Your Season Has Come

You have no idea,
The great things that are about to happen to you,
The great endeavors you will do,
How you will inspire others to succeed.
You have only caught a glimpse of all of the wonderful things that shall come to pass,
Sure you’ve cried,
But your seed of success needed water—a small sacrifice for such great success,
Sure you've waited,
But the harvest was not yet ripe.
The dew of the morning signifies a new day,
A fresh start,
Thus, your time is now to arise and shine.
Be strong and courageous,
Fight to win,
Soar above the clouds like eagles.
It’s your time to spring forth and blossom like Cymbidium Orchids,
Bring summer to those yet in their winter season.

By Savaslas Lofton, c.2008
c.2008

Love: My Definition Is...

I can go on and about how you make me feel,
Realizing I would do anything for you,
You’re the sparkle that glistens in my eyes each time I hear your name,
To see your smile means all my pain erased—my hope for another day.
You’re the only one that has stuck with me through all of life’s changes,
Through the many years we have lived--you never left me,
You’ve always been right by my side.
Sunset has come and lo’ I long to turn to see you once again,
The last picture in my mind,
To know that I have known you as a special part of me.
I couldn’t have made it without you,
What could I have done without you?
I would have been better off in a room vacant and cold with much space.
Oh love,
My love,
My life, my all to you I give,
Till my very last breath.
This is true of my love,
This is true of my love…for you.

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2008

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