This past week I attended a funeral, and thought to myself, as we often do, how precious life is and how our time is not guaranteed. How many times have you done something that you wish you could take back? Several times, I'm sure. I have done the same thing. While at the funeral of a very good friend's family member (who died a little too soon for her liking) I was reminded that we have to live in the NOW. I mean, I love daydreaming, but reality is reality and that's something that we have to deal with. Now is the time to embrace your future, dreams, and desires and realize your purpose in life. Yes, I have to go there because we are always like wishing we could do this and that and I know (me included) that time is precious, nothing is promised and that we must do the best in the present to enjoy it and do what it is we think we are designed to do.
Friday in my class, I had a student tell me that they recently were introduced to a gang and joined it. It was something that surprised me. One, because my image of this boy is that he's clean cut, smart, and responsible. I never would have thought he'd join a gang, but I don't know his personal situation at home. He's just a student in one of my poetry classes. A very cool kid indeed. But I think he implanted a message in my brain, now my job is figure out what to do with the message he gave me. His response was very much laid back but he didn't seem to be very strong about why he joined the gang. He's in seventh grade and that notion of him living a life in a gang was something I couldn't wrap myself around. I'm still musing on it.
Saturday I attended the African American Read In sponsored by a local writers group. The event hosted 12 authors and spoken word smyths. It was well attended and held at Chicago's Malcolm X College. All the authors got a chance to read from their work, sell books, but most importantly share their words with the audience. I chose to read three selections - "I Want To Go Back" a fun poetic expression about the old days, "Beautiful One" a poem that I love to read that is an ode to women, and "The Congo" a cultural piece. A part of being at the event was having each author interviewed and performances taped for a local cable show hosted by Tacora Rogers, on Channel 19. The show will be aired on a future Monday show at 10 pm. Once I find out the airing, I will definitely inform my "peoples". I had so much fun yesterday. I ran into fellow Alabama poet "Marc Lacy" who recited some words (poetically!). Some of the people I saw that haven't seen me in a while were surprised because I looked a little different (as I lost more weight and let my hair grow).
My weekend ended with some friends at a party where we discussed politics, the state of the Chicago Public School System, while having tons of fun watching Apollo Showcase and re-runs of American Idol.
I'll have to update you next week or other happenings. I will most likely post my happenings for this month in the next blog.
Blessings and thanks for your continued support.
~ Mocha
2 comments:
This and that and THE OTHER. LET ME GO GET MY COFFEE. OK, I'M BACK. THAT CHILD, SOMEBODY'S CHILD, REMINDED ME OF HOMEBOY, JOINING THE DARN GANG. THEY WANT TO BELONG, THEY HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO BE LOVED, OUR LOVE SOME TIMES IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT BOY AINT GOT NO DOGGONE BUSINESS JOINING NOBODY'S GANG. WE WAN'T TO RESCUE THEM, I THINK ABOUT THAT BOY THAT I LOVE DAY AND NIGHT HE LOVES ME BUT HE POSSIBLY LOVES THE BELONGING MORE. keep luvving them, queen mocha.
I know. He looks so innocent. I'm like dang. Oh boy. That seventh grade is the age they start recruiting. I remember my mom having to move us out of the
hood when my brother got to that age and they started up on him. Same grade. Same thing. It's a head scratcher. But I know I have to be the teacher and be a resource, but not God, cause I can't save every child. I learned that the hard way a few years ago.
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