Happy 15th Birthday Morphological Confetti!

Today, on April 4, 2005, I joined blogger as a way to start a web journal. I thought that it would be a great platform to not only express myself but to sort of record my ideas, and it has proven true. I started with just my thoughts for a particular day. Soon, it morphed into a way to write and share my photography. Then, it morphed into a way to share my poetry and prose. That led to me meeting other writers, not only here in the United States, but writers and bloggers from across the globe. This blog has taken me from New York City poetry events to celebrations of  African descendant culture in Uruguay, South America. It has been a blessing. So, today I celebrate this platform, and I hope to celebrate it for many more years to come. So much has changed since my first post 15 years ago. It will be interesting to see what God has in store for me in the next 15 years. I'm excited! Well, before I end this anniversary post, I'd like to thank all of you for supporting this blog and for sharing your thoughts in my post. It has added so much flavor to many a conversation about various topics. The journey has been almost as sweet and tasty as this featured cake. It was so yummy. 😋 Well, take care, thank you, and stay safe. Peace~ 

Here is my first post from April 4, 2005:

This is my first day on Blogger! I am very excited about blogger and my future postings. Also, today is the first Monday after Daylight Savings and I am still a day late and a dollar short. Peace~

Zora and the Haiti Connection

This is a short video on Zora Neale Hurston and her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Ms. Hurston was an anthropologist, folklorist, historian, and writer to a name a few, but I am sure that there was more to her as a human being and a woman. Thank you, Ms. Hurston. 

Haiku and Video

Haiku #10

North Jersey winds sweep

Over hills, sands, and wet lands

A sandpiper twerks

Journal Entry

Journal entry:

Today, I tried to fall back into a rhythm - a living rhythm. I've been "off" for the last couple of weeks, but I'm am slowly getting back into some sort of routine. Then again, perhaps this is my chance to break away from routine. I don't know? There are just times that I strive for "normalcy" whatever that is or isn't.

Anyway, I went to the library, sat in the lobby, and started reading a biography about C.S. Lewis. My father gave it to me as a gift while he was here in Washington for my mother's home-going service. We recently had a conversation over the phone concerning Mr. Lewis, so, I guess that he felt it would be a good gift. He was right. Besides, good things usually happen after he gives me a book. Yes, that is the superstition that I have decided concerning my father and books. Plus, it's a chance to have something beyond surface conversation with my father. Who cares about the weather and classes when we can exchange thoughts about a great writer and theologian. Besides, no one else in the family is likely to have that conversation. Peace~

Thoughts and Writing update

I haven't commented lately on my progress with writing. I have been writing periodically over the month of June, but I have taken a break to finish summer grading and spend time with family. Now, I am getting back into my writing mode. I'm still searching myself for direction concerning a theme or focus for my next collection. I feel that this will make me more focused with my writing. Then again, that approach may hinder. Perhaps I will just write (not rush) and allow things to just fall into place. What do you think?

Nonetheless, I will write. In fact, I must write. When I search my intentions, I find that my desire to continue writing is based on my need for creative expression. I love the reaction that readers give to my words. Sometimes, I think of those words being adapted for screen or stage. That would be the ultimate manisfestation of creative expression.

Well, I hope that my next update will show progress. Until then, take care, stay cool, or stay warm depending on your location on this planet. ~Peace

Photo: Alex Haley statue in Annapolis, Maryland

Writing Progress: Mythology

Today, I  strayed from my dialectical form of poetry and ventured into storytelling. I wrote the first draft of a short story that has been on my mind. It also deals with myth. I taught an Introduction to Mythology course this spring and it inspired my sense of storytelling. I can tell you that it deals with matters of the heart. By the way, initially I was ambitious with my wanting to give daily updates. I will, rather, give periodic updates. I will give at least one weekly update. Enjoy your evening.

Art by Cathy Delaleu

Poetry and Me

Poem/Line count: Two poems

Hello. I've been on blogger since 2005. When I first started, I posted many blog journals that 

expressed my interest as well as my hopes and dreams in this journey we call life.  A great deal has happened since then.  For example, in the past 10 years, I've been married; I've published one book of Blues-Inspired poetry (Liquid Lunch); and I have secured a full-time job teaching college English.

Well, today I have started writing again. I am putting together another collection of Blues-inspired poetry and I want readers of MC to be involved. I think that this will encourage me and also keep  MC readers informed about my progress. So, each day I will post even if I write only one line. The progress will be at the top of the post. Thank you and enjoy your day.

My Thoughts On Writing

Photograph: Erhan Dayi / Alamy/Alamy

Note: This is a post that I wrote 10 years ago on writing. When I read it again, I realized that the same feelings are true 10 years later. I wouldn't change a thing. There is still power in the pen!


It is a peculiar thing… this desire to pick up the pen.

Perhaps, it is born out of the desire to interpret or create life through the people that we’ve met or people that we’ve imagined. Franz Kafka spoke of his torment in writing and how difficult it was to produce a story at times. Ralph Ellison would write for years just to produce one American classic, Invisible Man. Zora Neale Hurston continued to write long after her celebrity had faded; there were dozens of manuscripts found in her personal trunk after her death.

This congenital impulse in me was conceived through the Black oral tradition. My grandmother, Eunice, was the family griot. I would listen intently to the stories that she would tell me as a child. These were stories passed down to her by her elders and she was more than willing to pass them on to me. I was an inquisitive, bright-eyed little boy with dozens of questions about who we were and who we are. She sometimes marveled at the seriousness of my questions that involved the existence of God and the purpose of man. She would usually share these stories while cooking or while she relaxed in her favorite chair. The images that she painted on my imagination were wonderful. I could see all of the characters vividly in my mind. I imagined how they looked. I imagined their lives. I imagined their hearts. These were my people, and I loved them through the stories that I heard about them.

Eventually, I picked up the pen in college and soon realized its power to communicate. I’ve always imagined that a pen is to a writer what a paint brush is to a painter. The words represent color. Honorable mention: Toni Morrison can paint the most beautiful images that I’ve ever seen on paper. These words can evoke emotion and stir the soul to take action for change. There’s power in the pen!
Still.

It is a peculiar thing…this desire to pick up the pen.

Writing Habits and Inspiration Places

Richard Wright

Mr. Wright did some of his best writing early in the morning. He got up around 6:00 A.M. Sometimes, it was earlier during the summer months. He only needed a bottle of ink, a fountain pen, and his legal yellow pad when he climbed to the top of a hill in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. On that hill, he would fill page after page as he occasionally glanced down on the brownstones and tenement houses near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Brownstones near Ft. Greene

Note: A place to write is very important to me. I find it difficult to write where I live at that moment. It's too suburban and much too bland a scene. I love the comfort and safety of the neighborhood but it dosen't lend much to inspiration. So, there are times when I use my imagination and I travel to places in order to get started. What about you? Do you require a place or do you develop this place in your mind?

Reflections and Projections

First, this painting by artist, Jonathan Green ("Horizon"), is a direct reflection of my who I am. I cannot tell you how often I am enamoured by the clouds and birds in the sky. The lovely azure scenery always grabs my attention, if only for a moment. It is God's splendor - His creation. How can I ignore it?

Well, this semester is coming to an end, and I'm getting ready for summer. Students are dropping off their final papers and I am listening to either their accolades or their worries. Meanwhile, I am thinking about writing for the summer. Even writing on this blog has been a new accurance in the past couple of days. Overall, this year has been good. Of course, I have my loose ends to tie and relationships to nurture and build, but it has been good. Every year, my goal is to become better as a teacher; so, I must read and study. That's the thing about teaching - we are perpetually a student. I love it though.

I have plans to further my studies with another degree. I'm looking into different programs here in Maryland. My goal is to do something that I find interesting. At first, I considered going into Education and Leadership, but that wouldn't hold my interest. No, it has to be about the things I love, which include literature, language, and culture. Besides, that's all that I have discussed on this blog. That's what Morphological Confetti is all about. Anyway, I have something in mind, but we will see. I'll keep you posted.

Well, today's weather is unseasonably warm and the skies are clear here in Maryland. As the song writer said, "...I think I'll go outside for a while...to take in some clean fresh air." Take Care and enjoy your day. ~Peace

Rethabile Masilo: Things That Are Silent

Africa America Caribbean

-Thinking of Stephen and Geoffrey

In the hollow cost of the sea you sailed across

you rebuilt you grew strong. Here is reverence from me –

you’re stronger for passing through that storm

Let our voices carry the world

fathom Africa where the colours of the world began

life in its leanest and most magnificent form

the roar of the beast

the fall of the empire

the wail of the islands across the sea

Life written in the greenness of trees

in the cleanness of the air that we breathe

That is the beauty of us all, which binds us

in siblinghood

by Rethabile Masilo

Available on Amazon.com: CLICK!

MC Spotlight: Inshirah Aleem

I had the pleasure of meeting upcoming author, Ms. Inshirah Aleem, back in March 2012. We met to discuss her new book, She Smiles and Cries. I’d already spoken with Inshirah over the phone, and she gave me a general overview of her book/life as someone diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Nothing in her voice said to me “disorder.” In fact, she seemed very “orderly” and professional and … Well, this goes to show how much I knew (ignorance) about the disorder. It became even more baffling when I met with her in person at a coffee shop in Gaithersburg. I saw this lovely young author with a bright face and lovely smile walk towards the front door of the coffee shop. I figured it was Inshirah because she got out of the car that fit the description described by her over the phone. However, what I thought of as Bipolar Disorder and how it looked did not fit her description. Again, I was suffering from ignorance.  What does Bipolar Disorder look like on a person?

Well, by the time I finished talking with Inshirah about her book, her life, her family, and Bipolar Disorder I was on my way to becoming educated. I became even more educated as I started reading her book, She Smiles and Cries. The book is a collection of poetry and prose describing her life in battling Bipolar Disorder. I find her words to be courageous and inspirational. This work also counts as a testimony because she credits her Islamic faith and the help of the Almighty God (Creator) for her strength in this battle.

Overall, She Smiles and Cries is a wonderfully creative work that I hope will inspire and help those who suffer from Bipolar Disorder. It is also a great book for those who want to learn about it. The poetry is also a fantastic read; more importantly, it is straight from the heart of a woman who wants to share her story to the world. I pray it reaches far and long. This is all in the hope that it will help others and possibly even save lives. In the end, you may smile, cry, and possibly become very educated. 

Bio: Author, Inshirah Aleem,  was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. She currently resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Inshirah has been writing since childhood. Poetry and prose have carried her through dark times. At the age of 15, she was diagnosed with a severe form of Bipolar Disorder. She writes to educate, inspire and challenge the stigma attached to mental illness. She is a spokeswoman for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness),"In Our Own Voice," which is a program that provides a platform for individuals with mental illness to share their stories and educate people about mental illness.

Nearly twenty years post-diagnosis, she has acquired a true appreciation for life and the humility to embrace her journey. She has been courageous in attaining high academic achievements and pursuing loving, stable family relationships.

Get a copy today: She Smiles and Cries

Harlem Renaissance Poet: Countee Cullen

Incident

Once riding in old Baltimore,

Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,

I saw a Baltimorean

Keep looking straight at me.

Now I was eight and very small,

And he was no whit bigger,

And so I smiled, but he poked out

His tongue, and called me, "Nigger."

I saw the whole of Baltimore

From May until December;

Of all the things that happened there

That's all that I remember.

Countee Cullen was a leading figure along with others who helped to define the Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullen suffered high blood pressure and uremic poisoning and died suddenly on January 9, 1946. He was 42.  Read more...

Sources:  wikipedia, blackfacts.com, and American National Biography Online

Thursday Weblog

Greetings friends and family.  Despite the heatwave, I had a chance to get out today.  Walked about 3 miles and stopped once at a cooling station [McDonald's for a cup of water].  I sat there for about 10 minutes and proceeded up to Starbucks where I did some proofreading and a bit of writing.  In terms of progress, I have finished one piece, and I am organizing the writing and ideas for the other pieces.  I've put everything into an outline.  I eventually returned home around 3pm and that's when all the distractions started.  I have to laugh to myself because distractions are only allowed.  We have to give permission to distractions.  I chose to be distracted.  Pray for me; I need more focus.

Anyway, tomorrow is a new day.  If God is willing for me [us] to see another day then I hope to do better.  I am going to spend the rest of the evening with my family.  Enjoy your evening as well.  Peace~

Photo:  Statue of writer, Alex Haley, reading to children at the pier inAnnapolis, Maryland USA [by S Bess]

Thursday Thoughts: Consistency

The weather has been so nice today.  I couldn't have planned it better myself.  I thank God.  He gives us relief from the sweltering heat.  Well, today I actually sat down to write.  I started by revising a poem that I plan to submit, and then I worked on an outline for my next book.  I'm excited about it; I want to share my progress with you as I write.  Sharing my progress will keep me motivated.  There's something about being transparent.  If I don't share my progress with someone, I will only be accountable to myself.  However, if I am documenting my progress and sharing it with interested readers, it motivates me to be consistent.  Yes, consistency is what I need.  It's what I need for every good thing in my life.  Anyway, I am finished with my outline and ready to get this off my chest.  Don't worry, none of my writing will start with the phrase, "...a dark foggy night." *giggle*  Enjoy the rest of your day.  Peace~

Wednesday's Forecast: Reflection

Today was productive in other ways.  I didn't get any writing done today, but I attended an informative workshop and cleaned up the office at home.  Early this afternoon, I had a cup of coffee as I watched the rain in reflection.  Rain has that affect on me; it causes me to think about my life, where I want to go, where I need to go, and where God will lead me.  Ultimately, He directs the steps of those who seek Him and I seek Him.  Anyway, the rain was lovely as I looked out my door.  Now, the rain has stopped and I will soon head to Bible study.  Tomorrow, God willing, I will have a post about my progress in writing.  Enjoy your evening.  Peace~

Goals for the Month of July

Hey folks.  Sometimes, it is good to get back to good old journaling or blogging.  I started blogging 6 years ago, and it has been more than rewarding in so many ways.  For the month of July, I will posting my daily progress on my summer work. Also, I will, on occasion, do my regular post on history and culture.  This is in an effort to encourage myself to create and execute the goals I purposed in my heart; they were the goals I promised myself back in May.  Anyway, I am holding myself accountable.  Discipline, I feel, is learned and practiced; I'm on the path.  Well, I hope you all have a very nice evening.  Please come and visit.  I will need your encouragement. Be also encouraged.  Peace~

Happy Birthday Gwendolyn Brooks

Happy Birthday to late, Gwendolyn Brooks, an excellent poet and extraordinary woman.  I will always be inspired by her poetry.  I recently shared one of my favorites, We Real Cool, with a group of college freshman.  It was interesting to hear their interpretations.  Again, Happy Birthday Ms. Brooks.  At this moment, I am Jazzin’ June, but in a positive way.  Thank you for your creative concern and poetic protest...

Above Artwork by: Dirk Hagner [Gwendolyn Brooks, woodcut, 40 x 22.5 inches, hand printed on washi]

Book by Gwendolyn Brooks:

Memorial Haiku

Memorial Haiku

 

Memorial Day in 1988/
Just finished my tour of duty/

Life lessons begin

Poetry and Photo: Falling In Love with Autumn

Falling In Love with Autumn

Today, I saw a cluster of leaves blushing in the breeze.

I thought it was because of my stare,

 and obvious admiration of their beauty amidst the trees;

However, I noticed when the cool winds began to blow even more,

the leaves' smooth epidermis would turn more crimson than before.

Then, I knew...

the leaves were falling in love with autumn.

Sources:  Poem and Photo by Stephen Bess © 2010