Enjoy these poems and please email the poets (where applicable) and give them some feedback!

11:16 PM
(Contemplation)

It's 11:16 p.m.
And I lay here in my bed
Contemplating, trying to decide
If I should I call;
Just to hear her voice,
To simply say good night,
Sleep tight, don't let the 
Bed bugs bite.

I decide to turn on my radio
To drown my thoughts,
To try and ease the pain
Of my aching heart, 'cause 
I miss her.
But Maxwell is on, 
Singing his "Fortunate" song.
Now I have to contemplate,
Should I turn my radio off
Or just sing along.

It is now 11:38 p.m.
Still I contemplate,
Should I end this poem here,
Turn out the lights and call it a night;
Do I still have time, or is it now too late
To make that call

Contemplation!!!

*For Lisa*

David L. Weeks (c) conqlion@hotmail.com

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11:25PM (Post Meditation)

I can't accept callers upon this day
For my heart will ring me long this way
Since I have been without too long I say
I must clear my time so you cannot stay 
Ado and safe journey I bid to you
No harm and Godspeed as well and too
For when my phone rings that I must do
'Cause my heart and me, we, our love'll renew

Now self don't fret tho' time draws nigh
Then after the Call out spirit'll soar high
So settle thee down this sou's reply
To that body who's rushing time so gaitly by
Be patient as Job was on the Lord
Hold still and not stir up some discord
Feed not those nightmares, do smite with sword
As well do these dreads and fears be doomed

Damn that racket of that train
Why now should it roar through my brain
Such ruckus its reason ain't so plain
And so late the question thus still remain
With added element, anxiety does not relax
While now that train rocks forth and back
I can't hear my phone with that train on track
So again the palpitations do not slack

My love, my heart to you I pledge
My wish that later a day we wed
My gift one heart lost of my dread

C. Bentley (c) cbentley@latte.memphis.edu

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MoodSwingz

You voiced your opinion,
I voiced my opinion,
We brainstormed on those opinions &
Agreed, to disagree.			
		Opinions

I interpreted the sky,
You interpreted the moon,
We analyzed those interpretations.
Different thoughts, same groove.		
		Interpretations

Ice Cream 
Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee
Music 
Hip Hop, Base, Jazz, R &B		
		Flava's

I spoke my mind 
You spoke your mind 
I was feelin' you &
You, was feelin' me.			
		Vibes

"Don't Stop Get It, get it
let me see you doo doo brown".
"Oh my my my,
I'm feeling high"				
		Lifestyles

Opinion
Interpretation
Vibe
Flava
Lifestyle,

Different Vibes,
	Different Flava's
		Different Lifestyles.

			          MoodSwingZ!!

Sonya Swanson (c) sonya.swanson@icl.fi

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IDIOSYNCRASY

What a wonder 
Up on top 
There
Black, wavy, nappy or
Bare

How far come we
From days of old
From Dixie Peach and
Pomade gold

From straightening combs
And VO-5
The many things
Did we for pride

But are we really striving
Yet to be
Rid of differences
You and me

For there's only one thing
That holds true
We are one 
Whether 
It's 
Me or you!


Sharyn P. Hunter (c) Murfuss@aol.com

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REALIZATION

Who Am I?
I'm an African American Woman
What makes me strong?
My heritage
What makes me weak?
My fears
What makes me whole?
My God
What keeps me standing?
My faith
What makes me compassionate?
My selflessness
What makes me honest?
My integrity
What sustains my mind?
My quest for knowledge
What teaches me all lessons?
My mistakes
What lifts my head high?
My pride
What if I can't go on?
Not an option
What makes me victorious?
My courage to climb
What makes me competent?
My confidence
What makes me sensual?
My insatiable essence
What makes me beautiful?
My everything
What makes me a woman?
My heart
Who says I need love?
I do
What empowers me?
Me
Who Am I?
I AM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN
 
Renee' L. Marshall-Davis (c) RDavis1969@aol.com

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                      LONELINESS

I, like a black cloud forming over a calm, quiet stream
Tears rolling at night like gentle rain
I, like a decadent dessert topped with no whipped cream
Reading, writing, creating and pondering to stay sane.

Sleep comes eventually after exhaustion sets in
Dreams reveal happier times yet to come?
During the day, forcing myself to try to grin
Throwin myself into my work - feeling completely numb.

I, like an ant trying to cross a busy street
Feeling insignificant and ignored and invisible to everyone.
Walking past a chocolate cake turns into quite a feat
When people talk to me, especially men, I just want to run.

Jill A. Montgomery (c) ladymerlin40&hotmail.com

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              FORGIVEN

I don't know why i love you, but i do
I don't know how to love, but I am
I don't know how to cleanse these tears, but I am
I don't know what brought us together, but we are
I don't know where we stand, but still we are
I haven't had this much loving, its cause of you
I haven't had this much loving, its cause of you
I wonder where we might go, as we stay right here
I wonder what we might find, as we stay right here.
I am wonderful at loving because I do
I know how to love because I am
I know that love brought us together to see where we stand
I know that much loving comes from you
I know this because you love me too
I don't need to cleanse these tears of pain
I don't need to wish for happy ones to gain
I hope that if we stay right here...
I hope that if we stay right here, true love can only be sincere.

Phaedra Davis (c) fay@vgernet.net