Sunday, January 31, 2010

The "L" Word.....

Love, aaaaahhhhh..love...that feeling.....that fleeting moment....that inspiration.....that thought....that groove.....that move.....that note....that melody.....that motion of the ocean....that touch....that misconception....and oh deception.....and yes, the inflection and retrospection. That prayer...that assurance......that tendency to want this.....even, when it don’t fit, is the reason, for the season of love!

In celebration of the “L” word, “In Dew Season” is sharing 28 days of love including stories from our book “Journeys of Love, Voices of the Heart,” from coauthors Hillary Roy and Rose Mitchell, available now on www.HillabeesandRoses.com. They’ll also be poems from renowned poets and unknown artists, lyrics, advice, quotes and love notes for the entire month of February. So get ready...get set...GET LOVE!!!

Resignation, (by the great Nikki Giovanni)

I love you
because the Earth turns round the sun
because the North wind blows north
sometimes
because the Pope is Catholic
and most Rabbis Jewish
because winters flow into spring
and the air clears after a storm
because only my love for you
despite the charms of gravity
keeps me from falling off the Earth
into another dimension
I love you
because it is the natural order of things
I love you
like the habit I picked up in college
of sleeping through lectures
or saying I'm sorry
when I get stopped for speeding
because I drink a glass of water
in the morning
and chain-smoke cigarettes
all through the day
because I take my coffee Black
and my milk with chocolate
because you keep my feet warm
though my life is a mess
I love you
because I don't want it
any other way
I am helpless
in my love for you
It makes me so happy
to hear you call my name
I am amazed you can resist
locking me in an echo chamber
where your voice reverberates
through the four walls
sending me into spasmatic ecstasy
I love you
because it's been so good
for so long
that if I didn't love you
I'd have to be born again
and that is not a theological statement
I am pitiful in my love for you
The Dells tell me Love
is so simple
the thought though of you
sends indescribably delicious multitudinous
thrills throughout and through-in my body
I love you
because no two snowflakes are alike
and it is possible if you stand tippy-toe
to walk between the raindrops
I love you
because I am afraid of the dark
and can't sleep in the light
because I rub my eyes
when I wake up in the morning
and find you there
because you with all your magic powers were
determined that
I should love you
because there was nothing for you but that
I would love you
I love you
because you made me
want to love you
more than I love my privacy
my freedom my commitments
and responsibilities
I love you `cause I changed my life
to love you
because you saw me one friday
afternoon and decided that I would
love you
I love you I love you I love you

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Fallen Stars

As I sat and watched this legendary icon, this ball of fire, this multi-faceted talent, named Melba Moore, I was in awe. Now it’s true that while I’ve often had a soft spot for Jersey bred folk, my admiration, doesn’t begin there. It began, when I saw a woman with nothing more than passion, sing and dream her way to success. Despite the high and lows of the unforgiving entertainment industry, the drug and alcohol abuse, the loss of custody from her daughter, the divorces, the love affairs, the bankruptcy, the deception and oh yes, the loss of self. Regardless of it all, Ms. Moore, still stands. And for me, this was yet, another reminder, that no matter how big or small “we think” we are, or whatever achievements we reach, the greatest victories come from our falls. In them lie, our greatest lessons and blessings. And while her path may have been full of thorns, the crowns she received throughout her career can never be erased. And just like her story, our stories, are just that good. Our actions, our deeds and the impact we have in our own lives and in the lives of others are marks and imprints of our successes, failures and courage to move on even throughout our adversities. As the critics, and the people that knew her best over the years reflected on her life, there was a tendency to compare her to some of the greatest singers and talents of our time. To them, I say, she’s in a league of her own. There will never be another Whitney, Patti, Ella or Beyonce and why would we want one? Each of them was created uniquely and wonderfully, hand crafted and chosen to “dew” what they “dew.” And they are beautiful images of God, just like you and me.