Tuesday, June 29, 2010

ART || poetry: wishes for sons.

wishes for sons

Lucille Clifton

i wish them cramps.
i wish them a strange town
and the last tampon.
i wish them no 7-11.

i wish them one week early
and wearing a white skirt.
i wish them one week late.

later i wish them hot flashes
and clots like you
wouldn't believe. let the
flashes come when they
meet someone special.
let the clots come
when they want to.

let them think they have accepted
arrogance in the universe,
then bring them to gynecologists
not unlike themselves.

UPDATE || broken

If posting is slower than usual, it's because something went very wrong with my computer. Hopefully, it's fixable. Luckily, there are school computers and family laptops and phones with data plans that will keep me connected. And all in all, it's not so bad at my apartment without it so far. I just can't listen to the music I love so dearly, though I do have my iPod to keep me company.

So, I'm hopeful, and I'll be thinking about interesting things to blog about. And hopefully, also, sometime in the near future, I'll be able to acquire my dream computer.


Friday, June 25, 2010

LIFE || my gears are grinding. but there's also good.

This is something that grinds my gears:
So, I just read an opinion piece on how a black woman is bothered to see fat black women. Ok, I'm bothered by seeing those Shape-up shoes by Sketchers so maybe it's the same thing. (I actually found the piece pretty problematic, but it was the writer's opinion and I can't do anything about opinions. And I'm not arguing that all people can benefit from living a healthy life. I'm also not focusing on this for this post, really.)

Either way, there was a comment in which a reader said that s/he didn't think that any woman was proud to be fat. The commenter thinks that they'd learned to accept themselves no matter what size they are. I want to explain why I feel the first part of the statement is problematic, but I am having trouble, but I do understand the latter portion.

The part about accepting ourselves no matter our looks. I think that's important.
People change. We're going to get old. We're going to gain or lose weight. Our bodies are not going to be as supple or perky or taught at some points in our lives. Our hair may fall out or it may grow like weeds. But what is important is learning to accept ourselves for who we are beyond that. People that hold on to beauty or size or hair length may find themselves truly lacking if and when that all changes. And life will be empty for those people.

But people who love themselves and embrace themselves how they are now and how they will be will take pride in their appearance, health, well-being, etc. And they will live life to the fullest.

And really, they won't have problems with what types of people cross their paths either: fat, black, thin, white, wrinkly, plastic surgery-ed, whatever.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

ART || poetry.


Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note
Amiri Baraka

Lately, I've become accustomed to the way
The ground opens up and envelopes me
Each time I go out to walk the dog.
Or the broad edged silly music the wind
Makes when I run for a bus. . .

Things have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars.
And each night I get the same number.
And when they will not come to be counted,
I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night I tiptoed up
To my daughter's room and heard her
Talking to someone, and when I opened
The door, there was no one there. . .
Only she on her knees peeking into

Her own clasped hands
___________________________________________________________________________________
This is one of my favorite poems and it's resonating with me right now. There is a story of hope in there, even though the title has the word suicide in it. I could go on, but I won't. I just wanted to share some art with you. :)

Monday, June 14, 2010

IRL || i'm alive!

Hey everyone. I know there hasn't been a new post in a long time. I'm sorry. New posts are coming and I will be back on track. There are lots of things to think and write about and new posts are in the works.

Lots of love until next time,
a.renae


Thursday, June 10, 2010

UPDATE || wanna share? the music summer

I love music.
I love it because it's always a journey.
The journey I love the most is the growth I, the listener, can have with an artist. I don't know these people, but I remember "meeting" them through the music and what impact their music had on my life. Sometimes the music makes me think, other times it makes an new genre click for me, and even more times it just lets me widen my horizons.
I fall in love with lyrics, voices, textures. And I want to write about it. And I have written about it. I've charted my musical journeys with Kevin Michael, Robin Thicke, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, and Nat "King" Cole. Now I want to hear other stories.

I am looking for guest bloggers
to share their journeys with their favorite artists. When did you meet them and how have they influenced your lives? If you're interested give me a buzz!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

MUSIC || missing: have you seen this man?

In 2007, he released his debut, self-titled album. Then he disappeared. You'd think he'd be hard to miss with the gigantic curly 'fro, soulful songs, and (in my opinion) an AMAZING voice.

His name: Kevin Michael. Known for such songs as "If I Ain't Got You" and "It Don't Make Any Difference To Me." The album is full of topics covering love to race to break-ups to lust.

I'm 3 years late to this party. But I. LOVE. HIM. Ok, I know, I love everybody it seems. But his voice is. . . I can't really describe it. He sings. No gimmicks. No tricks. Just pure vocalization. And it's refreshing.

I can't find anything new on him. That saddens me. I hope he's still out there. Somewhere. Making music. And if you've seen him or heard from him, please let me know. I'd appreciate it.


And just for fun: Kevin Michael covering Rihanna's "Umbrella." In love. That's all.