i stare glaringly at the left top corner
of the mac until my eyes fill with salt from
some dark place and the pixels become faulty
remnants of a clear graphic
to quit would be to succomb to
11 pm binges on steel reserve malt liquor
to awaken 2 pm with the world
trying to break out of my forehead
the synapse flickers, sparks in response
to a thought i have of lighting up in the office
my instincts think everything is a good idea
if i followed them more often
i would not be at the desk nodding off
to the hum of central air, the dull
light, pink walls, empty bulletin boards
i envision an escape through the open door
i never closed when i arrived here,
nowhere yet to be seen and it is clear
if you saw me today, you'd see straight through
this dullness has a way of hollowing true
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
wedding day.
May 13, 2006
we wore ivory and peridot
the occasion occurred in raleigh, north carolina
groom: randy baker, first cousin
bride: corranda townsend
me: groomsman
it was wonderful being able to support my cousin on the special day. i enjoyed getting away from the city for a few days and hanging out with family. it's amazing how one's outlook on life can change when the scenery is shifted. i honestly did not want to come back, at least stay down there or go somewhere else for a week or two. i need an extended vacation. i would settle for a new job.
all in all, i'm very glad i went and i wish randy and corranda the best.
we wore ivory and peridot
the occasion occurred in raleigh, north carolina
groom: randy baker, first cousin
bride: corranda townsend
me: groomsman
it was wonderful being able to support my cousin on the special day. i enjoyed getting away from the city for a few days and hanging out with family. it's amazing how one's outlook on life can change when the scenery is shifted. i honestly did not want to come back, at least stay down there or go somewhere else for a week or two. i need an extended vacation. i would settle for a new job.
all in all, i'm very glad i went and i wish randy and corranda the best.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
okayplayer moment. 10.05.06
it is rather ridiculous how amusing this website has become for me since venturing outside the freestyle board (where i post poetry) and fully embracing my General Discussion (GD) homies. here's today's funny. posters' handles shall remain anonymous. i think this may become another spin-off blog.
Thread title: Has anyone perfected the art of TF'n?
Body:
(for those that don't know, TF'n is tittyfuckin...the last frontier)
I'm thinking I should invent a seat or some shit, because ladies, do you all mind to have some nigga's prickly, hairy balls draggin' all up and down your sternum while we're pumpin' aways at your sweet oily ravine of love-meat? Or do you just take that as a hazard with the job?
And what about that happy ass nigga who you both know about to launch off that nuclear and get slick and pull it from between your monsters and cold starts jacking that jount only to give you the Peter North special? You all get mad with that too or you cool with that?
Or are you one of them ladies that just let it pool all around your sah-phuh-gus or however that's spelt?
Holla @ me...we need the truth.
Ladies, describe how you hold em up so you can hold him down....we need vivid, slooow examples.
Like do you kneel and drool on it for lube? I mean...the streets needs this.
--
i almost laughed out loud when i read "the streets need this"
i love okp and hate okp but i always return to love. so many intellectual, creative, and motivated brothers and sisters on there; as well as the assholes, freaks, brownosers, etc. a wonderful way to pass the boring day in the office.
Thread title: Has anyone perfected the art of TF'n?
Body:
(for those that don't know, TF'n is tittyfuckin...the last frontier)
I'm thinking I should invent a seat or some shit, because ladies, do you all mind to have some nigga's prickly, hairy balls draggin' all up and down your sternum while we're pumpin' aways at your sweet oily ravine of love-meat? Or do you just take that as a hazard with the job?
And what about that happy ass nigga who you both know about to launch off that nuclear and get slick and pull it from between your monsters and cold starts jacking that jount only to give you the Peter North special? You all get mad with that too or you cool with that?
Or are you one of them ladies that just let it pool all around your sah-phuh-gus or however that's spelt?
Holla @ me...we need the truth.
Ladies, describe how you hold em up so you can hold him down....we need vivid, slooow examples.
Like do you kneel and drool on it for lube? I mean...the streets needs this.
--
i almost laughed out loud when i read "the streets need this"
i love okp and hate okp but i always return to love. so many intellectual, creative, and motivated brothers and sisters on there; as well as the assholes, freaks, brownosers, etc. a wonderful way to pass the boring day in the office.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
happy hour
the drinking begins at 6 pm
in the common share,
kickballers huddled in pre-game
drunkenness, laughing over
pilsners and guiness
staring at me in 10 second intervals
wondering why i'm alone--
it's how i enjoy drinking/
the alcoholic way/
a camel light burning slowly
away the day's expectations
and bringing on the night
smoke glowing gold in the setting
sun disappearing behind Staccato
i command the jukebox/
7 songs late 90s hiphop
or late 80s conscious rap
i settle for early 21st century
britpop and the white folks
are surprised or intrigued or
just waiting for my song to end
so they can play early 80s pop
late 60s rock or whatever their
friend says spilling Blue Moon
over the edge of the bar
the hours here roll over
like anytime minutes/
women strut in as if this is LOVE
or H20 and who really gives a shit/
all the men do (i am the self-proclaimed
exception)
i dont even see the girls parading
down the narrow walkway with martinis
and chiraz
attention is cheaper than the beer specials
lust is a marvin gaye song away
in a bar, everyone's hip, until they stop drinking
if you stumble out of the bar, you've had too much
i never stumble
i always have too much
in the common share,
kickballers huddled in pre-game
drunkenness, laughing over
pilsners and guiness
staring at me in 10 second intervals
wondering why i'm alone--
it's how i enjoy drinking/
the alcoholic way/
a camel light burning slowly
away the day's expectations
and bringing on the night
smoke glowing gold in the setting
sun disappearing behind Staccato
i command the jukebox/
7 songs late 90s hiphop
or late 80s conscious rap
i settle for early 21st century
britpop and the white folks
are surprised or intrigued or
just waiting for my song to end
so they can play early 80s pop
late 60s rock or whatever their
friend says spilling Blue Moon
over the edge of the bar
the hours here roll over
like anytime minutes/
women strut in as if this is LOVE
or H20 and who really gives a shit/
all the men do (i am the self-proclaimed
exception)
i dont even see the girls parading
down the narrow walkway with martinis
and chiraz
attention is cheaper than the beer specials
lust is a marvin gaye song away
in a bar, everyone's hip, until they stop drinking
if you stumble out of the bar, you've had too much
i never stumble
i always have too much
Thursday, April 27, 2006
awakening
draft.-,
your lips are the sun-
my forehead
the cloud it touches
then rises over,
parting;smile
to shine on all
that encounter you today
i get to be first,
alone with you,
eyes still waking from dream
so that i see you double
sleep, awake, sleep, awake--
you never left
you never leave
i lie under you all day
and when i sleep again,
you
setting
beneath my chin
blow kisses, stars
your lips are the sun-
my forehead
the cloud it touches
then rises over,
parting;smile
to shine on all
that encounter you today
i get to be first,
alone with you,
eyes still waking from dream
so that i see you double
sleep, awake, sleep, awake--
you never left
you never leave
i lie under you all day
and when i sleep again,
you
setting
beneath my chin
blow kisses, stars
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
traveling without moving
there is so much noise in the city. restless. eager. angry. people come so close, brushing by you, hastily during lunch, on their way to the end of the block to wait at the red light. distant. weary. searching...
today, my future has weighed heavy on my mind. ever since i received formal notice of graduate school not being in my plans in the very near future (fall), the cloud of uncertainty that surrounds my next move has grown darker...not some fog that burns off in the late morning. this is a storm, and it is here to stay until i make a decision.
slowly, but surely, i'm gathering steam to move toward a career in education. i'm looking to get out of this temp job and substitute teach for the rest of the school year and then possibly get a position teaching summer school somewhere...now this seems like the right path or the beginnings of finding the right one, but then i'd also like to leave dc, but with no money how shall i move and if i was to move, where would i work...and would i like it? would i want to come back here? i guess all those questions could not be answered unless i actually moved.
all in all, i'm tired of standing still.
today, my future has weighed heavy on my mind. ever since i received formal notice of graduate school not being in my plans in the very near future (fall), the cloud of uncertainty that surrounds my next move has grown darker...not some fog that burns off in the late morning. this is a storm, and it is here to stay until i make a decision.
slowly, but surely, i'm gathering steam to move toward a career in education. i'm looking to get out of this temp job and substitute teach for the rest of the school year and then possibly get a position teaching summer school somewhere...now this seems like the right path or the beginnings of finding the right one, but then i'd also like to leave dc, but with no money how shall i move and if i was to move, where would i work...and would i like it? would i want to come back here? i guess all those questions could not be answered unless i actually moved.
all in all, i'm tired of standing still.
Friday, April 21, 2006
After THE ROOTS: ACT TOO- The Love of My Life
hip.hop.
the most beautiful things
come in the most rhythmic packages,
starting small then
swelling behind the ears
beyond the years.
and just when you think
this may go on forever,
that every question your life
may have has just been answered,
the song ends.
the most beautiful things
come in the most rhythmic packages,
starting small then
swelling behind the ears
beyond the years.
and just when you think
this may go on forever,
that every question your life
may have has just been answered,
the song ends.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
i'd like to take this moment to shit on myself
the more i read my blog, the more i realize how uninteresting my life is. I'm a disillusioned idealist with large dreams, yet variable motivation. when someone gives it to me real, more than likely in the form of a question by my father (where are you going? what's the plan? you gotta have a plan...what's the next step--i never have an answer), i breakdown mentally like will i ever have it "together" (no, you will not). I'm 23 years old. I've been out of school almost two years and I'm in the same place I was 2 years ago..... Ok, so I've had a very good relationship with a beautiful woman for almost a year, i have a job, and friends that pretend very well to like me, so not exactly the same...i guess this is where the shitting stops and i begin to wipe my ass.
flush the toilet,
put the seat back down,
wash my hands
and leave the bathroom...because life keeps going even if i decide every now and again to stop for a moment and be flustered by how fucking fast it really moves.
flush the toilet,
put the seat back down,
wash my hands
and leave the bathroom...because life keeps going even if i decide every now and again to stop for a moment and be flustered by how fucking fast it really moves.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
impressions
venues: Love Cafe, 15th and U St., nice lounge, good lighting for reading, typing.
Jin, 14th Street, half a block south of BusBoys and Poets. expensive, empty, dark...one and done.
I spent some time talking to Jai about writing, women and a need to be independent of our current living situations. Most of our conversations revolve around these topics, each being allotted variable amounts of conversational time depending on the day, state of mind, etc.
oh and of course there is the whole grad school situation. i am coming out of my bout with disillusionment and utter frustration with the entire process and telling myself that i just have to approach this whole thing "again" at an entirely different and much more preparatory angle. There are things I want in life and nothing will stop me from actively trying to attain those goals, especially not a few rejections (ok, so to date it's been about 8 or 9 but really who's counting?)
the supervisors are gone for the week so the bullshitting and blogging will be at optimum levels today and tomorrow. it already feels like friday and that ladies and gentlemen is a great fucking feeling...
Jin, 14th Street, half a block south of BusBoys and Poets. expensive, empty, dark...one and done.
I spent some time talking to Jai about writing, women and a need to be independent of our current living situations. Most of our conversations revolve around these topics, each being allotted variable amounts of conversational time depending on the day, state of mind, etc.
oh and of course there is the whole grad school situation. i am coming out of my bout with disillusionment and utter frustration with the entire process and telling myself that i just have to approach this whole thing "again" at an entirely different and much more preparatory angle. There are things I want in life and nothing will stop me from actively trying to attain those goals, especially not a few rejections (ok, so to date it's been about 8 or 9 but really who's counting?)
the supervisors are gone for the week so the bullshitting and blogging will be at optimum levels today and tomorrow. it already feels like friday and that ladies and gentlemen is a great fucking feeling...
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
one day it will all make sense
;I have ashes for sale;
In an attempt to rewind space-time
Continuum,
The sky fell to eye-level
And became what was used to being
Like the sun never setting
Stars eaten bit by bit
It rained on everyone’s head
But it was spring so no one cared
It was when the electrocutions began,
That guided lightning out of nowhere fast
That tempted humbled, yes,
People began to kneel
In worship of a heaven not so far away,
Begging for the distance between she
And God to return to the fathoms of
Not knowing how long or far
It takes for cats and dogs to fall to the ground
For fat women to stop
Singing
And begin their eternal cry
Souls echoing hopelessly into a whisper
That is their heart.
;I only have ashes;
In an attempt to rewind space-time
Continuum,
The sky fell to eye-level
And became what was used to being
Like the sun never setting
Stars eaten bit by bit
It rained on everyone’s head
But it was spring so no one cared
It was when the electrocutions began,
That guided lightning out of nowhere fast
That tempted humbled, yes,
People began to kneel
In worship of a heaven not so far away,
Begging for the distance between she
And God to return to the fathoms of
Not knowing how long or far
It takes for cats and dogs to fall to the ground
For fat women to stop
Singing
And begin their eternal cry
Souls echoing hopelessly into a whisper
That is their heart.
;I only have ashes;
Monday, March 20, 2006
3 gone...1 to go
NYU and Emerson came today in nice crisp envelopes with messages closely resembling Brown's.
That leaves UVA...
yeah, right.
today officially sucks.
i am not what was intended...
That leaves UVA...
yeah, right.
today officially sucks.
i am not what was intended...
Mr. Jones (applicant)
We regretfully inform you that after close consideration of your application, we will be unable to accept you into the Brown University Literary Arts program...
blah, blah, blah,
661 applicants competing for 8 spots.
in response to the rejection letter:
my id: go eat meat, drink lots of alcohol, smoke and pack of cigarettes and have sex with a attractive stranger.
my ego:
you're stupid for thinking you had a chance to get in without a verbal recommendation from Kevin Young, lol (better start looking at the low-res programs, state schools).
...I don't consider myself an elitist but I want to go to the best school for what I'm trying to study...I just have to re-think what best means, for me, specifically and gauge exactly where my strengths and weaknesses are in poetry through those avenues available to me.
i felt sorry for myself for 5 minutes on sunday, when i realized that i had been rejected and wouldnt be going to my first choic in schools.
i must hastily consider a plan B for the fall.
blah, blah, blah,
661 applicants competing for 8 spots.
in response to the rejection letter:
my id: go eat meat, drink lots of alcohol, smoke and pack of cigarettes and have sex with a attractive stranger.
my ego:
you're stupid for thinking you had a chance to get in without a verbal recommendation from Kevin Young, lol (better start looking at the low-res programs, state schools).
...I don't consider myself an elitist but I want to go to the best school for what I'm trying to study...I just have to re-think what best means, for me, specifically and gauge exactly where my strengths and weaknesses are in poetry through those avenues available to me.
i felt sorry for myself for 5 minutes on sunday, when i realized that i had been rejected and wouldnt be going to my first choic in schools.
i must hastily consider a plan B for the fall.
Friday, March 17, 2006
round one, day two
predictions:
Ohio St. def Davidson
Iowa def Northwestern St.
Bucknell def Arkansas
Wisconsin def Arizona
Georgetown def Northern Iowa
West Virginia def Southern Illinois
Memphis def Oral Roberts
Villanova def Monmouth
Pittsburgh def Kent St.
Michigan St. def George Mason
N.C. State def California
UConn def Albany
Kansas def Bradley
North Carolina def Murray St.
Texas def Penn
Kentucky def UAB
so far power conferences go as follows
ACC is 2-0, Big East is 0-3, SEC is 4-0, Big 12 is 1-1, Big 10 is 2-0, Pac-10 is 2-0
maybe 8 big east teams was a bad idea.
Seton Hall, Syracuse, Marquette>>>Maryland, Florida St., Miami ????
Ohio St. def Davidson
Iowa def Northwestern St.
Bucknell def Arkansas
Wisconsin def Arizona
Georgetown def Northern Iowa
West Virginia def Southern Illinois
Memphis def Oral Roberts
Villanova def Monmouth
Pittsburgh def Kent St.
Michigan St. def George Mason
N.C. State def California
UConn def Albany
Kansas def Bradley
North Carolina def Murray St.
Texas def Penn
Kentucky def UAB
so far power conferences go as follows
ACC is 2-0, Big East is 0-3, SEC is 4-0, Big 12 is 1-1, Big 10 is 2-0, Pac-10 is 2-0
maybe 8 big east teams was a bad idea.
Seton Hall, Syracuse, Marquette>>>Maryland, Florida St., Miami ????
I'm a G...I'm a G
ok, not so much a G
more like an L that stands for Loser
i am 5th of 5 in the friendly yahoo bracket my fellow morehouse men and I are battling under (morehouse04) umm, i picked up 7 points yesterday after seton hall and syracuse lost, two teams i had making it to the sweet sixteen. silly me. i always put too much thought into my bracket but considering the scores of some of the games, i'm lucky to have any points at all. the only teams favored to win that played like it from the beginning were Florida and UCLA, who in the past have been perennial disappointments when it comes to living up to the high seeding they tend to get...not since Udonis Haslem was on the team has Florida made a serious run for the tournament championship. UCLA haven't been super since the 95 championship year.
Player of the year watch:
Adam Morrison- 35 pts, 11-21 (fg), 4-8 (3pt.)
J.J. Redick- 29 pts, 10-20 (fg), 5-10 (3pt.)
the similarities are ridiculous
more like an L that stands for Loser
i am 5th of 5 in the friendly yahoo bracket my fellow morehouse men and I are battling under (morehouse04) umm, i picked up 7 points yesterday after seton hall and syracuse lost, two teams i had making it to the sweet sixteen. silly me. i always put too much thought into my bracket but considering the scores of some of the games, i'm lucky to have any points at all. the only teams favored to win that played like it from the beginning were Florida and UCLA, who in the past have been perennial disappointments when it comes to living up to the high seeding they tend to get...not since Udonis Haslem was on the team has Florida made a serious run for the tournament championship. UCLA haven't been super since the 95 championship year.
Player of the year watch:
Adam Morrison- 35 pts, 11-21 (fg), 4-8 (3pt.)
J.J. Redick- 29 pts, 10-20 (fg), 5-10 (3pt.)
the similarities are ridiculous
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
march madness
my final four:
Texas v. Memphis
UConn v. BC/Villanova/Georgetown/Oklahoma
i'm trying not to let sentiment overrule the logical choice
but right now sentiment is winning
UConn v. Georgetown it is.
Final: UConn v. Texas
UConn wins by 10
2006 National Champions: UConn Huskies
to become first class since 91,92 Duke to win twice in less than 4 years (must check this stat)
Texas v. Memphis
UConn v. BC/Villanova/Georgetown/Oklahoma
i'm trying not to let sentiment overrule the logical choice
but right now sentiment is winning
UConn v. Georgetown it is.
Final: UConn v. Texas
UConn wins by 10
2006 National Champions: UConn Huskies
to become first class since 91,92 Duke to win twice in less than 4 years (must check this stat)
Monday, March 06, 2006
another monday in the office
today is a very slow day. ive been ebaying for some dress shoes and emailing folk, picking my nose and staring at the clock. i don't mind my job at all, in fact, i enjoy what i do most of the time; it's a stress-free, independent, laid-back environment 90% of the time...it's just that days like this, when most people are out of the office, including my head supervisor, well i'd rather be at a bar somewhere or lounging and reading a book or even better, writing.
today, it dawned on me that i will have to postpone my chicago st. application process for a couple months which will take me out of the running of a fall '06 start. i will apply for spring '07 entry unless i receive an acceptance letter from brown, uva, emerson or nyu (none of which i'm expecting, due to a few foibles in the application process, but then, excuses are nothing more than) which should arrive like next week, if not this week, in which case i have a few days...
(i have just realized, while writing this, how this week is the week i should find out, and i am not at all anxious to find out if i did or not...i think i became very disillusioned this past application season, to go through all the shit i did to get apps out and then have a recommender re-nig, well i've kinda just said "i will or i won't" and left it to be decided anxiety will only drive me to drinking more)
i bought a few items this weekend. i hadn't shopped since last summer and i usually don't shop more than 3 times a year, that is for anything more than one item.
wish list items that i'm trying to find on ebay for cheap:
Razr phone
ipod video
classic hip-hop cds
with the help of jai, i was able to literally steal two deftones tickets (930 club) last week from hungry bidders. the show was great: loud, wonderful vocals, everything i expected. needless to say, the coldplay concert was at the MCI center the same night (thu, 3/2) and i had actually contacted someone about splurging 250$ on two tickets near the floor but in the end i decided against it...just not a buy i can make with the little money i have.
i'm looking forward to this week's march madness. this time of year is always exciting for me and even moreso this year because two local teams (Georgetown and George Washington) will be in the tournament, no problem. I'm excited to see how far they go, both excellently coached, athletic squads that have shown that they can play with the best of the best in college basketball. Alas, Maryland Terrapins basketball will be watching the tourney from college park again this year unless they get to at least the final in the acc tourney: yeah, good luck with that.
i guess that's enough for now. i think i will take lunch.
today, it dawned on me that i will have to postpone my chicago st. application process for a couple months which will take me out of the running of a fall '06 start. i will apply for spring '07 entry unless i receive an acceptance letter from brown, uva, emerson or nyu (none of which i'm expecting, due to a few foibles in the application process, but then, excuses are nothing more than) which should arrive like next week, if not this week, in which case i have a few days...
(i have just realized, while writing this, how this week is the week i should find out, and i am not at all anxious to find out if i did or not...i think i became very disillusioned this past application season, to go through all the shit i did to get apps out and then have a recommender re-nig, well i've kinda just said "i will or i won't" and left it to be decided anxiety will only drive me to drinking more)
i bought a few items this weekend. i hadn't shopped since last summer and i usually don't shop more than 3 times a year, that is for anything more than one item.
wish list items that i'm trying to find on ebay for cheap:
Razr phone
ipod video
classic hip-hop cds
with the help of jai, i was able to literally steal two deftones tickets (930 club) last week from hungry bidders. the show was great: loud, wonderful vocals, everything i expected. needless to say, the coldplay concert was at the MCI center the same night (thu, 3/2) and i had actually contacted someone about splurging 250$ on two tickets near the floor but in the end i decided against it...just not a buy i can make with the little money i have.
i'm looking forward to this week's march madness. this time of year is always exciting for me and even moreso this year because two local teams (Georgetown and George Washington) will be in the tournament, no problem. I'm excited to see how far they go, both excellently coached, athletic squads that have shown that they can play with the best of the best in college basketball. Alas, Maryland Terrapins basketball will be watching the tourney from college park again this year unless they get to at least the final in the acc tourney: yeah, good luck with that.
i guess that's enough for now. i think i will take lunch.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
my mind poured out on paper
the sunrise today was at 6:53 am... i watched it rise through the blinds of Val's living room window.
i had a coffee from starbuck's and a kamel light cigarette for breakfast.
i stared at numbers all day and at biographies of accomplished scientists at various hbcus.
i work for Q.uality E.ducation for M.inorities
located at 1818 N Street NW
...if you add the numbers of the address together you most certainly get 18
i found some birthday cards today at home.
i burned a slum village cd using itunes.
i ate at quizno's for lunch.
i had spaghetti for dinner...i drank iced tea.
more than likely i won't read tonight (Ishmael Reed's Mumbo Jumbo awaits my perusal.
my hands need lotion
my eyes need glasses
my love has gained acceptance
yet my heart still wanders...wishes...sometimes to be alone.
the sunset over new york avenue around 5:45 today.
it may have been closer to 6pm
ok, i'm done.
i had a coffee from starbuck's and a kamel light cigarette for breakfast.
i stared at numbers all day and at biographies of accomplished scientists at various hbcus.
i work for Q.uality E.ducation for M.inorities
located at 1818 N Street NW
...if you add the numbers of the address together you most certainly get 18
i found some birthday cards today at home.
i burned a slum village cd using itunes.
i ate at quizno's for lunch.
i had spaghetti for dinner...i drank iced tea.
more than likely i won't read tonight (Ishmael Reed's Mumbo Jumbo awaits my perusal.
my hands need lotion
my eyes need glasses
my love has gained acceptance
yet my heart still wanders...wishes...sometimes to be alone.
the sunset over new york avenue around 5:45 today.
it may have been closer to 6pm
ok, i'm done.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
what's new
seems like i'm always on the run when i decide that it's a good time to post something in here. a few things have happened in the past two weeks that are worth noting:
a) i finally came up on a job. i'm working for a non-profit that is investing in improving education for minorities. my work so far has consisted of researching on hbcu-up granted institutions, trying to gather information on faculty there. it's amazing how many small hbcus there are (around 40) that i didnt know about.
b) last night i performed in front of Amiri Baraka, Ishmael Reed and Haki Madibuti for Howard's annual Heart's Day Celebration. This year Mr. Reed was the recipient of the award for outstanding contribution to the arts and I along with Val and friends (including Lamont Steptoe, excellent poet), under the direction of Tony Medina, performed a piece which was a conglomeration of pieces by Reed. It felt good being on stage and performing. I was nervous before the event but once I was out there, I was relaxed. Very great experience.
Well, the Terps play Duke in an hour, gotta go get some syrup fo' deez hotcakes. peace.
a) i finally came up on a job. i'm working for a non-profit that is investing in improving education for minorities. my work so far has consisted of researching on hbcu-up granted institutions, trying to gather information on faculty there. it's amazing how many small hbcus there are (around 40) that i didnt know about.
b) last night i performed in front of Amiri Baraka, Ishmael Reed and Haki Madibuti for Howard's annual Heart's Day Celebration. This year Mr. Reed was the recipient of the award for outstanding contribution to the arts and I along with Val and friends (including Lamont Steptoe, excellent poet), under the direction of Tony Medina, performed a piece which was a conglomeration of pieces by Reed. It felt good being on stage and performing. I was nervous before the event but once I was out there, I was relaxed. Very great experience.
Well, the Terps play Duke in an hour, gotta go get some syrup fo' deez hotcakes. peace.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
blame
the beads of ash slipping
through my fingers
the honeycomb cirrus
stretching days endless
around my lethargy
the dopplered sirens
releasing death to its maker
the asphalt yard
filled to the brim
with shattered hubcaps
and dried blood
the looming deadline
the empty beer bottle
the blinking lights,
raindrops
gliding down the cracked windshield
of night's discontent
the system
the open mic
the closed mind
blame anything,
everything
but me
through my fingers
the honeycomb cirrus
stretching days endless
around my lethargy
the dopplered sirens
releasing death to its maker
the asphalt yard
filled to the brim
with shattered hubcaps
and dried blood
the looming deadline
the empty beer bottle
the blinking lights,
raindrops
gliding down the cracked windshield
of night's discontent
the system
the open mic
the closed mind
blame anything,
everything
but me
my first rejection letter...
Bryan,
You've placed me in a difficult position. When we spoke on the telephone last semester, I told you that I didn't remember you specifically and therefore wasn't a good choice for a recommendation. You sent me a story draft in the hope that it would jog my memory. It didn't. I drafted a recommendation for you based upon the meager information at hand but realized that it was unlikely to help your cause. As it would have likely result in the rejection of your application, I didn't send it. I cannot behave unethically and fictionalize a recommendation, but I know that you are not asking me to do so. This being the case, you will need to find a replacement recommendation.
My easiest course would have been to send the recommendation and be done with it; however, I could not do so in good conscious as the draft you forwarded and your tenacity in your application suggest that you could have the stuff to go the distance. Once you're in, let me know if you are in Atlanta and would like to visit the workshop and share your graduate experience. Remember: write every day.
All best,
recommender
You've placed me in a difficult position. When we spoke on the telephone last semester, I told you that I didn't remember you specifically and therefore wasn't a good choice for a recommendation. You sent me a story draft in the hope that it would jog my memory. It didn't. I drafted a recommendation for you based upon the meager information at hand but realized that it was unlikely to help your cause. As it would have likely result in the rejection of your application, I didn't send it. I cannot behave unethically and fictionalize a recommendation, but I know that you are not asking me to do so. This being the case, you will need to find a replacement recommendation.
My easiest course would have been to send the recommendation and be done with it; however, I could not do so in good conscious as the draft you forwarded and your tenacity in your application suggest that you could have the stuff to go the distance. Once you're in, let me know if you are in Atlanta and would like to visit the workshop and share your graduate experience. Remember: write every day.
All best,
recommender
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