“Artistically Expressed”
Strung together ever so gracefully and harmoniously entangled were the clothing laid out before me. What a creative sight. I thought to myself what a wonderful array of garments which seem to span some five countries around the globe.
For these sets of garments are the covering to souls it protects; souls awaiting the time to erect. Though these souls individually speak different languages, they seem to all have agreed to speak the one most common to them…music.
So it begins, “And a one and a two and a one, two, three, four.” Ever so gently powerful waters splashing against the rocks with bright blinding melodic blissfulness have its listeners feeling euphorically spent. It continues into the wee hours of the night. Once over, everyone has gained a greater appreciation for this wonderful state of unbiased utopia.
“Black Renaissance”
Radiating o great splendor of love, grandeur, pride, and self-expression of creative prowess, you’re the renaissance of the world who will never understand you.
Hated for being what GOD created you to be, you were raped, beaten and lynched; yet you’re the renaissance to a world that will never understand you.
You’ve never started a war! But you gladly laid your life down for the cause; you helped in the rearing of a generation of millionaires, corporate CEOs and a monopoly of industrialists; yet you’re the renaissance to a world that will never understand you.
One day you will be understood, and the world will finally understand that the renaissance of love was always in the palms of their hands.
“My Neighborhood”
In my community, you would hear, “Hey papo, whats happ’nin? Yo, wus goin on? Peace, my brother. Yo three for five; come on man three for five. Yo, break out man, 5O. Hey girl you looking real good in dem jeans.”
In my community, you can smell rice and beans, cabbage and baked macaroni and cheese with fried chicken. Red snapper, fried dumplings, apple cobblers, and sweet potato pie, and let’s not forget, pork fried rice.
In my community, on almost every street corner there was a local bar not far from the local liquor store with the neighborhood mom and pop store in the middle of the two.
In my community, we had our version of the Olympics. The double-dutch championship, spades tournaments, topps, skellies, street brawls (male and female), but my favorite was the open fire hydrant sport.
In my community, we had the parakeets’ nosey bodies perched in their windows with hawk eyes beaming just waiting for the opportunity to report back to your parents EVERYTHING you’ve done that day.
In my community, the height of the day was hearing that familiar tune rolling down the block, so colorful and refreshing and full of all the ice cream our little hearts could desire. We would stop whatever we were doing and run in the direction of the truck screaming, “ICE CREAM!” Dancing in place in line looking at the menu thinking to yourself, “Which one will I get today? The toasted almond bar or the strawberry sundae?” Delicious!
In my community, our day came to a close when the sun began its descent and the street lights came on. Mothers were calling their children from the apartment windows, and fathers were coming home from work.
In my community, the night walkers were slowly emerging to start their part of the day in that same community. Boy I sure do miss my community. What’s your community like?
“My Search is Over”
I’m walking alone down life’s road not really looking for or expecting anything because I’ve had my full share. Then all of a sudden, I found you standing there in angelic apparel radiating an erotic display of color never before seen by my eyes. Stuck in a deep stupor, I came to my senses and questioned, “How did you get here? What do you want from me? Where did you come from? You’re the most beautiful human being I have ever laid my eyes on.” I’m humbly honored to share this moment.
Having felt like I’ve known you forever, you’re the perfect friend, lover and the most caring human being I’ve ever known. The world should amortize you; wait is this a dream? [Yell loudly] I am dead right? Has God come to tell me something? My heart is racing with anticipation of just hearing your voice laced with an explanation. “This can’t be true,” I tell myself; then suddenly and without notice I ramble nervously. How did you get here? Why wasn’t I told you were coming? I would have been better prepared with a five-digit salary, a home, a car, an investments and a dog. I continue to ramble on; then finally, you speak. “It’s me love, silly. How could you not know me? You’ve been chasing me all your life, and now that I’m here, you do nothing but ramble on like some fifth grader.” I exhale and raise my head to look at what I’ve long been striving for! Wow you‘re everything I’ve always dreamed about: the great wise King Solomon himself couldn’t deny such great slender. Thank you love for your patience and kindness; I truly don’t deserve you, but now that I have this wonderful opportunity, I promise to spend the rest of my life embracing and experiencing this thing called love! I love you!
“The Candy Store”
Why are you going around talking about me like a dog?
Are you trying to ruin my reputation?
Was it not you who gave me the keys to your candy store?
You gave me no instructions, just the keys.
I did what any normal rabbit in the springtime would do.
You assumed that I would cherish, honor, and respect you.
Now you are mad…Wow, what nerve.
How dare you come at me like that!
I found out that my store wasn’t the only store that you frequented.
You disrespected my store, and you took my sweet delights and turned them into sour tarts.
Now, I have been quarantined by the Surgeon General!
Am I mad? Hell yeah I am mad!
I am so sorry; I had no idea, honestly.
I have also been visited by the Surgeon General.
Because of my irresponsible lifestyle, I contributed to the closing of your store.
For this reason, I am asking you to follow me on this crusade so that we can awaken the people about the dangers lurking in the isles, the shelves and the stores.
—
Alfred Brown Jr., born in the Washington Heights’ section of Harlem, New York on February 25, 1964 to Alfred and Elizabeth Brown. He’s the second oldest of five siblings. He attended P.S. 28, I.S 195 and Julia Richmond High School where he graduated in 1982. He went on to win a four year music scholarship from Long Island University in the same year of graduation. A year later (1983), unfortunately, he found himself on the wrong side of the law and was sent off to prison. Having completed his full prison term, he enrolled in Westchester Community College in September of 2012, where he is presently and in his last semester. My degree of study is in Social Sciences and Chemical Dependency. When I finish my course of study and obtain my degree, I hope to one day be presented with the opportunity to make a difference by being a drug counselor. I also hope to one day pursue a career in writing.
