Poems for Harlem

my place

when i need my fix
my deep shot
my theatrical hit
an artistic uplift
i know where to go to find it

there's this space
this place
where wide, spiritually high people who stay flying on
...words
...breathing
...and creating
live.

so no matter the trek
rain or shine
weak or strong
i hop the “r” train from my lonely queens new york city terrain
make the quick underground subway switch to the “A”
and get myself to
harlem

yes.

i live miles away
but trust
i stay playing, thriving, expanding

i know my place

underwritten about
under thought about
this is the modern day formally acknowledged
today somewhat forgotten (but don't be sleeping on it!) black breaking ground
a post-renaissance, new-renaissance artistic fertile ground
the center of young new york thought...
2012
my home away from home

i ride there three times a week
drag myself up from sleep
wiping crust out of my eyes
and shaking on my feet
i wake up these morning my purpose to
teach
in harlem
USAPA
urban assembly school for the performing arts
and there...every other day...i stand amazed
at the young aileys
the new poitiers
and the kathleen battles in training
did you know that in the cut of amsterdam and 129th
the new guard of the future is working, focusing...a quiet revolution awaiting?

this is my place

and when I am feel like a movement after teaching?
I move myself towards the movement of the MOVEMENT THEATER
and there in the seats of HSA
...harlem school of the arts
i catch a show
or a slam
or reading series
...most people only know the APOLLO
but no!
i know where to go
where we can view, discuss, plot... we simply sit and talk and design our way
and what speaks to us

i know my place

when i need to cast a piece
i got myself a CHI CHI
the underground dynamic beast of new young black casting
she knows more than most cats do about the hotness on the streets

i know my place

when i need a show produced
SOULPRODUCTION produces me
finding money and sponsors and donors and “i-don't-nothing-but-i-wanna-be-a-helper” helpers
through soulpro...
...artists and work have carved themselves a home.

i know my place

when i need a platform to see my developed work performed
when i need a stepping stone
THE STANDARD got my back
curating work that is focused and unseen and straight out all that
putting people in the seats and daring them to come see
the new
the fresh
the human

yes.

i know my place.

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS is over here
hip hop theater education at its finest

i know my place.

the NEW BLACK FEST
on the block and scouring for the next voice

i know my place.

the starbucks and the HUEMAN BOOKSTORE
Where running into a playwright, producer, actor, director is inevitable.

i know my place.

where what I create stands.

this.
this is how i've spent my days
my months
my years
so even though i live in queens
i thank god for the “r” and my connection to “a”
cause this sister stays and plays
in HARLEM.