Poetry: Classic to Contemporary

We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!


Mask by Ain HD (Homage to Paul Laurence Dunbar)
From [If] Life's Rotten, Write to the Core

I abhor
Generic emotions
Plastered expressions
And masks
We wear
To foster comfort
In Dick and Jane

Strained smiles
And fake contentment
On black faces
Only triggered
When “appropriate”
Simply constructed
For Dick and Jane

Passive gestures
Bowed heads
Forced King’s English
And quick self-correction
When Black vernacular
Unconsciously slips
By full lips
Before Dick and Jane

I abhor
Black potato head -
Sambos grinnin’
On cue, Oblivious
That they’re orchids
Posing as dandelions
In a field of lilies

Ain HD Featured in "Sistah Vegan"

I first learned of the Sistah Vegan project when a friend of mine put me in contact with the Editor, A. Breeze Harper. We spoke briefly before I decided that I would contribute an essay about my unique experience as a PETA employee. There's a misconception about PETA and animal rights activists in general that suggests that they're disconnected from the human population. Debunking that stereotype is important. (Moving forward as a Green population means recognizing the fact that we are all connected.)

In my essay, I also discuss PETA's tactics in approaching the "urban" community. I am very candid in describing my short seven months working at the largest, and most unpopular, animal rights organization in the world.

Sistah Vegan also features poetry and personal essays by women who discuss everything from health to eco-womanism. This book is a true example of literary activism, pushing readers to consider making healthier, more compassionate choices in regards to the way we eat and live.

The book can be purchased here.

The Whimsical World of Children's Literature

I’ve always been a fan of children’s literature, enjoying the words and lessons of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. Some of my favorite stories include Hot Day on Abbott Avenue, The Enemy and Where the Wild Things Are. Most recently, I’ve added Yesterday I Had the Blues to my hefty list. It’s a strange realization that it took me so long to consider writing for children, given that it’s the perfect hybrid of my day job as an educator and my passion as a writer.

I’m glad to say that I’ve changed that, penning my first picture book, titled Mya J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. When I first took on the task, I wasn’t fully prepared for the adventure. I’d underestimated the talent and energy I’d have to pour into writing a book for children. And while I already had an appreciation for authors such as Margaret Wise Brown, Maurice Sendak and Varda Aardema, I now have a new respect for their work and the gifts they create for bookshelves and little hands. I only hope that one day I can join the ranks of those boasting Coretta Scott King and Ezra Jack Keats Book Awards.

Adding children’s books to my repertoire is simultaneously exciting and daunting. While I don’t want to take on too much as a creative writer, I don’t want to limit my abilities to a few genres. I’m glad to say that whether I’m in the mode of a poetess, novelist, freelancer or children’s author, I’m writing. That’s the beauty of it all.

A Moment for Poetry: Bliss

Bliss

Dancing on golden,
Tabletop clouds, bright
Skin reflecting metallic sunrays
Dodging lightening
Bolts, bobbing to the beat
Of thunder

Jumping over trees that magically
Sprout from red soil, watching
Money burn in flames
That reach the sky
Ripping nations at the seam
Freeing the land

Securing oneness

Copyright Ain HD ©2009

"Where the Wild Things Are"

Two Wild Rumpus thumbs up for the theatrical marvel, Where the Wild Things Are. The 1963 children's classic written by Maurice Sendak was one of my favorite books growing up. The dark illustrations, the fun & freedom, the big, intimidating creatures and the fearless child (inside of us all), blended together to create a tale of trouble, tantrums, imagination, friendship, family and epiphanies. I was absolutely ecstatic when I heard that the story would be coming to life in a theater near me.

I really admire what Spike Jonze did with this movie. Initially, it was difficult for me to imagine the book being transformed into a film suitable for children. I was correct. Where the Wild Things Are may be a piece of literature for anyone 9 months to 99, but the movie itself is geared for the older generations-- those of us who recall the story being told in our younger days and who eventually learned to recite it page-by-page. Like us, the story has grown. With the same exciting characters, Jonze weaved a tale that we can relate to as adults.

As a writer, I have played around with writing a children's story. Stories like Where the Wild Things Are school me on the importance of various elements of a good book. The lesson. The characters. The evolving plot that keeps us on the edge of our seats. I'm constantly checking out children's stories that could inspire me and time over and time again, I return to Sendak's legendary fantasy.

Judging Books by Their Covers

Confession: I judge books by their covers.

I was recently pulled in by the simplicity and tone of the cover art of Sold by Patricia Mccormick and was impressed by an amazing story. Right now, on my current Amazon Wish List, I have a copy of Things Fall Apart (my 3rd) by Chinua Achebe, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde, and Home: Social Essays by LeRoi Jones. These are all incredible authors that I would love to support regardless of the aesthetics of their literature. However, it has always been so much easier for me to scoop a book when I knew it would look good on my book shelf. And these bundles of joy are certainly easy on the eye.

In all of my book cover vanity, I realized how important it was be for me to choose the perfect artist to design the cover of my first novel, A Teaspoon of Fiction. Thus, I approached Atlanta-based artist, Goldi Gold.

I recently wrote a bio for Goldi and in knowing his work and having documented his passion, I am looking forward to putting my vision in his creative care. I'm hoping to unveil my cover soon and truly be able to show that there does exist a beautiful marriage between visual and written art, because there's certainly nothing wrong with judging a book by its cover.

"For Colored Girls..."

This past Sunday, I had a motivating ladies' day. My girlfriends and I went to see For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, by Ntozake Shange, which debuted on Broadway in 1976. This performance was (incredibly) directed by Jasmine Guy and starred Robin Givens and Nicole Ari Parker, among other beautiful and talented sisters.

I recall my mother having the book and me reading excerpts of the play many years ago. I can say that while I'm a huge advocate of reading, actually seeing the theatre production brought the words to life in a way that only a live show could. I was moved to laughter, tears, anger and above all, inspired. For colored girls... highlights the pain, strength, vulnerability, passion, beauty, wit and weaknesses of black women. Each character was the girl around the way, the aunt, the friend or a mirror of ourselves. I walked out with more understanding of myself as a black woman.

Needless to say, I'm certainly recommending the show to all who can catch it. I'm also encouraging everyone, including you men, to read the play.

E. Lynn Harris: Rest In Literary Paradise

E. Lynn Harris first introduced me to the lives of gay black men with his novel Invisible Life. After that, I read several of his novels that uncovered the drama, lust, peril, love and passion between a community that is still somewhat taboo among African Americans. As a Metro Atlanta resident, I get an up close look at the gay community at large. To those of us who aren't as fortunate, E. Lynn Harris opened up his world in literary form and showed readers that homosexual relationships are just as real, relevant and sometimes as wacky as heteros.

As one of the nation's top-selling writers, I have always had a respect for E. Lynn Harris and the risks he took with his work. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of hearing Harris speak several years ago and found him to be inspiring and insightful. E. Lynn Harris passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2009.

Rest In Peace, King.

Diving Back Into Fiction

Once upon a time, I used to swim in fiction. I was constantly sinking in tales of love, sex, lies and drama by authors such as E. Lynn Harris and Eric Jerome Dickey. Then, I hit a wall. Fiction wasn't appealing to the person I was growing into and I sent all of my stories to the local thrift store. I bought up dozens of biographies, non-fiction and reference books to replace what I thought to be a cheesy collection. This cleansing went beyond my bookshelf and extended to my CD collection. All the trashy rap music I once enjoyed was given away promptly.

For years, I've avoided buying fiction books by the pound as I used to. Of course, I enjoy the occasional short story. I've also indulged in classic, African American literature and literary fiction. However, for the most part, my shelves have been deprived of contemporary fiction authors, a league that I hope to join someday.

Noticing my hypocritical trend, I asked myself:

Ain, as much you you enjoy smut TV, how could you not be getting your story fix from a good, well-written book by an author you'd happily consider your counterpart?

I'm correcting my crazy, and I officially started today by heading to Goodwill and buying five new books that I can't wait to dive into. I'm looking forward to the characters, the unexpected twists, the complicated plots, the witty dialogue, and everything else that accompanies a good book.

My new finds are: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, Puerto Vallarta Squeeze by Robert James Waller, The Changeling Garden by Winifred Elze, Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman and A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler.

13 Phrases #4: David Thomas Jarecki

I met DTJ on Issuu, a site where small publications and regular folk can upload documents to share in a smooth page-turning format. He commented on the excerpt from [If] Life's Rotten, Write to the Core. Dave's comments on my work were inspiring and encouraging, especially coming from a fellow writer. Since our first online encounter, David has been sure to keep in touch. Currently, he is busy at work on the next issue of the Kankazine, in which I will be a featured poet. Check him out.

1. By day, I am a Logistician.

2. I write best when I am depressed about universal issues while being content in my personal life and responsibilities. When I am universally content or have challenges in my personal life I cannot focus on writing.

3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I complete the piece. I'll force myself to finish it even if it is in the worst way possible just so that it is done and all concerns about finishing it are gone. Then I go back to the beginning to find what first inspired me about the work. When I see how I rushed through to finish it I get angry at myself for doing so and channel that back toward my original passion to complete it the right way.

4. Three things that help me recover from Writer's Block are: I don't believe in Writer's Block. I believe that writers are in a perpetual state of creation. When we hit a speed bump or get stumped about a piece that we are focusing on that natural creative instinct is subconsciously being focused somewhere else. Here are three things to do when you think you have Writer's Block: 1--Figure out where that creative energy is being focused. 2. Make a decision on weather you should keep it directed that way or shift it back toward whatever you were working on. 3. DO NOT direct your thoughts and energy to feed the notion of Writer's Block.

5. I starting writing because my Catholic school 8th grade nun teacher read a paper I wrote and told me I didn't write it because she didn't see the same effort in my other school work. Day in and day out I worked to prove her wrong. As a side bonus, I love how she contributed in her own way to the fact that I am proud to call myself Multi-denominational when it comes to religious categorization.

6. I continued to write because it was a great release and a better, guilt-free, use of my time than video games. I found it to be more rewarding than anything else that I was doing in my life.

7. I will always write because I can't stop. I am truly blessed that after 7 years of smoking cigarettes I was able to quit cold turkey 7 years ago on the first date with who would become my future wife Nora. After several attempts to quit writing and focus on other things, I have failed.

8. If I weren't a writer, I'd be a film director or actor.

9. The writer(s) who influence and inspire my work are Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger, C. Shoup, Chris Rock, Richard Roeper, James Riordan, John Lennon, Roger Ebert, Paul Reps, Jim Morrison, George Carlin, the Dalai Lama, Allen Ginsburg, David Mamet, Wyclef Jean, Bill Maher, David Koepp, Ain HD, Paul Thomas Anderson, Robert Frost, The Cohen Brothers, The RZA, Richard Kelly, William S. Burroughs, Redman, Roger Waters, Christopher Guest.

10. The most important goal I have as a writer is for people to not scratch their heads as often as they currently do after reading my stuff.

11. People who read my work are most likely going to scratch their heads.

12. My most significant piece to date is The Legend of the Fetal Poltergeist

13. There is nothing more important than not giving up. No matter what your dreams or goals are you will get knocked down many many times--it's part of the process. If we could all snap our fingers and get what we wanted all the time life would be boring. Learn to enjoy and appreciate the moments that you get knocked down. The purpose of those moments is to make the moments that we stand tall more rewarding! Rock on and make it happen.

Excerpt from The Legend of The Fetal Poltergeist:

Breakfast Luck from July

Hoarding all the cereal
on a morning in July.
Mocking the imperial
by laying where I lie.
About that four-leafed clover,
I’ll use it if I can.
Hell is greening over,
the pasture’s where I am!

Embracing my temptation
a deadly fantasy.
Pennies in a fountain,
an imitation of the sea.
I gamble my summer,
Caesar owns its split.
Horseshoes land in winter
from a toasted autumn rift.

Defying this betrayal,
a season without love.
Bowls land on my table
descending from above.
Regales that we greet
are traffic in our jam.
Scratched by rabbit’s feet,
thoughtlessness disbands.

Not ‘til lunch will I be hungry,
independence day is full.
Autumn’s noon is soupy,
who cares about your pull.
My meals are branded sloppy,
my reputation’s stuck.
But I’ll continue happy,
‘cause that’s my given luck!

Contact David Thomas Jarecki:
Email: theothman7@comcast.net
Website: http://www.issuu.com/djareck
Buy: http://www.planetostrogoth.com

13 Phrases #2: Niki Eskobar

Niki Eskobar is a revolutionary, a mother-to-be, an animal rights activist, a strong and beautiful women's rights champion. In the midst of all that she is, she still has time to create, but not without reason. Each verse she delivers and painting she shares is an ode to the struggle. Her words are powerful and thought-provoking. I am more than a fan of her work. Esko inspires me to not only be a better writer, but a better fighter. Enjoy installment #2 of "13 Phrases," featuring Niki Eskobar. Shalom.

1. By day, I am chlorophyll, by night I am the moth.

2. I write best when I have had a full day of absorbing other people's art (poetry, rap, photography, painting, guitar, etc). Exposing myself to the process and stories of others is a part of writing practice. Sometimes it is not possible to see an art show or visit a friend's house; so, I have to read everyday in order to be full.

3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I stay away from it for a long time. Initially, I stay away because I am scared of it. I'm scared that the piece will prove that I am an incapable writer. I assume that I will leave it alone forever. Eventually (a week or a month later) I pull it out again and face it. Then I realize, again, that distancing myself from raw work is a part of writing. Just as a writer goes back in time and memory, a writer's process is the Cha-cha.

4. Three things that help me recover from Writer's Block are: journaling, reading, live shows. I journal for a couple hours a day (diary-entry type words) to carve tunnels through barriers. Then, I read anything from comic books to news articles. Days or weeks pass and I am able to rejuvenate and shed skin. Starting last December until the end of January, I did nothing but read a book every 2-6 days and marked my favorite lines and ideas. I've also found that the most inspiring words come from the youth. Seeing live hip-hop shows put on by local youth sparks new possibilities. Last year I made it a goal to see as many shows as possible. This can keep writer's block far, far away.

5. I starting writing because I was given a lot of paper, pencils, and art kits as a kid. I would sit at my desk and draw for hours. When I learned how to construct sentences, I told the stories of my drawings. Everyone in my family thought that I only liked to draw but the truth is that I have filled up more notebooks with short stories and poetry than drawing pads.

6. I continued to write because I need to continuously discover my relationship to this world. Much of this need stems from cultural history and identity. In many ways, I am displaced, and story-telling through poetry and other forms best encourages this non-linear learning.

7. I will always write because "the writer who is a writer is a rebel who never stops." Even if I lost my hands, there will always be a way to write!

8. If I weren't a writer, it would be because I never learned how to spell, use a pen, and read. I could still paint, or take photos, or play piano. An artist is an artist because of creativity, not the genre or medium.

9. The [writers] who influence and inspire my work are Walt Whitman, Pablo Neruda, Cherrie Moraga, Patrick Rosal, Janice Mirikitani, Barbara Jane Reyes, Langston Hughes, Mike Avila (his poems & his letters), Ricardo Flores Magon, Jose Garcia Villa, Joma Sison, Tess Uriza Holthe, Pele, Blue Scholars, Kiwi, Bambu, Nomi/Power Struggle, Yusef Komunyakaa, the infamous Meredith Hobbs, Juan Felipe Herrera, bell hooks (to name a few).

10. The most important goal I have as a writer is to remain in wonder of the world. Have you ever met someone who seemed to know everything? Or someone who didn't try anything new because they had heard about it before? Or someone who doesn't look at the stars? I hate that.

11. People who read my work are most likely going to want to jump on police cars at a rally or disagree with my take on presidents. I think those who are genuinely interested are either established in their communities or are finding their place. I hope that at least one person can read my words and use it as another jumping point from reflection to self-critiquing.

12. My most significant piece to date is the one that's on its way to me.

13. There is nothing more important than passion. I will say it over and over: passion can lead one to her community, to her talents, to her family and friends, to true wealth. It makes all the difference in the world.

Excerpt from "Mushy Moons, Sentimental Suns":

Venid a ver la sangre por las calles!
Come see the blood in the streets!
From “Explico Algunos Cosas,” Pablo Neruda

I
Do not speak of flowers, stay as far away
As possible, he advises the class. I look down
At my paper & with one finger I inch it closer
& closer to the edge of the desk & slip
It onto my lap. He asks if anyone wants to read
Their work. No one raises a hand, & so he calls
On the one with averted eyes: me. I shake
My head, but the skin between his brows begins to pinch.
Once again, most of my words will be avoided or dropped
From memory like a heap of squirming, succulent worms.
Standing as a feature in the 1904 World’s Fair,
My own pinched brows exhibit my anger, as my entertained
Classmates examine me. Do not speak of flowers. Stay
Away. With these words pounding behind my eyes, a branding
Iron glow starts to grow hot on my tongue.

Contact Niki Eskobar: http://freskocity.wordpress.com
Email: undone.outdone{at}gmail.com
Website: http://www.myspace.com/endsocialapathy
Buy: I'm working on my manuscript! For now, I will be in the forthcoming issue of Solo Café.

From Langston to Obama.

I, too, sing America.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Written by Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967)

Interview on Fresko City.

A beautiful artist from the Bay, Niki, interviewed me last week and posted the piece on her blog. Click here to read.

Current Writing Projects.

*Chicken Soul for the Soul is now accepting submissions for "The Cancer Book" edition to be released in March of 2009. I have a little less than two months to piece together something that I've been sitting on since my Aunt Mary passed of breast cancer in 2002. I generally don't procrastinate so thoroughly on a piece of such importance, but this will be the most difficult and personal project I've ever submitted for publication. Wish me well.

*I was recently inspired to write a poem called "Puck the Folice" by a piece of art created by Mr. Soul (I also have a fab tee). Generally, when I get a poetic idea I crank it out when the verses are fresh, but this one requires a bit of research. I'll post a snippet of the progress soon.

*At this very moment I'm working on a piece for SchemeMag.com on an Ann Arbor artist, Buff1. His album is amazing. So be sure to stay tuned to SchemeMag.com for the article, and cop the album on August, 12.

*Still piecing together the skeleton for my second novel, tentatively titled Black [obscured for the intellectual property thieves].

In the meantime, I'm hoping that God grants me with focus. Most of my hours are monopolized by gig searching and creativity takes a backseat on my journey to seek ways to pay the bills. Fortunately, I've been coming across some great inspiration, like Touré's "Notes for Writers Section" of his website, and from a site that offers plenty of music for the soul called Souled On.

Peace!

Lately, I've been enagaged in the following...

Conditioning the hell out of and applying mad shea butter to my newly cropped hair.

Skimming through Touré’s Never Drank the Kool-Aid for journalistic inspiration.

Working on SchemeMag.com features, including the upcoming piece on Simon Illa.

Reworking my portfolio, buckling down, and looking for interesting freelance opportunities.

Catching up on The Wire’s Season 5.

Brainstorming over the one-thousand ways to approach novel #2.

Getting down to the business of starting my promotional staffing agency (with my esteemed colleagues and sisters, Brittany and Cass).

My Bookshelf is Dusty

Reading is a lost art. In the midst of a million channels and endless internet pages, my book collection has fallen to the ranks of priority number [insert unbelievably high number here]. I'm back on the mission of sprucing up my bookshelf with pieces of literature that challenge the imagination, poetry that inspires more words from yours truly, and non-fiction manuscripts that will make me a better rounded thinker and writer.

Unfortunately, books cost money (it's a shame, right?). Luckily, my thrifty genius keeps my wish list on Amazon updated regularly so I can catch the used books that fall under my meager budget of $2. :-) My most recent additions, which have me regularly checking the mail now-a-days, are Toure's Never Drank the Kool-Aid and Soul City.

Now, some of you die-hard lit lovers and fellow struggling writers may disagree with my pension for buying used books when the money obviously doesn't go back to the wordsmith. Sorry, momma raised me shopping at Goodwill. And to answer your question (should you dare pose it), if the shoe were on the other foot, I wouldn't mind people copping my collection for a nickel at their local garage sale. Hopefully the hands my work pass through are inspired to do something fruitful… and that doesn't include spending money.

Anyway, if anyone has suggestions on some worthy reads, please spread the love. I need to read before my pen dries. Plus, someone said that shit is fundamental.

New Motivation.

So, during my usual, unfocused browsing of the WWW, I came across a blog called "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide."

As a new freelancer, I'm constantly looking for inspiration, checking out who's doing it big, how the hell I should set my fees, and learning how to deal with flaky people and long periods of low a$$ funds. This blog covers the first two. But the article that made me say "Hell yeah," was this one.

After reading this, I can confidently shoot my mom down each time she dares to utter the phrase "Grad School." She's convinced that my non-desire to chuck out another 40-grand to get a master's degree is fueled by laziness. In truth, I didn't get much out of my four years of undergrad. So I'm highly doubtful that another couple of years will somehow grant me with the publishing/book deal I supremely deserve, significantly boost my poetry sales, or cause the flakes who set up meetings for writing gigs to not punk out (once they realize that they actually have to spend money if they require a dope wordsmith).

Aside from all of that, I'm a creative. No professor can bless me with more creativity or the motivation to use what I've got. Whatever I work, I'm working it on my own merit. No diss to those of you who count on that piece of paper to get that high-paying 9-to-5. But for me... that's not the sh*t.