Fighting for Eve's Innocence

My new book of poetry entitled "Fighting for Eve's Innocence" has been finished for over a year.  The book has been patiently waiting for me to be ready,  waiting for me to be still enough to give it the love and attention that it deserves...and I am almost there!  "Fighting for Eve's Innocence" is about being holistically woman to the best of my understanding.  The title represents the battle that women around the world fight daily.  It represents a battle that transcends race, class, educational level, income, religion, political affiliation and sexual orientation.  A battle to live outside of boxes built to imprison us, and color outside the lines drawn in order for us to paint "pretty pictures".  We as women have been the scapegoats of society, bearing the weight and responsibility of all the wrongs of the world while being denied the praise and benefits of what goes right.  This book is an acceptance of dualities, this is my manifesto for the mothers of mankind...they say the pen is mightier than the sword...so this book is me bearing arms!!!  Be on the lookout!!!

National Poetry Month Poetry Challenge 1 of 30...yeah i'm late, poets are always late!

National Poetry Month is on of my favorite times of year!!!  Mostly because it is in April and I love spring...but I love poetry as well.  It is always fun to see all of the "poetry challenge" posts on social media sites along with all of the awesome poetry events that go on during this month.  I love the poetry challenge but being a mother of five it is hard for me to make any commitment past taking a shower and brushing my teeth on a daily basis!  So I am going to humbly attempt to write 30 poems in 30 days, even though I am a spur of the moment, middle of the night, while i'm driving with no pen or paper in sight type of writers.  I am already 10 days late and playing catch up, so these 30 poems in 30 days may never come to fruition...and if not, oh well, it could be worse!!!

Epilogue of Clementine

Life Actually

Rhapsody wrapped in beautiful tragedy

Causality of my own calamities

Clementine

Coal miners daughter

Got to close to the water, mesmerized by my own reflection

I got carried away

Hopefully one day

School children will sing songs of my demise disguised by innocence

Death is so poetic when paired with the right melody

Sing the song of my transition in a key of transparency

Let them see me for what I really was

Am

Always will be

A girl who teeters near the fringes

Fear of falling is not a strong enough deterrent

The rumble of the current sounds like the ancestors speaking in drums

The whispers of the waves call me to wade in the brine

The divine is not sublime here

It is in your face

Up close and personal invading personal space

Bold and thrilling

Fulfilling private prophecies

Weaving me into the tapestry of God’s property

I am not lost and gone forever

And I never will be

I am music

I am memory

I am mystery

I am free

"A Taste of Flint" Poetry, Music and Food wrapped in one event! You don't wanna miss this 2/15/14

"A Taste of Flint" 
2/15/2014
Greater Flint Arts Council
6-9pm
Tickets $10 (includes food)
Come out and experience 3 of my favorite things wonderful poetry, music and FOOD! Featuring music from Green Chi, poetry by De'Marcus Johnson,She'a Cobb, Crystal Turner, Stanford Lewis and Amber Hasan! This show will feature "Sensational Sauces" created by Flint Town's own Chef Duane Wardand food will be provided by Eazey's Smoken' Bbq De...This event is sure to excite the senses!!! Tickets go on sale tomorrow!!!

Why I Cook Black Eyed Peas for the New Year and A NEW POEM!!!!!!!

For the past few days I have had the strongest craving for black eyed peas!  When I woke up this morning it dawned on me why (No I am NOT pregnant again).  I believe the reason for my craving is because it is New Years Eve, and for as long as I can remember my mother, grandmother, and aunts always make black eyed peas on New Years Eve.  I believe that the tradition is centered around having good fortunes in the coming year, but seeing as though I am not a subscriber to luck I cook black eyed peas on this day for another reason and that reason is tradition.  I no longer have my maternal grandmother and great-grandmother in my life to turn to for wisdom.  I spent so much of my life being influenced by the examples of those two wonderful women, learning from every visit and conversation.     So even though I can no longer share physical space with those special women, on this day I can stir up their memories in a pot of Black Eyed Peas!  Everyone have a safe and happy New Year!

Peas In the Pot

Black eyed peas for the New Year
Not because I believe in luck
but because its what my grandmother did
it is tradition
Black eyed peas are never as good as they are on New Years day
tasting like my Granny's hugs and kisses
memories simmering
pots full of family
feeding spirits
reaching back and passing forward
I bring them with me in bowls full of knowledge
pot liquor poets
those women-folk who fed me
gave me recipes for survival
something substantial to chew on
to grow from
to digest
in my soul and in my flesh I was nourished
gave it to me straight
their truth gave me courage
the way that they flourished in the worst situations gives me patience
motivation
their is no "give up" in my blood
only black eyed peas
cooked on New Years eve
and bellies full of love

My mommy haiku aka "bout dat life"

I have been writing Haiku's lately...this one is for all mothers of the world, you are NOT Alone!!!

I can't Piss in peace/
Feet in my back while I sleep/
Kids are a mother/

SpitFire Poetry/Nacho Pizza/ East Lansing

Performing always gives me a rush!  I love being on stage just as much as I love writing. But between juggling 5 kids, writing and managing a household I am often times too exhausted to doll myself up to get on stage!  By the remote chance that I have energy to perform who has the time or free brain cells to memorize poetry along side keeping track of dentist appointments and oil changes?

So tonight was a treat for me!

Tonight I was the feature poet at SpitFire Poetry in East Lansing, hosted by Logic and Ethereal at a cozy art gallery, Metrospace.  The show was great, tons of positive energy, wonderful poetry and an amazing pizza spot next door called Georgio's, which served a delicious nacho pizza (East Lansing has so many cool spots to get good food), truly one of the highlights of my night. Not only was I given the opportunity to present my work, but I was also blessed with the ability to experience new artists, network and build with creative minds. Thanks to the hosts for inviting me and displaying such genuine hospitality and my sincerest appreciation to all the supporters who came out to the show, the crowd was full off love and that alone makes what I do worth it!

DISTRACTIONS: the top 10 things that keep me from writing... #MomLife #Distractions #Writing #Poetry #realLIFE

Hello all!!!  I know it has been a while and I sincerely apologize(not really it just seems polite to say) because I have been a lazy writer.  Although I can be a very lazy writer, many times I have perfectly valid reasons (valid in my twisted mind) why I don't write.  In my attempts to do better (i'm in a 12 step program for artists) I am going to address my obstacles to writing in order to overcome them!!! ***(I'm not really in a program, and addressing these issues will probably in no way help solve them!!!)


10.  T.V.
Judge shows, Scandal, Shark Week, an SVU marathon, who could write with hip-hop ab infomercials and paternity test being read left and right!!!  I hate to admit it but unless I am truly inspired I CAN NOT work while watching T.V.

9.  Food
I love to snack.  Writing while snacking never works for me because snacking generally leads to more snacking, which leads to watching T.V. (which also distracts me from writing)

8.  Cell Phone
Rather someone is calling, texting, emailing, tweeting it all manifests through my phone... which has mysteriously become an appendage (I'm sure it's a government conspiracy) and I obediently make myself redly available to the world, all day, everyday...and God forbid I cut my tracking device off, or don't answer it, or say the battery dies...it is as if catastrophic events are scheduled to transpire if people can't contact me for a day or two (pardon my venting)

7.  Significant Other
I am quite sure that being in a relationship with a writer, or any artist for that matter, can be frustrating and confusing.  Normal people don't stop mid-conversation to search for a writing utensil (even a crayon will do) and paper (a receipt, paper bag, envelope...anything really) so that they can write down the poem that has been harassing their brain all day, and then return to the conversation like nothing ever happened!  Being a writer and being in a relationship I have to make sure that I am not being selfish with my time.  Writing can consume me if I let it so I make a conscious effort not to neglect my partner...or my writing...

6.  Anxiety
I am aware of my anxiety.
I work my way through my anxiety.
But working through my anxiety takes physical, mental and spiritual energy which sometimes leaves me too exhausted to write.  Writing helps but sometimes my anxiety creates an almost electric energy that keeps me bouncing off the walls, mind and body.  During these times it is like I can't shut the words in my head off, they just keep coming and it is so overwhelming that I can't grasp one word, thought or idea to help me stay afloat.  That is why I named my first book "Drowning in my own spit", because sometimes it feels like I am really drowning in my words and thoughts.

5.  Illness


4.  Sleep
I wake up before the sun most mornings and I am constantly moving ALL DAY LONG, so when I do get a second to sit still I usually fall asleep, sometimes I plan it...sometimes it just happens!  Sleep has become such a precious commodity to me at this point in my life.  I was always a night owl but now I can't wait to cozy up, wether it is to sneak in a nap or get a full nights rest sleep has become my new muse!

3. Researching conspiracy theories and watching hood fight videos on YouTube
My guilty pleasures in life are conspiracy theories and ridiculous YouTube hood fight videos, there I admit it!  I am sure that there is a conspiracy theory about YouTube being invented to keep us from being productive by providing an endless supply of whatever you want to see...*side note- I also look up how-to and DIY videos on YouTube about things that I never plan to do.

2.  Books
Hello, my name is Amber and I am a bibliophile...every since I was a little girl I have loved books.  The smell of the pages, the sound of the pages turning, the weight and texture of the paper, an most of all the worlds that exist between the covers have kept me captivated for years.  Books have always played an important role in my life, to the point where if I start a book and set it down for too long I start to feel guilty for neglecting it.  When I start reading I tune out everything like i'm in a trance or an alternate universe...lol...so it is often times the case that I cheat on my pen with my books.

1.  Kids
My children are my world, the reason why I exist, my everything...including my fail proof scape goats! Everyday there are between 5-11 children ages 1-12 at my house requiring my attention in some sort of capacity.  I personally gave birth to 5 children, my S.O. has 1 child, and I help my sister with her 6 children so that she can work.  I homeschool 4 children and cook dinner every night, and just doing those two tasks can be a feat!  Not to mention laundry, diaper changing, potty training, dealing with puberty...time for writing, hell I barely have time to breathe!!!  But one thing that I promised myself as a  naive, pregnant 19 year old was that I would never let being a mother be a burden.  I never want my children to think that you have to sacrifice your gifts in order to be an active parent, you just have to be organized, driven and full of faith in the fact that you were built for this!

Hopefully making this list will help me to focus my energy and remain conscious of my distractions and take the steps needed keep my distractions and my productivity balanced. (and if not oh well at least I tried)