Belief Painted on the Walls

I was gifted the short e-book of poems “Belief Painted on the Walls” by author Carleta Smith.  The anthology is a great read. I encourage you to read it, and the poems are attached for your reading pleasure. 

Full disclosure: “Belief Painted on the Wall” is copyrighted by Carleta Smith, all rights are reserved, and no part of the book may be reproduced except for promotional purposes.

This blog is for promotional purposes, if you like the work, I encourage you to contact the author Carleta Smith at carletasmith@gmail.com for more.

Two poems — A VEGANS TESTIMONY and IT WAS FATE — in particular caught my attention and I think are best of the brief collection. I haven’t read poetry in quite some time; it was a good change of pace. In fact the last time I read poetry was for a class and I was required to analyze the poem. In reading this I couldn’t resist to urge to dissect the two poems that I enjoyed the most. My interpretation follows:

“A Vegans Testimony” 

I drink this water 

And you drink cola 

I eat these veggies 

And you eat meat 

Bravely you do it around me 

But you’re not hurting me 

If I told you that your cola dissolves nails 

And your meat drove some mad 

And you choose to eat it 

Who do you think will be sad 

This is the lifestyle 

Vegan 

What I choose 

I ride with the best of those 

We do this for self 

And if you choose to ride 

Kudos to your good health 

But if you don’t remember you’re only hurting you 

This is the truth…

ROGER THAT…I hear you lady…but can I eat my meat in peace please.  Beyond the direct jab at us meat eaters, it is a coherent poem and in general a call to live a healthy lifestyle.  I’ve often wondered if those that choose to inform others of their opinions about what's best for them actually care or are on a high horse. It's perfectly normal to advertise or suggest, it's rude to assert and berate, e.g. the non-smoker informing the smoker “You should quit smoking, it's not good for you.  You know it killing you right,” as if the smoker doesn’t know the health risks.  With Carleta, I believe she cares and is simply informing though her work.

“It Was Fate”

Did I tell you this story about peace

Peace yearned for love so that he could be free

Did I tell you this story about love

Love always wanted to know who peace was

Until one day walking down the street

Peace said hi

And love was happy to greet

And there they were

Splattered on the screen

Peace & love

Kisses & hugs

Man oh man

There it was

This amazing look of grace

On peace and loves face

All I can say is

It was fate.

This poem is the crown jewel to me.  I can visualize this in the abstract. Further, she inserted little nuances.  Peace yearned for love so that he could be free — he — Peace is male.

Love always wanted to know who peace was

Until one day walking down the street

Peace said hi

And love was happy to greet

And there they were

Well, what is Love. She left it gender neutral. Purposefully, maybe, and I think so. We do live in a time in which the homosexuality debate is front and center. Love could be female or male. She could have left Peace gender neutral, but then the poem wouldn’t be as intriguing. Love is whatever you want it to be. I like it. 

I also found it intriguing that she did insert gender for Peace. In listing Peace as male, I feel she is attempting to bring attention to the male ego, and male lust for power or war often because the male is absent love or in search of proving love. Think of the many fables or actual human history.

Splattered on the screen

Peace & love

Kisses & hugs

Man oh man

There it was

This amazing look of grace

On peace and loves face

All I can say is

It was fate.

When man finds love he then is truly at peace, and any man will tell you when in love even if just for a moment it feels like fate.  I also found this portion of the body and the conclusion to be a nod to the general public interest in celebrity couples. Spatter on the screen — the coverage of "famous couples" is out of control. However, I admit, some couples look great together, and almost seem from what’s released to the public as if they could be role models for relationships, or as the current meme’s go, they display "relationship goals".

Lastly, this poem in simplest terms communicates when you find love you will have or be at peace regardless of the circumstance.

Ultimately, this is my interpretation and as with most art we all see what we want to see or project our thoughts onto the art, and often draw vastly different conclusions.  

Thank you Carleta for giving me the opportunity to read your great work.  If you’ve read this far, consider reading the entire collection.  It’s a good quick read, and possibly a initial offering that is part of a larger work to come.

Belief 

Painted 

On 

The 

Walls 

Poems by: 

Carleta Smith 

Copyright 2015 by Carleta Smith, All rights reserved, 

No part of this book may be reproduced except for promotional purposes. 

                                                                                                              

“All They had to Do Was Believe” 

All it took 

Was the right hands 

The right plans 

And the right woman/man 

A round of applauds 

For the king 

Who has conquered everything 

And powerfully 

They didn’t forget about He 

And magically 

Things began to surface 

Smiling faces/praises 

Knew they weren’t worthless 

Let me get a loud hand clap 

For the god 

Because our awesome God 

Knows they’ve worked hard 

And in amazement they receive 

Cause all they had to do was believe. 

“Praise Then Pray” 

She didn’t want me to know 

How she did it 

She didn’t want me to know 

So she hid it 

This powerful bloom 

Left everyone in darkness 

In that room 

Will she ever make a confession 

To the Best 

And allow her seed to manifest 

People say she can 

Heal the world 

Though her mother screams 

Conceal my girl 

She told me if she knew 

She would help 

But she’s holding on to a string herself 

And God’s got her back the rest of the way 

She looked me in my eyes and said 

PRAISE AND PRAY… 

“The Mysterious Wedding” 

She’s getting married and 

Nobodies invited to the wedding 

Why would she hide 

God’s craftsmanship 

 His heaven 

She’s getting married 

And it happened all of a sudden 

Some say it’s real 

Some say it wasn’t 

But she’s getting married 

Granny said maybe the groom is ugly 

Or it’s all in her mind 

I wouldn’t care if he was but ugly 

For her day I would still put in the time 

She’s getting married 

She’s getting married 

She’s getting married 

This is the 

Mysterious wedding. 

“It Was Fate” 

Did I tell you this story about peace 

Peace yearned for love so that he could be free 

Did I tell you this story about love 

Love always wanted to know who peace was 

Until one day walking down the street 

Peace said hi 

And love was happy to greet 

And there they were 

Splattered on the screen 

Peace & love 

Kisses & hugs 

Man oh man 

There it was 

This amazing look of grace 

On peace and loves face 

All I can say is 

It was fate. 

“Feelings of Being Complete” 

I remember how you use to 

Hug me from behind 

Just to combine 

You and our love 

I remember how it was 

I remember how 

We held hands 

As we’d walk 

How on the phone we’d talk just because 

I remember how it was 

Remembering your smile 

How we joked and played 

And these memories all fresh 

Even though it’s been a decade 

I remember how it was 

Remember 

Remembered 

Remembering leaves feelings of being complete. 

“One Day You Will Know” 

They say when people love you 

They give you water to drink 

So I give you 7 cases to drink freely 

Think man think 

What do I have to do to prove my love for you 

You caught a cold and I fasted for days until you got better 

And you did 

For days I grinned like a big kid 

And when you said I love you for the first time 

My whole body got weak 

I’m not lying 

Just trying to confide in you 

Right now 

Just trying to combine with you 

Right now so here it goes 

One day you will know. 

“Robot” 

He said I want to love you 

Like you need to be loved 

Your kisses & hugs 

Your remote control 

Your someone to hold 

Your on and off switch 

Allow me to sit 

And watch you 

To clock you 

To rock you 

To spot you 

In a midst of haze 

Today is your day 

I asked him  

What shall I call you 

Are you a man or not 

He said I am your robot 

Your do what I want 

Whatever you like 

Day & night 

I told him no thank you smiled and said goodnight. 

“My Friend” 

What can I say to you 

To make you understand 

That we are each other’s glue 

And nothing new 

Can come and separate us 

What kind of time do you have  

For me to put a smile on your face 

Baby I just want to make you laugh 

Exist on our own Huber craft  

Spaced out for days 

Ain’t no way 

That our love will fade 

You got me in a maze 

My heart on your guitar string 

My peace on your ring finger 

As we linger in hopes I continue to cope 

And wish that this ish don’t end 

I call you my lover 

My confidant 

My husband 

My friend… 

“Remember Me As I Pray” 

I am believing Him to restore 

Everything back to me that was stole 

10 fold 

And I am believing Him to grant me with peace in abundance 

1000 fold 

I ask my creator to mold me 

To shape me into a virtuous queen 

To grant me with angels in my life both seen and unseen 

To cast down rays from the sun 

To shine on me as I walk and run 

To place a rhythm in my heart that is played  

To tunes of love 

That will never fade 

To dash concrete 

Feeling of joy within 

Reminding me God you are my first friend 

And as shadows of happiness follow me from day to day 

Remember me as I pray. 

“A Vegans Testimony” 

I drink this water 

And you drink cola 

I eat these veggies 

And you eat meat 

Bravely you do it around me 

But you’re not hurting me 

If I told you that your cola dissolves nails 

And your meat drove some mad 

And you choose to eat it 

Who do you think will be sad 

This is the lifestyle 

Vegan 

What I choose 

I ride with the best of those 

We do this for self 

And if you choose to ride 

Kudos to your good health 

But if you don’t remember you’re only hurting you 

This is the truth… 

Thank you so much sweethearts for reading this book. You are so very..very..appreciated!!! This is our gift to you. We hope that you enjoyed it! 

Sincerely,  

Carleta Smith 

Response to: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Who Will Lead Black Americans?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Who Will Lead Black Americans?

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, when you ask who will lead Black Americans; I ask, lead to what?


Black Americans are not a block of people malnourished in leadership.

It’s time for a paradigm shift with regard to “Black” leadership. I don’t deny that it only takes one person to initiate change, or set the right example, or that leaders exist, or that leaders are useful. The idea that it’s up to those that choose to stand out, those that are outspoken, those that are famous, or any “those” you can name to take up the “cause--whatever the cause is” is flawed and has to be eradicated. Further it may be leaving too many feeling helpless, or have them waiting, or have them sitting on the sidelines when they are powerful and can take action to change their circumstances now.
 
Leaders rarely accomplish anything alone, and too often leaders received credit for success that is not warranted. Again, I acknowledge leadership exists and the significant difference a great leader can make, but to the point of moving an entire culture, or block of people, no one leader or group of leaders will do. The voices of “we the people” are too diverse in opinion for that. The actions, ambitions, and conduct of “we the people” are too diverse for that.
 
In asking the question, Kareem clearly assumes that “Black Americans” must be led. The assumption is wrong. The sooner you, me, him, and her, break away from that mindset the better.
 
“Black Americans” are going to continue to do what we have been doing, surviving, thriving, failing, loving, hating, building, stealing, assimilating to popular culture, failing to assimilate with popular culture, creating, etc ... and basically living as every other “group” of Americans do. Black Americans, as every other group of people in America need and desire fair public policy, fair appropriation of resources, opportunity, security, and good governance. It’s a fact that public policy has been an obstacle to progress for Black people in the past. Exceptional people of various races and genders worked to remove public policy obstacles for all people and genders. No one leader or person did that and it happened over time. We the people are still struggling to achieve the objectives seek whether it’s the debate over marriage equality, privacy rights, gender discrimination, unfair lending practices, or any other issue of the day. Our opinions and views will never be in complete synchronization. We lead ourselves, and people of like mind and opinion engage to produce the changes they seek. Leadership is not the problem. The problem is when too many choose to remain on the sidelines. The problem is when too many feel helpless and hopeless. The problem is when too many don’t believe the system works. The problem is when the system doesn’t work. The problem is when a drug epidemic and sentencing laws handicap an entire generation. The problem is when people choose a criminal lifestyle over a legal one. The problem is when people charged with governance execute their duties intentionally focusing policy efforts to the benefit of the few or special interests instead of the general good of the public. The problem is when people charged with determining employment make a choice to discriminate based on name, race, gender, or sexual orientation. The problem is when people with a large circle of influence and platform assert that Black people uniquely require leaders.

It’s cliche and true, and still worth stating. The United States today is a better place for all citizens than it was just 150 years ago, and yes, there is and will always be opportunities to improve the United States.

It’s not cliche, but true, and worth stating to execute the point. It’s a fact that today some Black people don’t take advantage of the opportunities presented. It’s unlikely that there will be a point in which every Black citizen is a successful and productive member of society. No racially identified group of people in the United States will ever be able to claim that every member of the identified group is a productive member of society. Instead of focusing on the false assumption that Black Americans are lacking in leadership, we should be focused on what every United States citizen can do to improve the country.

Americans need everyone in the game. Everyone is needed to help United States reach its full potential and maintain its status in the world.

Four suggestions for every citizen:

1. Turnout to vote and pay attention to politics and policy, especially on the local level. I don’t blame the voters for not voting, surely if better candidates pursued office turnout would improve. However, if you don’t like the candidates, cast a ballot for the best of the choices available, or better yet, become a candidate yourself. The idea that nothing will change so you choose not to vote is self-defeating and self-fulfilling.

2. Accept yourself, not everyone is going to like you. Respect and opportunity are enough. When respect is not given, demand it. When opportunities are withheld, create the opportunity. While it may hurt to not have the opportunity you desire, working to ensure the next man or woman of the next generation does is not a bad thing.

3. The idea of getting out of the hood, the ghetto, or trailer park --- “making it out” --- has to be reversed. I get it, and at the moment I am “out” and chose to leave seeking an opportunity to travel and see parts of the world I had not before. I have plans to go back to my hometown post retirement and begin again. Time will tell if my plan comes to fruition, or, if I put my money where my mouth is. I understand why those who grew up like me want out. However, it is time to consider finding ways to invest (time or money) into underfunded resources that make a difference --- schools, recreation centers, job training programs in poor communities. Further, when everyone with potential and skill “makes it out” those with malice intentions left behind are free to run rampant without balance. There are reasons to move, and there are reasons to stay, it's a personal choice. A friend of mine posted to Facebook:

Permission to be serious for a moment.....watching an aerial shot on CNN of people marching and protesting injustice in my old hood has hit a nerve that I never thought existed. I was born and raised in the Gilmor Homes/Sandtown area. However, I made a decision at an early age to make sure that the world I grew up in as a child would be a distant memory to me as an adult. I did make that happen but if I'm being completely honest with myself, what I REALLY did is forget where I came from. Instead of using my resources to uplift my hood, I turned my back on it. The level of guilt that I've been feeling these past few days is unexplainable. Luckily I'm young enough to still right my wrong

A substantial amount of us that grew up in poverty fail to use our resources to invest (time or money) or return to the poverty stricken neighborhoods from which we came. Often, this is due to the individual that made it out is just barely maintaining their life "out" and are a year or less, or a lost job away from falling back into poverty.  However, there are plenty that have made it out, have a reasonable amount of resources, and view going back from the wrong perspective. A famous rapper stated:

What can I do? where can I go? All my life I’ve grown around black people and poor people. But I can’t live around black people now because they will rob me. And why will they rob me? Because they are starving cause[sic] there’s no money here.

He means he felt he couldn't live around the poor people in which he grew up with because he became rich, but what if it wasn’t just him. What if he was willing to start a business or purchase and renovate homes, and offer them for rent to low income families. Greenwood, a neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was one of the most successful and wealthiest American communities in the United States during the early 20th Century, until domestic terrorists attacked in 1921. The terrorist attack was one of the most devastating massacres in the history of U.S., destroying the once thriving Greenwood community. Within five years after the domestic terrorist attack, surviving residents who chose to remain in Tulsa rebuilt much of the district. They accomplished this despite the opposition from many of Tulsa’s political and business class. It resumed being a vital community until segregation was overturned by the Federal Government during the 1950s and 1960s. Desegregation encouraged many to see what they were missing and live and shop outside of Greenwood, causing Greenwood to lose much of its original vitality. Blatant political or business class in opposition to community development does not exist today.  Simply put, it's a risky investment, and profitability will be initially low. Thus we need people to make the choice based on more than a reasonable return of profit.

4. You must take care of your family first, “take care of home”. Focus on being a productive member of society and raising your children to do the same regardless of income level. A famous former NBA player stated, “I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.” I disagree, he could be role model, and I agree with the overall point, just because he or she is a famous, or a sports star doesn’t mean they should raise children that are not theirs. We must make responsible decisions and deal with the consequences of our decisions. Planned or unplanned, take care of your family.

Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, Black Americans don’t have a leadership problem. Black Americans, just as every other group of Americans have choices to make and choices have consequences.