My name is JAMAAL JAMES FERGUSON and I write poetry. As a young person who was raised in the Bronx, NY I was heavily influenced by hip-hop and rap music. The lyrics are what stuck out to me the most – how one can articulate content while making it rhyme. In the hip-hop culture of NYC, we pay close attention to the words and double meanings and it wasn’t long before I started to listen to other styles of music. So I’ve been writing since ’96 but never seriously after a friend who encouraged me to write passed and I quit. Then I realized I never really quit as I would do it in my head and was still intrigued and inspired by lyrics of all styles of music. Long story short, in 2012 I realized lyrics from music is poetry and I started writing again. Now I can’t stop. I’ve tried but I just love it!
—
Goodbye
So long as a good-buy
Fare-well if you payed attention
No refund for invested time
Purchase blind
Judgement call
Out of stock of unlimited time
Number one conundrum
—
A brick Wall
A view I had of a brick wall
Made my ideas feel confined
Almost like my ideas where block
I was uninspired
Felt like Brewster place
I had to brake down barriers
To mentally escape
The near sightedness
I could not foresee
That every brick in the wall
Was a reflection of me
A view of that wall
Deemed me anxious
I’d rather close the curtains
I would become complacent
Locked my concentration
As I would stare,stare and stare
Imagining the beauty
Of the brick wall gone
In utter despair
—
Pictures worth
It’s like you never left
glanced at our picture yesterday
Thats about as much as I can take
Floodgates, memories overflow
Such action from an in·an·i·mate object Overthrown
so long ago feels minute
Fighting reality relinquishing truth
Resenting a photo in total dispute
Thousand Words worth?
No Only emotion Of a lifetime crammed stalled inside a moment
The joy gets me down
We can no longer share anymore
The down brings me joy
To of had that experience Before
What was granted I took for granted, granted that’s what pictures are for
It’s like you never left
Glancing at that picture once more
—
Common
That unfamiliar feeling that you
Never had why do you know it?
Is that common?
Relating what you never had
An expulsion of emotion
Is that common?
Common sense is uncommon
Wise notion truth spoken
Is that common?
Great minds think alike
You thinking what I’m thinking?
Is that common?
Dreams so intense waking
Up tense
yet the process is to refresh
Is that common?
Rhythmic consistence needling
No assistance I insist get the hint
…?
What you get is this
what’s most common is differences change is always same maybe it’s me or
Is that common?
—
Ash
Where there’s smoke there’s
fire, fire flames and ashes
Ashes blankets the beauty of destruction underlies hidden facts
Facts a-broad sweeping wind reveals the haps
Haps considerable mounds dark
as soot
Soot from which its created
Cremation of creation
Creation ashes and flames, fire,
fire smoke
Fire produced ashes which turns flames in to smoke
—
Talk to you later
Talk to you later
Not one of my
favorite phrases
One time I heard
And I’m still waiting
does later even arrive?
Talk to you later
rather say goodbye
It’s proper in life’s s proper
it’s always now
Today guised as
Tomorrow is not guaranteed
its promise
Talk is cheap not honest
Most buy in bulk
Talk to you later
False hope
—
Hopeless Phrase
Talk to you later
Not one of my
favorite phrases
One time I heard
And I’m still waiting
does later even arrive?
Talk to you later
rather say goodbye
It’s proper in life’s s proper
it’s always now
Today guised as
Tomorrow is not guaranteed
its promise
Talk is cheap not honest
Most buy in bulk
Talk to you later
False hope
—
Fate of a window sealed
You ever stared at a window and its
arrogance
It’s apparent its appearance is
boisterous
A bravado thats tough to swallow
Inadequate
Attempts to tout a forlorn status
With out
Adorned Mornings are gone
a utopian odyssey longed,
Desired
Evenings peering at outside
Randoms
Distorted perspective Instead
Of
Admiration of the windows
Protection
You ever stared at a window and its
arrogance
It’s apparent its appearance is
boisterous
A bravado thats tough to swallow
Inadequate
Attempts to tout a forlorn status
With out
Adorned Mornings are gone
a utopian odyssey longed,
Desired
Evenings peering at outside
Randoms
Distorted perspective Instead
Of
Admiration of the windows
Protection
—
Same oh
What if everyone was the same?
Indifferent, mundane,
monotonous
Everyone one was exactly equal
Who would be cool?
Who would you love?
would you have heroes?
you’d probably be
like everyone else?
everyone drew the
same picture
what would you draw
inspiration from
wrote the same words
what would be inspiration?
would you brake the mold?
What would be the fight?
The greatness in life
is there are
ungrateful times
It’s so precious
Because one day
We shall part
—
Looking sound of water
Water flows through rocks
Serene peaceful relaxing
sounds of over flow?
—
Painted pain
Flames dancing on candles
almost like they were snickering
judging by the shadows
on the wall
the estimate about four
two thirds of wax On the floor
the impression on a her face
was from her hand on jaw
several hours she sat
looking distant
replaying the incident
repeatedly Her movement
still almost Rembrandt
from the precise angle
beverage in cup untouched
Telling herself getup
But doesn’t it’s
not that she’s angry
She could not fathom
The character her husband
Was displaying portraying
The picture painted was pain
—
Imaginating Mind
I awoke early morning
rubbing my eyes
wait my stomach dropped
I think I’ve lost my mind
retracing my steps backwards
outside drunk on confidence
I stumbled in last night
when was the last time I had it?
perplexed
could it be a Mandela effect?
Did I leave it on the internet?
Am I a fool?
I’m gonna go ahead and google it
Wait
I distinctly remember
clapping my hands
attempting to catch
ideas searching the
same location knowing
damn well it’s not there
Exasperated
all this food for thought
in the refrigerator wasted
Complacent oxymoronic
how I misplaced… it was right here!
Can’t wrap my mind around
Found it
It was in a book.
—
How I house information
On the third step of the porch
A clear view to the backyard
With every door in the house
Open
air funnels swivel in pockets swirling with caprice of emotions
curtains spread like boat sails flapping
winds in the ocean
second level door intermittently closes then opens
potent aromas pierce the spirit somethings cooking possibly burning
can’t stand the heat in the kitchen
its much cooler in the basement
—
Subjective life
Life at its climax
is a widows peak
its only down from hair
Its a subjective subject
life is a wonderful girl
do You dear question existence
like what is the world?
what do you infer?
dance to your own beat
until your heart stops
referred to the drums snare
don’t get caught
in the musical cheers
when the onslaught disappears
all the seats are taken
only standing room here
—
Life at its climax is a widows peak
its only down from hair
Its a subjective subject
life is a wonderful girl
do You dear question existence
like what is the world?
what do you infer?
dance to your own beat
until your heart stops
referred to the drums snare
don’t get caught in
the musical cheers
when the onslaught disappears
all the seats are taken
only standing room here
—
Poetry imposed on me
I’m still here lost in a myriad of opinions
though a bit skeptical
poetry took me in
demanded my imperfections imperfections? I’m perfect
poetry started smirking
as if it already knew
put its arm around me and said we’ve got work to do
The first order of business
be original authentic Simple
but there are hundreds of
thousands of words to use poetry all the more to get people confused
Secondly don’t be afraid
to give them your pains
I don’t know if I’m ready
to deal with the shame
you have any idea
what they might say?
I have every idea and conceived notion
you think you are the first
to whom I have spoken? taught? Engaged with?
lad I’m part reason
we’re not in dark ages
The third tip for today is
Training practice focus
Don’t become complacent
Do your homework
Be attentive
with all that I’ve mention
Make sure you
Do it all with good intentions
Thank You Poetry
I understand my mission
Use my lessons to lessen
And bring it back to the essence
—
The Ba/ance
If ever in a dark place understand that’s where they find diamonds
with flaws and all
it’s still a diamond
beauty grows from dirt
water is filtered by rocks
The pain of birth
We all come from
a dark place
Stars glimmer
between dark spaces
if you heard something
Great you can
gather what’s bad
serves you right
Finally obtained
what you’ve never had
High without low
Is low
the Red Sea is blue
But you’d never know
Without comparison
We can never
enjoy the positive
—
Of Cross
A cross resembles a sword in stone
Yielded the power concealed unleashed
Capable to defeat any oppositional feat
Consecrated beliefs
Concentrated to reach
All all those that seek
Introspective peace
For the sake of all
Symbolic the cross
Tantamount to naught
Represents relief
when you think
Of grief, eloping
and Christmas Eve
Hope faith
all good things
—
First victory second wind
Without the wind
Still waters
suffocating seas
Airless oceans
shoals exposed
Islands unable to breath
blue gulf strangle hold
blockade peninsulas upstreams turning tides
undercurrent slides
choking continent
onshore maybe
vacuumed oxygen
undertow
vacant wondering
wonderfully gasp
Grasping dying
to catch breathe
Then a gust
Second wind
—
We all write
Everyone is author of
history together we
Compose the greatest story
It’s all right
—
Sentiment cinnamon
When
it’s
inside
of
hot apple cider
stirs
The
Life
Around
as it contributes
A hint of it is like
A tip A dialectic flavor
Pronounce accent
Stands out a teaspoon
Will deceive you
Complementary
S p r i n k l e
Just Enough to please
you
—
What’s that word?
The tip of my tongue
At this point
Not one to bite it
That thing when you like
And want but unobtainable
Lead to believe attained
Insatiable intrinsic palatable
Zealot for the feeling
Indifference opposed opinions
Never the less more desire
Guess the answers first line down
—
All right wrong
Perfect
No mistakes made
Correct always not wrong
Can’t compare to human to err
Weight oops
—
The Key Note
As grand as its stature
graceful hands
produce classic
captured in all its
elegance and lavish
transmutation of madness
therapeutic apparatus
A correct combination
capable to unlock
moments of solitude
hitherto Insoluble
invaluable as the
energy travels through
the magnitude
you could say
is instrumental
one two step
influences the tempos
mood attuned
keynote be gentle
in the shadows
the stroke percuss
gives rise when struck
in that wise knowings
Not relevant
Silent eyes
play it by ear
It’s wood finish
Is polished the
reflection is clear
—
Autumn equinox
Autumn falls
on the end of summer
equinox parallel paradox
equal night half day
yin and yang lil good lil bad
balance apex the variance
doesn’t vary very intermediate
the median
is from jocular to serious
the emotional mood taken
in this seasonal transfer
summer to fall
scope and scale
a libra astrological sign of
an astronomical nominal
you’ll discover it’s between
logic and illogical
yes or no?
either is probable not
hot or cold lukewarm
not in or out of the room
the threshold in the middle
of bold and courage
considerable enough to
consider maybe
all what comes to mind
Even existence of that
Night and day piece
—
Eternally internal
Lost in the catacombs of thought
found the best treasure
the anatomy clever
you can’t see what’s
in front of your eyes
that’s your nose
what underlies that
makes no sense no scent
you can’t even smell
your own breath
yet the tongue is the most
powerful tool you
can never watch how you use
listen its eerie
if I went deaf could
I still hear me
think tastefully absurd
never tasted one nasty word
when I spit it
it goes with out saying
unheard vivid unimaginable living
livid that we all try to be different
individually internal all body’s mimic
Eternal
—
Palimpsestic state
Free writings ruff drafts
foot notes and research
scatter thoughts a ball of yarn search engine oblivion
an enigma word puzzle
novelty to novels
sticky notes and marble notebooks composite
books loose leaf
ball points and fountains
pencils and sharpeners
printers and typing
a mirage a collage
informational barrage
strewn all about
an authors first bout
Composes and gathers
Sleep rather
no time disparage
Revise edit
Structural merit
The body effaced
Order rearranged
Chapters replaced
Extra ordinary erased
From ok to great
Somewhat resembles
The original make
Palimpsestic state
—
Mind, myself and eye
Maybe my eyes are seducing my mind
the peripheral guise
a nebulous design
reveals itself every so often can’t circumvent
ID nor pin point it
am I seeing things?
close my eyes
expecting relief
still seeing these
mind created thoughts
in disbelief
my mind and my eyes
aren’t seeing eye to eye
and I’m caught in the middle like a bullseye
playing second fiddle
both want to be captain
of the see
it’s tearing me up
as I want to cry
perhaps mind is intrigued
by eyes views
tough to interpret
From what eye understands
it has first dibs
mind nothing seen
half is true
what you thought
you seen saw only
I can confirm the
other half I do.
—
Beach whim
The aromas of the seaside/
Seagulls squealing
frantic as they fly/
flocking across baby blu skies/grey shingled roofs tops
off white window frames/
and maroon side walls
that maroon 5 song/
she will be loved
always reminds/
me of those 5 days
and 4 nights/
as the sun sets
the stars vibe/
analogous to the
twinkle of her eye/
so suspenseful
anxious to suspend time /
as I stand alone
on the balcony/
she slides the
screen door open
and comes out with me/
lovely view of the beach
wines and speak/
felt like forever
though it was transiently/
—
Home-less
Home not where the crowns laid
nor sat of thrown
”tis not merely a structure
inferred comfort zone
it’s the creation of ones own
situations golden moments
frozen capsuled home is
can be
Dissonance insignificance
with you significant other
arguably harmony
Home is where the heart is
art is in heart
incased in chest
a treasure
the keynotes equivocal
Hark
home is lineage
that’s just a house
home is housing the spirit
is as we move about
Attentive student appraisal
of worth on earth doing research
executing the homework
—
My perfect gate away
No man stands alone
so I sit
and postulate
into an infinite abyss
don’t take it out of context
the gates to the
Astro plane is complex
different levels of living
tunnel vision
no light at the end
it’s bright within
spirit or soul insidious
I traverse the globe
with my eyes closed vivid
idolize the idealism
a wide open prison
where your free
to go no where synthetic
broke the laws of physics
it doesn’t matter
the universe in its whole
resembles an atom
the gateway was
over my head
I needed the ladder
pursuit included pain
seek truth
in its entirety
laid in plain view
if you didn’t know
how could you knew
no worries I’ll gate away regardless
Proof?
these words are magical
I’m an escape artist poof…
—
Look in all its glory you see?
utterly in awe
of what stands before we
words at a lost for them
its breath taking
landscaping at skies end
The sun plays peek a boo
with the moon over the horizon
mountain clouds hiding
what an a-ray for it portrays
new born colors
when the moon sees the sun
get a glimpse of it’s face
blushing almost
in a shinning sought of way
it glows
partial eclipse crescent
when full blown
expressive through presence
compliment the complement
it goes
without saying
imbued ecstatically sedated
an overwhelmingly kind of relaxation
captured with a phone
no need of explanations