Cherish

cherish

i worship the ground that i walk upon

for it is holy

as is thine

i cherish the space and time

i have occupied

for many have died

to make it so

and this day i lay my burdens aside

for i need them not

any more

i shall soar to and through

the heavens i dreamed of

i shall embrace the love

i always deserved

that i held from my self

held from you

held for no unknown reason

that i ever knew

from this now forward

i will walk toward

a realization

an actualization

of my higher existence

that will not be constrained

without my resistance

i rebuke the world of lore

this place of darkness

i have traveled before

for in my core

i know

there is more

and i shall worship this moment eternal

where the infernal fires

ever burn

no matter the way i turn

this is within my power of gratitude

and that is my attitude

from here on in

for from this moment

i will not walk this way

again

cherish

© 31 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

www.iamjustbill.com

Happy New Year, Happy New Day

 

Happy New Year, Happy New Day

i reflectively consider the road now traveled

and the times i have passed through

the memories are mine to keep

of all the thing i still pursue

the year has come, the year has gone

and all that remains is its ether

there is but thoughts that wander about

and my memories as a seeker

many things i did not find, and that is ok

for the task before me still prevails

i am not that rudderless ship wandering

upon life’s seas with empty sails

there is hope in the winds of my heart

and it is the power i hold to transcend

for each year, each moment is but a part

of this journey that has no end

there are many fruits and flowers along this road

for each soul to eat their own fill

it is not by chance that goodness comes to us

it is by our love for the journey by our will

so going forward i must without exception

and may we all be focused on life’s task

and what may fail us in understanding

just go to that God within and ask

Happy New Year, Happy New Day

© 31 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

www.iamjustbill.com

May You New Year be utterly abundant and prosperous beyond understanding

a day in the life of consciousness

a day in the life of consciousness

i have tasted the meal

offered to me in purgatory

i have traipsed down the pathways of my life

with Demons and Angels alike

i have created rainbows and darkness,

storms and sunshine

according to the will of mine own

i have sown seeds of goodness

in gardens wherever i went

i have also stepped on flowers

and pissed upon Temple walls

and the calls of my soul still prevail

yes the answers evade the world of

small conscious men

such as i

there were times i rebelled

and refused to raise my sails

to catch that good wind

and that is my only sin

each time i turned my back

on self

on that which was  greater

than my small “i”

where my ego lies . . . in lies

i have jaundiced mine own eye

deliberately

by seeking the way

of the wayward

calling it fun

i have walked away from the Sun

for the light bothered me

and beckoned me to be accountable

when i just wished to be lazy

and party on instead

of letting that guilt in my head

i have endured over the years

the tears

the fears

and the queer little men

who whispered in my ears

there were

many foibles

stumbles & bungles

and out-right fuck ups

and i am no longer surprised

that i am still standing

for i have affirmed with a certainty

that there is

something that exists in me

that is greater than this world

shit . . . i made it this far

not of my own accord

and i held on to no chord

in my discordant ways

all these days

this body ushers forth it’s troubles

in the form of new sensations

aches, pains and questions

every day.

the challenges become numerous

but never overwhelming

for i choose to rise to greet them

face them

displace them

from my joy and gratitude

but sometimes my attitude

is just fucked up

truly

i am not saying that i can not be defeated

but it is unlikely for sure

for within me is a door

i always run to

that opens upon my command

if i can ever remember the words

when i enter that sacred place

that room

where doom does not exist

i exchange my burdens

and i am given

another lesson plan

that is up to me to study

and learn

as i discern

the difference

betwixt that

which is of this temporal illusory experience

and eternal truth

i wrote this poem on day back

titled . . .

“a poem about Everything”

simple it is

and here it is . . .

“everything is”

i probably could expound

and expand on it a bit,

but it is enough

don’t you think ?

this is a discourse

a meandering through

the inner of me

that child of me

who now stands to embrace me

regardless of me

and who me may think me is

this is  . . .

so i quit wondering and wandering

and maneuvering through

the manure

and plant more seeds of hope

and this is . . .  but . . .

a day in the life of consciousness

is it January yet ?

© 23 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

let thy self be loosed

let thy self be loosed

upon the winds of time

there is a message

for he who listens

empires will rise

and empires will fall

as goest thy grace

for he who lives and feedest

upon the meals of the world

where is thy treasure O’ Soul

where doth thy hide

that which is cherished

throughout eternity . . .

where do thee keep thy God

we display our Faith

feeble as it may be

upon the mantle

and in trophy cases

that others may laud our stature

but we are weak

and we are broken

and know it not

our strengths we keep cloaked

behind the walls of

our doubts

our worries

our tears

our fears

of being set aside

ostracized

and vilified

for not being like “them”

O’ where is thy faith my child ?

when will you come to know

that you are as were made . . . perfect ?

i ask you, if the hands

of that which is perfect

crafted thee,

what else can thy be ?

Doctrines have induced the people

to slip beneath the veil

that the Sun may not shine on them

and bleach clean

their soiled delusions

and we pretend to

rise up against conformity

while speaking the need

to acquiesce

to our children

be free my child . . .be free

follow the wind

and be as He

and look and behold

the wonder of thy glory

which is in all things

turn the stone

and “I” am there

cleave the wood

and there “I” be

look within

and see me

as your are

waiting for you

to but listen . . . listen

to thy still small voice

the petal spreads it’s arms

to embrace the light of the holy

that life offers

and a fragrance of sweetness

breaks forth and

is given to the world

a child smiles

without a thought or need

and seeds of joy

are planted in creations garden . .

just because

and God smiles along

where doth thy feet stand ?

are you grounded in the holy of holies ?

can you hear the song being sung

listen to the wind

as it calls your name

to come join us

do you hear it ? . . .

the call

won’t you spread your wings

and let your spirit

become untethered

from the worn and weathered deceits

that are abound ?

you were never lost

for Soul knew of You

knew of me

and it whispered in the winds

hoping you would see

that you are

more than you can ever be

in this world

let thy self be loosed

© 29 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

www.iamjustbill.com

a Holiday message from Inner Child

i await your direction

i await your direction

i am but a simple man

who looks upon the darkened heavens at night

with reverence and curiosity

i at times do try to count the Stars

and i wonder of their purpose

as i do of mine own

i would like to know the mind of the hands

which fashioned such things

and to what end they serve

yes i know there exists

many theosophies

and philosophies

that would purport a way

for us to follow

but i know within the depths of my soul

that they all but

faintly ring of any truth

so here i am standing

my chest expanding

with this breath

that one day

these hopes for a certain absolution

will come my way

turning on that final light

that i may see

and understand

over the years

i have demanded

of my existence

of God

and all else

something quantifiable

beyond the pliancy of faith

and i still await

the speaking of a definable

verifiable voice

that liberates me

from making a choice

of which road i shall choose

in the meantime

all i can do

is travel through this wilderness

cutting my own path

for none can i trust in

that was prepared for me

by the variable

kaleidoscopic truth of others

the journey is a lonely one

outside of the herd

which is my elective

for to be a part of any flock

truly frightens me

and i know not why

. . .  perhaps i fear stampedes

but i will follow you my Creator

as i have

throughout all time

even if you do not speak

from without

but from within

so here i stand

in my own wilderness

embracing what solitude i can

vigilant and pensive

imagining through my quixotic heart

with my eye becoming singular

more by each day

waiting

without deliberation

but the lore of contemplation

of the feel of your lips

upon my heart

. . .i have felt them before

and i know . .

You are the cure

for what ails me

and . . .

i await your direction

© October 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

Just this day

just this day

where does our Soul go

when it wants to shine

as we electively repress our joy

oppressing our divinity

how can our heart sing

the songs of life

if we do not

open our arms

to embrace it

we “Archie Bunker” our way

down the path

seldom noticing the little flowers

that bloom

just for us

that which we seek

we shall find

but what is it we search for ?

Gifts come wrapped

and fruits are skin clad

and we hold to the fad

of doom

but this too shall pass

as it did in the past,

just look back

and taste your own

testimony

i traipsed down that road before

and i now am revisiting

with a quisitive spirit

for in my regression

i have come to know . . .

expect nothing

but what i choose to

i have forgiven my self

for all the times

i held my self back

from my wonder

and assaulted others

with such looming doom

i go to that room

that has no walls

and the call for the greater

is all about me

i need not open my eyes

to see this

that bliss is of our own making

i shall sing this day

i shall sing through the night

i shall sing of my thankfulness

for the lessons of my blight

for my plight

is to overcome

my miscreant self

that which restrains my wealth

my health’

and my power

my love knows no end

but “me” do

but “i” do not

for that “i” in me

that “I” in me

is greater than that of the world

and this new awakening

this new consciousness

that i now allow

to be heralded in

knows nothing of the sin

that once condemned me

for forgiveness is the key

that sets me free

and i no longer have to get to my knees

to plea

for that which i always vied for

it was always inside

of me

and you

so, as i sit in this space

facing my demons

we all have a laugh at it

and my Soul again

dons it’s wings

which were tucked away

out of my empirical sight

waiting for . . .

just this day

let’s go a flyin’

© 12 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

Thinking of You

thinking of you

i held your hand as you crossed that bridge

into that unknown realm

and i knew because i felt your peace

that God was at the helm

we had anguish, we had pain

‘twas so hard to let you go

but e’en though you have departed

our love and flowers doth still grow

you left behind a legacy

the children know of it well

and we remember so vividly

that day your body fell

the suffering for you was taken

we sing and we are pleased

that through the love of love it’s self

all pains will one day cease

we shall march on for’ard for the cause

for which you lived, you died

the tears of heaven anoints our souls

for you gave, you lived, you tried

we are thank-filled for the lesson

your Soul left us to sing

and now that your mission is complete

you’ve re-adorned your wings

thinking of you.

Virisa Anne Cohen-Peters

4 July 1957 ~ 2 July 2006

© 7 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

i give thanks

i give thanks

i carefully laid my burlap sack

upon the earthen floor

of our home

preparing my self

for escape

our bellies though not full

did not complain

for the gruel abated

our misery

i humbled my spirit

of the day

into the realm of reverence

and i gave thanks

for again

i have made it through

my parents could not afford

a padded mat

for sleep

for us children

and i at times

cursed our circumstance

wrongly

for they still slept

upon Mother’s nakedness

soon the new day will be calling

and we knew what that held for us

we have learned to smile

in the face of the day

and we embrace the sunshine

with joy

and we smile

for God is speaking to us too

we have come to trust in our destiny

and we held to our hope

that some day . . .

we would have a mattress

with a pillow

and blankets

to stave off the coolness of night

and perhaps we will go

to the respite of the night

with full stomachs

but in the mean time

i am grateful

for what little we do have

and i am open to receive

what may come

for anything that does come about

represents increase

and an opportunity

to give more thanks.

i give thanks

© 13 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

World Healing ~ World Peace

Poetry 2014

www.worldhealingworldpeacepoetry.com

http://www.gofundme.com/3gvqks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MMttNrig4I

See

See  . . .

as the Piscean Age draws near its close

a New Age is being ushered in

we shall no longer feed the Souls

of men

with Fishes

nor shall the multitude be sated

with Bread alone,

and the Water will not become Wine

that you may inebriate your spirits

with the clouded absence of

of that which sustains

your divinity

the Wedding Feast

draws to a close

the precursor

to you awakening

has gone home

and awaits your consciousness

to come

so come . . .

the Spirit is, and will be

poured out upon the Earth

for a new Avatar

has come

to awaken the Children

to that which is eternal

‘i’ am He

You are Thee

We are Free

to give of thy love,

let us not be inhibited

by the shadows of our fear

or the illusions

which set us apart

from one another

the Chorus of Angels await

our hearts to begin singing

Songs of Salvation

for when we see God in all things

we will rejoice

like never before

“Lift up thy Voice

and Sing”

as did our ancestors

the Great Fish

the 33^rd Light

has swam upstream

ascended

to take His place

beside

that which is All things

and He has made a place for you

look within thyself

and see thine own glory

which is the glory

of your Creator manifest

the only flaws that ever was

was in our beliefs

and now that

the Comforter has come

take respite

in His truth

and be “en-joyed”

for thou art truly

without equivocation

a Child

a Sun

a Daughter

of that energy

which permeates all things

Seen and Un Seen

Rejoice . . .

Rejoice ‘i’ Say

for thy time is upon thee

See  . . .

© 14 December 2013 : william s. peters, sr.

World Healing ~ World Peace

Poetry 2014

www.worldhealingworldpeacepoetry.com

http://www.gofundme.com/3gvqks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MMttNrig4I

Mandela Anthology Information

 

~ * ~ 

Writers, Poets, Essayist and Storytellers . . . 
Leave your words in History for those generations to come . . . 
http://www.innerchildpress.com/mandela.php

Submit to : innerchildpressanthologies@gmail.com

~ * ~

We at Inner Child Press believe in the Power of the Written Word. What better use can we apply our Thoughts, Spirits and Love to than to commemorate the works of such a significant soul as Nelson Mandela aka Madiba.

~ * ~

This man has suffered much for the parity of his people which translated into the equality of all Human Beings upon the planet. Our words will preserve the Life for those yet unborne and educate those amongst us who know not of his Humanitarian efforts and impact.

~ * ~

This Anthology will be available Free in an E Format to all who submit. We will also be producing a printed version which will be available World Wide. Make your statement, whether it be your Poetry, your Prose of Essay.

~ * ~

Submit to : innerchildpressanthologies@gmail.com

Closes : January 1st 2014

Submit to : innerchildpressanthologies@gmail.com

 

i will remember you . . . a Tribute to Nelson Mandela

Mandela

I vaguely remember when you were imprisoned back in 1964. I was in the 8^th Grade. Kennedy and Medgar were just killed the year before. That dashed the hopes of many disenfranchised people like Myself, my Family and a Nation. We still had Martin, Robert and Malcolm amongst us though as well as Angela D., Fred Hampton, Stokely, H. Rap and Bobby Seale. Who will pick up the Torch now . . . i wonder ?

What was happening in South Africa was wrong, but it did not affect me  . . .so i thought. I remember the names of Biko and Nelson’s co-accused which included people that were not so familiar such as Walter Sisulu, Dennis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Mosoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni - all ANC officials and Ahmed Kathrada, the former leader of the South African Indian Congress. Yeah, i like most of my Brothers and Sisters were disconnected from any valid realities that could or would have such a profound effect on our future. I was not much on the News, and the News was not much on keeping us informed of the News. Besides, we Black Folk, Colored Folk and Negroes had our own agendas and issues we were contending with  . . . daily. We were focused of such things like how to stay out of the way of “The Man” and have some fun at the same time. A decent paying job helped. And contrary to the popular lore and belief, we were not strung out on Fried Chicken and Watermelon, we ate Salads too. So much for indoctrination and the other bullshit people believe so that they may see themselves as superior. I often questioned who were the real Spear Chuckers ?

Life was relatively good during those times of our lives even though Social unrest was nipping at our souls on many levels with Segregation, Racism, Low Paying Jobs, the Viet Nam War and of course . . . Assassinations. We were unknowingly preparing ourselves with our slumber for much unrest still yet to come. As the years eased on by we saw Malcolm, Bobby and Martin bite the dust and leave us to fend for our selves. Out in California The Panthers were representing . . . i mean like they were talking about such thing as Black Pride and Power to the People. I could relate to that. It was a proud moment when John and Carlos pumped their fist on the podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico . . . they won but they lost. That seems to be pretty much the story for Black Folks, a saga that continues to this day. Hoses, Ropes, Bullets, Drugs, Prison and Death and more Death. But we still have our hope  . . .don’t we ?

This is what Nelson means to me now. I look back with my 20 / 20 hindsight and i see that he was fighting for what should have always been . . . parity, not just a chance. but Equality on all levels. How did we ever forget that we are all related and we are birthed from the same Mother? Families and Institutions such as Rhodes and Debeers further the dastardly plight and suffering of a people because of their greed as did the Dutch, Italians, French, English Crown and whoever else had a notion to. It was a low time for Humanity starting with a people who once reigned as the Kings and Queens of the Richest Land on earth. The people were exploited, enslaved, persecuted, oppressed, beaten, killed and ostracized from their civility as we see still reflected in our present day societies.

I had a pair of Platform shoes during those days. They made me feel bigger, taller, just like my Grandma ‘ouise or my Aunt Bessie did when they told me how wonderful and smart i was. Those words of love and encouragement always made me feel better about my self and i believed that i could accomplish anything. This usually lasted until we had to ride a Bus, or enter Public Buildings separately or did not get that Job. Apartheid . . . the setting apart of our Brothers. Aren’t we all created by the same God from the same source . . . Dust and Spirit ?

The struggle continues within and without as we are still set aside, such as the other side of the tracks, the other side of the room with no true honest representation of who we are in the Media, Hollywood or any other Capitalistic oriented industry. I remember such companies as Coca Cola, CitiBank, Sony and General Mills who refused to divest themselves from South Africa while we the people were in the struggle. That’s right, we all are a part of the struggle, whether you know it, acknowledge it or not, regardless of what your Ethnic or Cultural persuasion is. Nelson so eloquently epitomized this when he was released from Prison. I think most people expected a Blood Bath, but he offered and proffered Peace. Many White folks didn’t like that . . . we cheered. That’s all we ever wanted . . Peace and Equality.

We still have yet to arrive, and the struggle does continue as is so evident every day we read the paper or turn on the news if they choose to inform the people of the truth. But we know . . . we know because of the lives of those who sacrificed their lives that we may hopefully awaken as one humanity. So without further ado, i just had to take this time to simply say to you my Brother . . . Thank You Nelson thank you Mr. Mandela, Thank You Madiba.

just bill

© 28 June 2013 : william s. peters, sr.