i refuse . . . how about you . . .

i refuse . . . how about you

i have listened to

most of your reasons

i have watched you embrace

and live your excuses

as you employed your brilliance,

telling charming, entertaining

fables, stories and lies

deceiving your self

while never acknowledging

your power to be greater

i have watched you

unknowingly

disrespect

your Mother

your Father

our Ancestors

and all those souls

who met their graves early

to pave a path for you

through the wilderness

with the sacrifice of their lives

i have watched you

deliberately

minimize your self

cowering in shadows

trying to hide from the light

a light

that you never

fully opened your eyes

to see . . .

that the light

your sought to evade

was that of your own

i have listened

to your exclamatory tales

and word weavings

you so graciously shared with others

your self

as you thought you were

validating your delusions

to no avail

shame on you

please stay away from my children

through your example

many about you

live an unempowered life

and they celebrate their common misery

with you

and others

at dinner tables

the corners of the neighborhoods

in our schools and universities

family reunions

and in our churches and mosques

and other such gatherings

of social impotence

where clowns

storytellers

fools

and other such entertainers

help us forget

our challenges

to become authentic

as we glorify

our self exacerbated

disdain

me . . .

i shall no longer

cloud my eyes

nor my judgment

with useless

bitching and moaning

while busying myself

casting dispersions

upon the hand i was dealt,

for it serves

no good reason

nor does it assist me

in the finding of the more powerful me

i have sought throughout my life

in my examinations

and assessments

of where i am,

i shall remain ever thankful

and filled

with an self evolving

gratitude

for i am here

and i have the ability to choose

the path my mind shall take

the high road

or the low

i choose to rise

to rise above the soiled plains

of my imaginings

and my fears

and doubts

and those who would share

such ugliness with me

i will remain ever vigilant

in the seeking of that prize

that i may behold

in the reflective glass

the image of my reality

my greater self

i wish to behold

that which is expressive

of the grandness

and magnificence of this creation

this Cosmological Chaotic

Source of all things

i am the macrocosmic

as well as the microcosmic

i am the above and the below

and this is the gift of realization

that i can choose to be consciously aware

of me

for me

to me

for all

blaming . . .

blaming never accomplished

any thing good

in the end

we all must embrace this truth

that it is truly

“All about me”

and the question simply is

“what am ‘i’ going to do” . . .

me ?

i / we have watched

far too long

and i for one

refuse to cosign

to being the lesser

of who i am

can be

i refuse to be a loser

how about you ?

© 26 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

for me . . .

this was inspired / sparked by a "Right Write" of Jamie Bond's  . . .

thank you. ♥

for me . . .

i was not the best of Husbands

nor was i the best of Fathers

but i was both

i was not the best of friends

with my mate,

for many times

i could have listened

and did not.

i could have gave more

and for some reason

i would not

could not

for something inside me

perhaps told me

i should not

Me was in the way.

the memories i conjure

i am sure

are quite self serving

and may not be deserving

but just the same

i would rather have you here

to hear you call my name

and i would answer

truly i would

i still call yours

in my sleep

my dreams

and i await your reply

i want to hear your voice again

caress my ears

and embrace these fears

i have been living with

without you

i can not deny this

for in my imaginings

you were the bliss

i never quite fully appreciated

my God, how i long to kiss

you again

it is the little things

i hold to

i can still smell you

in my presence

i guess that is a present

from God

i close my eyes

and i am taken back

to those little idiosyncrasies

of your behaviours

like that of your soft museful smile

and your endearing touch

which i miss soooooooooo much

why, even the way you walk

and the way you spoke to me

talked to me

stroked me

with your heart

your emotions

your thoughts

your spirit

your footsteps

i still hear it

hear them

in the hallways

of my memories

coming my way

so even if i am not deserving

of these enriched embraces

of times past

of you

i shall selfishly

hold on to them

and let no one

take them from me

for some times

many days

it is all i have

that gets me through

and i thank you

for sharing

that journey with me

that small piece of your life

that gift you gave to me

of your love

and your heart

your self

and though the occasion has past

as has the opportunity

to share my new

better self with you

i want you to know

that i am still working

on me

in the memory of you

and the memory

of who i used to be

i shall strive

to stay alive

to live

as a better Husband

a better Father

a better Friend

a better Man

for me

for the world

© 22 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

are mine to find

are mine to find

i have chased butterflies

and impregnated dreams

in the fields of my Lorde

i have see days

when the longings of my heart

and the thirst of my curiosity

could not be abated

nor sated

i have tasted the bitter fruit

the unripened

and the sweet as well

and each bite

had a divine story to tell

i have experienced

elated thoughts

that i never believed

would be

could be

grounded again

i  have uncovered

and exposed

smiles upon the faces

of children

and adults alike

i have shook hands

shared ideas

and broken bread

with those whom i thought to be

strangers

who thus revealed unto me

that we were kin folk

i have found a certain solace

in the quiet eyes

and gentile ways

of the elderly

who blessed me in barter

with the gift of their wisdom

in exchange for my time

and my ear

i have walked

the wonder of the field

and the wood

and was introduced

to a realm of existence

a wonder about me

i / we often ignore

i have seen

pink skies

blue skies

red skies

grey skies

yellow skies

white and purple too

all with these wonderful

pair of eyes

that share it’s joys

with my heart

i have stood naked

and unabashed

in torrential rains

and the soft alike

and felt a deep cleansing take place

in my soul

as my entire essence

was purged of the stains

and soiled feelings

i did not readily wish

to let got

there have been many a mountain

in my life

many i passed by

some i climbed

of which many i did not crest

nor put forth my best effort

yet just the same

i am still the richer

for the experience

of trying

and vying

to see if i can

i have laid upon my back

daydreaming

musing

watching the clouds of those skies

as they watched over me

and we played together

a game of “Shape Shifting”

becoming something other

than what we were

i have stood on many a beach

and looked out upon the vastness

of a seemingly endless ocean

with my toes dug in the wet sands . . .

and the soft beached waves

caressed my feet

whispering tales

of far off lands

far off beaches

far off sands

that are a part of my horizons

and my here

i have spent days

putting aside duty

to indulge

in the wonder

of letting go

while daydreaming

for no particular reason

or agenda

i was free

i have spent much time in my life

studying . . .

me

attempting to see

what else i could be

or what was wrong

to see what kept me

from singing my life song

clearly

that which i dearly

cherish

there have been some answers

and many perhaps i did not hear

but life continued with its agenda

it’s venue of progression

and i could not stay in the past

no matter how much i tried

for “Now” always reminded me

of what was important . . .

being ”Here”

i have been extremely blessed

in my life

when i tire

i rest

when i hunger

i eat

or i fast

when i thirst

i drink

if i can

i can smile

or not

but most importantly

i can choose

so i do

choose to be happy

here

where all these magnificent possibilities

and life options

are mine to find

© 18 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

Thespian

Thespian

we all have donned the pretty costumes ?

complete

with mask as well

to play the part

that circumstance

and emotion

has given us to play

but it was not us

some were masterful

in the delivery of their lines

some stumbled

many went on to study

to become better thespians

expressing the inhumane side

while their true lies

did abide

and their truest of truths

did reside

and hide

within

if there is a sin

it is that we were

unawares

of the fares

we exacted

the anguish impacted

upon our audience

those who cared

to come and watch

the show . . . our show

we were masterful

in our crafts

as our words altered paths

of those we loved

and those whom

we did not even know

for our performances

were so convincing

we had them all wincing

at some point and time

and that was a validation

of sorts

wasn’t it

yes it confirmed

and reaffirmed

that we could go into character

and take our character

along with us for the ride

while decimating

the hopes and esteems

of others

our very own

Sisters

and Brothers

you see, i too

have been on this stage

plaguing my own wonder

with harsh expectorations

and exhortations

thinking it was liberating me

from my angst

yet all it served to do

was distance you

from my love

as i was pushed away from yours

as well

do tell !

why in my rants

i have even toured

with the Troupe

opening my act in

many cities

where pities dwelled

offering encore performances

of my own private hell

the curtain calls

made me think

i was important

and cherished

if but in my own mind

i was not even kind

to my self

yet . . .

thank the Providence

i did find my self

that one day

you see,

i stumbled upon something

fumbled the words

i so often have spoken before

and they just did not feel right

i don’t know exactly what transpired

but i do know

that i was tired

of just being a thespian

on this stage of life

given scripts

allowing my lips

to speak such poisons

about you

society

humanity

my self

on cue

like i was the Director’s puppet

but i must ask now

who is the writer

who holds my mind

to manipulate

with his mightier than the sword

expressions

perhaps i will be like him some day

become the one

who writes these screenplays

and learn to not write

masterfully

but to Direct

and Produce

something valid

and of use

that ushers forth a goodness

for the Thespians of the morrow

to act out

shout out

speak about

not only on the stages of our lives

but in our lives

and speak a light

into the lives of others

no doubt

Thespian

© 14 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

the widow

the widow

a widows web is weaved

with lamentations and memories

and sprinkled trinkets

that glisten

and transform into

fleeting warm smiles

we try to hold on

but the delicacy of times past

that which did not appear

at those moments

as authentic

has now transmuted to treasures

we fight to conjure into our lives

on a daily basis

dare i not forget

the children serve as reminders

with their anguish cloaked

with reason

and distraction

of the day

yes we are lost

in a new wilderness

seeking a way

to resolutions we abhor

we send seemingly meaningless wishes

into the ether

hoping that lore was true

that there is a heaven

and again

i shall be with you

but now i am but a widow

weaving a web

to hold to these memories

in my heart

in my head

when i was alive

and not just

the Widow

© 12 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

Sing

Sing

i have wrestled with angels

and demons too

have heard God’s words

and commands refused

i’ve championed light

and warmed the pews

the twain path walked

as i did choose

took bridle and bit

performed the tasks

with silent screams

from behind the mask

hiding in shadows

and the spirit’s flask

fears and questions

i dared not ask

some lost, some lonely

but none will tell

an eruption brewing

that can’t be quelled

we left the mountains

with heaven’s fell

while men with steeples

ring the bells

teachings given

from myth and lore

we’ve asked the questions

why, what for

seeking a meaning

a key to the door

of the power we hide

within our core

illusions of time

securely embraced

but one sweet respite

i long to taste

before dark comes

and claims this space

i pray that i

may see thy face

so . . .

i hold to love

a daily test

i reach for the fruit

a lifelong quest

a new vexed Sun

that rose in the west

by light i travel

from more to less

but . . .

i shant be quiet’d

enslave not my tongue

for can’t you hear

the bell has been rung

the Angels are speaking

psalms to be sung

if not for our Self

but that of our young

Sing

© 12 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

Sing

i have wrestled with angels

and demons too

have heard God’s words

and commands refused

i’ve championed light

and warmed the pews

the twain path walked

as i did choose

took bridle and bit

performed the tasks

with silent screams

from behind the mask

hiding in shadows

and the spirit’s flask

fears and questions

i dared not ask

some lost, some lonely

but none will tell

an eruption brewing

that can’t be quelled

we left the mountains

with heaven’s fell

while men with steeples

ring the bells

teachings given

from myth and lore

we’ve asked the questions

why, what for

seeking a meaning

a key to the door

of the power we hide

within our core

illusions of time

securely embraced

but one sweet respite

i long to taste

before dark comes

and claims this space

i pray that i

may see thy face

so . . .

i hold to love

a daily test

i reach for the fruit

a lifelong quest

a new vexed Sun

that rose in the west

by light i travel

from more to less

but . . .

i shant be quiet’d

enslave not my tongue

for can’t you hear

the bell has been rung

the Angels are speaking

psalms to be sung

if not for our Self

but that of our young

Sing

© 12 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

the Vine-Keeper

the Vine-keeper

here sit i

in the Holiest of Holies

the Vine-keeper

embracing the passage of time

as she marches forth to harvest

i have nurtured the soils

of this garden

with a labor of love

and quiet expectation

my hands which knead forth promise

are covered with the fragrance of the earth

whose thirst is filled

by the sweat of my brow

i have exacted my duty

and continue so

through

that of the morrow

with an unrivaled love

that i may press the fruits

of my labor

to make a new wine

worthy of anointing

the lips of my Lorde,

for i am the Vine-keeper

and this is my charge

There is the sound of footprints

gracefully dancing upon my ear

“who goes there” i cry

and a voice volumous

and splendorous replies

“it is i, thy servant”

i understood not this speaking

for it was the voice of my Lorde

and i fall upon the ground

my face turned to the earth

as an reverent type fear

comes upon my entire essence

and consumes me

like a ravenous plague of plenty

for the Source of my being

my Progenitor Father

approaches

He bids me to rise

but i can not

of my own accord

nor may i look upon His presence

so i avert my eyes

as i realize

that i have been summoned

and sanctified

and all about me

i defied

for it, the world

has lost all import

i ask

Father, what would you have me do

how may i serve thee

name the task

for i am yours to command

please demand of me

that i may see

thy will

i pray i understand

and He spake unto me

with a certain sanctity of enmity

that stills the rush of life

all about me

and within me

He said to me

“Servant”

i have come

to eat of the labour

of thy love for me

give of me thine heart

which is mine

oh Vine Keeper

i humbled myself

for the flatterous embrace

of his words

ushered forth a pride

that i could not hide

i beamed brightly

for the light of his

which resides inside me

in my spirit

cause my heart to beat

with a fervor

and He and i

could hear it

i could feel an anticipatory longing

that manifested to my consciousness

as a holy song

as played from the strings of

a Holy Harp

like that of the Angels

who gather round the Throne

playing a music the day long

and the voice of my Lorde spoke

and said unto me

“I have come to eat of the labor of thy love for me”

“I have come for your fruit”

Feed me thy best

but know ye this . . .

Plumbs i have had

Pomegranates too

Apples have i had

but now i come to you

to satisfy the sum

of my longings

i come hither

to not taste of the bitter

but that of my wantings

and whimsical hauntings

to be filled

as i taste of the fruit

of thy tilled and nurtured garden

the spoils of thy soils,

i have come for the fruit

of thy Vine

that sweetest of grape

that has ravaged and raped

my senses

with a promise elated

yet not sated

won’t you feed me,

feed your Lorde

thy faithful servant

Upon his request

i found my self speechless

and speak . . . i could not

i could not mutter

nor utter

a word to be heard

all of me

was twisted

caught in this cataclysmic

state of orgasmic ecstasy

for the best of me

had just been revealed unto me

i was seeing

feeling

the death of me

the old me

as a verity of my life

came unto me

and graced me

with a surety

unrivaled by any means

this is what i had always

vied for

cried for

and this day

i shall die for

and i deny it no more

for

i am but a servant

in the vineyard

a Vine Keeper

in the Garden of my Lorde

© 11 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

will i go to heaven if i pray ?

will i go to heaven if i pray ?

with a Genghis like

frothing of the mouth like madness

the spirit of that bitch named “Colonialism”

felt it her ordained right

to resurrect the world

in the image of it’s own darkness

this disease affected the minds of men

who parroted this megalomania

in the name of civilization

or keeping up with the Jones

sowing seeds of fear amongst the common people

the will of loving men became darkened

by the shadows of subversive lies

offered like candy to our nimble simple minds

for we did not wish to bother

to discern for our selves

did we ?

the formula is tried and true

and works with a consistency

that can not be refuted

by those who dwell in the realm of dreams

uS!

so it seems

that the un-pious vyers

the lie criers

will continue to have their way

from feudal to daedal systems

they all dress the same

just in different colors

but we do recognize you

yes we do

we have renamed you “Oppressor”

“News” and other semi disconnected

reflections of our apathies

let us muse on this

whatever machine we wish to call it

name it

Democracy to Sovereignty

from Fascism to Socialist

the Monopoly Men

have not lost their swerve

as they create new curves

in the road

just to keep you disoriented

but never quite lost

Call them Power mongers if you will

and the War Mongering of their lieutenants

are but a guise

to delude the eyes

of the people

from catching a peek

of the real game

and it objectives

it’s agendas

found in Foreign Policy

exacted from our homes

of acquiescence

and indifference

i mean, really

what do i care

that millions are dying

someplace else

i mean if i try hard enough

i may shed a tear of compassion . . .

for my self

for in the end

the debt will be mine

and the toll extolled

will be the selling of my soul

that is already heavily mortgaged

to the devils

of my own imaginations

and consignment

but . . .

will i go to heaven if i pray ?

REAL HARD ?

© 10 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

divine expression

divine expression

a dark spirit came upon me . . . man

one not common

in the realm

of my understanding

it affected

and thus infected me,

causing me to vie

and rise up against my brother

and let his blood

upon the soil

of our blessings

a shall call her name . .

“en-vy”

for she is in me

and has found a home

in this, my private eternity

when will i be loosed

i was stripped of my honor

and cast to an unknown wilderness

and destined to know of a woman

who was not of my rib

we made a sort of

discordant conjugal music

chorused with tongues

that babbled

in non symphonious to9nes

ushering forth and eschewed view

of my distant fading memories

of my smiles and

of Eden

a place where Abel was able

to outshine me

in the eyes of that Entity

which Lorded over us

with enmity

was this seed of tortuous expression

the fault of my Mother ?

or is some other generational curse

exacting such a suffering

in my crooked walk

was it the lack of forthrightness

of my “Earthly Seed Bearer”,

Adam

who is the progenitor

of my woes . . .

who knows

my feet, my toes,

oh how they do miss

the damp verdant laden soils

of that garden,

that which my ardent heart

still yet dreams of

i vies for a “Celestial Forgiveness”

that will allow me to return,

if but for a “Stilled” visit

in Time’s special illusion

a delusion will do . . . for now

i year to once again

taste the sweet fruit

of the labor of my hands

as the sweat of my brow

nurtures the expectations

of a bountiful harvest

but . . . what was i given

to take with me

in my banishment ?

Prayers and Faith ?

who is it that shall

sequester my earnest requests

for reprieve

from this cloak of disdain

and despair

i must wear ?

and in a certain knowing

i still am sowing

seeds on hope

as i cope

with this doom filled

looming

dichotomous reality

betwixt a “Good”

and an “Evil”

that manifests

as a test

for all souls

who toil against their reason

none of it makes for

a reasonable defense

that offers a satiable recompense

so i simply speak

in the same voice

of First Father

“Let their be Light”

and i brightly shine

for that seed still resides

within me

i am the Garden

i am the Gardener

which i seek

and all that is thine

is mine

for “I AM” of THEE

i am an unquantified incalculable expression

of the Divine

© 9 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

est tempus

est tempus

in the quiet of night

you came to my rest

a place of quiet solace

when silence

transmuted me to purpose

you whispered in my ear

est tempus

it is time

mea filius vos requiruntur

my son you are required

hic in nunc

here in the now

my consciousnes rose to greet

and feel the kiss of your words

syllable by syllable

upon my longings

for i knew of this coming

of your radiance,

the magnificence

of you heavenly confluence

with my soul

i was erect with temptation

for a certain congruence

of our union

had to be

i wanted to re-enter

your womb

where my spawning took place

a dawning of something

beyond the ultimate

as held in the eyes of men

a quixotic rhythmn took hold

laid seige

to my hopes

and waste them upon the abyss

where there is naught but death

and nothingness

for this time was definitively

pre-eminent

my own tongue was loosed

and the delusion of my speech

that at one time i thought

to have made sense

was clarified

and made anew and straight

a new tongue became known

unto me

so i babble no more

for the world of illusion

the gutteral utterances ushered forth

appeared as an ectopic light

resonating with utopic wonder

revealing Thothian like angles

opening unworn pathways

that i may cross the Fourth safely

and i arose

displaying an actualized splendour

i always had known was mine

i watched at the gate of observation

as my vessel arose

to perfom the duty at hand

and transport my essence

to that portal

for the final fare had been exacted

and i knew

with a certainty that could never be challenged

by the empiracy

and that is simply as simply can get

est tempus

“i lay down my life that i may pick it up again, for i have the power to do so”

© 10 July 2012 : William S. Peters, Sr.

http://www.iaminnerchild.com/

http://www.innerchildpress.com/

Table of Contents : Hot Summer Nights

Table of Contents : Hot Summer Nights

Christena Antonia Valaire Williams                                    1

Anna Chavell Stewart                                                       3

Quise "The Notebook" Williams                                        4

Aria Nicole                                                                       7

Kimberly Burnham                                                            8

Tina Culp Barton                                                              9

Michael                                                                          10

Carlus Wilmot                                                                 11

Alan W. Jankowski                                                         12

*lioness*aka*ms*fran*                                                   14

Dave Sanderson                                                             16

Lori A. Williams                                                             17

Christopher Reilley                                                         18

Veronica Haunani Fitzhugh                                              20

Samuel Benjamin                                                            21

Ken Williams ~The Scarred Poet                                    22

Douglas Moore Jr.                                                          24

Sugasaphire                                                                    26

N. Owen Holme                                                             28

Neil Carpathios                                                              30

Chris Sanderson                                                             31

Tammy Ingison                                                               33

Patricia Hemingway                                                        34

Marianne Taylor                                                             36

Paul Hostovsky                                                              37

Nancy Hubble                                                                38

Dag & Maya                                                          40

Allie Marini Batts                                                            42

Erik La Prade                                                                 43

Petra Robertson                                                             44

David Spicer                                                                  45

Flavia Cosma                                                                 46

Jaime Glasser                                                                 47

Andrena Zawinski                                                          49

Edward Folger                                                               50

Cris Staubach                                                                 51

L.M. Harrod                                                                  52

William A Henkin                                                           53

Jordan Sanderson                                                           54

Wm. Cutter Black                                                          55

Kim Baker 'The Big-Haired Poet'                                   56

Marina Kris                                                                    58

Kay Robertson                                                               60

Nils Peterson                                                                  61

James ‘Peach’ McClory                                                 62

Michael A. Holm                                                            67

iDrew                                                                             68

Alberto O. Cappas                                                         69

Larry Buffington                                                              70

Larry Tozek                                                                    72

madeleine beckman                                                        73

Johnny Blue Eyez                                                            74

Allison Grayhurst                                                            75

Starr Poetress ~ JRC                                                      76

Raziel Moore                                                                  77

Daniel W.K. Lee                                                            79

Marissa S. McNamara                                                   80

Richard Ilnicki                                                                81

K. S. Crawford                                                              86

Karla Huston                                                                  89

Luna Soolay                                                                   90

Yevgeniy Levitskiy                                                          92

Laura Loomis                                                                 93

Malcolm Miller                                                               95

Alvin G Thomas                                                              96

Alan Gilbert                                                                    97

Paul Sands                                                                     98

Michael Karl (Ritchie)                                                     99

Navypoet                                                                     101

Carl Palmer                                                                  103

Alexis Mitchell                                                              104

Tammymarie Jones                                                       106

Ishmael Street                                                               107

c. beth loofe                                                                 108

Laura L. Snyder                                                           109

Joan L. Cannon                                                            110

Don Kingfisher Campbell                                              111

Michelle Hartman                                                         113

Stephen Mead                                                              115

Maria A. Costantini                                                      116

Diana M. Raab                                                             117

Carole Hall                                                                   119

liz dolan                                                                        120

Colin James                                                                  121

Karen Elizabeth Huff                                                     122

Jillena Rose                                                                  123

Benecia Blue                                                                126

Mark States                                                                 128

Bänoo Zan                                                                   130

Susan Adams                                                               133           

Martina Newberry                                                        136

Ellen Kashk                                                                  137

Allene Rasmussen Nichols                                            139           

John Tustin                                                                   141

Carolyn Jones                                                               142

Alfreda ‘Freddi’ Ghee                                                  143

Janet Butler                                                                  145           

Lori Levy                                                                     146

Rosalind Cherry                                                            147

Aparna Pathak                                                             149

Maresa Whitehead                                                       151

Justin Tony                                                                   152

Elizabeth E. Castillo                                                      154

Murray Alfredson                                                         155

Susan Beem                                                                 156

Renard Yearby                                                             157

Mary L. Barnard                                                          159

Terry Severhill                                                              161

Cynthia J. Patton                                                          162

George H Northrup                                                      163

Stephanie M. Giguere                                                   164

Kellz Grammar                                                             165

Terrell Stanley                                                              167

Robert Gibbons                                                            168

Fawn E. Caldwell                                                         169

Bryan Williams                                                             170

Carlene Beverly                                                            172

Todd Smith aka thelyfepoet                                          173

Janet P. Caldwell                                                          177

Steve Dalachinsky                                                        181

Sublime Poetess                                                           182

Santos Taino Santiago                                                  185

Heartspoken Niecy aka Janice Johnson                         187

SeaBe aka Charles P. Banks                                        189

Damian Knox                                                               191

Yvette Burks aka Beautifuldizasster                               193

Gustavo Adolfo Aybar                                                  196

Christina Filagi                                                              197

Martin Cohen                                                               199

Dana L. Stringer                                                           200

Tim Tomlinson                                                              201

William S. Peters, Sr. aka ‘just bill’                               202           

Collaborations

Aline the Conscience Poet and todd smith                     210           

Cathryn Cofell & Karla Huston                             212           

Starr Poetress & Flowetic Justice                          213

Jeffery Sanders & Wynne Henry                           216

Santos Taíno Santiago & Cheryl Faison                219

Renard Yearby & Kellz Grammar                         222

Janet Caldwell & ‘just bill’                                    224

Prose

William S. Peters, Sr. aka ‘just bill’                               228

Adrian S. Potter                                                           230           

Robert W. Fox                                                             231

Kelly Roach                                                                 233

Kellz Grammar                                                             234

Joski THE POET                                                         238

Quietstorm of spokenword                                           240

Alan Jankowski                                                            242

Jamie Bond                                                                  248