Barack Obama & The Common Man, Part 1

From The Common Man

I understand the euphoria
but only Barack has overcome
the common man hasn't made it
until they stop incarcerating my sons
and compromising my daughters
and take their crime out of my community
and replace it with education and services
stuff I pay for but never get
government, laws and enforcers
are supposed to serve and protect
but they make my community worse
the media supports these usual suspects
along with businesses that are raiders
they succeed at being terror traders
of deceit and corruption for money and power

Will America bend down with Barack Obama
as he extends a hand to the common man?

Get out of my way so I can reach back
get off my back so I can stand
and return what has been taken and divided
access and opportunity to make a living
things promised but not provided
without them destabilizes me and family
establishes the foundation to vilify me
calling my protests for human rights militant
a terrorist tactic to stigmatize me

I've lived on hope for years
so why are there hunger and thirst
and young graves of iron, mind and earth
and a helluva lot of hot tears
America you ain't off the hook
there's a discrepancy and a hypocrisy
when you characterize one president by his look
when he's already accomplished much more
so you certainly won't see past the color of me
cause you still ignore Kings of Scotland
and Emperors of Rome in world ancestry

Dr. King didn't dream, Dr. King made demands
The Black Panthers, SNCC, CORE
and Nation of Islam also made the call
Will there be liberty and justice for all?
Will the common man be part of the plan?
And can America survive without an underclass?
If not, can I at least be angry?

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America, Barack Obama, common man, liberty and justice, poetry

44th President Barack Obama's Inauguration

I am at the White House on Inauguration Day. The House and Barack are wired for sound and video. Monitors are everywhere. I hear Barack say, “I ain't having it.” The media are informed they must leave except one. A public access camera crew is chosen because they agree to share the broadcast and not add the usual “let us explain what you need to think” commentary.

Like finding the perfect position in a warm bed, I locate a spot near the president's office and listen to Barack's speech, enjoy the poetry, observe the reactions of those milling about and absorb the essence of the experience. A sleep-deprived guy creeps up and says, “This must be where they transferred me to,” as though I work here. He is wearing a t-shirt and hospital pants. A gray fog surrounds him. I slide aside while still trying to watch the monitor.

As he opens the hidden door behind me. I ask, “Who are you?” in a gatekeeper sort of way. “The cook,” he replies. I follow him inside. It is a small room. The shiny floor slants towards a large window. It continues down and around a few support columns to a counter on the left. Two people move about while another sits. They are preparing and eating frou-frou stuff. I see a fluffy cream topping. I quickly leave shaking my head and thinking there'd better be the smell of grits and eggs soon because Barack ain't having this.

I'm standing on the raised platform that is now the president's office. It has been moved and redesigned to fit this location between the upper two floors. Railing along the front edge connects to steps on two sides. One set connects the two floors and allow an overview. Five steps on the right lead to the office itself. The office is actually an octagon with a mahogany hardwood floor. The entire area is filling with family and friends. Everyone is dressed comfortably in black but there are no tuxedos. Michelle and the kids show up holding conversations all the while. The 44th President of the United States strolls in a little later without an entourage and goes into a side room with a partial glass front. It contains a large table with place settings and desserts. Perhaps this is what frou-frou boys were up to. Barack tells his supporters this is for them. This brings forth extended oohs and aahs as people filter into the special suite.

While everyone is busy feeling irie and ubuntu, Barack somehow slips out. Soon enough I hear a collective surprised gasp. I look around and then at a monitor in time to see Barack with shoes off and pants rolled up, running through their large shallow natural pond. My amazement becomes a smile, laughter and nodding. The room is quickly emptier and I hear a chorus of laughter and splashes as many children and some adults go wading.

For the first time it is a reasonably warm January. The grass is glowing. A subtle breeze trickles through the blades causing sunlight to dance. The elongated pond is surrounded by gentle mounds of various sizes and a garden of native plants. It is a groovy house party!

I am alone in this part of the house. I write, “THE PEOPLE'S PLACE,” on a notepad on Barack's desk. I sit on the steps of the Octagon Office and continue writing: “I can't believe I am actually sitting in the White House on Inauguration Day 2009...”

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Personal Growth is Seeking, Reaching, Seeking...

Reposted with permission from CRPS/RSD, A Better Life: A blog by a sufferer of chronic pain. From my perspective, it is also for anyone genuinely interested in life itself and the things that connect us.

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This Karen Ravn quote holds true for people with chronic pain.

"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be."

Life, as they say, is not a rehearsal. We get one go at it. The choices we make direct our path in life. I choose happiness.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers, and produces a general sense of well-being. The threshold of pain is raised during and for a short period of time after laughter.

Laughter also engages various parts of the brain. Perhaps this is one reason people often find that a good dose of laughter can be followed by a burst of creativity.

We know that by making positive affirmations pain perception can be reduced by up to an amazing two thirds.
(Conversely, you can actually increase pain perception by focusing on negative aspects and fearing your pain.)

These findings make perfect sense to me. I know when I talk about how I'm feeling, I feel worse. When I'm having fun I feel better. Now I know I can actually change the inputs which bring about a change in the brain, I'll be more aware of how I think and feel. I'll also be dedicating more time to "actively seeking happiness" and strive to see "the glass half full."

I encourage you to expand your knowledge, reach to grow. Only by seeking information can you go forward. By looking, the way will become clear. I encourage you to dare to dream of a better life. "As much as I dream can I be".

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Only seekers reach and only reachers seek. --Usiku

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Two Steps:
1.Ask more questions of others, of yourself and of the Spirit.
2.Affirm the person you want to be and the things you want to accomplish within the first few minutes of waking each day. Do this before you get busy. Make it an enriching part of your routine by making this affirmation in bed or in the lavatory.

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Two Questions:
1.Is reaching as high as you can the same as perfectionism?
2.What is the bigger problem: Not knowing or worrying about what we know?


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affirmation, Laughter, pain, personal growth, seeking

Spirituality Test: Asking Listening, Doing

Spirit Talkin'

Careful what you ask of me
It requires something from thee
This is where I lost you before
Though distractions amuse you well
Busyness only helps you fail
To be silent, still and listen more

Listening to the Spirit has nothing to do with ears and words. Spirits have no need for these things. They speak using the innate language we often call intuition. This is the original language.

Listen to your intuition, it's your Spirit Talkin', then do whatever you're directed to do. Asking, Listening and Doing is a simple way of looking at being spiritual. Are you passing the test?

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Two Steps:
1. Spend more time with yourself and/or with nature.
2. Spend at least 15 to 30 minutes each day in silence. This gives your thoughts and feelings freedom. It allows you to be available to listen to yourself and your subconscious. It readies you for listening to the Spirit.

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Two Questions:
1. Being busy keep us from being more and doing more? True?
2. Does the Spirit ever stop talking to us?

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intuition, nature, Spirit, spirituality