"united together"

I'd like to connect with the roots

of the Harlem Renaissance

Hey man you ever hear of

Langston Hughes?

A Negro who was

neither black nor white

he wrote some poems

one of them was called

cross

white old man

black old mother

lived and wrote

in Harlem

Have you ever heard Bird on a sax?

Jazz....

Oh so truly American

What was a Negro?

Is he the essential American?

Out there always finding solace

his meaning out there

on the streets of Harlem

abstract morality

You bind together

in the village

the bronx

Harlem

You have something in common

A lot of you believe

in the same things

live and let live

you can be happy

without becoming a millionaire

maybe you feel

like you belong there

it's the general feeling

a brotherhood

awakening race

consciousness

a cultural movement

rebirth

New York City

the center of change

then

accomplishments then

created a livelihood now

an interest

in Negro life

and power to the people

it must have been insane

a revolution of thoughts

you are the roots

of possibility

and i am inspired.

Why Poetry?

Why Poetry?


It always brings me back to my youth
Tasting an apple for the very first time
Smelling the fresh air of the summer wind
As your friend gives you an underdog on the swing set at recess
I loved those days, it always felt like summer
The first ride in the car going down to Florida
For summer vacation
Capturing memories and dreams on paper
Why poetry? Because it has everything that real life
lacks. Absolute freedom like you couldn’t imagine
A child is poetry
Because poetry is open-minded and confused
My poetry is confused by me sometimes
Both children and poems are vulnerable

Sadness and joy
Laughter and anger
Greed and envy

Unlimited feelings and emotions become adjectives
In poetry
Thoughts stray constantly
Without boundaries
There’s too much structure
In America sometimes
Not enough innocence
Why poetry? Everyone has something to say
Our souls must roam free.
Throughout human history as our relatives
Have had to face the shocking and alarming fact
That we have no clue who we are
Or where
We are à going
In this maze called life!
The people of “power”
The ones in command?
You know?
The religious
The political
The educational establishment?
They have tried to sooth us
By giving us order, rules, and a set of laws
Instructing us and shaping our minds
To accept their view of reality
What about my view of reality?
That is “why poetry” for me
I still want to hug a bag full of sweets
And run around wild chasing fireflies
Once again I return to my youth
Helping my dad out in the garage
Or baseball games with the neighborhood kids
At the lot across the street
I take steps forwards
And sleepwalk backwards
To the small days of early life
Why poetry? I want to think for myself
I question authority
and the rules it provides
Poetry is not structure
We must keep talking
And let loose the power of our mind's eye
Put ourselves into a state of open-mindedness
Allow room for chaos and confusion
Weren’t things better when we were young and confused?
I want to live dangerously
And yet remain calm, clear and observant
I’m no fool, I see what goes on all around me
So I write because its how I feel
That is “why poetry” for me.

Today's opinion of the USA

What does America mean?


Duty calls
Brother dies
Diversity celebrated
Riots in the street
History and variety
Faults too
I believe in its greatness, however
Vote and be informed
Or misinformed
Equal rights for all
Opinions everywhere
Fly our flags
Burning the flags
Sing the anthem
Mock one another
Full of pride!
Gay pride parades ruined
By hate crimes
Car bombs during a nice picnic
Let’s appreciate its great beauty and
Throw a pop can out the window
Men and women are equal
According to the law
But there’s domestic violence
everywhere
Stand up and march
Someone’s going to spit on you
So many natural splendors in the USA,
Religious beliefs, and
Economic opportunities
We’re uniquely free
To rob a liquor store
Or shoot someone in the face
Guns are legal after all
We’ve come here from so many places,
Terrorists living among us
So many spaces,
Visit the ghettos
And survive a night
Gang initiations on the streets
Yet we live so well together
We can enjoy being ourselves
Smoking crack,
Vandalizing neighborhoods,
Go skydiving,
Make pancakes for breakfast
We’re not always perfect
But we’re definitely free
We are many people but
As Americans
We are one
One kingdom of exceptional philosophy and culture,
Matchless politics yet a divided house
The economy is in the toilet
Social values are corrupted by Hollywood
Beliefs are taking God out of text books
Institutions that desensitize us
These distinguish us from others?
Our way of life
We are perhaps the only source of hope left in the world
It’s sad really
And the clock is ticking
It’s our spirits and our souls that can keep us alive
Familiarize yourself to this way of life
Love this country above all others
Being American requires more than merely living
In this country
Or speaking English,
Or obeying the law,
Or even holding a job!
Sure, that’s a very good start!
Where’s the compassion, the balance,
Or the gardening? Not enough
But we cannot stray too far from the lines
Of values
Hate must not take over
The outside cannot destroy us
Or we are doomed
And if we weaken, let down our guard
And lose our freedoms,
Then it will only be because
We did it to ourselves…
God Bless America!

Ball employees ride for cure

Ball employees ride for cure
By Christopher Noe

The MS Tour de Farms took place on Saturday June 13th and Sunday June 14th in Dekalb County near the NIU campus. This fundraiser bike ride is devoted to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. There were four of us from Ball Horticultural in West Chicago at this extraordinary occasion; Pat Senne, Brenda Kehm, Denielle DuChaine, and myself, Chris Noe. After several months of training, we each rode close to 75 miles over a two day period. The first day of this event was a cold and rainy one. The severe downpour, without a doubt, made the course extra challenging, yet we still rode on. Day two was a much different experience. The clear blue skies and the warmer air made the intense labor of day one worth it. We peddled through lovely scenery of rolling hills and gorgeous farmlands in Northern Illinois. Riding our bikes during an event like this on both days requires will, fortitude, and selflessness. With the wind blowing in the final stretch to the finish, there were people cheering, cowbells ringing and bubbles blowing; it was thrilling. Seeing the few people with MS, in wheelchairs, clapping their hands for us at the end of the ride brought tears to my eyes and certainly made it all worthwhile. I would like to extend a sincere appreciation for those of you who financially supported us to reach our goals this year. We can’t wait to do it again next June!