Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 June 1996 — Page 28

The Muncie Times, June 20,1996, Page 28

» POETRY

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Normally, The Muncie Times retains the right to edit all materials submitted for publication. Because of the unique nature of poetry, however, we have suspended this rule for “Poet’s Comer”. African American poets often use the vernacular of the contemporary black experience, and their work is sometimes saturated with the language, rhythm and semantics of the streets. This language is their instrument, without which they cannot play their song. At the Muncie Times, we will not try to stifle creativity by the application of hard journalistic rules to creative and thoughtful speech. Blatantly offensive material will not be printed, of course, and we do reserve the right to choose which works to publish.

Nightfleet Colorful blue in fallen eyes of night For in dreams still water runs deep. Sun shine is taken gently from sight While slowly drifting off to sleep. The rising moon conceals the rainbow As a leprechaun steals the pot of gold. By blink of eye he turns ever so slow While dusting a boy makes him grow old. I travel by the stars set forth by me Where I’ll met up with those of my kin. A man of years I’ve come to be Sent here to sail the nightly wind.

How Do You Know You’re There... The Error In The Wa y

It could be when you’re working where you couldn’t And you’re driving what you shouldn’t Hey, you even live where you can’t And you can talk without using the word “ain’t” But really it’s when you’re at peace with yourself And your not totally dependent on someone else You know “The Creator” and you work His plan And you refuse to put your faith in any man. Therefore, you fully understand where you came from And your achieving your goals one-by-one But you’re compassionate to those around you and you honestly care Now, that’s when you have definitely made it there.

My action is based upon habit, A habit I choose to control; My habit shapes my character. Defining the thoughts Of my heart and my soul. My character feeds my intellect. And the intellect steers me to see All the places that destine leads me. Therefore, I will have no one to blame For my errors, except me.

— Cynthia Lewis Reed

Man the yard and set the foresail windward And down with the mainsail set steadfast. By golly I’ve said with a standing word We’re leaving port to sail the sea at last. Hearty my mates with a crew of nine With nary a one to act that of a fool. The earth we navigate in a lapse of time Chasing a dream with canvas blown full. To catch you can if you can catch a star That of your fancy while in dreamland. I, a swashbuckling sailor with a scar Running across the deck with sword in hand. The North Atlantic breaches that of the Fall Where Norse longships graced the evening sky. Sail into the wind is the Norsemen’s call With spars riggings which make your ship fly. No boundaries to quell the nightfleet in way As to starboard the nightfall leaves its cast. Ring in ten bells as night comes from the day While sailing in both the future and the past.

— Clarence E. Motley

Love

My Fallen Angel

Love is beautiful, and that sustains me; Love is perfection in a rustled, evil world. Love is a tumultuous diamond with an innocent spray of prism. Love sees no color as a lover;

Excuse me Angel, Why are you walking? I though God made Angels to fly. Who has broken your wings and brought tears to your eyes?

Love is a rainbow giving off its colors freely, Love is a cushion; Love is heavenly. Love is still in this limbo world of shadows, Love is a yellow voice bathed in a sorrowful smile; Love is my hand pricked by the soft red rose, Love is a landscape of words under a blue sky of emotions.

Excuse me Angel, Why are you holding your head down? Have you lost your golden halo and diamond crown? Excuse me Angel, Why are you crying? I thought God made Angels from love, and there’s no power greater from the heaven above.

— Joseph Wayne Haynes Love is waiting for my return at dusk.

— The Poet

We’d love to share your poetry with our readers! Send your original poems to: The Muncie Times • 1304 N. Broadway • Muncie, IN 47303

Excuse me Angel, You are the light in every sunshine, and the brightest star in the night. So Rise and Shine, lift your head through the darkness, and spread your wings for the flight.

— Clarence E. Driver