Blogging Black Miami

Notice: In search of information on poet Alpheus Butler, Jr.

Historian Canter Brown, Jr., is researching the life and work of Florida poet James Alpheus Butler, Jr.  Associated with the Harlem Renaissance, Alpheus Butler was born in Miami during 1905 and died at Tampa in 1977.  He published several books of fine poetry and was acknowledged in numerous anthologies for his creative expression.  If you have any information related to Alpheus Butler, please contact Dr. Brown c/o Fort Valley State University, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030.  Dr. Brown’s email address is brownc@fvsu.edu.

Celebrating the Resurrection

Easter Joy

Jesus came to earth,
To show us how to live,
How to put others first,
How to love and how to give.

Then He set about His work,
That God sent Him to do;
He took our punishment on Himself;
He made us clean and new.

He could have saved Himself,
Calling angels from above,
But He chose to pay our price for sin;
He paid it out of love.

Our Lord died on Good Friday,
But the cross did not destroy
His resurrection on Easter morn
That fills our hearts with joy.

Now we know our earthly death,
Like His, is just a rest.
We'll be forever with Him
In heaven, where life is best.

So we live our lives for Jesus,
Think of Him in all we do.
Thank you Savior; Thank you Lord.
Help us love like you!

By Joanna Fuchs

From Dream to Reality

A Poem for President Barack H. Obama II

 

Numbers like words are extremely powerful.

Twenty-three months ago, you stepped out

on faith.

A man on a mission with a serious purpose.

That of imagination being unlimited and truly

challenged.

Today, January 20, 2009, marks the beginning

of the rest of our lives.

At 12:04 p.m., you spoke those 35 words of

oath.

In 20 minutes, you did what you do very well ~

speak inspiration, hope, and great determination.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was deep in your vocal

tone.

Mahatma Gandhi surfaced through your features

and spoken direction for the country.

He was the "Father of the Nation" and regarded

as a "Great Soul."

You are a "Leader of Change."

Like Pablo Picasso, passion exuded in every word

of your speech while cool and reserved blended in

with the breeze in the air about you.

Back to imagining as "we the people" will forever

wonder the thoughts you were thinking as you

walked through the doors built by the hands of slaves.

And the words within scrabble are befitting because

all is clear now as you brace this time in history that

is real.

There's a new kind of peace in view as people exercise

acts of change everywhere for the betterment of the

world in which we reside.

Like John Coltrane reshaped modern jazz and influenced

generations of great musicians.

You're reshaping the world bringing people of all races

and culture together.

You're the new sound of music on blast.

A picture perfect moment where freedom will ring loud as it

possibly can, the dream is living, and your journey begins.

Behind your walk will be God, the ancestors, your parents

and grandparents, family, the love of your life Michelle,

your daughters Malia and Sasha, and "We The People"

who Believe In YOU!

 

 

 

01/20/09 ~ Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns ~ Int'l Spoken Word Artist/Author

Miami, FL  

Poetry Moment: What a Woman!

A heart of immeasurable aptitude still able to give when there is nothing left

Always considering the needs of others, before she does for herself

Daily prayer for her family, her friends, and her enemies as well

Willing to give it another try even after she has failed

Crying out to the Father on those nights she feels broken, battered, and abused

Asking God to lead her down the right path, where she needs to be used

A broken heart, a shattered dream, but still she manages to strive

The scars of her wounds are clearly visible, impossible for her to hide

Yet she's fearless, clearly a woman of faith, because God is ordering her steps

For she knows that being a woman of God she is surely kept

She will never surrender to the hands of the enemy, she will never give in to smite

For she is familiar with the miracles of God, many are performed in her life

Through wind, rain, trials and tribulations she will never fret

For she knows that "God" is not through with her yet

© 2008 Writings by Avis P. Raines

Obama ‘08

Poet Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns has taken her support for Senator Barack Obama to another level. Check out her slamming hair design. Now that's tight work.

Poet ~ Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns

Friday, September 26, 2008

Merv "The Barber" ~ Forensic Cutz ~ 18162 NW 2nd Avenue ~ (305)654-8511

 

 

© 2008, Blogging Black Miami, www.bloggingblackmiami.com

 

 

In Tribute to Barack Obama: The Journey

   

I wish I could see the smile on Martin's face.

I wish I could get a glimpse of Malcom's they

just don't know grin.

I wish I could be the pen in Langston's hand

right now.

See, it's been a journey but that's nothing new

for black folks especially the Black Man.

Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns’ Tribute to Black Men

Local word weaver, Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns, is at it again. Her latest production is a tribute to black men. Check out Celebrating 100 Years of Great Black Men, 7 PM, June 28^th at the Joseph Caleb Center Auditorium, 5400 NW 22^nd Avenue, Miami. For tickets and information: Call 305-836-3572 or e-mail: mindpensoul@aol.com.

Butterfly's MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/oneflypoet 

Here is a piece to be accompanied by music and during a PowerPoint presentation that will feature photos of great black men in every profession known to mankind from 1908-2008. It will open the show. Enjoy the read.