Echopoetico

BODHI

Millions of years in a sea of oblivion
It’s taken me thousands of lives just to see what I’ve been livin in
a life of lies, confusion and doubt
I lived in fear and knew nothing about
the truth of the matter, the life of love
I had no idea what I was thinking of
I had dreams and desires and threw them away
I was haunted by my past and it stood in my way
but my life today has been changed
its been organized and rearranged
I’m headin forward towards my goal
of total freedom and liberated soul
equal justice for all and freedom of speech
freedom of religion, this is what we should teach
to be your own advisor and make your own decisions
don’t let other peoples lies blur your visions
because it’s all about awareness, ethics and trust
being true to yourself, now that’s a must

So nothing can touch me tonight,
I am light, I’m the blue midnight
my eyes glow bright and I’m just outta sight
it’s all tight as in the parts fit in just right
I guess I’m winnin the fight but no struggle
there’s no counter intention no trouble
clean and clear with no fear like a bubble
just floatin around, barley touchin the ground
and the sound of stars from far away
singing to me, they got somthin to say
you gotta play
there’s no fee tonight, I don’t pay
things are just sorta goin my way
the essence of me I convey
with rhyme, on time no fallin off the line
it’s all mine
some wanna make it a crime
but my shine, like sparkling wine
like fingers lightly dancing up and down your spine
take the time
to let love roll off of your tongue
to have fun, to be young and to just be
like you’re free
like you’re on ice in the sky
softly, gently,
breathing cool life
breathing cool life

©2002 Dominique Garay

JUSTICE

I was being dragged across the ocean by a motorboat
and with my mask on I could see the bottom, the coral and the fish
full of peace and hope as I held on to that rope
I thought, “I can live in a world like this”

In the 1980’s there were riots on the streets of Miami
More specifically Overton, Liberty City and yes Coconut Grove

Million dollar homes Coconut Grove
Billion dollar hotels Coconut Grove
Porches and Beamers you know what I mean
Brunch at the Marina that type of scene

But the riots weren’t there
They were just a few blocks away
Still Coconut Grove but not “The Grove”
cuz nobody wants to go to that part of the Grove.

liquor stores
cocaine whores
cars without hubs

dogs in the street
shoes hangin from telephone lines
the dealers dealin drugs

It’s 1982 and Coconut Grove is where I go to school
60% Black 30%Latino 10%White
I’m not there to fight man I’m playing it cool

I’m no fool, I’m making friends,
I’m sharin my Now or Laters

I’m on the track team with Rodney, Roosevelt and Joe
I run the 2/20 the 80/80, I’m not fast but I’m not slow

John Pyle is my best friend, green eyes, pale skin,
curly blonde hair - he was ½ Puerto Rican

I’m ½ Mexican ½ Cuban but they thought was Arabian
It didn’t seem to matter then

Until that day in May when that cop
blew a young unarmed black man away

nobody waited for a verdict, nobody waited for an arrest
one hour later the place was a mess

They closed off the grove
they closed all the stores
you can’t go there
to get your Gucci no more

your Versa-Chi, Armani, forget about that
they’re setting cop cars on fire - it’s time for payback

and it’s not just because of what happened
but what happened before
they all wanna know
how many more

if they don’t make some noise
then who’s gonna listen
who’s gonna care
or sign their petition

the victims family doesn’t have their $100,000
to take the case to high court
it’s just another black kid shot down,
there’s nothing here to report

Oh, well lets light some fires
throw some bricks through some glass
you want a news story
I got one for your ass

And the beach seemed a long ways away

I was 13 and if felt like a dream
when I herd I didn’t have to go to school that day
but I got that bus and there where only 7 of us
and I went anyway

10 or more African American youths
were waiting at that schools front door

hands crossed over their chests and hammers in their eyes

and I realized that this wasn’t about economic deprivavation
this was about injustice that was the motivation

as we got closer I took in the scene
I knew half of them
there was Roosevelt from the track team

Roosevelt was my friend
Roosevelt was my friend
Roosevelt was my friend

Why should I be afraid to go to school
if they were my friends?

And I took each step
barley glancing up

Until I heard Roosevelt say
Dominique, what’s up!

And he had on a smile
and I said, Rooooosevelt!

And six of them came over patting me on the back
And for the rest of that day man you’d a sworn I was black

But I was just trying to be a human being
I was believing in peace and hope
And every day I try to live my life that way
I’m still hangin on to that rope

Bones In the Back Seat

Respect
for those who have passed away
Respect
because we are celebrating them today

I’d like to have a low rider
with an Aztec princess on the hood
convertible top I’d make it hop and drop
you know, like a low rider should

I’d like to have a big ole skeleton dude
who could sit in the back seat
made out of papier-mâché
we’d be on our way just happy to be on the street

and I’d dress him all up like a bandito pistolero
on his oversized head,
calavera from the day of the dead,
he’d have a big ole sombrero

and he’d smile as we drove along
kids would wave to him and his big ole grin
like he was listen to his favorite song

and the police would pull us over
sayin hey, what’s up with that skeleton in the back?
I’d say he represents my family and friends
who have passed away and now they’ve got my back
and with that they’d step away
tippin they’re hats showing respect
to my bandito pistolero
just keepin em all in check

and we’d ride out to the park
at about midnight
sittin there in the dark
I would start to write
I’d remember smiles
pleasure moments
and good times
and even though I’d know they’re gone
they would always carry on
in my writings in my rhymes

Spirit

I am aware of the fact
that I am aware
that I can see
that I have this body
and that I can create an effect
I can communicate
I can have my own thoughts and ideas
independent of anyone else

I see these things and I realize
that I am the creator and the cause point of what troubles me
that I allow myself to fall
that I must take some responsibility for what was done to me
by others, by myself
and what I have done to others
and what others have done to others

maybe that’s too much
but I should do something
even if it’s just looking upon these acts
and frowning upon them, speaking out against them
I can set an example in the way I live
in how I treat others
and how I experience what life throws at me

I want to love
in spite of
every invitation
not to

I want to be sane about this
I want to be free
I want to defend myself and others
and I want to live
I want to live life as it was meant to be

©Dominique Garay

you
are a bottle of stars exploding
you are Red
you are a river divine
you are the cool blue in the middle
the angels
sparkle
the devils
grin
the black in the latex
and the goosebumbs on skin
you are the driven snow
and you are
the wicked sin
you are all these things
that I want to be in