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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 fêted 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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.