may i enjoy

may i enjoy the sunrise

now that i moved

to other side of insanity

left the bullshit

behind in other borough

no longer question

i am thorough

compared to what

no need to be

steaming on the corner

with some young hoppers

to be considered real

already seen

the crooked deal

we give to ourselves

shaky shuffle

too many cuts to the deck

went earlier than the priest to church

up before streetlights go out

what have the past 31 years been about

you still find yourself

returning to where the journey began

trying to retrace those steps

you was the only one left behind

still asking

where did all the fun go so quickly?

that coffee and cigarette

won't make you awake faster

have you spent that time judiciously

every moment was effective

still knocking at the door

who will let you in?

can't recapture innocence especially

when you handed sin

right outside Yankee stadium

after decisive blowout

scheduled for rain yet to see a drop

all these memories

keep flowing non stop

precise effort and responsibility

dedication determination belief

faith dreaming big execution

what type of follow through does it take

to be on top

now that you have plotted the plan

please connect the dots

first writing pinch (after suheir)

don't you dare

stay right where you are

no moving brains

to incite change

enjoy innocence

distraction from brilliance

entropy slowly drags you forward

behind you lies your future

in front of you lays your past

choose wisely

groove finely

ask yourself if

answer your reflection why

crazy reputation proceeds

lack of motivation bleeds

have you developed your potential fully

how you still smiling like it's all goody

so fly could call you flea

at your market any treasures you could see?

always here (after rich)

please don't call it a comeback

been here as long as tears taken to dry

was that fly on the wall during every reading

was there in spirit when you slammed your heart

we all caught the blood

everyone fought the web wrapped around

nightmares right where the needle

meets the vinyl groove before first note

causes you to rewind selector

bring back that classic from the top

no need for external affirmation

to make my dreams pop will believe

in personal possibility until gravity

drops apples causing epiphany

rapidly actually statistically if was

going with easy entropy likely wouldn't

even exist i won't ask for your permission

to cause you to listen

there won't be any choice

to acknowledge this voice

calling for recognition off rooftops

the air will pick up frequency across

breeze carry across seas causing ripples

in puddles every poem pieces to puzzle

don't need your help to make me spit

but sing along to my struggle

nuyorican ego tripping (after nikki giovanni)

Creo en mi

i was born in Bronx Lebanon

off the Grand Concourse

while we were still living on Sheridan

I walked out the womb dancing mambo

promptly recreated arrival of Columbus

all the Tainos kicked him off

la isla bonita for trying to steal fresh coco

instead we offered him cocotazos

i bathed en el Yunque

since then the forest been sweating

Yo Soy Malo

Mis santos said i was a cabeza dura

couldn't understand why freedom

wasn't promised to every man woman

child caught up in the enchanted rhythm

of coquis cantando

Yo Soy Jibaro Del Bronx

Searching for quenepas en every bodega

sweetest mango to drip down palms

ready to save lluvia to quench thirst

I gave my people chupacabras

named lelolai so we could balance

our pride with unrealistic fear

i turned myself into tasty frituras

This is my body which shall be sacrificed

for you do this en memoria de mi

My words are an offering to heaven

so that the Almighty can see

none of his inspiration went in veins

bubbling struggling against history's blood

dripping from beating heart

if I don't believe in my own power

cynical self fulfilling prophecies

will prevent future elevation

so i think i can

i know i will

rise above sticky surface

searching all along blocks of Planet Earth

to find the purpose that been living inside

underneath fear right besides confidence

miles away from motivation to build nations

organized barrios resisting gentrification

rather the elimination of beautiful people

who wer born to eventually move

let's dance to the endless groove

lack of self determination

gives bass to the blues

let's cry until our tired tears

overflow the Bronx River

purify all contamination

finally got acknowledged

never feel intimidated

by lack of representation

your smile is your passport to galaxy

universal identification

making up for lost time

continue on your path

please don't doubt yourselves

split into provocative personalities

with seasonal affective disorder

out of place but can locate concrete

without gravitational assistance

persistently illiterate to illuminating

bright side of dark outcome

can't run from sinister shadow

attached to the bottom of heels back of shoulders

every second getting older

with circulation of earth around suspicious star

giving love to alleys between building

warming sensation even when chilly

for really i will keep security close to chest

so won't be able to see my hand

joker up sleeve so you can always be wild

dial any number can you get quick convo

will you be satiated to activate the motion

boasting false pride want to stay alive

foreseeable future in rear view won't be

so sounding sweet shrill point clashing

barely see roses in garden

stay grinding so you won't be starving

que lovely

blessed our father

hour early for holy cross

sunday mass

hoping to hear homily

that would heal

lord understands exactly

how i feel

simple man granted

complex life

every opportunity

been a blessing

beautiful son

gorgeous intelligent wife

who knew that it would

have been a hood night

feeling ill seek comfort

for the origin

humble beginnings

to understand a harsh world

can never complain

7 corners 182 131

andover to columbia

right back home

never alone if

surrounded by angels

been got wings and halos

take whatever time

available for chance

to be grateful

happiness overflows

until you lost count

of smiles mixed with tears

faded pictures only reveal

snapshots of years

never to return

salud bendicion gracias

for everything i have learned

still got work to do

to earn coveted spot in heaven

authentically

authentic arrogance/persuasive palante/powerful people/integrity see through/transparent/tragedy apparent apathy/perspective/peaked only to fall drop quickly recover the pride/lost to disparates and piropos/lack of knowledge got you going loco/understand absolutely nada/mucho blah blah/hardly any palabras/to capture the feeling/of numbness/so many assumptions/no precise predictions/guesstimates of the guttural ghetto/too much grimy gangsters/how many have the courtesy to thank you/semiformal/ without proper indentation/