages and chapters
that you likely fear to look.
I’ve been poor and I’ve had plenty
I’ve dined with judges of federal court.
I’ve studied cultures, customs and languages
and given hundreds the full report.
My circumstances don’t define me.
Don’t pity me when my pocket’s not fat.
I’ve got a glory set before me
that is so much richer than that.
Don’t feel sorry when you see me
because my Nissan is not brand new.
This is not even my sixth car.
Truth be told, I’ve had a few.
But I don’t need things, rings or gadgets,
just identify me by name.
I’m well aware of how I’m living
and I for sure know from where I came.
Who you see rising up before you
is doing it on purpose, not leaving life to chance.
Rest assured I’m living life victorious -
without the pomp or circumstance.
Entry #5, RealisticPoetry, June 16, 2018
Love is many colors.
We exist in this box,
contained by the thoughts of others
scared 2 think outside,
come in2 the light, not hide &
c Love isn't hindered by color.
We're all mixed the same within
but some1 lied & said it was sin
& after all this time, we still deny. Just color.
We walk the planks, still not convinced that all that separates us is skin.
Too wrapped up in the label,
Identifying what’s paper thin.
Fools because we are what we have always been.
