“Just because you put a poet’s pen in your mouth doesn’t mean you know how to spit ink.”
– X Blu Rayne
Social Media
Social media has completely taken over the internet. Today there is pretty much nothing you can do that does not involve some kind of media outlet, or does not at least benefit in some way from its usage. Social media can be defined as any computer-mediated tool that allows people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities. If social media was a real live place, where would you want to live and why?
Roses
“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”
― Alphonse Karr, A Tour Round My Garden
This Blog and Poetry
As I prepare to release my 3rd collection of poetry next year (2015), I have to take the time to thank everyone who has supported this blog specifically for its poetry. Interestingly enough, in the attempt not to prematurely release pieces from the upcoming album, I have written a lot of new poems specifically to be featured on this blog; and as such will now be included in the book. It may seem that I’m “letting the cat out the bag”, but in all truth some of the poems that will make it to the book was first published here to this blog, and now they will also make it in the book. It would appear that blogging has in many ways helped to inspire me to write more and to compile a list of select poems I think will really speak to you, the people. I get to see which ones you really seem to like and those you don’t in an effort to make sure that this next piece is indeed a masterpiece. Blogging and Poetry…who knew?
Nothing To Do
“I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.” ― Paul Simon
I’m Sorry
death
it’s sting
produces a humility powerful enough
to find itself a home
even inside the heart of the one
who holds the cup of “I’m sorry’s”
hoping their voice is sad enough
to produce the kind of sympathy
that peels back the brick
that found itself a place
inside the gut of the bereaved
the lump
waiting inside their throats
is this “I’m Sorry” strong enough?
“I’m sorry”
makes me feel guilty
because I know that it is not enough,
in fact
it almost sounds cliché
how can this routine “I’m sorry”
ever guarantee the sincere apology I feel
for the woman
who lost her husband in the hands of doctors
with spines like jellyfish,
the inconsiderate “I’m sorry”
floating out the window of the hospital,
where his breath left it’s good bye on the table
without warning
didn’t want to wake her sleeping gorgeous
so he left in the middle of the night
just to see her smile one last time
for he knew that she would smile
in her dreams
Or the man
who lost his brother with the split of atoms
like storms breaking through to the clouds
like a mother’s arms spread wide enough
to capture his smiles in a bowl
but aint no rainbows today
cause grief
it convinces us that the world
has ceased existing
and molds its rotations to the contours of our hearts
“Why are you sorry?!”
screams the confused silence of my bones
or the unflinching expression of a man’s face
after a life-time of catastrophes
tainted love
chocking dreams
and memories like the scenic route to civil wars
& he wears it all
with a walk like a stone cold killer
and a face fit for poker
but his heart is pale with grief
I know
cause I heard it in his smile
he laughs
but only because his body weeps
too weak internally
to die physically too
so when he grieves
and when she grieves
when their pain is too deep
to find alongside the outline of their faces
too far to find within the pages of their past
but close enough to smell in the sorrow of their loss
in these bags
filled to the brim with all their stuff
what do you say
when the air isn’t pure enough to breathe
and a routine, “I’m sorry” is simply not enough
to convince them
that the world
still spins
Commonly Asked Questions about Twins
Yea, you guessed it, I’m a twin. The following questions have followed me around my whole life, and on behalf of twins everywhere, I present the following commonly, sometimes annoyingly, asked questions:
“Yall twins?”
We are obviously twins. But I must say I’m guilty of this myself. Though being a twin, when I see other twins I ask the same questions other people ask me. Hmmm, wonder if that breaks some kind of twin rule.
“Who the oldest?”
Is this a trick question? But since you asked, I came out first.
“By how many minutes?”
Five whole minutes and I’m the big sister, yay me
“Yall fraternal or identical?”
This is a good question actually. A lot of people get confused between the two. Identical twins look well, identical, but this doesn’t determine whether or not they’re identical. A general stereotype about identical twins is that they are clones. They act alike, look alike, and are expected to be “identical.” However, the term identical twins actually describe how we form in the womb, not what we look like. Also known as monozygotic, identical twins are twins who developed from one egg that splits and forms two embryos. Fraternal, or dizygotic, twins develop from two eggs, each fertilized by separate sperm cells. (This is why fraternal twins sometimes look nothing alike) Dizygotic twins share about 50% of their genetic traits, the same as any other siblings born at different times. With that said, my sister and I are identical twins.
“Who’s the mean one?”
You know, being a twin doesn’t mean that we share personalities. In some ways we do, but we’re not half of one thing and another half of another thing. There’s not one who’s wholly mean and another who’s wholly nice. We both still have our own individual character traits.
“If I hit you, will she feel it?”
I don’t know, if I hit you, will you feel it?
Some interesting facts about identical twins:
• The causes of monozygotic twinning are generally unknown and unidentified. No one really knows why an egg splits; according to the “professionals” it’s a malfunction of the normal development process. I beg to differ, there is nothing abnormal about us. We’re awesome. 🙂
• There’s no hereditary trait that influences a predisposition to having identical twins. Contrary to popular belief identical twins do not run in families, although there are families with a high incidence of identical twins.
• Identical twins represent about a third of all twins. fraternal twins are twice as common as identical.
• Birth rate statistics for identical twinning have remained stable over the years, despite the overall increase in twins and multiples since the late 1980’s. The odds of having identical twins are about 3 in 1,000, whereas the birthrate for all twins is about 32.2 in 1,000.
• Identical twinning is not generally influenced by fertility-enhancing treatments like drugs or in vitro, although identical twins have been produced in pregnancies that were the result of such treatments.
• Birth rates for identical twins are consistent across populations; it is the same regardless of race, geography or mate
“What’s the most fun thing about being a twin?”
People are fascinated by us.
The PBS Blog 