"A thing is not necessarily true... man die for it.' by Arkim DeBerry

Because a man dies for something does not make it true, correct, righteous, or morally beyond reproach.
Every man believes what he has to be the truth, at least through his eyesight.
What he views to be right will cause him to uphold that truth, even if it is his life.
This is a decision each individual conscieously makes, and because it is not by the drawing of straws, picking out of a hat, or by lottery, it may be his last, which unfortunately many make with out hesitation knowing it can not be rescinded.
Does it make it right, perhaps, or at least to him at the time, but truth resides with the bearer of it!

My Personal Prayer #3: ELITE WARRIOR

This poem is by far my favorite. I read it almost everyday. Every man should read it and internalize it, I read it out loud always:

Elite Warrior - Author Unknown

Truth is my way; love is my law.

I am a warrior - an elite warrior, acting without fear, anger or hatred. I seek to forget momentary emotional pleasures in times of learning and stress. I will love my enemy as a part of life and nature, fearing neither life nor the shadows of death.

I do not hope, for I know that the power to act is in everyone. I care not about victory or defeat, caring about winning or losing in itself is a loss. As an elite warrior, I shall never be content with ones level of achievement - But strive always to better myself in all that I do. Unifying my mind, body and spirit.

I am an elite warrior

Personal Prayer #2: The intellectuals have spoken

This poem I read when I was 18 years old. I was a freshman at Hofstra University. I was waiting to speak to a professor during his office hours. While I waited, he had this poem on his door. I stood there and read it over 20 times. I memorized and internalized it and never forgot it. It's been 13 years since that day. I forgot the name of the professor, but I never forgot the poem. It reminds me to always move decisively - sure and steadfast. because while you're pondering and crossing all the T's and dotting all the I's, valuable time is wasting. Meanwhile, someone else is taking action to advance themselves- Not because they're the smartest but because they're decisive - sure and steadfast and believe in action.

"The Intellectuals have spoken"

The intellectuals have spoken; Nothing should be done, nothing legislated until a rationale has been established.

The intellectuals have spoken.

Meanwhile, those who believe in action; and that they should be up while all others down, stormed the room, killed the leaders, and arrested the remainder, whom they later hung.

Then, there was no more talking.

author unknown

My Personal Prayer Vol 1: Lone Dog

I read this to myself from time to time. This is one of three poems thats I read all the time. I can identify with that Lone Dog because it reminds me of myself. It reminds me that nothing comes easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way:

Lone Dog:

I'm a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone;

I'm a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own;

I'm a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;

I love to sit and bay the moon, to keep fat souls from sleep.

I'll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,

a sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat,

Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,

But shut door and sharp stone, and cuff and kick, and hate.

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side, some have run a short while, but none of them would bide. 10 o mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,

Wide wind and wild stars and hunger for the quest!

By Irene Rutherford

A Pedestal is much a prison as any small confined space

You aim high, reach for the stars- Go father and further like Jay Z says. One can aspire to be the best. Its the greatest feeling. rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight Boxing Champion to retire undefeated said, "theres no feeling like walking through any street and knowing that you're a champion." Being the best can be intoxicating for some, its addictive. Once you taste victory, you seek more of it. It can become your high. A pedestal is much a prison as any small confined space because once you're the best, you're at the pinnacle. There is no other option. You cant go back to being second best, third best, or back to being irrelevant. Therefore, staying at your peak can be somewhat of a prison.

Two Kinds of Prison

There is one kind of prison where the man is behind bars and all he desires is outside them and another kind where man is free and all he desires is behind bars. A man behind bars may just be free, he has attained what he may have desired in life - notoriety, respect among criminals, and fear from those around him. Some strive for a life behind bars, believing it is a rites of passage for men like himself. Another form of prison is one where what a man desires is hindered by circumstance, chance, and their own doing. However, that person still desires to accomplish particular goals. The man is free and may have the means to carry out his goals, but rest assured that obstacles will arise. Some will persevere through it, some lay down and quit- Some make it and some dont. Those who fight through the obstacles and not allow themselves to be defeated by weak thinking and the circumstances of life with confidence and resilience will some day be free. All that he aspires to attain will be granted.

Two Kinds of Prison

There is one kind of prison where the man is behind bars and all he desires is outside them and another kind where man is free and all he desires is behind bars. A man behind bars may just be free, he has attained what he may have desired in life - notoriety, respect among criminals, and fear from those around him. Some strive for a life behind bars, believing it is a rites of passage for men like himself. Another form of prison is one where what a man desires is hindered by circumstance, chance, and their own doing. However, that person still desires to accomplish particular goals. The man is free and may have the means to carry out his goals, but rest assured that obstacles will arise. Some will persevere through it, some lay down and quit- Some make it and some dont. Those who fight through the obstacles and not allow themselves to be defeated by weak thinking and the circumstances of life with confidence and resilience will some day be free. All that he aspires to attain will be granted.

Two Kinds of Prison

There is one kind of prison where the man is behind bars and all he desires is outside them and another kind where man is free and all he desires is behind bars. A man behind bars may just be free, he has attained what he may have desired in life - notoriety, respect among criminals, and fear from those around him. Some strive for a life behind bars, believing it is a rites of passage for men like himself. Another form of prison is one where what a man desires is hindered by circumstance, chance, and their own doing. However, that person still desires to accomplish particular goals. The man is free and may have the means to carry out his goals, but rest assured that obstacles will arise. Some will persevere through it, some lay down and quit- Some make it and some dont. Those who fight through the obstacles and not allow themselves to be defeated by weak thinking and the circumstances of life with confidence and resilience will some day be free. All that he aspires to attain will be granted.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FROM THE BRONX

NYC - Houses 5 boros. the region that Im from is known as "Uptown," "Da BX" or "Da Bronx". What it means to be from the Bronx is to never leave "the" out before saying Bronx. Doing so is a red flag that you're not from there. What it means to be from the Bronx is to be the Ultimate Yankees fan, and a sin to be a Mets fan. We dont identify our neighborhoods with sections such as "Im from Flatbush" or "Im from Bed-Stuy". In the Bronx, we identify with the street name and intersection number - "Im from Clay Ave and 170th." To be from the Bronx is to buy your clothes on Fordham Road, Third Avenue or Southern Blvd. If you're from the Bronx and bought a coat, you know who "jew man" is. To be from the Bronx is to spend your childhood summers at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club trying to learn how to swim. You been there 5 straight summers and aint learn to swim not one single lap - two busy watching the girls in their swim suits. You spent your time splashing around in the street fire hydrant in the summer time. You celebrated your after after-prom parties at City Island. You know what a "cokito" is. thats a coconut icee from the small street cart thats on every corner. In the bronx, we barely have private houses so we barbecued on our fire escapes. In the Bronx we barely had houses so we decorated our fire escapes with christmas lights. We barely had houses so everyone in the Bronx would go to the northern bronx on Pelham Parkwayto see the christmas lights on the houses in the "uppity" section. To be from the Bronx is to get your car stereo stolen only to go to hunts point to buy your same stereo back. To be from the Bronx is to have a kenny fried chicken on every block, right next to the dominican restaurant which was next to the dominican barber shop which was next door to the dominican hair salon, which was accross the street from the dominican mechanic that called you "poppi" which was next door to your building with the dominican super that you called "poppi." The party never stops, because in the Bronx, parties go from Monday through sunday. Every building has that family that looks for every and any reason to throw a party till 4am on a Tuesday. If the weather peaked over 65 degrees, then the old men would hit the streets for intense games of dominos as they shouted to each other about politics. If you wanted to see a basketball game, we would go to our cousin boro - Manhattan into the Harlem section. If you lived on the west side of the Bronx, you always walked to Harlem. It is a short walk over the bridges that connected the Bronx and Harlem. Right after the game, we left because we knew the fights were coming and Harlem and the Bronx is territorial, so if you're not from there and people dont recognize you - houston we have a problem...

"The Love that last the longest... is never returned" by Arkim DeBerry

The love that you show will never be returned equally, no matter how long you wait for it.
You can love someone no matter how they treat you,
and await for that day to come when they treat you better, or love you back, only to be disappointed.
You go on and on putting every effort forth showing affection, doing the little things
(candle light dinner, pampering) proving your love and commitment, but in the end it's their decision to return it.
The only time you can guarantee equal treatment from someone, is when you treat them bad,
only then will they be happy to do the same and return it.
Why is this? is is because of a past disappointment (slight)

"I make the road... I'm the one happening" by Arkim DeBerry

I make my own way, good or bad based on what i do.
I once heard a saying "Man makes his own Luck."
I am the focus of my own attention, so which ever road I go down, i choose it,
and which ever route I take to get there, i choose it!
To say some other human is the cause of my victory, or defeat is to give them autonomy over me,
thus enabling them to cause my victory, or defeat.
I did that, been there, or is it "i been there, done that,"
however it goes, I am what's happening, so as I once heard
"either you are going my way, or you are in my way," but know I am
the chef, architect, pilot, captain of my own ship so come with me, or watch me, because
I am the one happening!

"Love a temporary insantiy cured by marriage" by Arkim DeBerry

Love a temporary insanity caused by uncertainty
Causing hallucinations, and beliefs.
Thoughts upon thoughts running through the mind, night visions of images while you sleep. Constantly going to and from to satisfy that thirst of the unknown.
Any cure, perhaps, marriage.
Now relieved, the uncertain is now definite,
the thoughts of, become actions of, night visions become reality, each time you awake from sleep, because, "what you see is what you get,"
No! what you see is your reality, and what you get is permanent sanity

That Way and Not Some Other Way By: Cecile Spence

I looked on the erosion of the soil,
Happiness brought sadness.
Strange but true.

How could Plump,Glaze, and mellow,
Becomes withered and ugly.
Gardener pique by the garden
Suddenly packed, tree expanded,
Yea right... by Self.
The blossoms progresses profusely.
Sixteen weeks...Eight weeks left to pick.
Soundless,

In despair, the pumpkin held onto the vines.
Smile with the sun, clouds, moon also starlights.
The weight of water cascaded on the outside skin.
Impression on the garden,
Expressed pain but fearless.

Tormented by the savage beast,
Tired from the grind,
Restless of hassle.
The movement inside.
Gave courage to persevere.

The garden, bloom, gloom, grows.
I was moved, marveled, appalled.

How could it be?
Once upon a time,
No blossom ...just one stem,
The Gardener cherished.
How enlightened.
Vines ran thoroughly, through and through.
Placed on a Pinnacle.
Pulchritude,
Effulgent,
Goddess,
Immaculate.

The Gardener importuned.
Features changed,
beauty flee,
choose me
twenty four weeks
Please...
Please...
I pled to thee
Sway my side, time
Love...
Decide.

Again you will glow,
I shall follow,
Now de-beauty, dull dampened.

The Garden choose,
Eight vines,
Eight Eyes,
Four stem,
That truly, beautifully, blossoms.
That way and not some other way.

"Life is short, Art is Long"

The Art of life is creating it
The beauty of it is being able to create in ENDLESSLY
Any form of shapes is an expression of art made to stimulate life
So when we shape our minds, it results in the shaping of our character
This is how we create our lives ENDLESSLY
Our lives are shaped by what we create
One life to live, many ways to live it
One life to live, many shapes to give it
Only you can paint life's picture
You say "life is short"
I say life is what you make it
Your Life, Your Art, Your Destiny
Create It

-Daneilia Francis-

Fame is the thirst of youth.

Growing up on a farm in a middle class family, protected by private schools and the later on boarding-school, life seemed pretty normal. My family was typically German; very strict when it came to school and good manners at home. My parents also made sure that we attended piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, tennis and golf; they also taught us the card game Bridge, so we would grow up with a busy schedule and become well rounded adults. I keep on saying “we”, because I am a twin.

Everything changed in the summer of 1999. My father dropped me off in New York City, where I would spend the whole summer. Who knew this would change my life forever. The first couple of weeks I would roam the streets in awe of all the sights and met many interesting people. As I strolling in the streets of Manhattan, random people would ask if I had an agent. I was a Basketball player at the time, so I automatically assumed a sports agent and just ignored the question.

It was close to the end of the summer, when a photographer approached me and pleaded to take a picture of me. From that one experience within one week I had a photo-shoot with one of the best-known photographers in the fashion industry, and signed to a top world-wide modeling agency; they whisked me off on a plane to Milan and then Paris to walk the catwalk at the respective Spring Fashion Weeks.

I never went back home; the next few years my life consisted of that one suitcase I left from home with. It ended up being my companion travelling the world as a fashion model. Never having a thirst for fame made me succeed in the world of fashion modeling.

C

June 2011

Your heart is my Pinata

The metaphor, "Your heart is my pinata" reminds me of the poem "Im a Fool To Love You" which is about a male who observes and internalizes the relationship his mother has with his father and a man after his father and how it negatively impacted his family. A pinata is a cardboard and often times animal shaped object filled with candy and treats for kids. It is used too mainly bring joy and fun. It is a hilarious activity to watch as kids are blindfolded and given a stick so that they can use it to swing wildly through the air to the amusement of adults and anxious children who await as the child cracks open the pinata. The kids lay in wait to swarm the candy that rains down from the pinata once it has been cracked open. However, in comparing the pinata to a heart , it seems as if it has a negative connotation. If you treat the "heart" (sentiments, emotions and feelings) as you would a pinata, you are beating up on the persons sentiments, emotions and feelings. You are hurting the persons "heart". Treating the heart like a pinata is to be abusive, careless, thoughtless and cruel -Similar to a young kind swinging wildly through the air with a stick to damage the pinata, the "heart' is being pummeled with reckless abandon. In short, treating someones heart like a pinata is to break someones heart.