Quite Alright (poeTry)

by amica paige



I'm quite alright
til I'm next to you
Then I start looking
at what you do

Work (poeTry)

by amica paige



What do we work so hard for?
The attention we long for?
So what of rejection?
Do we get dejected
for not feeling accepted
that we endlessly engage
in great exertion
simply for
a fifteen minute retention
of our flighty attention
for each other?

So what of Art?

I don’t do art. I breathe art. It’s my fuel, my coffee, my life. It’s evident in everything I do and everything I am. It’s in the way I dress and in the way I wrap gifts. It’s all over my home, in the basket of candles and the cart of books—of Poe, Hawthorne, Willems, and Seuss; and Emily, Rowling, Carlin, and Clarke; of Beatrix, Burton, Southworth, and Charles ; and Steve, Kevin, Moliere, and Anne among others. It's in my ice bucket, occupied not by cubes of ice but paint brushes, and in my red kettle plant pot. It just can’t be contained by canvases bound by frames, when it starts to simmer in and seep out of my head, as I see the colors around me take shape to form words and pictures, poems and stories, rhymes and reason, and seasons. And, the images get so vivid that they flow onto everything I touch. Am I an artist? For as long as the sky is blue in the morning’s light until the last leaf of the last tree fall on the ground.

Earth Day, Community Date

April just passed. However, and despite my thousand and one preoccupations, I still have to talk about our 2008 and 5th Earth Day celebration here at Hudson County, NJ--check out the link here and on the side, labeled "Hudson's Home" under the heading Earth On You if you care for more info. Anyway, it was a really beautiful day at Liberty State Park, by the Hudson River and overlooking Manhattan's skyline. The event hosted various activities. It was kicked off by the adult race, which I sorely missed by a few minutes, and the fun run for the kids soon after; luckily, my son with the black shirt and red pants in the picture was able to participate. There were music for all, al fresco; children's games both outdoors and indoors at the ferry terminal; and tons of giveaways, including school supplies, toys, plants, information on numerous social and earth conscious organizations of course, and food galore!-from bagels to donuts, bananas, oranges, drinks, and even 100 calorie snacks--a Nabisco promotion, which I think is very clever of them to advertise that day. I'd definitely have to remember to skip breakfast next year because I can catch it there with loads of other treats, after participating in the early run.

This is definitely one event I've looked forward to every year since it started. It reminds me a lot of the cultural festivals held every year in the mall in Washington D.C., a few of which are the Taste of D.C., which I just found out,while writing this bit and wanting to link the event's site, to not have only been temporarily suspended, but unfortunately terminated...makes me wonder about the budget on events like this for the community...hmm..., the Smithsonian Craft Show, and the Cherry Blossom Festival. Anyway, let me get back to Earth Day. This event is truly enjoyable and informative. One thing though, I just wonder how much stuff is procured from China for freebies, like the chip bag clips or the letter openers, with Jersey City's mayor's name on them, for this event. I hope it's not an excessive amount of stuff...I mean wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the event in a way? I better end it here before my thoughts steer me elsewhere. I do love the baby blue toothbrushes and the herbs. And my son loves the owls, the oversize, sponge golf balls, and the pencils. And of course, my husband loves the food and makes sure he doesn't litter.

Excellence (poeTry)

by amica paige



Guidance I lacked
when I was growing up
Everyone was busy
as I watch them grow up
My grades were great
They were happy to hear
But nobody knew of
my heart that melted in fear
Did anyone asked?
Was anyone concerned--
as I cried myself
to sleep in bed?

Then, I forgot
I forgot for a long time
until my heart bled
and eventually died.

How's it going? (poeTry)

by amica paige



Mostly, it's just like paper cuts.

Annoying, little nuisances.

Occasionally, it's your entire body

bruised tenderly

by everlasting puss.

I Kid You Not (poeTry)

by amica paige



Who am I kidding?Certainly not myself.

You? Definitely not.

You who'd fall for
anything you hear
and live by
the next person's standards,
especially if
they make your eyes glimmer
with blind admiration,
as they prance about
in their glittered clothes
while you watch in the distance
in obscurity.