The Balance of Life

BANG!

Consequences

the balance of one’s life

their alpha and their omega 

shattered between the 

silence of pre-meditated thought

and five pounds of pressure

BANG!

Consequences

lives shattered between the silence of humanitarian love

and the megaphone of displaced hate

disrupting the balance

like a stillborn life that never gets a chance to smile

or 

like a baby’s first cry before the umbilical cord is cut

BANG!

Consequences

that moment when aluminum, steel or even plastic

composed of four groups

all lined up

like children waiting against the wall 

for instructions from their teacher for recess or lunch

or to make the next headline news

yes that moment when 

the frame group

the cylinder, extractor, and the crane group

the barrel and the sight group

the trigger, timing hand, and hammer group

CLICK CLICK

BANG!

Consequences

intended to steal, kill and destroy

the life of another 

to shatter a family

to stunt a legacy

to dismantle a community

to etch an indelible memory in the storybook of America

BANG!

Consequences

the balance of life is interrupted y’all 

unless

unless

unless

the moment

before 

CLICK CLICK BANG!

becomes

a step back moment

a humanity matters moment

a reconsideration of applying the pressure moment 

a lifting of the finger from the trigger moment

to preserve 

and not destroy 

the balance of life

……….

This poem was inspired at the June 2018 Poetry Writing Group Meeting; we were tasked with thinking of something we valued (I chose “balance”) and something in the headline news that we could use the value chosen to speak to, to give life to.  (I decided to use the balance of life to speak to gun violence in schools.)

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A Bolt to New York

Inspired and written by Grace Brown, Writer, on our whimsical day in New York City, January 2019. All work is protected by copyright.

A bolt to NYC

just Angie and me

a cold winter’s day

joy coming our way

a ride filled with laughter 

and a few hours’ sleep

charging our batteries

before we hit the street.

We started at the tree

a magnificent site to see

even though our hands, and feet

and head, and knees

did freeze

this didn’t stop our stream

of creativity.

Two artists at work

determined to make the mishaps our perks

adventure we sought

fully animated, we bought.

Colorful gear

finding inspiration far, and near

like luxury socks

and on dog paws, they rocked

soaring skyline high

on our converse, we did fly

discovering sparkling pom-pom hats

riding New York style

with speed taxi chats

on treasures we did land.

Artsy headbands

bringing smiles to our faces

wonder to our eyes

laughter to our hearts

and most importantly

connecting us to our Creative Muse.

A bolt to NYC

just Angie and me

Spring adventures

in our dreams.

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50+ Years Later

Written by Angela Riddick, Poetic Mustard Seeds. Revised and copyrighted 2019. Originally inspired and written in 2013 on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

50+ years ago

a bright-eyed wishful young woman

who was denied

who was emotionally scarred

traveled and she stood

not in spirit

but in Grace

and in person

50+ years ago

a hopeful young man

kneeled towards strength

as he watched Dr. King deliver

what he hoped

were more than just a 

soliloquy of grandiose words 

50+ years ago

amongst thousands

stood

your children

my children

“our” children

beaming at the possibility

of being included

in the success of America’s tomorrow

50+ years ago

a man was obedient

to God using him as a vessel

to wake America up

from its slumber of

mistreated humans

misguided principles

missed-opportunities

towards a hopeful greatness

50+ years ago

on a sweltering day

in Washington

heat did not matter

distance did not matter

but dedication did matter

and their dedication 

are the backs on which you and I stand

so …

50+ years later

what are you dedicated to?

does anything in your life

anything?

turn the arc

toward justice

and peace

and fairness

and economic wholeness

for every American

or

do you rob mankind

do you shackle all of us 

and our environment

of what it has the potential to be … by

refusing obedience 

refusing to travel beyond your self

refusing to give beyond good measure

refusing to go the distance

and refusing to stand for what matters most

in person 

and not just in spirit

50+ years later

i ask

what will you dedicate yourself to today?

and what are you standing for?

“Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?” Job 4:6 NLT

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FORGIVE

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50 Years Later

Written by Angela Riddick, Poetic Mustard Seeds. Copyright 2013

50 years ago

a bright-eyed wishful young woman

who was denied

who was emotionally scarred

traveled and she stood

not in spirit

but in Grace

and in person

50 years ago

a hopeful young man

kneeled towards strength

as he watched Dr. King deliver

what he hoped

were more than just a

soliloquy of grandiose words

50 years ago

amongst thousands

stood

your children

my children

“our” children

beaming at the possibility

of being included

in the success of America’s tomorrow

50 years ago

a man was obedient

to God using him as a vessel

to wake America up

from its slumber of

mistreated humans

misguided principles

missed-opportunities

towards a hopeful greatness

50 years ago

on a sweltering day

in Washington

heat did not matter

distance did not matter

but dedication did matter

and their dedication

are the backs on which you and I stand

so …

50 years later

what are you dedicated to?

does anything in your life

anything?

turn the arc

toward justice

and peace

and fairness

and economic wholeness

for every American

or

do you rob mankind

do you shackle all of us

and our environment

of what it has the potential to be … by

refusing obedience

refusing to travel beyond your self

refusing to give beyond good measure

refusing to go the distance

and refusing to stand for what matters most

in person

and not just in spirit

50 years later

i ask

what are you dedicated to?

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Fear makes others follow

 

Written by Angela Riddick, Poetic Mustard Seeds. Inspired by the movie, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”. 2014. All material posted by Poetic Mustard Seeds is protected by copyright.

Fear makes us follow the wrong crowd and act like the crowd when we know deep inside we are the leader.

Fear makes us dress like, act like, and succumb to those around us, when in fact we are the trend setter.

Fear makes us reach for food that we know is bad for us and totally negate the nourishment God desires to give us daily.

Fear makes us act like ducks when in fact we are swans.

Fear makes us stay in our seat when we know we hear the voice of God calling us to rise.

Fear makes us seemingly comfortable in all the wrong places knowing full well that we are saturated with misery.

Fear makes us ignore all the signs in front of us and convince us that we are too scared to move toward freedom.

Fear makes us hate our fellow brother and sister and ignore the fact that we are all mere human beings with the same unalienable rights.

Fear makes us diabetic, overweight, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other illnesses because we lack the courage to say enough is enough.

Fear makes us allow any and everything unworthy into our psyche and our souls like sick music, someone else’s spouse, warped thinking, suicidal thoughts, and past regrets, to name a few because we lack the confidence

to put the armor of God on and fight back.

Yes, fear makes others follow because it is more comfortable to follow than to lead, even if the path that we are following is dead on wrong.

Fear makes others follow!

So stop, lead and place your fear in the right place.

“Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

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The Marvelous Conductor

During the month of March 2015, I’d like to call your attention to how meticulous God’s orchestration of our lives is! I was inspired to write this poetic expression through my love of music. I pray that it soaks into the crevices of our being and strengthen us – to go deep into the love of Jesus Christ in marvelous ways. Just click the link below. Ubuntu

 

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Can You Cook?

Written by Angela M. Riddick. All material posted by Poetic Mustard Seeds is protected by copyright.

When a brother asks

 “Can you cook?” 

especially when you haven’t cooked for someone in quite awhile!!!

your knees … start to quiver a little

asking yourself

will he be around long enough to experience the finest of finest

I have to offer

or will this be carryout?

will he pull up to the window

place his order quickly

not really surveying the menu

because … the fast, tasteless food he wants …or thinks he wants …

is before him

on a list

shining through neon lights

a few letters missing here and there

but just enough for him to 

select, yet another tasteless meal?

or will he stay long enough to taste my cooking?

not just the clamor and clanging of my caphalon pots

but long enough to experience the finest woman he’ll ever know

a gem amongst jewels

a rare find

a breadth of fresh air!

Here’s a tip, hungry man

Don’t ask, “Can you cook?”

unless…

you plan on sticking around long enough to experience my cooking!

true … it won’t be carryout 

and…

no, it won’t take less than an hour to savor

…if there is such a thing

but …

it will be wonderful

deliciously wonderful

the finest of finest, ever set before a king – 

a queen!!!

and yes, she cooks!

“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22 NLT

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One day, your pee will be crooked

Written by Angela Riddick, Poetic Mustard Seeds. All material posted by Poetic Mustard Seeds is protected by copyright.

that, that, white ceramic hole that you have grown accustomed to squatting over

in quarterback formation

just to prevent illegally lingering germs from going home with you

yes, that big ole’ circle whose size … has and never will change

let me tell you, lil mama

one day your pee, despite your firm footing and your best efforts

will land all over the sidelines

yep

on top of the rim, on the floor, on your clothes, on your shoes perhaps,

but definitely down your leg

at some point … in your life

what was once straight on

will flow slanted and definitely crooked

your stance won’t change

your behind, maybe a little bigger

won’t affect the stream of liquid

that once dispensed in straw-like formation

yep

no efforts to lean left or right will alter the places

your pee will decide to land

so remember the 3P’s

peel the liner off

place it on the ceramic hole and

pee only in a seated position

and know this …

if you live long enough for your mind, your body and your spirit

to journey through peri-menopause and menopause

yes, I said it – the “M-word”

cause’ it definitely ain’t too early

to talk about

first things first …

“one day, your pee, will be crooked!”

Dedicated to all the lil’ mama’s who will be big mama’s one day.

“They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.” 

Psalm 102: 26 NKJV

 

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Pre vs. Post

Dedicated to Dr. Nadu Tuakli because every day is a glorious day!

Pre-HRT
I did not care I could notget out of the bed
my dreams laid on the coffee table
waiting to be spoken
I was sad a lotbut I faked a lot
I was dry
and my scent disappeared
I used to be horny at times
and then, I never wasI could not remember the last time I wanted some
I thought – “is this all there is to life?” often
waiting for someoneto come and turn on my life switch
lonely was my new best friendmy bed, was my loverexercise, I forgot howtears, always close byskin, no moistureeyes, half shutsoul, dormant
I did not know how bad I felt until I started feeling great again!   
Post-HRT
I show upI careI care that I matter
I care about myself
I care about my houseI care about my bodyI care about my lifeI care about my soul I careI care about what I let into my life and what I choose to keep outI care about what’s going on in me; and outside of memy scent came back; my horny came backmy moisture came back fuzzy thinking left and my sleep came backmore importantly, for realmy smile came back my care came backI let God open my mindtowards a solution – HRT!what am I talking about?“hormone replacement therapy”the bio-identical kindand I began to feel betterI regained the strength to turn my life switch back onI now careBecause I now matter
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24
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