August 1979 - February 1999

I think we would play basketball together.

There are things that my father has taught me
Lessons that only he is equipped to pass down
God-ordained and inspired
But still
In this one arena
I wished for an older brother.
A relevant wisdom,
I think I would learn from you.
Watch and study the grace must’ve had.
From handle and position
To just-plain-style
Because as a child of the Magic versus Michael age
Your game definitely showed it.
Classic.
Timeless.
Undying.
Forever.

I think we would listen to music together.

You were tall, weren’t you?
It runs in your family
Like the smiles I never got to see in person,
I bet that Jeter grin lit up four walls
Brighter than watts and candles
Like the laughter that still echoes
Loudly
Like a subwoofer each family member’s chest
Vibrating with broad strokes of color and bass and life
You
Are why she writes still
And she can’t forget you
And she won’t forget you
So I wanted to take the time out to wonder
Would your head bob back-to-front like mine?
Would you have liked J. Cole as much as me?
Would you have laughed at how much I liked Michael Jackson?
Or would I have convinced you to give TobyMac a try?

I think you would have liked my family.

Your daps must’ve been warm.
Unlike the braggadocious greetings of this generation,
Strangled and suffocated by swagged out tentacles
Drowned by gallons of delicious ignorance,
Legions of the “Leggo” and “No Homo” variety,
No.
A brotherly fist bump,
Close back pat,
And a firm embrace.
Confident.
…I’ve heard about how you worked with the ladies
Never disrespectful,
Human,
But a Child of God.
You
Are why she accepts me as a future son in law.
And she can’t forget you
And she won’t forget you.
So I wanted to take some time out
And wonder
If you could get used to Callaloo and roti,
Ox tail and cabbage,
Ginger beer and sill figs?

I hope you would’ve liked me.

I know you.
Your smile.
Each time I cross the South Carolinian state line,
Or
Everytime I happen to make your beautiful sister smile
Or
Each time your mother talks about Kevin Hart
Or
Each moment I watch your son
Turn
Into
You are why they grin
Why they sing
Why every eighth month,
They celebrate your memory
Why they enjoy you still.

And they can’t forget you
And they won’t forget you.

So I wonder
Why would I?

You are classic.
You are timeless.
You are undying.
You are my brother.

For Michael Bradley Jeter

Option One:

I don’t meant to sound rude

but

in case you didn’t know

it’s all about me.

all of it.

From my shoes to my dus to

each little thing you choose

it’s all about

me.

I’m being honest, I promise

I don’t want to crush spirits

But I’m no novice at going at

everything I think

I’ve been promised.

I want it all, everything

from sea to shining sea.

I want the fame and the dames

win the titles and the games

I want the glitz, glam and glory

to be the star of each and every story

see,

if I don’t look out for me,

who else will?

and if I don’t do it for me,

where is the thrill?

I don’t mean to sound rude,

i really don’t.

but in case you didn’t know

it’s all about me

and no one else.

Option Two:

All I do is win, win, win

no matter what

got more than money and more on my mind

i can never get enough

and every time I step into the building

everybody knows that i

can’t stop, won’t stop.

if it’s a dog eat dog world,

then i’m trying to be o top

and if the plate has a little bit

you’d better turn it to a lot.

because all I do is win

with the ladies or at my workplace

cuz, really, that’s all that matters in this big, worldwide foot race.

i’m not saying that i want to descend into Sodom

but you don’t ever, ever see me at the bottom.

whether it be the last of an escort’s visit list

or the end of some angry, rage driven fist,

i

win.

Option Three:

All I’ve got, and all I am.

All my dreams, and all my plans,

I’m holding nothing back, Father

To the Lord Almighty who resides on the throne,

who rests over time and space and calls it his home,

i devote myself to you,

offer myself as a living sacrifice

Nothing else I accomplish could ever be half as nice.

My master,

my leader,

my friend,

my King,

with bent knee and bowed head, I give you everything

My career,

my money,

my self,

my wife,

My belongings,

my desire,

my soul,

my Life.

I surrender it all, I lay it before you

for all of my days, i bring you the glory

you’ve caused me to see, my heart is divided

so take all of me, because I have decided

i’m holding

nothing

nothing

nothing back

from You.

No new stories and tales

Just these words of truth

A sentiment familiar.

I love you.

Like the words I spoke many moons ago

I offer you no surprises

Nothing that you haven’t heard before

Just my heart

A sentiment familiar.

I love you.

No flash, no flare

Simply…a desire forged in the fires of our energy

Myself for you is all that I attempt to offer

Codenamed: 051807

Through the wiles of time and mine sins

The truth in my words stand firm

A sentiment familiar

I love you.

Like the memory of what I had hoped to offer

And the efforts to realign these facts

I bring you, not a new gift

But a gentle reminder

Like our hands grasped after an uphill climb

Like our embrace after an tumultuous grind

Like a sentiment familiar

I love you.

There are no new tales here

Nothing but something we have known all along

Just these words of truth

A sentiment familiar

Jedi

I love you.

I would not mind if you
Slipped in
Like a thief in the night
Except to cuddle up next to me
Before you steal away.

I believe that one of these days
You should sneak in
Softly kiss me in the secret of dark
Hold me in an embrace called love
And sleep with me.

Past the age of boogeymen-related terrors
And midnight horrors,
I nestle aside the fear of
Sleeping without you.

So,
Simply put
For the sake of my habitual case of nighttime shivers
I think you should
Crawl your limber legs over mine
Slip your arms around my chest
Nestle your head in your own “special spot”
And sneak into bed with me.

Laying in a fashion designed for man and wife

Nothing explicit

Simply mental stimulation

And you let me into your heart

Sharing the vehicle of thought through your mind’s eye

Past insecurities and inadequacies

And queries on the 80/20 rule

At the end of it all

Tonight

All I want to say is

Thank you

For smiling.

A classic album in sale for $9.99 – and only having $9.

Having all your money for rent – which was due yesterday.

Stepping into your own home – and out of your parent’s home.

Dreaming a dream that knows no end – and waking up.

Driving with the sunset as a destination – but running out of gas.

Bowing down on one, to repent and revere – only to sin again.

Gripping hands, investing in a joint future – losing yourself in process.

Gripping thighs, investing in a beautiful moment – losing your self in the process

And

Love.

A connection

A synonym of : “heart”.

I bring a warning of the day

Schizophrenia

Becomes the new face of

The beating organ

Resonating in our chests.

Speaking solely of my own struggle,

My heart is resilient in nature

Standing firmly on a foundation of truths

Yet in moments unprecedented…

Its ugly side awakens.

The heart of the matter is

The heart is of matter,

Part of my flesh, my human body.

And my heart lies susceptible

To being riddled with

Confusion.

Alongside its beauty and breath-taking capabilities,

My heart remains silent

As my mind

And my flesh

Run rampant.

How strong is the heart?

Verily, I ask,

Is the Beauty stronger than the Beast?