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NEVER SPEAK HIS NAME

He's a guilty little secret that You suffer because of pride.
Every time he hurts you, You must keep it all inside,
Your heart is always tied up in knots,
like a flaming ache of blame, 
You can't discuss it with your friends,
You must never speak his name. 
You can't talk about the things you do, 
Your feelings you must hide.

When he does things that make you happy, 
Or when he makes you cry,
and friends ask about your emotions, 
you find you have to lie.
You have no right to be jealous, 
Of his life you are not a part.
Not when he talks to other women 
and a knife goes through your heart.

When he tells you about the things they have done,
You must keep quiet, while your heart fills up with shame.
You can't tell anyone he's breaking your heart,
You must never speak his name.

L. K. "Rose" Ford (c) ROSEFORMS@aol.com

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SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

It's almost time.
I leave to the other room.
I close the door.
At the side of the bed,
I sit.
Cross-legged.

In my lap, 
I have the phone.
I pick the receiver.
I listen to the tone.

I touch the numbers.

First, Zero...Zero...One,
International code.
Then, Three...One...Three,
Area Code.
I add seven digits more.

I hold my breath,
And feel,
Rather than hear,
The faint dial.
Across the wire.

Then comes the sound.
A toooot...
Another toooot....

And...Yello!
Never a Hello.
Just then...I exhale.

You say something.
And so do I.
Moments later,
We exchange our vows.
say our bye byes.

CLICK...Silence.

But in my head,
I still hear, 
The sound of your voice.
Rich and always novice. 

Ghada El Kurd (c) alankash@hotmail.com

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THE SEASON OF SPRING

The tears of winter went away.
I see the blossoming of spring flowers coming my way.
Just like the Love I have for You, it may seem like it will not grow.
Then comes the Sun, like the Son of God, a prayer of sunshine 
glistens of light flow.
Here comes the Honeybee, just like your love, caressing and pollinating 
so that the fruit of life will grow and reproduce the seed.
I look in your eyes, passion in my heart fills me, 
Wanting you to know
like the birds singing and flying in the air, 
The beauty in you, I see.
When the fruit is grown in the Cycle of Life,
The seed then blows with the wind.
Just like the air that I breath,
The Love I have for You is a constant part of me.
No matter where the seed implants itself,
it will continue on once it is nurtured.
Like the Love we share, 
it will grow when the Light
and warmth of the harvest of my half, beloved and Best Friend.

Marilyn Marshall (c) MBeeHoney@aol.com

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LOVE'S DILEMMA

Taking steps to love again
If I will take them at all,
I'm sure it will be with caution
And very, very small.

There is fear down deep inside
Of love that's lost, gone bad
And when I think of stepping out
All I feel is sad

How do I take the chance once more
To put my heart at risk
Can I concede to live forever
Without another's kiss

I need to find the strength once more
With help from God above
To help me with forgiveness
So I may find my love again.

Sue Christiansen (c)

====================================================

             BLESS ME

Lord, bless me with the wisdom to learn...and the courage to believe

Grant me the sight to find the answers in which I seek...instill the
willingness inside me to achieve

Give me the power to press forward...give me the strength to conquer 
the day

Direct me so I can direct others...let each step I take pave the way

Let me lead by example...and follow the examples in which I lead

Teach me to give as I was given...extend my hand to those in need

Give me the insight to right my wrongs...and the wisdom to accept 
what is thy will

Bless me with the strength to stand...and the humbleness to kneel

Give me the knowledge to read what is written, speak of what is 
spoken...and see what has already been seen

Bless me with all these wonderful gifts...and I will use these gifts 
to do wonderful things

Cephus Pierce III (c) cpierce@poloralphlauren.com

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                  my prayer

     they're killing my brothers in the streets
             and all i ask for is peace
               random acts of gunfire
                      tearing
                       holes
                      through
                     generations
                   of black kings
                black on black crime
                    all designed
                for the elimination
           of our proclaimed destination
              and all i keep hearing
                        is
                        we
                       have
                      no unity
      they're killing my brothers in the streets
                  and i must know
              if this is our destiny
                  corners lined
                with crack cocaine
                      whores
                       and
                  liquor stores
                 dreams deferred
      killing us softly and leaving us insane
                is this our future
                my children's world
      we're killing each other in the streets
           and i don't know whether to cry
                    or scream
                   we're lost
               and my little girl
            may never have the right
                  to be a queen

Angela Singletary (c) asingletary@bcbs-ga.com