Every once in a while one must cocoon in seclusion,

Away from the wondering eyes,

The prying sighs,

The judgmental smiles,

The external uttering’s,

From the this and the that;

The he said, she said

The demanders, 

The beggars,

The constant naggers,

The nay sayers,

The players,

The meddlers,

The malice perpetrators,

The prolific advisors,

If only but for a moment...

To hear oneself think!

To truly understand what one believes outside of influences.

To access the center of ones being,

To dwell in the place of silence, solitude and tranquility...

In order to find clarity and assurance.

To Affirm and Reaffirm,

To Connect and Re-connect

With the Divine,

With Self,

To understand purpose;

And to bask in the knowledge that one's feet is still firmly planted.

Sometimes.....

Silence is golden

Solitude is grace

And a necessary escape

For one to find their place

D.S.B. Rhapsody ©2008

There are no

IFs

ANDs

or

BUTs

There just

IS

You can,

If you choose,

Argue the point,

Bemoan the how and why

If that is what it'll take to make you feel better

But

It won’t change the fact

that

It IS what it IS

Pssssssssst, baby

Mmmm, looking good

Can a brother get your number?

My number?

Brother you ain’t right

What you doing here

On the street corner everyday

Morning, Noon and night

That just ain’t right

Come on baby

Just a little taste

Let’s go fool around and fornicate

Make some babies and regenerate

Let’s make it a spontaneous date

A'int such a big thing if you late

Think of all the time we'd have to copulate.

Sorry brother I have issues with being late

Wait, wait, wait!

Spontaneous?

Copulate?

Fornicate?

Regenerate?

Brother you’re an impostor!

Whom you trying to perpetrate?

Or are you too invested in self-hate

To straighten out your current state

What you about?

Where are you going?

Tell me you more than about sitting on the street corner showboating

Get it together

Redirect that swagger

Expend the time you use sitting on the street corner

Putting your life in order 

I know your value

I see the potential

But you don’t seem to think you have the credentials

Come on brother

Get it right

Stop being your own blight

It’s time to take flight

And get your shit right

And please remember

Am not your baby a’ight?

D.S.B. Rhapsody © 2008

When I learn to treat myself well,

I won’t accept anything less than the best,

And doing so allows me to understand what being mistreated is.

When I understand myself,

I am better able to express, articulate and clarify my wishes,

And it allows me to recognize when I am understood and misunderstood.

When I make sure that I take care of my needs,

It allows me courage not to allow myself to be coerced into self-neglect.

When I give to myself that, which I desire from others,

I can identify when I am getting what I want.

When I love myself completely with honesty and integrity,

I am able to keep it real and honor myself in all things.

It allows for a continuity of self-advocacy even when it seats me uncomfortably.

When I accept me, as I am, with all my flaws, imperfections and idiosyncrasies

It matters little who does not,

And makes those who do, all the more a blessing.

I set the standard for how I will and am treated

DBS Rhapsody © 2008

Some things, once unraveled cannot be refolded precisely to present an untouched quality as the slightest change leaves its mark even if it’s invisible to the eye.

MY POINT:

Not everything felt should be expressed; some things are better left unsaid.

Let’s meet and talk

We met

We talked

You talked

I listened,

Paid attention

To the reciprocal conversation

I learnt,

You’re married…

With children

And I understood,

You’re skulking away to see me

The respect falls away

Discarded like rotting meat

As you sing the old standard

We are together but not “together”

We live together like “friends”

"She" doesn't understand me 

The more you talked

The less I listened

Distanced although am there

Already mentally disappeared

Not about to be co-opted into an affair

I am worth too much to care or hear

As you declared

I want to see you again

As you questioned…

When will I see you again?

I smiled

Walking away

Knowing I will never see you again

I am my priority

Worthy of more

Than half measures

And blessed with the good sense to

Know it

Feel it

Understand it

And embrace it unapologetically

I smile knowing

I chose me  

D.S.B Rhapsody © 2008

I would have gone out with you again, If only… You didn’t eliminate yourself by begging me for money. Thanks for the warning.