The Box 69: BLUSH

#32
Color: Blush
February 14, 2011
Song: "I Wanna Thank Ya" Angie Stone


With minutes before Valentine's Day,
I ask the question:
Is it possible to love more than one love at once?

Dear Poetry,
I'm sendin' my love
To my first love.
You are the one
Who gave me a new life,
A life beyond the tears.
Set up for the setup
On a blind date
Set up by my granny
Because she knew
I'd dig you.
She knew
I would need you.
She knew
You would save me.
She, who said,
"You master the words. Don't let the words master you."
when she saw them words kickin' my ass.
She, who gave me my first journal
And said,
"Write it all down. You'll never know who'll read it or need it."
Short phrases
Syncopation
Staccato rhythms
Vowels held for style
Consonants trippin' off my lips
Makin' me brand new.
Makin' me cool
Like hip hop in July '85.
And that's hot.
I was no Salt...
Or Pepa...
No Queen...
No Roxanne Shante...
No Mc Lyte,
But in my pocket of Covesville, Virginia,
You made me experience my own rapper's delight
And I love you
For lovin' me
Verbally,
Rhythmically,
Metaphorically,
Alphabetically traversing all the ways
You
Spell
L-O-V-E.
Loving me unconditionally
With a Q,
X,
Y,
And Z.
Knowing the bliss
Of your poetic kiss
Makes me blush.
My heart shaped love, I send to you, Poetry.


Dear Prose,
Lord knows
Your long strokes and strolls give me the greatest pleasure.
If poetry be the sprint,
You be the 400...
Sprint the straight aways
Stride the curves.
Lean into the bend
And carry me over the long wind.
Pace myself all over you
And savor the short story.
Grab my pen
And revive myself
Save my life with an anecdote antidote,
Escaping into a long ago
Or a place far, far away.
Thank you, Prose
For being my fantasies...
For being my dreams in color...
For being my bedtime stories
And my morning affirmations.
You showed me love,
Beginning,
Middle,
And End.
Knowing the bliss
Of your novel kiss
Makes me blush.
My heart shaped love, I send to you, Prose.


Dear Music,
So while I have this adulterous affair
With poetry AND prose,
You have never judged me.
You underscore my passion.
You give rhythm to my lust.
Grooves and jams ignite images of moving life in my head.
Mini movies premiering on repeat
As the bass booms through my body.
Too loud in my ears
But I don't care.
Serenade me.
Lullaby me.
Woo and wash over me
Like a Teddy P command,
A Marvin Gaye "awww...",
A Ronald Isley "la-la-la-la-laaa".
Caress me and dress me in love
Like a Patti Labelle belting slide,
A Nancy Wilson honey dipped lilt,
An Ella Fitzgerald classic scat.
You have spoken on my behalf many times.
Killed me softly
And
Made me over.
When my house wasn't a home,
You gave me shelter
And let me lay my head on your pillow.
Thank you, dear sweet song and singer.
Knowing the bliss
Of your melodic kiss
Makes me blush.
My heart shaped love, I send to you, Music.

With minutes after Valentine's Day,
I'm full and filled...
With love.
Yes, it is possible
With them all.