A Particle in a Large Bubble (Writing as Black Angel)

Photo taken from the WEB

America was founded on

insecurity, the ripeness of

darkened bodies dangling from

southern trees.

 

I wish I possessed a gun

loaded with the

proper knowledge.

 

The gun, invested

my soul utters deception.

 

I am alone in my journey

to find real truths.

Everything is blurry and I

remain blinded by lies

and media frenzy.

 

© 2008 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as Black Angel.

Excerpt from Angel’s Passion

Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.

 

Here is a link to the MP3 audio performance of “A Particle in a Large Bubble.”

http://www.reverbnation.com/blackangelcuriosity/songs

 

Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.

Shadow in the Midnight (Writing as Black Angel) Rewrite

Photo taken from the WEB

Black I am, and I am hiding

from the man with the black beater in his hand,

and the shiny badge on his chest.

He is relentless in his pursuit

of finding and locking me up.

 

I hide in the alleyways with the overflowing dumpsters

that have been neglected

like the rest of the blacks.

I have never pointed the finger of blame

but now my hand may be forced.

 

As I see the real truth,

while knelt down on the cold, cracked floor,

avoiding the racist White cop,

I have come to the realization that

life is unfair,

and it never will be fair and just.

 

One of the many sad realizations

we have to face in America.

I never completely understood why

foreigners lust to come here.

 

Everything that is advertised in books and magazines,

 on film, and in music, slants the truth.

People are not exactly free!

The government can give two shits about me!

 

So, why would you want to come here,

my immigrant friend?

I love this great land,

do not misinterpret my words.

 

But I am not exactly free!

Look at my predicament,

simply walking down the street,

black hoodie, saggy jeans

a pack of skittles on my mind.

 

And now I am the shadow in the midnight,

hiding from the man

with the black beater in his hand

and the shiny badge on his chest.

 

© 2008 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as Black Angel

Excerpt from page 120 of

“A Rose in the Name of Love”

Self-Published by Charles Banks, Jr.

and Lulu.com

A Rose in the Name of Love: Published by Lulu.com (February, 2009)

The Guilty Verdict (Writing as Black Angel)

Photo taken from the WEB

 

Guilty by association

Guilty by Race

Guilty by facial expressions.

 

Guilty…

Guilty by inherited racism

Guilty by a lack of religious affiliation.

 

Guilty…

Guilty as charged

guilty as Mr. Simpson

guilty by my rugged attitude.

 

Guilty…

I am guilty as charged

Booked into jail,

Fingerprinted and assaulted

by devious thoughts.

 

But defeated, I will never succumb

to the tangy taste of surrender.

 

2008 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as Black Angel

Excerpt from page 23 of

“Angel’s Passion”

Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.

Angel’s Passion Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP (October, 2008)

Boy, I Wonder… (Writing as Curiosity)

Photo taken from the WEB

 

I wonder how life would be if Martin hadn’t given his speech

in front of 200,000 plus and led the March on Washington.

I wonder how life would be if James didn’t make it cool to say

“I’m black and I’m proud!”

I wonder how life would be if Jackie didn’t step in and break

the color barrier in professional baseball.

I wonder how life would be if the invasion on Africa never happened.

I wonder how life would be if Africa were still what it used to be.

I wonder how life would be if my father hadn’t come to California.

I wonder what would happen if he stayed home.

I wonder how life would be if Thurgood hadn’t become

the first black Supreme Court Judge.

I wonder how life would be if Langston, Zora, Louis,

and the Duke hadn’t been born.

I wonder how life would be if Afeni Shakur hadn’t been pregnant in jail.

If Tupac hadn’t been born, hadn’t blessed the world

with his unique words and predictions of the future.

I wonder how life would be if my mother hadn’t left.

Would I be able to write this?

I wonder how life would be if the heroes of the past

didn’t sacrifice their blood, sweat, and tears for me

and future generations to come.

I Only Wonder…

 

© 2009 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as Curiosity

Excerpt from page 58 of

“The Flower that Wasn’t Meant to Blossom”

Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.

The Flower that Wasn’t Meant to Blossom, Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP (December, 2009).

Concrete Promises Update

Good evening, or morning, whatever it may be. I hope your lives are well and good. I am proud to announce that my chapbook, Concrete Promises has sold 30 copies in the first week. If you do not know, I am selling copies from my home at $6.00 a copy. I’d like to thank everyone who has already bought a copy of the book. It was a long, grueling process, filled with low points and high ones. The publication of it is definitely the highest point. I received a review courtesy of Julie Catherine, who graciously read my book and bestowed upon it, kind words. Aside from all things Concrete Promises, I will be celebrating six months cancer-free on the 28th of July. Thanks again to everyone who has sent well wishes my way. I certainly appreciate it. In honor of the landmark moment in my life, I will be posting two new poems Never Haste and No Vacancy. Hope everyone enjoys reading on the 28th! Thanks again everyone!

 

– Charles Banks, Jr.

 

Link to Concrete Promises Review: http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/review-of-concrete-promises-a-poetry-chapbook-by-charles-banks-jr/

 

 

 

The END OF THE ROAD Interview (Part Two)

 

The End of the Road Interview

With Charles Banks, Jr.

PART TWO

 

 

 

You mentioned Curiosity’s issues with abandonment. Are they still unresolved?

Charles: Did you read the book? I’d say that they are unresolved. Even if you become accustomed to the feeling, the reactions may be very different.

It is fair to note that your mother left you when you were two years old. How has this affected you personally and in your writing?

Charles: Good question. I remember as a child going through various feelings. I remember being mad at the world. And then around age eight or so, I began blaming myself. You know, I questioned if my birth somehow triggered some kind of cosmic plan to go into fruition (laughs). In my writing, I’ve captured my childhood emotions in poems.

Have those emotions calmed over the years? I mean, that was twenty-one years ago?

Charles: They have. You know, luckily for me. I’ve had some great people in my life, who have (pause). I don’t want to say have taken that spot, or filled that necessary void—because that void can never be totally filled. But certain people have come into my life and taught me certain lessons. I have a step-mother who loves me in spite of our bumpy road. I have numerous aunts who offer “motherly” advice.

Your poem “A Mother’s Abandon” was published last October, and the reader is placed into the mind of a mother who is contemplating abandoning her infant child. Would you have been able to write that poem ten four years ago? Two years ago?

Charles: I actually began writing that poem three years ago (2009). It wasn’t until September of last year that I finished writing a draft of it that I felt comfortable with submitting to a contest. But to answer your question, no, I don’t think so. There was a great deal of objectivity that went into that piece, which is why it took so long to finish the poem. I tried to put myself into the shoes of a mother with that kind of thought process. I tried to examine the situation from her perspective. It was unnerving. I don’t judge my mother as harshly as I once did. I’m just honored that The Audio Zine published it on their website.

A LINK TO CHARLES’ POEM: A MOTHER’S ABANDON ON IN STEREO PRESS: THE AUDIO ZINE!

http://www.instereopress.com/?p=2719

 

Boy, I Wonder (Excerpt from The Flower That Wasn’t Meant To Blossom) By Curiosity

Photo Taken from the WEB

Boy, I Wonder…

I wonder how life would be if Martin hadn’t given his speech in front of 100,000 plus and led the March on Washington.

I wonder how life would be if James didn’t make it cool to say “I’m black and I’m proud!”

I wonder how life would be if Jackie didn’t step in and break the color barrier in professional sports.

I wonder how life would be if the European invasion on Africa never happened.

I wonder how life would be if Africa were still what it used to be. If it wasn’t stripped.

I wonder how life would be if my father hadn’t come to California. I wonder what would happen if he stayed home.

I wonder how life would be if Thurgood hadn’t become the first black Supreme Court Judge.

I wonder how life would be if Langston, Zora, Louis, and the Duke hadn’t been born.

I wonder how life would be if Afeni Shakur hadn’t been pregnant in prison. If Tupac Shakur hadn’t been born, hadn’t blessed the world with his unique words and predictions of the future.

I wonder how life would be if my mother hadn’t left. Would I be able to write this?

I wonder how life would be if the heroes of the past didn’t sacrifice their blood, sweat and tears for me and future black generations to come.

I Only Wonder…

© 2009 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as CURIOSITY

Excerpt from “The Flower That Wasn’t Meant To Blossom”

Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.

© 2009 by Charles Banks, Jr. Writing as CURIOSITY Excerpt from “The Flower That Wasn’t Meant To Blossom” Published by PublishAmerica, LLLP.