There is a place of understanding when it comes to writing and Kash has shown that when it’s in honesty people will come out to see it. Over the weekend I had the honor of taking in Mr. Goins play VtoX with an ensemble cast that showed they have what it takes to bring characters to life this show about the many faces that are placed into the judicial system all connect in someway as we learn that this is and always will be big business. What audience, this was definitely worth as wild as it was shown in and interactive state allowing them to be part of the action and with in the breath of the play for many it is probably ring true to home with stories surrounding rape molestation wrongful incarceration abuse and again business. These stories were made to make you cry make you laugh and more than anything make you think to wear as you only can see one thing and that is the truth within the story.
Month: October 2015
Wanted
Photo by Julia Formisland Creation by Roxette words by Brorha Train
All he wanted was acceptance
All she wanted was acceptance
All they deserved was acceptance
All they cared for was love
All they wanted was love
All they got was bruises
From the many that couldn’t understand
All they got were bruises
Submitted in ink saying words like abomination
All they felt was pain
Injected into everyday eye contact
that had no reason to give a negative
All they received was shunning
Of those that swore they understood biblical scriptures but never took the time to actually read the script
All they cared for was acceptance
In the form of an embrace embedded in a hug that in many ways managed to remove the bruises and pain
All she needs is your love
Her as a person
Her as a woman
Her as she is
Not what you want her to be
But as a person
So remember this is all she needs..
Allen Brotha Train Clark 2015
Love of the Arts
Sometimes spending time with my mom is a delight. She raised me to love the arts do it was only right that we go see Complexion together. She watched in awe as the dancers glide across the stage with movement that made her remember when I us to want to dance. She loved the interaction the sequence of movements and she had her eyes open for the entire show. How can I forget where my love for arts come from when she still loves them the same.
Another Day Comes
And she began her day like many others
Clinging onto jacket and bag
Throwing on outfits to match the 8hrs of stress to come
Contemplating when the money will equal
Feeling the need to go forward
When she just wants to go back
Remove all the layers
Jump into quilted arms
Drift off into a land of dreams
And he sits
Thinking of the time past
Wishing for a good book
Looking for a way out
Not wanting to be apart of the nightmare called life
He wanted to be able to
Close lids and see the darkness beneath the skins layer as eyes roll back and forth catching a new dream
Drifting off into a land…
Me and My Momma: Watching “Empire”
I am not a fan of Empire so I’m not going to be here taking shots at the show just give an insight to me and my momma Wednesday’s.
Mom: Allen turn my show is on!
Me: Mom it’s not on yet.
Mom; Yes it is you don’t know.
Me: what time does it come on?
Mom: 9.
Me: And what time is it?
Mom: 8!?
Me: See.
(Hour later)
Me: Mom your show is on.
(Mom rolls into the living room)
Mom: ohhh!! I can’t wait for my Cookie.
(Show is on mom is glued on show. Cookie makes a comment concerning her being arrested mom begins laughing)
Mom: Ha ha ha!! That girl is a mess!!
Me: This is stupid writing mom.
Mom: You don’t know what your talking about. Look at this one of the top shows on tv is a black cast show. It’s entertaining and filled with drama be happy for them.
Me: But the writing sucks mom lame jokes, one line zingers, simple stuff.
Mom: And its equivalent to Dynasty, a family in chaos among each other. That’s called good tv. So give it props!
Me: Ok mom your right but it still sucks…😜
Let the Sky Speak
Sometimes you can’t resist that moment
That feeling when the sky opens up And says to you everything will be ok
That I can get through the day notion
That you can do anything feeling
That I’m on top of the world appeal
That it’s a healing moment
Sometimes the sky talks
You just have to look up and see it speak..
The Wait
Tick tock
Tick tock
Slowly the time paces
People move
But motion of slow
All just looking up
At a board filled with destinations
Slowly moving up in a shuffle
Heads and eyed follow
For some
these moments are about rest
For the travel holds content
Books, ink , phones, and thought
Tick tock
Tick tock
We grab our belongings
Shuffle towards stairs
Leading down a narrow path
Many push forward to gain a seat
Close eyes to find more time to
Tick tock….
Why Not??
Here I am with a need for a cup of coffee and since noon hearing the great sounds of a parade was clanging the entire time. For me this was an odd sound in the hood but as she said allen this ain’t the hood anymore. I walk out the door to be greeted by countless numbers of people standing around some in costume others assisting in putting on or setting up the bands straps for a long march.
I’m just some kid from philly and to say I’ve seen a Panamanian Parade before in the hood would be a lie but why haven’t I? It was a beautiful site people gathered as far as the eye can see speaking there native tongue waving the Panamanian flag with hues to match the pride of the people.
In the mist of all of this, I finally made it to a shop lined with a lot of people inside taking in the moments on the street noticing the dances, the twirling batons, the high stepping and even the man dressed as a devil. One small cup and on my way back to the home I couldn’t help but think of the many parades we do have in philly but often they are down town or along the parkway. My guess it’s to show that we are a city of diversity but why is it that can’t be shown in north philly or Germantown or west philly is there a fear that people may see these neighborhoods as places worth staying worth visiting or it that the city its self just has a fear that they want to hold to until gentrification has made its way and then and only then will we no longer wonder why not..
A Fulfilled Destiny
I felt like my life was overjoyed a few weeks ago. I never thought that moment would happen when seeing someone that helped direct you to this art upon the stage can impact you more than ever. His interaction with his audience was one long to cherish, his need to be with the people as one was cherished, his need to stop and talk was cherished, and at some point I felt like he just wanted to be one of us. In most cases people would have probably had wanted to see him doing poetry funny thing is I appreciate him as an artist I understand his need to speak and many times for as an artist to be limitless is where we should all be. He said to travel see the world speak to someone in a different language a different land in that to me was about me finding the wholeness in my journey. I don’t know maybe this is that for filled a moment where his words were not just to be spoken but to be heard and for me I hear down the question becomes when will I act on these actions instead of taking them as a passive moment because again how I’m I supposed to be if I cannot for fill my own destiny. Thank you Saul
Continued Beginnings
oLast night was an amazing night as i watch a dream unfold The Collective Mic Arts Cafe birthed from the vision and drive of its creators Tiffani”La Dive” Dean and Jody”True Story” Austin. It was a gathering i am blessed with its wait as many of the Collective family and us that are extension of that came out to show our support to the birth of a creative space made 
to bring in artistic creativity of all kinds.With walls laid out with some of the brightest talents the city has to offer. with walls that contained a story within themselves the artistry was speaking in its own tongue as pieces from Giovanni aka Lyrical Thought,Cierra F,Way LaMatrix,Kamau MShele, Alicia Adanna Amira Jenna and MyDeraSpeakMeFree were on display and feature painter Giovanni and Cierra amazed us with there collaborative on set strokes of work that showed us all that when a woman hand speaks you better listen. The open mic was a blaze as artist came out to let loose old and new works of flowmenship that oozed from lips and allowed us to breath new air of words for a first time. But when it came to giving the mic what it needed, the crowed was fixed on the lyrical wordsmith Shyst giving a story that can only be told through rapid insertion and power that he possesses.
When the mic closed the night was far from over as Dj Mitch let the party people get something funky to mingle too as they feed on finger foods and libations that relaxed the night as it was meant too. In the end the Collective has shown all that as artist the time has come for forward progress as black business owners and a place for arts in neighborhoods that deserve to be brought back to life within a continued beginning that will go on for ever…
Run Boy Run Production 