Wonderful ME!

who am i that i should think

that i should be

or even smile

what gives me the right

to dance and twirl 

to dip my hip

to feel the sensuous beat

to see the sunlight skip across the dawn

who am i that i should think 

that i should be

or even smile

what gives me the right

to sing and crescendo 

and sound like crystal

who am i that i should think

that i should be

or even smile

what gives me the right

to lift my eyes

and spread my arms to embrace myself

who am i?

i am just me

wonderful me, flawed though i may be

i have the right to be just me

      Selah!

(March 2011 - Excerpt from ‘This is Me’)

The Power of Three

They belong together, love in its purest form.

Three bodies born in the same sweet nectar

fearfully and wonderfully made

 moving to soundless music, music in the key of joy.

Songs sung, a chorus of the days beginning and end 

Magic made in the sharing

They belong together, love in its purest form

 vivid in the color of mirth, laughter creating a thin place where 

Past touches present exploding into the future.

Whispers of thankfulness, petitions of forgiveness are sent

To hope that embraces faith while greeting serenity.

 Familiar souls wrapped in spirit stand guard

 chasing pain into the abyss bringing light to hope

 embracing faith while greeting serenity.

They belong together, love in its purest form

Small hands as warm as love, as safe as prayer

Creamy nutmeg, café au lait, milk-doused caramel

Gentle as untwisted soft silk carried from the 

Flowery Kingdom to where home fires burn

They belong together, love in its purest form

 Love dressed in its most brilliant hue

Three hearts beat happily 

The power of three

Survivor

I am a survivor, from the past, present, and future.
I am from the legacy of strong women, determined to move 
(from the outhouse to the big house).
I am from faith gained and nurtured dreams that soar like eagles.
I am from the name that means Rock, strong, unmovable, and unshakable.
I am a survivor

Life’s pains have caused me to ask a few questions, like:
“Who am I?  Why am I here?”
Does my color define me?
Does my size cause me to be ignored?
Does my womanhood, strength, and determination offend thee?
I am the one who has walked quiet.
I am the one who has been forced to be invisible.
Forced to hold my peace.
Forced to suppress who I am and want to be so others could rise.
I am a survivor

The time has come for me to make a difference!
To rise up!
Be counted!
Be respected!
To silence the noise of the past and move ahead!
I am a survivor

In this season all misunderstandings will work themselves out.
In this season I will birth out the stored creativity that has been locked within me.
In this season I will forgive myself of mistakes, mishaps, and failures that will one day turn to successes.
Life is not a dress rehearsal; I must ask my self, “How will history remember me?”
I will leave a legacy of faith, strength and determination.
I am a survivor

Shattered dreams (like a glass broken into tiny pieces).
Divorce, “felt like a hot knife cutting through butter” but the river of living

water has come to put me back together again.
Single, how will I raise my children so they will be a beautiful portrait and walk colorful in their gifts?
Cancer, stealing life from my brother and mother, “the foundation is gone who will lead the way?”
Lost, lonely but not alone.
Sad...
But I am a survivor

Emotions blowing around like a leaf in the wind.
I know now that I will have to:
Laugh because it’s good medicine.
Find Joy because it’s my strength.
Run to peace for it will sustain me.
When weak, God will make me strong.
When alone (God will not leave or forsake me).
When broke (I will give).
When troubled (I will pray).
When lost (God will guide me)
Weeping may endure for a night but joy will come in the morning.
It is morning time!!!
It is morning time!!!
It is my morning time!!!
It may feel and look like I am on the bottom, but I’m coming up real soon!
Because I am a survivor

I am the one who pain tried to silence.
I am the one whose troubles tried to kill.
I am the one where life almost lost its meaning.
I am the one who never fit because I was not white enough, not rich enough, not smart enough, not beautiful enough, not small enough.
I am the one whose voice will silence the pain; For me first, my children and then for others.
I am the one who stands before you now...
No longer broken...

BUT A SURVIVOR

Hear Our Voices Live on April 19!

Exciting news!  On Thursday, April 19, the Pentimenti Women will be featured guests at the Haley House Cafe as part of their weekly performance series Art is Life Itself.  We  hope you will come hear our work brought to life in each of our unique voices.   

Thursday, April 19, 6-9PM (The Pentimenti Women will take the stage at 7:30PM.)

Haley House Bakery Cafe

12 Dade Street

Roxbury, MA 02119

If you are unfamiliar with Haley House, it is a wonderful organization that believes in (delicious) food with a purpose and the power of community.  Learn more about them here.

Life Love

At dawn’s first push into blushing light

velvet black lashes flutter as monarch’s wings.

My struggle with waking lost, and the veil of sleep drawn back.

I see you, seeing me as though for the first time.

I can hear all in those eyes as I fall into their deepness.

With wondrous thought you ask,

Who is she?

What is she,

that her mere being holds me with a power super-natural?

Her skin soft as sky cloud, lips a deep wine perfect in silhouette with

a supple sweetness that would drive the most stalwart insane with desire

and at the same moment powerless at a sober sharp wit tumbling from them

cutting to the quick.

I see you, still strong: a warrior worthy of ballads sung, stories told.

Time finds you still tall, wise yet yielding, with a heart holding sweetness beside

the shadows of pain past and present now and again flickering ever so slightly

across your brow. 

I see you, as your fingers lightly brush a wayward wisp of hair from my face tapping the tip of my nose in their travel to my heart still

beating in time with yours…magnificent, powerful.

From somewhere and nowhere I hear my name and with it a knowing you will always be here listening, waiting for my call.

You now see me seeing you as if for the first time

the last time.

Shani's Song

I am a Brown Skinned Woman

Warm, so warm in sienna, bark, mahogany, color wrapping around the beginning with a hot cinnamon sweetness.

I am a Brown Skinned Woman

Born of dark and oh so darker queens of fierce, fearless mighty Amazons

The strength of my loins held rivers, mighty oceans, and love to the world.

I am a Brown Skinned Woman

Love, loving, lover, holding heart and soul tight within, ancient music emanating from my secret place.

I am a Brown Skinned Woman

A comely Mother of the Ages 

Tasting of strength, tasting of life

Here now,

Here forever.

I am.

Cover Me

I have seen some bridges, you know…I’ve seen them.

Liken to those in my dreaming eye 

covered with Heaven’s hand, those long ago hallowed halls of travel to

passion and the raw beauty of nature -

God’s very breath.

I have touched some bridges, I tell you…I’ve touched them,

and they crooned the sultry longings, pain and desires of Lady Day,

the cool, low, creamy tones of Johnny Hartman as we melted into one another

sweeping, swaying, swinging

I have walked on some bridges, I say…I’ve walked on them,

as the rippling rivers underneath spoke of magic

creating a love lasting all the way to forever.

I have danced on some bridges; I remember…I’ve danced on them.

Oh, to once again dance with you so stand-still slowly on those old wise planks

of long ago that sung time by with their melodic aged creaking as they

wrap timbered arms tightly around lives lived, hearts found.

I have seen some bridges, you know…I’ve seen them.

Liken to those in my dreaming eye

covered with Heaven’s hand.

safe harbor from doubt, despair, tears yet to fall.

Those long ago hallowed halls of travel.