No Tienes Miedo This Halloween

Do not be afraid

Do not be wicked when you barely been innocent

Do not be militant if you not willing to die for your noble fraud

Do not be self righteous when you can barely wipe your ass

Do not be curious if you comfortable in your ignorant bliss

Do not be wise fool be broke and happy with your simple ways

Do not expect tomorrow to be easy if you can’t deal with today’s troubles

Do not waste your soothing moments with tense tontos

Who have no sense of where they are headed like you

Lost hanging on rolling up hoping to hear something good

Do not judge the next man when you have been

As played out papi chulo as plastic playerific

Fatalistic fiend tempermental teen

Motherfucking machisto who makes up his own myth

Do not perfect your craft let your gut hang chichos all lovely

Do not hold onto heroes as superhuman

Pedestal got peglegs attached to carefully painted portrait

Do not get flashy with your fame stay simple as hungry as you came

Do not turn lame making literati laugh but the homies couldn’t catch the joke

Do not smoke with paranoid ghost dogs who take freebie chiefies

Do not weaken your speech to narrow your reach

Do not release your grip while riding shaky train

Do not just maintain current malaise escape invisibility completely conspicuous

Do not get lonely when crowded accidental flagrance purposeful fragrance

Do not be vague vagrant blend with transience transition your hues mix with greys

Do not be careful with what you say careless what you can sculpt rocky terrain

Do not let tears remain tasty salty cheeks stubbly bumble

Do not fumble mumble or grumble

Do not hold on to bundles you can’t handle

Pass out pounds

Roll up the Constitution so you can burn away your right to be a delirious luxury loving citizen of prepackaged organic

Do not take your anger out on a shadow

Darkness has nothing to do with your depths

How far you’ve sunk shows how much you can rise

Do not be shook or shy

World will see fear

As soon as you blink misty eyes

you gonna get this work

For me it was all about figuring this shit out. I know I took my sweet time with everything but I guess the lord has her own script for the way I’m living. Sometimes I’d like to think that those visions are entwined, but I’m often shown otherwise. So I bask in those small moments that remind me that what I’m going through is so much bigger than I am. Only a small dot infinitismal molecule in the galaxy of humanity. Just trying to keep moving every day like the sun shines new light on old scars in the hood.

So what is the deal? Statis, nothing else fams. If I tried to tell you otherwise I’d might be someone else. But me, stuck on the block with the same old folks doing the clichéd same old shit. Really. Even if you ask them, what’s good, they say, same old shit. As if we don’t have different bowel movements each time we eat something else. But what can you do when the only option are Kansas Fried, Kee Hing Chinese Restaurant, Hot Millions, snack cakes and sour powers washed down with High Fructose Sugar Water? So all that schooling, even going round the country and the Caribbean still got you in the same spot you was drooling as a young’n. Thinking that hanging out with the dropouts and criminals was going to instantly add to that the street credibility you been so desperate for. Like that saying you take the man out the ghetto but you can’t get the cold corners dark lights and smoky rooms from the soul. It stays trapped in the walls of your skin like that metallic musk you smell when you step in the elevators and sazon sticking to the hallways of your hope.

Where I’m at? Right in the back park, headphones on, zoned out, looking at the moon shift shape in the purple sky while the clouds cling on to the good memories of today trying to make the pain go away so that the sunrise can be brighter tomorrow. Analyzing the parts of myself that I keep hidden tucked away like the secrets behind my eyelids. Most likely just catching my breath while about to breeze around the city, scooping inspiration from the beast when the conga man bangs boogaloo on his bongo, the iron horse rumbles to the next stop, hopefully I will be getting wherever on time at least within reasonable colored people tardiness. Right to action.

But what happens when the words aren’t enough? Do we ever stop being poetry in life?

Para Los Padres

Fathers’ Day Weekend 2013

Throwback isolation 4 walls
At your request for a moment to breathe

Cloudy emotions mixed up mental
Everyday celebrates your wonderful blessings

Just be thankful for all you got
in two blinks all that positivity can stop

Trips around origins signifies you been
Going in circles

Looking for what been lost
Cost of otherside fork
Too much you could never handle

Easy to ramble about close calls
Tight gambles house always wins
Easy to get locked on couch
Never head out
Even though beautiful days await

Hope you have been given foundation
Begin life’s legacy of healthy memories
Rising steadily overflow eye dams

Drip down invisible masks no livable past
Painful present with fatalistic future

Nurture opposite of pessimistic visions
Release your demons to escape
Lonely prisons

You will be able to hold your son’s hand tighter

Please gather the strength to become a better man
Lover scholar fighter
Soldier rock comforter role model

Not another so called leader whose message rings hollow
Years later no solid reflection to follow

Don’t run from your responsibility
Embrace the challenge

Amari wants to learn from you
Give him proper guidance

For thriving not just simple survival
Your presence and energy is vital

Be of sound mind healthy body developing soul
Forever in control aware of your surroundings

Keep good company proudly introduce your people
Don’t let your honorable history be a burden
A mystery allows you to turn from prior mistakes

Triumphs stand tall
Never slump chump

Essence got so much funk ritmo
Shake that good foot

Jump to grab a star from the sky to light up the earth
Cada cabeza es un mundo

Found my connection to multiverse
Keeping love in constant rotation

Your truest smile
Demonstrates infinite worth

Sale ahorita

Can never leave

Anticipation of too much to come

Want a part of the action

Even though bell ringing

I’m still here searching working on a masterpiece

Won’t cast a jinx black cloud

Trademarked frownys scowl across brown triangle

Love peace happiness

Bulldozed rose bush

Remember EVERYTHING you can

For time remaining

How much more explaining does divine

Has to remind you on daily

No failing admitting shortcomings long goings

Carrying dropping logs

Science building less destroying

Employing abilities in tune with faculty

Streak of independence

Abolish referendum asking you for more freedom

Seeking royalty within reflection

Please don’t get too twisted

So your movements are impaired

Life is dark project stairs

Where everyone stares at the ground

Sky is too bright

Even hurts to look at your shadow

Pour a gallon of your regret in the gutter

So you could regurgitate all the hate

Painful poison numb your own noise

Complex symphony glorious ghetto imagery

Broken hearted window symmetry

Jagged dagger sympathy

Grand dragon government wizardry

Hunger howl til echoes in brain

Heavy steady burden higher burning

Halfway learning leads to weak application

Wandering while rambling

Unfocused mission statement

Copy that carbon footprint

Matching unique finger

Be the suit not that hanger

Make the beat write the song

Construct a banger top pop chart

Chopped slopped

Spark after screw rolled a lil loose

Almost like a lil space in noose

Slight dash of lies with harsh truth

Candles won’t provide proper wattage

Only back to essence origin

Where we all started

Individual to collective

Stark difference illustrate perspective

Color shades dimensions

All the jails our minds kept in

Isolated direction

Without opportunity to network

Make connections

Look in eyes to acknowledge existence

Absolute miracles we are still living

Lift a glass burn for those gone

We always mourn but

Celebrate a chance to smile and laugh

Funny how fast our magical lives pass

mira esas caras

Look at those faces

Mira esas caras

El cielo winks and smirks

Got me believing Divine

Had fingers crossed when he was making us

Promises he would eventually keep

Did your hustle add up to enough merit

Gifted and talented status that distances you

From your hood hardly recognizing your roots

You was on the block they discussed in class

And didn’t find any of those pathologies or theories

Cited in academic articles footnoting your faith

Laughed at lectures because professor ideas were all wrongly

Based on faulty research

Patriarchal genocidal white supremacy

Hierarchy fallacy of savage natives

When all they do is take our creation

Wonder why we so impatient

We living on borrowed time

Was loaned Smoking Lovely

Was supposed to return it in two weeks

Overdue charges

Were worth all the bad credit

Need to chill soak in the ocean skin a sponge

Heart a drum to make the waves

Crash against mind’s shore

Memories overflood motivation

Until immobilized watching the movement maintain

While yall were up in VIP

We were behind the velvet rope in the rain

Hoping to shimmy shoulders until sweaty

Shake off ancient oppression lethargic lint

Clinging to static shock as erratic clock

Second hand skips precious few moments to never return

All that privilege low on totem pole

What did weactually learn as the mundo turned

What did we shout to make the world stop spinning

Silent screams won’t deliver destiny

Exclusive 16s might make you platinum

The sun will give you a shout out

Only if you up in time to hear lovely livelification

Don’t let that determination turn drowsy

Beautiful day even if it’s cloudy

Sky said what’s good fuck your frownys

Don’t slide with fiction stay true to your honesty

Any probably should be most definite certainty

Universe has no sense of urgency

But a thunderous cackle at your agonizing absurdity

Mumbling your definition fumbling with your tradition

Bopping on the block please stop bullshitting

It’s raining because Jesus Christ

Crying at how we living

peace tony medina

How to Be an American

            After Tony Medina

Adopt the Constitution as your Holy Bible

America Fuck Yeah is your ring tone

Pledge Allegiance to Fox News in HD

The Declaration of Independence was

only kidding about equality

Uncle Sam is always pointing out he wants you!

Captain America and Superman

are the Department of Homeland Security

Speedy Gonzalez and Taco Bell Dog

are your Mexican Idols

All Country and Bluegrass songs

will have Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya remixes

Follow your TV’s instructions

Sell your destiny for discount on Ebay

Have corporations sponsor your body

This synapse has been sponsored by Cisco

Every nipple named after Nextel

Lips provided by Loews’ Cinemas

Eyes reflected by RayBan

Medulla Oblongatta by Microsoft

Air you breathe provided by Apple

Private parts endorsed by Nike Just Do It

Describe all of these brands louder than your last name

Realize the President is more powerful than the Pope

Sell dimebags of democracy downtown

Hustle your halo why are you still holding on?

Consign kilos of confusion

Corner the markets with colonialism

Have a business plan for your beefs

in this day and age

no reason you can’t profit from pain

Buy freedom from the local farmers

but you will find your future in the freezer

right by the rotisseried bald eagle

meat juicy crunchy skin

tasty enough to suck marrow from bones

whether you like your liberation

fried or roasted

progresando

Stay on task

continue to be proactive towards success

only one standing in your way

is your shadow

can't blame another for your stalled progress

consequence might be immediate or delayed

either way

you must face forward

never behind

2 lights left circling 24 hour deli

toasted sandwiches available

when belly growls

wind howls matches mean mug scowl

owls never close their eyes

white owl cigars make you addicted to more lies

sounding like truth

fast food delivered sloppily

opening  foggy eyes making blue skies seem cloudy

grey dulls sharp shoulders

jagged elbows becoming smooth joints

make up points to project emjambment

allusion to aversion feeling pain in person

still searching for purpose beneath surface

weight on world heavy burden on delicate back

we all have many theories

how many supported with actual facts

no no you relax

how when

no moments ever tranquil?

Always keep it moving

not even a second

to dream away day

visting andover 15 years later

Non sibi - “not for one's self”

FINIS ORIGINE PENDET - “the end depends on the beginning”

lawns are great if you own that much property

bequeathed on your behalf

ain't gonna get beheaded

because you could buy your way out of that jam

perpetual plans extend long past original epiphany

realize no one will give you a sympathy for failure

to follow through only fool left is you

standing in mirror under street spotlight

declaring you want to be the star of your own show

lack of sellout means you have stayed true to your story

sacrificed childhood so your future would be misunderstood

told you as many ways as possible

your life has to be the opposite

logic based off ghetto conflict

why do our people hate each other with such vigor

ancient history can be found in recent pictures

what purgatory exists in the miniscule middle

what are the riddles and reasons within your rhymes

back to revisit those good ol days

where your hunger was louder than whiteboys rock next door

when you could ask so much

comprehend absolutely nothing but just enough

acting so tuff to cover up issues at home

bubbling below surface could sense tension

when back from vacation any freedom is welcome

when off school plantation

who knew you be saving your father from being a vegetable

somewhere somehow there is truth in all those jive stories

made me look at my block Clason Point Gardens

between Lafayette Metcalf Noble and Story

beauty of barrio barred like barbed wires

telephone cable someone roofed old Forces

source of inspiration declaration wanting recognition

someone got to yell from benches in back park

WE ARE HERE been deep rooted like roses soft thorns

why do we bear burden of distant scorn

vagabonds who carry contraband in worn luggage beneath eyelids

so when we blink you can unlawfully search our curtains

releases shackles surroundings ankles wrists

brain stopped and frisked whipped into red velvet cake batter

one more ingredient in devil's apple pie

make sure your seasonings sazonrific

soul been solid

lyrics are liquid

molecules disappear to gas

TKO

Technical Knock Out

Go to sleep one arm over eyes

All the lights on TV still blaring

Inheriting parental nods leaning on couches

Good groove early temper flare

Never learned to deal with anger effectively

Challenging self to become better

Surrounded by books magazines newspapers

Vinyl tapes CDs videos pictures

Various forms of media designed

To provide insight side profile PBS

Art of elocution practice BS jive and shuffle

How will you hustle legally

A little thievery just to get ahead

Quicker faster make sure your resume

Stands out from the pile

Qualifications guaranteed by best effort

Superb in ghetto gifted and talented

Now mediocre by college prep

Grind to study greater gain from ultimate sacrifice

Ancestors’ decisions to hold steady

To rocky dreams of mountains tragedy

Fountains of youth’s apathy

All hail illuminati majesty

That controls your powerful path

Where is the happiness during

Those funky cloudy days

Where the path out the maze

Is never absolutely clear

Hold your faith as your passion

Please don’t fall victim to fear in every thought

Behind every blink

Within each inch

Just a pinch is usually enough

Hard to add up when all mathematics

Terribly fuzzy

Who could ever love me

As much as those in closed quiet

20 Clason Point Lane

So much has changed

Hardly much remains except

What occurs between suenos that left you sweating

Regretting everything you never said

All that you wished you could have screamed

Randomly out loud while watching evening news

About a world we barely understand

How much we could do

With the tiny slice we have

Must grab attention with your GODLY ACTIONS

One day you wake up

You are old

How quickly does your VIDA happen? 

hallelujah

Gloria Gloria

Embrace your faith never fear

Certain melodies move you to point

Of tears trickling down face

Flowing like johnny pump deluge

Flood block with puddles of pain

Easy to walk over worry

Rhyme calmly find moments of tranquility

Qualities of quitters quite a few

How will you best spend your time

Past curfew with lights out

Juggling bubbling variety of vanity

Many ways of processing sanity

Screwed a little loose too much room to play

Can easily trip over extension

No pretending are you for real?

Won’t ever reveal what you can’t conceal

Your obnoxious is obvious

Procrastination participation within populace

In love with lack of consequence

Every utterance noxious nonsense

One way circling around twisted lane

So much depends upon

Who exits who remains

Exchange foreign of pleasantries

More comfortable with weaponry

No subliminals directly tell you

Death is what you selling me

No returns no money back

No concern while you burn

Away what you lack

Compounded by your slack

Hard horizon won’t let you iron out issues

What if imaginary pistils in palms

Blasted flowers from finger dandelion shots

Allow wishes instead of vicious revenge

End only momentary pause

Next breath next lifetime seeking source

Mainframe outline thousand approximate pixels

In fuzzy picture

Memory faded photographic

Turbo rapid fire

Can never press buttons fast enough

To activate next levels without defeating

Enemies flawlessly remarkably

When passed mic with infinite audience

Words are lost never simple to encounter

Complex divine design

Crooked line please don’t step outta

callate

no me diga

the block is so dead
the corner got a tag on its toe
the pigs want to put you
in a bookings blender
send you to a cell
to feast on social security slop
silence dances around the desk
begging you to choose me me me
to tell you the answer
might find this precisely puzzling
as the revolution keeps hustling
the next release date
where you will change everything
the next day will remain the same
false promises are worse
than staining the drawers
at least that might keep stinking
but your attempts disposing
the garbage without recycling
leave aftertaste of pussy incense
with each progressive bite
starting to get to your gut
all that fried shit giving you feelings
you don't want
close your eyes
after watching the skyline
reimagine the streets and alleys
replay the marathon circular
bringing you back where you started
origins planted in vacant lot
with perfect amount of sunshine
flourish with flowers
dandelions fancy way to bring
fantasies to grass roots
stops right at concrete curb
the river from the hydrant
is deep enough to drown
if you haven't held your air
your fears will shout you out
on the street but ignore you in public
pop shit in privacy of your potential
rewind the instrumental
so you can open up your heart
on the soulful beat

08 brown book exclusive

Cypher Equality Shadow (2008)

My mind distant
Shoulders cold
Soul frigid

People done burned enough bridges
I am not about to step

Outside of self seeking affirmation
Cannot inspire others for determination

Self degradation has become the new style
Today has become cooler to icegrill
Than smile

Confrontational non denominational
Tradition

Word is born like Goya beans
Tortured self portrait right in front of you

Uncomfortable when unaccustomed to
Natural fear

If everything is a lie
Then only the breeze is actual

Don’t be afraid to look yourself in the mirror
Don’t be afraid of the mess you made

Don’t hide your vulnerabilities
Rock them like new kicks

Stop running in place
Marathon massacre began last year

In this race
Efficient stamina to be the first one or last
At the finish line

Don’t spend the better part of your life
Asking why? Instead of how?

You can make the Atlantic waves crash
The Orchard Beach of your mind

Hold promises made to self
Most important

You fire sale pieces of times
To the highest quitter
In a concerted effort to procrastinate longer

Who have you been fooling?
The jig has been up
Everybody else knows the surprise
Except you

Who continue to exhibit
Warning signs of treason

Every second when claiming
To be crafting classic

You have simulcast your misery
To every world market

The planet needs some hope
Right now just in case you haven’t noticed

El mundo suddenly taken a turn
For the most gloomy

Got you walking round eyes closed
Bumping into your destiny

Who you swear in a dream
Told you she would take you
Out the hood forever

Maybe you missed the memo
But were only eligible for sweepstakes
But not guaranteed victory

So no
Don’t get bitter
Get on your grind
On your job

Wake up
Life won’t knock on the door
To sooth you out the nightmare

Wiping away doubt
Telling you everything will be alright

Nah
Far from it
Gentle kind sir

i been writing

Dulzura de Sangre

Have your cake and eat it too

Until you blue with frosting

Dripping off face and windshield

Tell us how the wind feels like

Broken sky

Unify past present and future

Take a few moments to gather

Yourself and get in proper position

Each confession more

Painful and stressful than

Previous paragraph

Pass through so many clouds

Life was constantly overcast

Storm significant

How small are you next to a stoic century

How times have made man

Which man made time

Enough for you to visit

Invisible yous huddled low

Frantically burning at the end

Of the bench after practicing dribbling

Don’t ever feel mediocre

Look out for rainbow sprinkles

Dancing over your memories

Heard the trees sing all day

With the seasons’ shift in the air

Walked around myself

Because time travel is never easy

Actually I did plenty

Remember every snow shower

And thunder up and down the Lane

Almost a Bronx River

But no Johnny pump could produce

This deluge cutting

Down all the original foliage

Feels like there’s no place to play

Planes streak smoke

Across sharp cielo

If you fly while you stunt

Impossible to lay low

Colors will identify quickly

Better to move like a ghost

Evaporate swiftly

Squirrels forcing you back on point

Harder to remember your path

See young ones forgetting todays lessons

Faster than you could speak

So confused hesitate before they reach

Even to eat next meal

May not be promised

Hungry not too much

Leave some room for knowledge

Courage to share with confident others

Only sense hatred with sisters and brothers

There I am right in the middle

Trying to break up an everlasting fight

I tell them to find your voice

However scared they are

And scream as loud as you can

Learn your words

And just dive into that cold pool

Splish splash

Next cry for air in deep water

In the game movements

Must be precise enough

For you to score safely

Without any verbal crutch

Or emotional hiccups

Internal pursuit of hidden language

Mixed with everyday panic

Making harassment regular

Another competitor

Throwing soul through microphone

To let the world understand his depression

Throwing peanuts

At the sad elephant

Tragic clown

Don’t pass down any of your anguish

Hope next generation

Will never be troubled

I started writing

In front of two way

Truthful peacock mirror

Allowing you to see a future

Couldn’t be any clearer

Except blink

Fast forward

Right here

Tomorrow nearer