MY EYE’S IN EAST RASHID (BAGHDAD)

MY EYE’S IN EAST RASHID (BAGHDAD)

Oh, East Rashid city with palm trees laden over old sidewalks

and slouched with the presentation of the Iraqi people.

Depressed –

Muhallah’s empty of soul and spirit.

Poverty stricken –

Missing the firm hand of Saddam

as we toss soccer balls,

MRE’s, and bottled water

for their children’s morale.

Visions of red, white, and blue before their eyes;

For whatever its worth is to them.

Sunni and Shiite separated like Bloods and Crips on Crenshaw.

Pigeons are clapped when the American’s arrive.

They flap their wings to tell the neighborhood

That the U.S. is present.

Green Flags

Red Flags

Black Flags

Partition religion and safety;

Christian –

Muslim –

Women covered in their black dresses from head to toe

Their soul windows peek from their cloth cut peep holes

Reading signs that display vacancy.

No ones home –

Save us from ourselves.

Torn between American Flags worn on the right shoulder of American Soldier’s

And Al Queada Forces.

They want their neighborhoods back, but who will protect them from the villain?

They need a Vigilante for the people like V for Vendetta.

City Market open again –

Their malnourished cows graze through an abundance of trash and small patches of grass

In the midst of city street chaos.

Vehicle emissions smother the good air;

mixed with dust and sand.

Oil stained roads.

Their sheep’s are herded aside buses and donkey carts.

Rubble, ashes, and sewage from the great “shock and awe”

Paves the path where children’s bare feet tip toe through

Crushed concrete like egg shell’s as they travel to school.

This place is a tan blur awaiting a clearer picture.

American Soldier’s protect what they can;

Interpreters by their sides to overcome the

language barriers.

They care about their streets –

Invited for Chai and Cigarettes

as a local coalition is formed.

Soldier’s dressed in body armor like tactical Christmas tree’s,

Leaving indentations in already warn couches from the weight of their gear.

When they trust you, they tell you where the deep buried I.E.D’s are located.

We make friends for twelve months then we are replaced by new ones.

These green-suitor’s rotate so the trust is temporary

The rapport must be built again.

Moon Dreams and Galaxies

MOON DREAMS AND GALAXIES

Last night I had moon dreams.

Somewhere between thinking and destiny,

I saw the galaxy inside of me.

In tune with my own soul

I have a multiple star system residing

In dark matter.

I am a walking observable universe;

Gravitationally bound and spiritually lifted.

She is a constellation of beautiful stars

painting the perfect picture.

Visible from most places,

exchanging the stare

Between strange faces.

My galaxy meets yours.

Last night I had moon dreams.

Somewhere between thinking and destiny,

I saw the galaxy inside of me.

My Jubliation

My heart's a' racin'
with a systematic

Jubilation.

I see rainbows
like Stevie Wonder
imagines new
colors.

I am tying
ribbons
in the sky like
loose
ends.

Intimate embrace of Myself,
My skin,
My soul,
and loving Myself simple.

My heart's a' racin'
with a systematic

Jubilation
an
array of colors and
loving Myself
simple.

RANDOM POETIC THOUGHTS

Living in the space between my Ears

Consumed in the world of ear buds and John Coltrane “Lush Life”

But life isn’t so lush or so it is just not at the moment.

My world is my music my internal MP3 player.

THE TIME

Wheels stopped turning.

The battery is dead.

The arms wait to sweep

the numbers again.

The time can’t be told

with the wheels not turning,

the battery being dead,

and the arms not sweeping.

What time is it?

Fact, I know that its six hours past

Eastern Standard Time.

But from where I am standing my watch

stopped telling the time.

S.O.S

Like an only child I called names that did not exist.

I called for help beyond myself.

Democracy with a capital “D”

He is a demagogue using his powerful pulpit

to preach a dogma of democracy and false diplomacy.

American people deluged with illusions of freedom.

Our Forefathers vision is daily becoming decadent

and disabled by this philosophy of religious rhetoric.

Those that disagree are daunted and considered unpatriotic.

But I love my country and what it is “supposed” to stand for;

I believe that there is hope.

I don’t believe like some prophesy that there is a

Rome-like doom in our future

but that we are destined for Democracy with a capital “D”.

In Memory of the King

In memory of one of the greatest heroes and iconic figures in American History; I am reserving this rare moment of passionate expression for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Here in Baghdad at one of the many Army Chapels across theater we (Soldier's) took time out to celebrate the honored legacy of Dr. King Jr. It was one of the most profound experiences I have had while being deployed. It began with a beautiful spiritual "Take My Hand" and I was deeply moved from the very start. We stood for the National Anthem, standing tall and stout with our fingers curled under and our feet at 45 degree angles, I was struck at attention.

Emotion struck me as the chilling, galvanizing, and piercing voice of resound echoed "I have a dream" as thoughts of a catalytic patriotism of red, white, and blue invaded my heart and soul I have realized the dream. Looking down at my chest I see what some refer to as "railroad tracks" the rank of Captain. I realize that someone had a dream that young African American men and women like me will one day serve along side people of all races to represent our country as servicemen and women. I know that much like the Soldiers that have died in Iraq for whatever cause we are here.

Men and women of African descent like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died so that I may wear the uniform that wear and give and return salutes to men and women that may not have the same skin that I have. It is my prayer that we continue to make progress in our American culture. We have a responsibility to one another; Dr King stated that, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness". I often times wonder what it will be like for my little interracial daughter. What life will she endure? I will make it my responsibility as long as I live to serve selflessly and to make every positive contribution to my immediate local American culture possible.

299 more days to go!!!!!!

Everyone of those Two hundred and ninety-ninety days that I am afforded the opportunity to wake up and contribute to life, my family, friends, and other Soldier's is a blessing and a new opportunity. One thing that being deployed with the Infantry has taught me is that life is "real". It is fragile, it is in the minuscule moments that we take for granted, in the relationships we build with one another that we find value and the very richness of life. Just thinking about the reality of life as we know it on the surface has so much value in it that we are able to cease regularly. There is nothing fake about war, one minute you are laughing and joking, shaking hands and the next moment the Soldier with his war face on is gearing up for a mission. What's going to happen between the time the Soldier goes outside the wire and "hopefully" when you see him next? Who knows? Only God, if you are a believer.

I witness brave young men and women everyday, that will do just about anything they are told for "the mission" to include myself. Patriotism isn't about politics, screw politics! Are you still a patriot if you disagree with the politics? I can only answer you with the patriotism that I see, rather these Soldier's do what they do for a reenlistment bonus to feed their families or by a new car, or because they believe they are true warriors, or they want money for college. Either way they show a daily commitment that is unprecedented; that can only be found in the heart of a patriotic Soldier. I am blessed at the opportunity to type on this keyboard, watch the blink of my cursor, as I am understanding daily that life is "real" and to enjoy my minuscule moments.

Recently our unit lost six young men making a total of 15 that will not make it home to be with their loved ones. This is for our six fallen:


The article published on CNN http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/01/09/iraq.soldier.deaths/index.html#cnnSTCText

We Lost Six

A fellow Soldier whispered to me,

“we lost six today”

Six what?

Six Dragoons!

Six Soldiers!

Six brothers!

Six husbands!

Six fathers!

Six sons!

We lost six today.

Young troopers prepared

for their routine missions.

Laugh and joke, connected as can be.

Check one another’s equipment

ask about one another’s families.

Barak Obama,

Hilary Clinton,

John McCain and Huckabee

the primaries are going strong.

Who’s going to lead the nation next?

Politician’s echo their message of change.

Brittany Spears is at it again!

Is there change or continuum with just a new face?

Iran is a threat to this nation, says President Bush!

Are we in a recession or what?

CNN and its breaking news,

Can American’s pay their bills?

This world of war spins on its on axis

Nervous as hell rather they admit or not.

Thousands of miles apart separated by world waters.

Patriot blood spills and limbs explode in all directions.

The young Sergeants family woke up

and prayed for daddy another day.

The Privates girlfriend trying to figure out

what she was going to wear to work for the day.

Half a world away,

we are enablers and those that kick in doors

and pass out soccer balls to Iraqi children.

Stryker vehicles strategically parked in Muhalla’s.

Deep in the last strong holds of Al Queada

a brave Soldier woke up with a purpose

in the Diyala Province;

not knowing that today

someone’s voice would crack over these old green FM radio’s

“we lost six”

Six what?

Six Dragoons!

Six Soldiers!

Six brothers!

Six husbands!

Six fathers!

Six sons!

First Post of Many

Usually I am upbeat and ready to embrace it all to become it all. Today is one of those days where deployment just begins to wear on you a bit. After a while you just learn how to cope with whatever life has in store, put the complaints behind and try to figure out how can I make the best out of each and every day. This is my first post of many. I'll try to spend the first few days of post trying to catch you up to where I have journeyed mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I have been deployed since the end of July 2007 and set to be here until just before the end of this year (2008). That would make for a 15 month tour.

I did my first tour during OIF III Nov 05-06 in support of the 18th Airborne Corps, 50th Signal Battalion Airborne, where I was station 62 miles North of Baghdad in Balad for 12 months. When I finally make it home this time it'll be 27 months in a very short Army career that I have spent participating in what we know as "the war on terrorism". I am currently stationed in Baghdad. I will be very general with times, locations, names, this is due impart to what we Army folks call OPSEC (Operational Security). Its important for us not to give out information that may jeopardized our mission or the safety of any Soldier's.


I will also use this as an opportunity to share more of my poetry with you. As some of you know while I was in transition throughout Baghdad and taking command I had my first book published, "A Soldiers Poetic Response: A Slice of his Life". Poetry for me is the essence of life an aesthetic quality in which we use to articulate our beautiful struggle, life.

I had a lot more to write but I'm tired it's 12:20am Baghdad time and I've got a 0530 morning coming, but before I go I'll leave you with this:

War Continuum

This continuum is continually

consistent in nature.

I am watching this clock

like sand sliding down the sides of an hour glass.

My head brings depth to this pillow;

there is no silence.

Rather sleeping or awake.

As the booms and bangs of IED’s and rockets sound off.

Generators roaring,

Blackhawks,

Chinooks, and helicopters

flying over head.

Soldiers are in transit;

in and out.

Our proud chest are poked out –

through our ACU’s;

There is a special confidence in being a Soldier.

Miniature American flags fly from radio antenna’s on Stryker’s.

Night Vision Goggle’s give that illumination green light around the eye’s

Heightening a Soldier’s awareness –

as we own the night.

Dreams of our reception home.

Tired as the days go on.

Proud as the day is long.

This continuum is continually consistent in nature

as long as we are at war.