Joy Leftow's Blog, page 11
July 6, 2016
THREE SHORT POEMS
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
He’s either a Cancer, a Capricorn or a ScorpioMaybe just a sociopathHe’s a different sort of guy who Perfectly jells with your alter ego’s abilitiesHe acts as though they have a spell upon each otherPeople in loveHe’s a doctor or a lawyer, a newspaper manA news feature writer, a painterHis words are smoothEasy to see he’s telling the truthHandsome, winsome,
Irresistible, he’s made for you and me
PHOTO OF THE CHILD YOU WERE
I see the little boy inside your eyesHidden away from prying eyesYet longing to be freedThe little boy hurt inside Longing for a Sherriff’s star pinned onYou want to get back to where you used to beTo your red knit hoodie you used to wearYour favorite as a little boySoft brown eyes shine through The dichotomy of your discontentSherriff’s pin emblazoned on your boy’s red hoodieThe he you see isn’t the he inside
I AM THE MUSIC IN ME
Everyday I reinventMyself to discover who I amI used to be somebodyNow I’m someone elseLost inside my own mindI’m coming through Got a message in a bottleI knit, crochet, & do macramé,I nurture cats, plants, people, and moneyI don’t play music to create My heart beats with the music in me
He’s either a Cancer, a Capricorn or a ScorpioMaybe just a sociopathHe’s a different sort of guy who Perfectly jells with your alter ego’s abilitiesHe acts as though they have a spell upon each otherPeople in loveHe’s a doctor or a lawyer, a newspaper manA news feature writer, a painterHis words are smoothEasy to see he’s telling the truthHandsome, winsome,
Irresistible, he’s made for you and me
PHOTO OF THE CHILD YOU WERE
I see the little boy inside your eyesHidden away from prying eyesYet longing to be freedThe little boy hurt inside Longing for a Sherriff’s star pinned onYou want to get back to where you used to beTo your red knit hoodie you used to wearYour favorite as a little boySoft brown eyes shine through The dichotomy of your discontentSherriff’s pin emblazoned on your boy’s red hoodieThe he you see isn’t the he inside
I AM THE MUSIC IN ME
Everyday I reinventMyself to discover who I amI used to be somebodyNow I’m someone elseLost inside my own mindI’m coming through Got a message in a bottleI knit, crochet, & do macramé,I nurture cats, plants, people, and moneyI don’t play music to create My heart beats with the music in me
July 5, 2016
busy busy busy
It's unbelievable that one can spend so much time writing reviews but I do on Amazon. I take photos of items I'm reviewing and post them along with my reviews. http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2HOPYNO8PMUHP?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_your_profile
It's kind of nice but gets a bit crazy. I get a lot of items that my friends beg me for, like friends of mine who have teenage daughters love the makeup brush sets I get which are generally worth about 20 to 30 bucks.
I'm a little off centered but wanted to post some photos from the park and from my reviews and other stuff.
All of the photos of items are items I received free in exchange for unbiased reviews at Amazon. It kind of surprised me when it happened. How it happened is that an online friend told me that I should review every item I purchase at Amazon and that then I'd probably get chosen by various sellers as a reviewer. And this is exactly what happened!
food scale I received for review.
bluetooth headphone I received to be used with iPad, iPod, or phone.
Add caption
collapsible colander - I love this items - what a space saver for us folks living in small apartments.
plastic utensils look like the real thing - silver with designs!
Lexis Grover from Outpatient Asylum performing.
Alexandra Roth's artwork
It's kind of nice but gets a bit crazy. I get a lot of items that my friends beg me for, like friends of mine who have teenage daughters love the makeup brush sets I get which are generally worth about 20 to 30 bucks.
I'm a little off centered but wanted to post some photos from the park and from my reviews and other stuff.
All of the photos of items are items I received free in exchange for unbiased reviews at Amazon. It kind of surprised me when it happened. How it happened is that an online friend told me that I should review every item I purchase at Amazon and that then I'd probably get chosen by various sellers as a reviewer. And this is exactly what happened!
food scale I received for review.
bluetooth headphone I received to be used with iPad, iPod, or phone. 
Add caption
collapsible colander - I love this items - what a space saver for us folks living in small apartments. 
plastic utensils look like the real thing - silver with designs!
Lexis Grover from Outpatient Asylum performing.
Alexandra Roth's artwork
June 19, 2016
Art in the Garden
Outpatient Asylum Vocalist Lexis Grover and moi in front of Alice C. Hunsberger's Mosaics.
I've been so busy running to and fro and trying, as usual, to do several things as well which does usually work out for me. I'm like Lil' Ms. Muffitt, and I have too many things going on at once to focus on anyone. For example, this second I am also writing a review of Kafaya Quadri, a Nigerian musician and lyricist as well as trying to write here in this blog and at the same time, writing a text about Quadri to another musician who is interested in knowing more about her, plus opening mail and downloading photos to put here for our "Art in the Ring Garden" this year.
This year was very different for me at the Ring's Garden annual Art and Performance Show at the Ring Garden.
It was different because no one came from Manhattan Times and they usually have in the past, especially when Mike Fitelson was on board with them. It was the same in that Arthur Sherry also takes care of the sound set and performers.
It was also different because I fell in charge of organizing the artistic side - which meant doing all the flyers which were not properly distributed, no blame here, we were listed as a feature in the Annual Art Stroll event. It was also different because this was the first time in ages that I was responsible for introducing our performers. I was really happy to do this and enjoyed introducing our performers.
Also different because my good buddy, Demetrius Daniel, was out of town attending his uncle's funeral, plus Fred Arcoleo who usually performs, was out of town attending his niece's graduation.
Different because this year's art show showed new blood. For example, A two piece band showed up called Out Patient Asylum and performed a short set for us. We also had artists there who'd never been there before, like photog, Aliza Frazier, wonderful and unique artist Chrystal Romero, artist and graphic designer, Alexandra Roth, (who was a blessing and helped me with the programs and printing), two truly amazing mosaics workers, Alice C. Hunsberger & Anina Klein, Artist Frank Barrett plus Calligraphy and hand style writer Dubblex. We also had return artists, Gunther Bechofer and Marc Soliman who was kind enough to show up without any notice.
Early on in our performances, a special spotlight was with the performances by the Graham 2 Dance Performers and the Virginie Mecene Dance Program that was absolutely breathtaking. They danced to perfectly timed music that even my 2 year old grandson loved and danced to.
It was a totally amazing day even with not having my good pal Demetrius Daniel there.
Dubblex and I also performed together in the afternoon, as a team, as usual. I was very pleased to have Helmi Pucinco on acoustic guitar and Arthur on electric guitar join me along with Dubblex on melodica.
Johnny Mandolin showed up later and played Italian Mandolin for our pleasure.
We were happy to end our day with the appearance of Carlo Baldo, who is a return performer, poet and writer.
Next time I have to remember sun block and a hat.
Here are some photos from our wonderful day.
June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali, who riveted the world as 'The Greatest,' dies
Muhammad Ali, who riveted the world as 'The Greatest,' dies
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see!"
"I'm so mean I make medicine sick."
I don’t believe there was anyone from my era who didn’t love this man for his poetry and quick wit. I, who never liked watching sports, enjoyed watching this man out his rhymes and relished his braggadocio. His magnetism aroused something in most people, even captivated sportscaster, Howard Cosell. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on TV, before a fight, talking his talk. Ali will always hold a special place in the world for his antics, his beliefs, his soul and his personality. Ali is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Dead at 74 years old, after suffering with Parkinson's for many years, Ali accomplished many great things, including a personal visit to Saddam Hussain, where he convinced Saddam to let 15 American hostages go home along with Ali. He also refused to fight in the war and charges were brought against him for this. Ali said he had nothing against those Viet Cong! Later he was exonerated from these charges and permitted to fight again. Ali proceeded to fight and won back his title again.
He was an amazing man! Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush and the Presidential Citizens Medal from Clinton honoring Ali's social activism and activism for peace, and for being the most celebrated boxer in history. Ali will be remembered for being the "greatest" as well as for his promoting peace faithfully until the end! I celebrate a life well lived!
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see!"
"I'm so mean I make medicine sick."
I don’t believe there was anyone from my era who didn’t love this man for his poetry and quick wit. I, who never liked watching sports, enjoyed watching this man out his rhymes and relished his braggadocio. His magnetism aroused something in most people, even captivated sportscaster, Howard Cosell. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on TV, before a fight, talking his talk. Ali will always hold a special place in the world for his antics, his beliefs, his soul and his personality. Ali is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Dead at 74 years old, after suffering with Parkinson's for many years, Ali accomplished many great things, including a personal visit to Saddam Hussain, where he convinced Saddam to let 15 American hostages go home along with Ali. He also refused to fight in the war and charges were brought against him for this. Ali said he had nothing against those Viet Cong! Later he was exonerated from these charges and permitted to fight again. Ali proceeded to fight and won back his title again.
He was an amazing man! Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush and the Presidential Citizens Medal from Clinton honoring Ali's social activism and activism for peace, and for being the most celebrated boxer in history. Ali will be remembered for being the "greatest" as well as for his promoting peace faithfully until the end! I celebrate a life well lived!
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I don't think there was anyone from my era who didn't love this man for his poetry and his quick wit. I never liked sports but I always watched him spout his rhymes and enjoyed his braggadocio. I remember not being able to take my eyes off the TV when Ali would be on before a fight talking his talk. He is the greatest. He knew how to love and forgive and he loved George Forman too in later years. Ali was an inspiration! God rest his soul.
May 25, 2016
Dead Flowers
Dead Flowers
He carried me to the place of dead flowersWhere I spent my water for liquid goldHe tickled my clitoris with humming bird handsI tasted curiosity; smell satiated me
Is that my worth, only dead flowers?
© Joy Leftow 1996
He carried me to the place of dead flowersWhere I spent my water for liquid goldHe tickled my clitoris with humming bird handsI tasted curiosity; smell satiated me
Is that my worth, only dead flowers?
© Joy Leftow 1996
May 20, 2016
Vacation Time
Catskills Cabin Getaway
Babbling brook behind my cabin Birds chirp, picking dirt with beaksA red-breasted robin alights on the groundWater rushes over stonesBabbling a lost languageSun shines like diamonds Bubbling over running brookI pick my city headStrive to reduce daily strain, dinFallen trees and boughs Set together like someone put them Tried to slow the brooks flow, Make the water flow go slow Maybe Sandy threw trees there, Two years agoHear the water rollConstant sound all aroundCreek Sparkles in sun and nightIn rain, creek sparkles tooSee water fill creekHope that Sandy won’t come visitAgain, show her other cheekReturn to the present, beauty surrounds meWonder if we can witness beauty with no fear
Babbling brook behind my cabin Birds chirp, picking dirt with beaksA red-breasted robin alights on the groundWater rushes over stonesBabbling a lost languageSun shines like diamonds Bubbling over running brookI pick my city headStrive to reduce daily strain, dinFallen trees and boughs Set together like someone put them Tried to slow the brooks flow, Make the water flow go slow Maybe Sandy threw trees there, Two years agoHear the water rollConstant sound all aroundCreek Sparkles in sun and nightIn rain, creek sparkles tooSee water fill creekHope that Sandy won’t come visitAgain, show her other cheekReturn to the present, beauty surrounds meWonder if we can witness beauty with no fear
May 10, 2016
Lost Love Song
Baby you’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no good, Baby you’re no goodYou snore like a wild boar sleeping winter awayEyes wide open, pretend you’re awakeDirty little secrets tucked away Hide behind waves of nauseaSend me off the deep endWhile you snore awayNight and day, night and day, never awakeSnore day and night awayPretend to be alive while I live the dreamDream a little dream for meBreak my heart with your insistent sleepAway your life in a misty gleeful mess Liking life on the edgeThe very thought of you makes me cringeLife on the edge while searching for a way to hedge climb the ledge to a new nice ice way while climatic shards whip my heart into shapeThe very thought of youBrings me to the edgeBreaking up is hard to do
Ah, Ah Ah, Ah Yeah yeahYiyaye hehahay, Ah ah
My heart fakes desire like a wind up carEat my cake and like it tooCause breaking up is hard to doYou’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no goodBaby you’re no goodMy breaking heart and I agree we were never meant to You hide behind walls of deceit, pretend you’re awake when you’re barely aliveI cry, “Baby please, please hear my pleas! Baby please!”Too smart for our own goods, we waver endlessly to the beat set before us,You hide, we glide on angel’s wingsEach day obsessing over beginning, find a new way to start each day
The very thought of you (fade out)
Ah, Ah Ah, Ah Yeah yeahYiyaye hehahay, Ah ah
My heart fakes desire like a wind up carEat my cake and like it tooCause breaking up is hard to doYou’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no goodBaby you’re no goodMy breaking heart and I agree we were never meant to You hide behind walls of deceit, pretend you’re awake when you’re barely aliveI cry, “Baby please, please hear my pleas! Baby please!”Too smart for our own goods, we waver endlessly to the beat set before us,You hide, we glide on angel’s wingsEach day obsessing over beginning, find a new way to start each day
The very thought of you (fade out)
April 27, 2016
Dilemma in Love, Text-versation
DILEMMA
He texts that he misses her Wants to hold her hand and walkHer where he wants to go She replies, “I’m here, I’ll come there. You can see me if you want!”Receives no text reply backSeemingly texts disappear into the worldwide webShe’s definitely out of her depthsNo communication, she’s perplexedFeels vexed by how he disses her
No more dinners, No more talks about art No more park walksInsisted on sleeping on her side of bedNow there’s no more courtingShe wonders whom he seesOn his nightly midnight foraysShe wonders what happened Whom he spends his time texting todaySome sweet gal who’s a dime Gets all your sweet texts instead of I?Before sex, she saw him thrice weeklyNow post sex she barely sees him at all
Ponders if there’s a correlation Between his loss of attention andSomeone new on his horizonHe declines to mention Wonders who he texts instead of herMidnight he texts, “I miss you,"Her exclusion proves otherwise
She tries to engage him in text-versationSends each text with trepidationHe appears to be on vacationSurmises she can’t read lies in his eyesWonders if she’ll ever find love That provides compensation for pain and suffering She doesn’t want to cryWants to rise above pettinessShe puts on a happy disguise Prances on her way, Evades further speculation
He texts that he misses her Wants to hold her hand and walkHer where he wants to go She replies, “I’m here, I’ll come there. You can see me if you want!”Receives no text reply backSeemingly texts disappear into the worldwide webShe’s definitely out of her depthsNo communication, she’s perplexedFeels vexed by how he disses her
No more dinners, No more talks about art No more park walksInsisted on sleeping on her side of bedNow there’s no more courtingShe wonders whom he seesOn his nightly midnight foraysShe wonders what happened Whom he spends his time texting todaySome sweet gal who’s a dime Gets all your sweet texts instead of I?Before sex, she saw him thrice weeklyNow post sex she barely sees him at all
Ponders if there’s a correlation Between his loss of attention andSomeone new on his horizonHe declines to mention Wonders who he texts instead of herMidnight he texts, “I miss you,"Her exclusion proves otherwise
She tries to engage him in text-versationSends each text with trepidationHe appears to be on vacationSurmises she can’t read lies in his eyesWonders if she’ll ever find love That provides compensation for pain and suffering She doesn’t want to cryWants to rise above pettinessShe puts on a happy disguise Prances on her way, Evades further speculation
April 21, 2016
CREATE A UNIVERSE OF PEACE# 2
CREATE A UNIVERSE OF PEACE 2
Have you ever felt the sunshine kiss you tenderly?Feel sunshine abandon you at dusk for a bright white winter moonHave you ever been as lonesome as a chained bear baited by dogs A big black bear with teeth and nails removed, no longer a slayerThunder cries but alone you die slowly inside betrayed by bodies Under bare tree branches, sinister things happen while we lie awake helplessIs it any wonder I can’t lose these blues
Truth of who loves me is the answer to my unconscious questionWitness my decay, as I age no longer a number I can wave awayWords flow exponentially from a body I no longer recognizeWords witness my decay as I go more into my flow A little faith goes a long wayThe answer to who loves who on the same plate pleaseFlow more into my goals as easily as I lick an ice cream cone
Have you ever kissed the sunshine, sat there warm and tenderly,Words precede me, darkness follows light, and my tongue flows flawlessly Reveals tireless concealed appeals listening to the trombone wailBluetry giving life through a brand new litany – Flowing effortlessly - giving revival to a unified forceGive me your hand, I’ll show you my goal
Push on to bring shit tighterMy tongue stays loose like a rapper in paradiseMy body becomes harder for my mind to push throughMy tongue more alive than the rest of meFear, anticipation and rage blend and fuel meSpeak through a corpse of someone I once knew - I try to make doSilver dragon enters through these blues
Have you ever kissed the sunshine while walking between the raindrops?Words flow through my veins as I pray for a universe of peace to delete abuseTired of seeing so many hurt animals and folk put through the food chain World where all that exists are tasteless vegetables from depleted soilLivestock have no rights; beef and pork render a new underclass Humans like spoiled cider lacking circumspectTired of feeling chagrin Tired of being an underclass
Have you ever begged for sunshine while you survived the latest monsoon?Alone heartbroken seeking love in someone’s smileWind whispers, voices set forth The conglomeration for a powerful new nationWith all old abuses sent to damnationHave you ever begged for sunshine and felt it slip through your fingertipsWhile you exclaim, proclaim and explain you’re waiting for the right timeWait for a future, neglect the present, time is divine, Resign to a lead line; the stars align in sunshine Have you ever kissed the sunshine, walked between raindrops?
Sun streams through to touch you one last time
Have you ever felt the sunshine kiss you tenderly?Feel sunshine abandon you at dusk for a bright white winter moonHave you ever been as lonesome as a chained bear baited by dogs A big black bear with teeth and nails removed, no longer a slayerThunder cries but alone you die slowly inside betrayed by bodies Under bare tree branches, sinister things happen while we lie awake helplessIs it any wonder I can’t lose these blues
Truth of who loves me is the answer to my unconscious questionWitness my decay, as I age no longer a number I can wave awayWords flow exponentially from a body I no longer recognizeWords witness my decay as I go more into my flow A little faith goes a long wayThe answer to who loves who on the same plate pleaseFlow more into my goals as easily as I lick an ice cream cone
Have you ever kissed the sunshine, sat there warm and tenderly,Words precede me, darkness follows light, and my tongue flows flawlessly Reveals tireless concealed appeals listening to the trombone wailBluetry giving life through a brand new litany – Flowing effortlessly - giving revival to a unified forceGive me your hand, I’ll show you my goal
Push on to bring shit tighterMy tongue stays loose like a rapper in paradiseMy body becomes harder for my mind to push throughMy tongue more alive than the rest of meFear, anticipation and rage blend and fuel meSpeak through a corpse of someone I once knew - I try to make doSilver dragon enters through these blues
Have you ever kissed the sunshine while walking between the raindrops?Words flow through my veins as I pray for a universe of peace to delete abuseTired of seeing so many hurt animals and folk put through the food chain World where all that exists are tasteless vegetables from depleted soilLivestock have no rights; beef and pork render a new underclass Humans like spoiled cider lacking circumspectTired of feeling chagrin Tired of being an underclass
Have you ever begged for sunshine while you survived the latest monsoon?Alone heartbroken seeking love in someone’s smileWind whispers, voices set forth The conglomeration for a powerful new nationWith all old abuses sent to damnationHave you ever begged for sunshine and felt it slip through your fingertipsWhile you exclaim, proclaim and explain you’re waiting for the right timeWait for a future, neglect the present, time is divine, Resign to a lead line; the stars align in sunshine Have you ever kissed the sunshine, walked between raindrops?
Sun streams through to touch you one last time
April 10, 2016
All Losses Last Forever Or Until You’re Dead
All Losses Last Forever Or Until You’re Dead
I wonder where I went wrongI wonder where I left my songTrying to find my luckGet a big bang for my buckI thought I had the hang of itDidn’t know how much I missed himTill he was goneI wonder how many times he thought of meI wonder if I’ll feel sad till I’m dead that I Didn’t see him before I diedI wonder if he had other loves besides meI wonderIf he knew I missed himI wonder if he missed me like I miss himI wonderHow many people forget to see loved onesThen they pass away suddenlyI wonderIf you’re lost like meIf we’ll ever be the same If we’ll ever fit in the same time frameI wonder if you had as many bad experiences as meI wonder why some pain doesn’t go away
They say time heals all but it's a lie!
I wonder where I went wrongI wonder where I left my songTrying to find my luckGet a big bang for my buckI thought I had the hang of itDidn’t know how much I missed himTill he was goneI wonder how many times he thought of meI wonder if I’ll feel sad till I’m dead that I Didn’t see him before I diedI wonder if he had other loves besides meI wonderIf he knew I missed himI wonder if he missed me like I miss himI wonderHow many people forget to see loved onesThen they pass away suddenlyI wonderIf you’re lost like meIf we’ll ever be the same If we’ll ever fit in the same time frameI wonder if you had as many bad experiences as meI wonder why some pain doesn’t go away
They say time heals all but it's a lie!
