Saturday, April 30, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Momma, Mother’s Day Tribute Poem


President Obama & Poets at the White House

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor my mother with my Mother’s Day Tribute poem, visual poetry Momma

Momma, I remember, you
Not one of us; your love, did we ever, doubt
You, most definitely set a sterling example
Of a mother, considerate and devout
Nobody, nobody was ever overlooked or went without
Not us kids, not daddy
No matter how much we would yell or pout

Not the woman who needed a coat
As she fled a husband's vicious shout
Not the homeless woman, looking for handouts
As she aimlessly wandered about
Not even, the man who escaped from a chain gang
Looking for food and a waterspout
Not one person in need
Did you ever, refuse to help out
With a personality such as yours
Disclosed in any given dossier

Momma, for you
There will be an eternal tribute on display
A tall, elegant, crystal vase
Filled with a gigantic, colorful, fragrant
Tea rose bouquet
For, you will always be a beautiful
Chic, classy, compassionate mother, I say
Momma, I remember you clearly
As if, it was yesterday...

Excerpt from Momma
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Friday, April 29, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; The Daddy, Father’s Day Tribute Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor my father with my Father’s Day Tribute poem, visual poetry The Daddy

Daddy, your lessons were heartfelt
Meaningful and matter-of-fact
On each of our lives; you definitely, made, an impact
A strong belief in God; you often, did display
You constantly, encouraged us, all
To do, as the Bible, say
You said, abiding the law was the cornerstone
For a successful life, the best, way
The boys, you taught and groomed, to be real men
The girls, you instructed; “Develop a career; a trade, to tend”
You said; “For, yourselves; you must always, fend”
You said; “Upon a man; never, ever, solely, depend”
And, you said; “If abuse occurs; freedom is yours”
“And, your heart; you can mend”

Daddy, you set the tone
You were, the daddy and momma to the eight of us
Completely, on your own
Your cold remedies were strong, bitter
And, many groans, were sown
But, just the same
Your parental concern, was actually, shown
Daddy, you were the captain
And, the anchor, of our crew 
You may not have been the daddy
Who didn’t blunder, a time or two
But, you were the daddy, subject to error
An imperfect being; as we all, adhere to
You were simply, the daddy
Who did the best, you knew, to do

Daddy, we appreciate your efforts
And the difficulties
You, went through
For that, daddy,
We will always, we grateful to you
And, a vase of blue iris
Will eternally pay tribute 
To your faith, wisdom and valor
All, knew as true
Daddy, you will forever be
The daddy, none
Can ever, compare
Daddy, you were certainly
The daddy, who genuinely did, care...

Excerpt from The Daddy
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Atlantic Slave Trade Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; my poem, visual poetry Stolen Dignity honors all the souls snatched from Africa and sold into slavery, worldwide; via the Atlantic Slave Trade.

African drums
Fading, fading into the night 
Innocent souls, were snatched, outright
Souls were wickedly shackled and yoked
Darkening that freedom’s light
All were crammed into ships, close and tight
Bound for far, far lands; out of sight
My Lord, my Lord; why the plight

African drums
African soothing proud drums
Fading, fading into the night 
Recalling the stolen families
Recalling the vitality of dignity
Recalling might and insight
And, finally recalling the will
Recalling the will, to fight 

Excerpt from Stolen Dignity 
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Poop Scoop Pledge Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; my poem The Poop-Scoop Pledge encourages all pet owners to commit to preventing serious human health hazards by scooping the poop.                                                 

I promise as I walk here and there with my best pal
I will proudly carry a scooper to remove all residual
I will not allow my neighborhood duty to go awry
I promise to be readily observant as we stroll by
I will not harm others with the fecal bacteria group
So, when pal squats to drop piles of poop
I will quickly remove it with a clean swoop
'Cause, I actually care about the public safety, that's no doubt
Believe me; I am so ashamed that it took this long, to shout it out
From this day forward, I will use considerate, discipline
I promise, I'll be a responsible animal lover, thru thick and thin
And, I will encourage others to avoid, committing the same, poop sin
This solemn oath, I will never renege, dilly-dally nor hedge
For, today, I faithfully agree to the crucial, Poop-Scoop Pledge

Excerpt from The Poop-Scoop Pledge                                                 
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Time Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor the wisdom of patience with my poem, visual poetry Time    

Tick- tock, tick- tock 
Listen to the clock 
A lie, it cannot tell 
Time, will reveal, it all
Revelation is destined to billow tall
Some overlook its power
While allowing fear to over shower
Tick- tock, tick- tock 
Listen to the clock… 

Excerpt from Time
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Soul Food Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor the origins and joys of African American food with my poem, visual poetry Soul Food

Soul food is all in the attitude
Way back then; determination fueled survival
The creativity of enslaved souls was clearly at work
They transformed crude scraps and inexpensive cuts
All tossed to those, society deemed to exclude
Chitterlings, ham hocks, neck bones, Hoppin' John   
Bowls and bowls of slow cooked red beans
Black-eyed peas, mustard and collard greens 
Fat back seasoned cabbage and butter beans 
Pickled pigs feet, crispy fried cracklings
It’s all soul food; nourishment of bondage
And, later meals created because of poverty’s magnitude
Some were flambéed, flayed and brewed
Whether, food for a buffet marathon
Everyday meals or goings-on
They are always flavorsome, cultural bonbons

Excerpt from Soul Food
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; President Obama; Torchbearer of Change Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor President Barack Obama with my poem and visual poetry The Torchbearer of Change

In this moment; America celebrates President Barack Obama
President Obama; the torchbearer, innovator
The torchbearer ready to transform and restore
The torchbearer who is not afraid to have his say
The torchbearer who promises a much better way
The torchbearer who firmly maintains a stand
The torchbearer of, I Can
The torchbearer of, On Principles I Stand
The torchbearer of integrity
The torchbearer of liberty
The torchbearer of equality
The torchbearer in possession of the harmony key
The torchbearer with the bipartisanship and unity recipe
And, the torchbearer; keeper of America’s inferno, energy…

Excerpt from The Torchbearer of Change
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Hollywood A-Listers Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor those who represent Hollywood with sophistication, versatility and grace with my poem, visual poetry Hooray for Hollywood, Unique A-Listers Outweigh

Believe it, there are those who won’t ever
Dare, tarnish Hollywood’s face
They clearly shine with versatility, sophistication and grace
They are actors with skills
Free of a need for connections or a special pedigree
They haven’t time for scandals or toying with the greedy paparazzi
They ooze with a whole lotta passion, talent and sensibility
Their only dramas are proudly played out on the big screen
With impressive, bold, thespian diplomacy 
And, if that Academy Award is presented
Then, that desirable fĂŞted Oscar
Symbolizes excellent work and an endorsed reality 
Hooray for the real A-Listers, they are Hollywood’s mainstay
They set tone in the midst of Tinsel Town’s melee
They a group of classy celebrities from Hollywood to Broadway
They are restoring the mystique of the red carpet heyday
Hollywood, CA; it is now, most surely, a new day
All because of those unique A-listers who absolutely, outweigh

An Excerpt from Hooray for Hollywood, Unique A-Listers Outweigh
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Easter Bunny Poems

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I highlight my children’s poems, visual poetry of Easter bunny delight; The Easter Bunnies on Hip-Hop Hill and The Great Easter Egg Balloon Drop.  The poems focus on doing what is right and the world’s prettiest Easter bunnies with special skills.

Easter on Hip-Hop Hill is always such a wonderful thrill
Grass of every color grows next to four leaf clovers and the daffodil
On the morning of Easter Day, bunny rabbits hop out of their hideaway
They go about hiding eggs, while they sing, dance and play
They hop-bop and hop-bop from side to side
They do a ducky-wucky dip, turn and do a quick skipping stride
They bow, do a fancy-dancy little slide
They twirl and twirl and slowly ease into a riding glide
They jump into a slip-flip and softly land as they smile, all goggle-eyed
Then they proudly march about, showing their hip-hop, bunny pride
And, so, if on Easter Day you happen to visit Hip-Hop Hill
Get ready for the best bunny drill
There, you will be able to see bunny rabbits as they sing, dance and play
And, of course, you will find pretty eggs, along the way…

An Excerpt from The Easter Bunnies on Hip-Hop Hill
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet


Ah, the little village called Bunny Ville
That’s where the world’s best bunnies call home
Every year, days before Easter
The bunnies gather to practice to hop and prepare eggs
For, the great delivery to nearby towns on the hill
The top bunny calls out the drill
With a tout on his whistle and a loud shout
He says “Let’s see if you’re ready for the egg delivery route”
 
An Excerpt from The Great Easter Egg Balloon Drop
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Negro Baseball League Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor the Negro League baseball players with poem and visual poetry Players of Valor, The Negro Baseball League

They were all cleverly competitive, outstanding leaders
Who blazed trails and painted history to tell
All were extremely versatile but received very little pay
Their amazing God given skills paved the way
Many impressive memories linger
The guards for shins and helmets for batting
Each uniquely created and proclaimed
The sounds of cheers, striking bats
Flying balls and sliding home, a little lame
They were players of the Negro Leagues
All dedicated to the sheer enjoyment of the game
They were appreciated, respected
And we are ever so glad, they came...

An Excerpt from Players of Valor, The Negro Baseball League
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; The Baby Boomers Creed Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor the numerous American Baby Boomers with my poem and visual poetry The Baby Boomers Creed

We are Baby Boomers, we are
We are the generation most creative and diverse, by far 
Brand new paths, we have set, all ablaze 
And, we have transformed each and every, life phase 
In elementary school we learned from Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot and Puff 
We entertained ourselves; we played rough and sometimes fell on our duff 
Hide-n-seek, ring around the roses
Red light, green light, sling shots and blind man's bluff 
And, toy makers provided us with a whole lotta, stuff 
The slinky, yo-yos, hula-hoops, spinnin', spinnin’ tops
And, marbles and jacks were way off, the cuff
Our music was hot, it has stood the test of time and still hangs tough
We sure did create over two decades of youth culture, positively enough

An Excerpt from The Baby Boomers Creed
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Friday, April 8, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Social Workers Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor Social Workers with my poem and visual poetry the Social Workers Creed.

We are Social Workers, all with an eclectic dossier
We are educated from many an accredited CSWE academy
We hail with the BSW, MSW or DSW degrees
And, stints of unique supervised fieldwork, has enhanced our abilities
We are licensed, certified or even registered; valid, prudent uniformity
Be it LCSW, LMSW or LBSW; the titles, we display, respectfully
We empower, helping people help themselves; we’ve got the right stuff
We possess dedication, determination and competency; minus the fluff
Sho’ ‘nuf, we are America’s empathetic angels; tuff enough
The NASW Code of Ethics, we staunchly adhere to and abide
Cause it encompasses values, principles and standards to guide
We celebrate March as National Professional Social Work Month, for sure
Yet, throughout the year, we practice what we preach, without forfeiture
We definitely make a difference, free of an air of flare
We are authentic and resolute, with lots of care
We claim it; we are judicious Social Workers, extraordinaire
Social Work heroes; worthy of a Bust on a Stand; forever, there...

An excerpt from Social Workers Creed
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Deacons for Defense and Justice Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor the Deacons for Defense and Justice with my poem and visual poetry the Deacons for Defense and Justice; Civil Rights Warriors; Brothers, Badass Bold

Deacons for Defense and Justice
Firm objectors of bigoted oppression
Deacons for Defense and Justice
Legitimate advocates for integration
The almighty Deacons for Defense and Justice
Dependable defenders of truth
Deacons, fuh true; respect and appreciation for you is overdue
Your undying sacrifices and dedication justifies a listin' in the Who's Who
Deacons, I salute you with absolute, steadfast reverence, true-blue
For, your audacity permitted us a peaceful setting, in which to abide
Consequently, a bust on a stand exalts the DDJ
Deacons; gentlemen, forever, dignified…

An Excerpt from Deacons for Defense and Justice; Civil Rights Warriors; Brothers, Badass Bold
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Recovery Road Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; my poem, visual poetry Recovery Road encourages a drug-free lifestyle.

Where have you been, haven't you heard
Recovery is the word
Ecstasy, Cocaine, Alcohol, Pills, Fry
Weed, Syrup, Heroin or Crystal Meth's curd
They can never provide happiness inward nor outward
No amount of drugs, sadness, will they erase
And, not one problem will that hit gratify
But soon, health problems, they will most definitely, amplify
Kidney failure, cirrhosis, heart attacks, and strokes' reply
Or, finally an overdose that sets off death's untimely, lullaby
Denial must not be allowed to control and domineer
For, to sustain recovery
One must be determined, committed and sincere...

An Excerpt from
Recovery Road
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011; A Perfect World Poem

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I am asking everyone to consistently make efforts to show compassion and acceptance towards others.  My poem, visual poetry A Perfect World and visual poetry, the Lamp of Love was created as a result of noticing the manner in which some mistreat people they perceive as different.

I wish there were a world where hatred, prejudice had no place
I wish there were a world where inclusion was the rule, no matter the race
I wish there were a world, free of evil and wrong
A world, where everybody got along
A world, where we lived in harmony, for our lifelong
Let us light and maintain the Lamp of Love, eternally
For, on this planet, there will always be so many different beliefs, nationalities
Still, we can make it a perfect world, if we only stand together, peacefully…

An excerpt from A Perfect World
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

Monday, April 4, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty Days of National Poetry Month 2011, Poems Honor Mothers, Fathers

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor mothers and fathers who have and continue to make sacrifices for their children.  My poetry, visual poems; Daddy and Mother, A Lady, So Uniquely Rare recognize the special skills loving parents display that make a lasting impact on children.


“Mother, never, will she ever, compare
A mother is surely, a lady full of divine strength and patience”…

Excerpt from Mother, A Lady, So Uniquely Rare
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet


“All men will be measured by you
You, standing tall and handsome, as you do
You setting standards, good bad or new”…

Excerpt from Daddy
Copyright by Deborah Young, Visual Poet

 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Visual Poet’s Thirty, 30 Days of National Poetry Month 2011; Inspired Creativity

On this day of National Poetry Month 2011; I honor those individuals who have inspired my creativity.  Over the years, numerous people have inspired my poems, visual poetry.  The list includes James H. Young, Sr., Theron Payne Young, Former President Bill Clinton, United States military service members, Rhythm Night Club victims, Dr. James H. Young, Jr, Dr. Devell Young, Dan Faulkner, Baby Boomers, bona fide Social Workers, the Young and the Restless, Hollywood A-Listers, Bernie Mac, Sam Cooke, and many others.