Intimate Moments: A Mother's Heart Poem

The first time I sensed your arrival from the heart of God
I knew you were a special gift
You came in my dreams
I knew your name
My patience had often urged me to wait
I daydreamed and daydreamed
Pondering on the day I would hold you close to me
You caused the light in my eyes to sparkle
My emotions wasn’t the only thing you altered
I smile
My hips grew to cradle your tiny frame
My breast engorged them selves with milk
I waited for you
Oh how I waited
My face glowing like the noon day sun
My hair growing thicker by the day
I eagerly waited your arrival
Remembering how we had shared the same breath
You couldn’t say a word
So you shifted in your little world that had been created with love instead
Till all of your fears had subsided
These are the moments I’ve shared with you and will always remember
Now that you’re here
Here is a kiss upon your soft tender cheek
To let you know I will be here for you always

by Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

With Eagle's Wings

For the last five months, life became very problematic for Lamar and his family. Despite recouping from a painful miscarriage of eight months, Lamar was notified a week later that he had been laid off from work, due to the construction company’s downsizing. Feeling trapped by the economic spiral, Lamar and his wife Jackie, sold practically everything they owned to keep from losing their home. Jehari, their seven year old son, volunteered to sell all of his favorite toys, if they would promise to replace them. Lamar and Jackie thanked and kissed Jehari on his chubby brown cheek, gracefully declining the offer. While Lamar worked at night working odd jobs, Jackie, still desperately subduing the emotions from the miscarriage, vigorously worked during the day. They were not able to afford a baby sitter and their recent job relocation had made it very difficult to connect with family and old friends.
Discouragement set in deeper as Lamar sat at the kitchen table one sunny afternoon, thumbing through a stack of over due bills. He felt helpless, fighting the feeling that losing the baby and his job was all his fault. Reaching into his right front pocket with desperation, he pulled out seven dollars and some change. Placing the money on the kitchen table besides the over due bills, he began to separate the change from excess lint. His eyes swiveled back and forth from the bills strewn on the table to the money he had under his right hand wondering if it would be enough for gas and dinner. Feeling overwhelmed, Lamar lightly pulled back from the table, placed his hands over his face and began to cry as quietly as he could so that Jehari, watching Spy Kids in the next room, would not hear him make a sound. All of a sudden, Lamar heard feet scurrying toward the kitchen. Quickly massaging his eyes with his pointing finger and thumb, Lamar wiped away his tears.

“Dad, the movie's over.”
“Oh, okay little guy.” Lamar’s said concealing his face with the rim of his t-shirt.
“Dad, what’s wrong? And why are you covering your face like that?” Jehari looked curious.
“Nothing son. Can I get you some orange juice or something?”
“No, I’m okay. Dad, why are your eyes red? Are you bleeding?”
“No, I’m not bleeding son.” Lamar giggled. “My eyes are just a little irritated that’s all. Hey, why don’t we go outside and play some catch huh? What do you say tiger?”
“Yayee! I’m going to beat you this time dad.”
“I’m sure you will Jehari.”

Jehari immediately grabbed his dad around his wrist, pushing open the glass front door with excitment and anticipation. Before their foot could hit the next brick step, Jehari paused and turned toward his father. With a gaze and a heart warming smile said, “You are the best dad in the whole wide world! I’m proud of you dad. I love you.” Jehari gave his father a great big hug, using all the strength he could muster.

“I love you too son!” Lamar said with pride. A tear from Lamar's cheek softly rolled down to the top of Jehari's head.

Those words, coming from his only son, had injected him with so much life. He had discovered that although what they were going through seemed great, that true love was greater. He found it possible to soar another day with “Eagle’s Wings.”

By Savaslas Lofton
2008

Nubian Pearl

Look at You,
I smile with admiration,
Dark skinned, light skinned, caramel, chocolate,
Sister locks, perm, an afro, weave or twist,
You make me proud,
Proud to be black,
Proud to be a brother.
My wife, my daughter, my mother, my sister, my friend, my grandmother,
Whomever you are whether near or far,
Each time I see you,
You make me so proud,
Proud to be black,
Proud to be a brother.
I know you have struggles; you were designed to triumph,
I know you’ve experienced pain; you were made to love,
Your teeth as white as a flock of sheep,
Your hair flows like liquorish wool,
Your neck is graceful, yet powerful so strong,
Your fragrance is like myrrh, cinnamon and lavender.
No matter where or who you are,
You make me so proud,
Proud to be black,
Proud to be a brother.
So this day I stop to say thank you,
I know that life isn’t always easy being you,
But always know,
You’ve made me proud,
Proud to be black,
Proud to be your brother!

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

A Dance With My Lover: My Wife, My Friend

I journeyed with her to a place
A location I have yet to name
Skies of blue
Clouds of white
The sand and sea sky lined my brown eyes before kissing the mountain’s green
I journeyed with her to a place
I still can feel the soft cold sand embrace my feet
The incoming sea enthralling my ankles
We were in a location I have yet to name
But I do remember with precision watching her dance
This was the first time I had ever seen her waltz with the wind
Dressed in garments of white as she twirled with her arms out stretched
I could but help see the little girl I had grown to love and embrace as my own
She danced and danced
I wish you could have seen her
Tilting her head back, her hair hovering in the wind,
She was so care free
In the evening tide it was
The location I have yet to name
I reached for her hand and as I allowed her to twirl toward my bosom
Embracing her between my biceps I felt her body snuggle against mine
We danced and danced until we had an audience with the stars
We danced and danced until the moon bowed before us in its place
We danced…
Danced until we were both moved with sensation, tears filling our eyes with joy
This was the first time we had both known love in its pureness
No one wanted to hurt the other
We just wanted to dance
Dance in a place unknown
A place where two hearts will rendezvous forever

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

Grace of the Butterfly: Encouraging Word to the Survivor's of Sexual/Physical Abuse

What would make them do such a thing?
Not letting your innocence remain,
Now you struggle to maintain your sanity.
Pureness of love manipulated by one with such violent act of unfairness,
Unwelcomed memories playing in your head,
Though you’ve grown up,
Yet your body remains sensitive in places people often ignore.
Let not the stars in your eyes eclipse,
Let not your bright, warm smile turn in to a frown,
Find the strength within yourself to win,
Discover the strength in God to not just be the survivor of another day,
But make each day better.
Still young at heart,
Stuck at the age of innocence,
Patty-caking with the memories of old.
A struggle to transition,
A little girl in a woman’s body,
Not even a great career can hide these wounds.
But even in the midst of it all,
You were still preserved by God.
A fire can be rekindled with the spark of a flame can it not?
And can not the sun still shine after the piercing rain?
Doeth the rose cease to grow forever after being burned by the scorching heat?
Then like the rose,
You too will grow to become more beautiful than you have ever been.
In the center of your eyes I see a victor,
What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
So lift your head up high and know,
In you, yet remain endless possibilities to be all things.

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

Romance Redefined

Holding hands walking on the beach in the evening of a summer day, a date in the park, while the sun beams on the two crystal glasses set out on a picnic blanket filled with delights; dinner for two at an exquisite restaurant while being serenaded by a classical piano player, or a wife coming home to discover rose pedals leading to a warm Jacuzzi filled with leaves of lavender and romantic candles. What does all of these things have in common? Well, in today's vernacular; romance and love.

From steamy novels, to romantic movies and plays, to the hottest new couples in Hollywood that grace the red carpet; our society has defined for us what romance should always be. The danger in this, the events that I have described in the first paragraph can also be used in a "player's" game to lure women looking for love in all of the "wrong" places.

But is this the epitome of "romance"? Don't get me wrong, I believe that you should spread the red carpet out for your queen as a husband or significant other, however, what we failed to realize is that in all of the Valentine Day type fan fare--a couple of things are left out of the romantic equation. These key elements are things like: commitment, honesty, integrity, character and straight forwardness.

I don't mean to jump from subject to subject, but I must address a couple of things dealing with "romance".

1) Men and women come in all different personalities and taste.
- In other words; romance to one woman may be defined as sending a bouquet of roses with a teddy bear to her job, while to another woman, romance may be bicycle riding or playing a game of monopoly or Scrabble.

2) To one man, romance may be having a candle light dinner while to another, may be watching a comedy or action movie alone with his wife (without the kids), or listening to his heart concerning his ideas and aspirations.

The problem lies in the lack of communication between the two to openly define what may or may not be considered romantic to both of them. What is the result? Society's definition of romance comes into play and becomes the standard of that relationship, whether it fits them or not. When this occurs, the relationship may be more frustrated than helped because of the lack of simply asking one another what the desire of their mate is.

Romance is not an event, it's a lifestyle.
A candle light dinner, running a bubble bath or even taking a jog should only be bi-products of a relationship whose primary focus is learn consistantly what it takes to please one another. Not just in the bed room, but in communication, effective listening and in support. Again, I am not saying that all of the events that I aforementioned in the first paragraph aren't important because they are. My desire is to help many realize that there is life behind the veil of romance, just as the apex of a relationship isn't the wedding day, but everything afterwards. Couples aren't having trouble finding their way to the alter, but they are finding it hard to have a successful marriage.
Longevity and commitment is the key. Any one can tickle your fancy for a season with roses and sweets. It should not be about the thrill of the catch, but sacrifice and consistent investment in the relationship that should matter.

Chocolate candy, diamonds and pearls are good, but to honestly love and cherish in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer till death do you part is far better!

Written by: Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

Wisdom Nugget

"The gift you have in you, keep giving, and God will keep pouring more into you.You will never tire when your life’s passion is to be a blessing to someone else.It’s in seeing others uplifted and encouraged that gives true meaning to why we are here on earth. It's a joy in knowing that you are touching lives, and lives are touching yours."

- Savaslas Lofton
c. 2008

Lover's Quarrel

I reached for her,In the midst of a dense, dry atmosphere,I could hardly breathe,Could she hear the panting of my heart?In hurt, she turned away,I whispered “I love you”I wanted to scream it louder,But my pride got in the way,I settled for a whisper…I settled for a whisper.As she walked away, I felt her pain hard-pressed against my face like a mask.We wanted to come back together to reconcile, we both knew it,Yet we settled for a subliminal whisper.She whispered “I don’t want to go”I whispered “I just want you to stay”No one had the guts to expose their position.True of life,True of love,Yes, the lover’s quarrel,Pride in its best performance,Hurt tap dancing like Gregory Hines,But love…Love sits with concern in the theater seat of patience,Till we had resolved to talk and reason together.Love spoke to let go,To let it do what it does best...heal.It has no fellowship with pride, bitterness, disrespect or resentment,It does simply that…it loves,That’s all it knows to do.“I just called to say I love you, I just called to say how much I care...”Stevie Wonder…you knew just what to say,May I use these lines as my token of peace?I'm missing her like crazy,I don’t ever again want to see her go,My heart can no longer survive without her,She has become the very breath I breathe.

By Savaslas Loftonc.2008