Rocket Ship

Posted by Terrence Johnson |0 comments

3,2,1
Blast Off
Ascending from the world
At rapid pace
Leaving behind all that is
The constraints fall
Approaching a place
That stagnant gravity
Has no authority
No longer held bound
By the norms of life
The box that is humanity
Being discouraged to stand alone
To mindlessly follow others
Into oblivion
Continuing the ascent
The world appears small
Perceived problems minute
All is peaceful
Comfortably quiet
The only way to live
In this world
Is to live outside of it

The eradication of soul

Posted by Terrence Johnson |0 comments

It was in our walk
Each step exuded confidence
It was in our hair
A symbol of power
It was in our speech
Speaking change into existence
It was in our heart
Circulating pride within ourselves
It was in our music
Music personified the struggle
It was in our dress
Culturally distinct
It was everywhere
Soul was us

Where has the soul went
Where has the pride went
No longer a collective
Each its own entity
Walk is hindered by self indulgence
Hair is a fashion statement
Not a cultural statement
Speech is slurred
Meant for conversations not confrontations
Heart is gone
Replaced by image
Music is computer generated
Not organically created
Dress is a facade
Not a true representation
Where is our soul Black America?

Do I have to resurrect James Brown?
To bring the music back
So I could feel the struggle
To say it loud
I'm black and I'm proud

We vs. We

Posted by Terrence Johnson |0 comments

We treated our neighbors as family
We introduce our family to our neighbors

We used what we had to survive
We use what we can to survive

We emphasized the importance of family
We don't care to know about the past

We argued which sometimes lead to a fight
We use guns so we don't have to fight

We used music to bring us together
We use music to fill our IPod

We fought for equal education
We resist attending school

We felt that we had something to prove
We don't care what you think about us

We attended church to worship God
We attend church to be seen

We identified ourselves by family names
We identify ourselves by cliques and gangs

We fought so hard for you
We don't know much about you

We want to help you
We don't think you understand

We need to talk to you
We need to talk too

We need to become we again

What a Debt I Owe

Posted by Terrence Johnson |0 comments

There is no measure
No monetary figure
That could express my debt to you
No powerful oratorical presentation
No words that could reverberate
Throughout my vocal cords
Could express my gratitude verbally
Even if I worked until my hands callused
Worn from constant servitude
Could my works be comparable to yours
Walking barefoot for hundreds of miles
Through rough terrain
Would be a simple task
For you have done much greater
So when you ask of me
I do
No questions asked
Not because I want to be seen
Nor be a good Christian
It is because I know I am forever in debt
Nothing I can or will do can pay my debt
However I continue to do
Nothing I have is mine
You gave me everything
You gave me life
Who am I to disagree with your plan
Whether I agree or not
It is all for my good
Although the storms of life have raged
You never left me without a safe haven
As I remember all the pain you saved me from
The situations that you delivered me from
I should have nothing but adoration for you
But there have been times when I denied you
Ran away and even denounced you name
Yet you were still there
Protecting me from the distance
So I don't want my debt to be forgiven
Let me forever be your servant
In this world
Then there will be a time
When I am in your presence
I look down from heaven and think
What a debt I owed