tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684985482600086862012-02-04T17:25:48.653-05:00Gumbo Menagerie is just what the name implies: a mixture of mixtures; one sistah's place for everything.The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-11810870529965815412008-11-27T12:50:00.003-05:002008-11-27T12:56:09.196-05:00

Come one and come all. Visit me at my new home: The Soul Poet's Journal. I invite you all over to read, comment and enjoy. You'll notice that a few posts from the Gumbo made it over to SPJ. But there is new material as well. I'd like to thank my followers and those readers who stopped by and commented on posts at Gumbo. Feel free to do the same at SPJ. Thanks again!

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-53371486866262209702008-11-20T16:22:00.002-05:002008-11-20T16:34:15.939-05:00

I am so sorry that I have neglected all of my (2) followers and this blog. But I have been working on some big things...namely the new business my husband and I nurturing. I am also steadily plodding forth with trying to publish my first book. I am also developing a new blog. So, this post is to let you know that the Gumbo pot is about empty and I intend to shut'r down. Don't worry, I will

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-59505242348663268482008-10-25T11:24:00.029-04:002008-10-25T14:56:42.536-04:00

Tuesday, 10/21/08 was my 34Th birthday--Praise the Lord, somebody!!!. It was great day filled with warm wishes, blessings, gifts and surprises. One of the things that made the day so great was that my husband Charles and I attended Praise night at the House of Jazz, sponsored by Praise 100.9 FM (Charlotte's Inspiration Station!! --they should be paying me for this plug).On Sunday evening, Charles

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-77687524248387308782008-10-11T18:06:00.006-04:002008-10-25T15:06:50.944-04:00

...but as usual, I'm still burning the road up. Why is that? Why can't I just be still and listen and obey and avoid a lot of extra heart ache, pain and confusion?Well, today, I am taking a rest. God is trying to tell me something and I hear you, Lord.Last night was like screaming in my ear!I decided to take my co-workers up on an invitation to bring our children, and other various friends and

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-48569099593717008892008-10-01T21:51:00.003-04:002008-10-01T22:06:08.557-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!As the daughter, friend and fellow parishioner of beautiful and heroic breast cancer survivors, I am taking time to raise awareness and consciousness about this disease. Please take time out to visit the links below to learn more. Also notice the links and badges that will appear throughout the blog this month.Also, stay tuned as the survivors are

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-65695874489230052802008-09-29T20:14:00.005-04:002008-09-29T20:23:23.291-04:00

You owe me an apology.I have sat silent for far too long.I have grown weary of being a passive participantin your failing attempts to validate yourself.When your innocently budding adolescent bodywas violated by disturbed and imbalanced teenage boys,you forced me to keep silent.You owe me an apology.You disrespected your own body; violated your temple;while wasting your love on unworthy little

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-82585137979334182022008-09-27T23:16:00.009-04:002008-09-27T23:33:44.881-04:00

what iz this funky feelthat fills my me ‘tilthere often is no room for self?it is the lazy haziness of rainy days, (a rainy daze)the air like whole notes in major tones.(i inhale poems and exhale soul) it is the fleeting nostalgiaof alcoholic euphoriaand smoked-out cheeba lethargythat haunts moments ofburgeoning purity.it is nina simone— the sweet abrasiveness of her (digitally remastered)

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-52395131010242892302008-09-20T14:03:00.004-04:002008-09-27T12:22:21.104-04:00

...or some of us are going straight to Hell...with gasoline drawers on.

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-56008234470279057372008-09-20T09:40:00.012-04:002008-09-20T11:26:34.763-04:00

No. Not really. However, you may be. How would you know what your child's intelligence level is unless you are actively involved in his or her educational experience? It really is stupid not to be.For most of my public education career, I can remember my mother working a job that allowed her to leave in the mornings when I left for school and return in the afternoons, shortly after I had walked

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-27907479678229356272008-09-11T17:52:00.005-04:002008-09-11T19:09:10.018-04:00

Ok. So, I haven't posted anything lately concerning my candidate of choice, Sen. Barack Obama. Honestly, I am feeling a bit weary of the whole sordid act we call a presidential race: the the negative ads, the smear tactics, the out right lies and the greatest travesty of all--Sarah Palin's hair.I cannot wait to just say a guiding prayer, cast my vote and sit back and see what happens next.

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-70899701086046510252008-09-09T07:00:00.002-04:002008-09-15T13:23:22.890-04:00

One day, while reflecting on just how good God is, I decided to test myself—or test the gift that God has blessed me with. I decided to see if I could list a Christian attribute for every letter of the alphabet—in rhyme no less. The following is the result of that endeavor.A is the anointing of the almighty—his authority active and not absent in my life.B is for the blessing of being a Baptized

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-46217998975524850572008-09-08T18:32:00.004-04:002008-09-08T18:47:41.719-04:00

I kept having to edit this list; possibly because I've learned so much. I'm still learning. I also get paranoid about other people reading and forming opinions about my opinions. Finally, I thought, "whose blog is this anyway?" Got an issue or opinion about what's printed here? Then speak up!Here's the Top 10:1. Mind reading is impossible; mood reading is imperative.2. Keeping peace in my home

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-6082188279687273072008-08-07T21:15:00.003-04:002008-08-09T22:18:35.271-04:00

(Written for “Keeping the Dream Alive,” 2007)I dream in color—Of varied faces in shadesNot even Crayola can conceiveOf men and women whose own dreamsNow color my reality in vivid tonesAnd paint my existence with a vibrancy that startles the sensesIf I am truly a woman of color,Then why should myHopes, visions, aspirationsBe limited by theMonochromatic narrowness of varying shades of grayI dream

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-37433896473910942002008-08-06T18:08:00.007-04:002008-09-20T23:28:40.692-04:00

Brothas to Check Out*The following names do not appear in any particular order, but do represent, in my opinion, some of the most dynamic male authors, activists, educators, philanthropists, entertainers, historians & political figures.1. Cornel West2. Roland Martin3. Tyler Perry4. Michael Baisden5. Hill Harper6. John Hope Franklin7. Barack Obama8. Michael Eric Dyson9. Jamal Simmons10. Ed Bradley

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-37427854573842670812008-07-29T08:00:00.006-04:002008-09-20T23:27:44.010-04:00

RANT!!!People should not be rude and obnoxious to persons who are employed in any type of service industry. It irritates me to no end when customers curse at me, call me incompetent, or demand I reward them for not paying their bills on time. As a customer service agent for a major wireless service, I could easily leave them without service at all, or with a tangle of billing errors on their

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-66478186014334713552008-07-28T11:00:00.005-04:002008-09-20T23:26:12.136-04:00

The Question: Can you be totally and truthfully against an act or practice, but disapprove of the government 's right to legislate said act or practice?My Opinion: I hate to see young men walking around with their pants hanging down below their wastes, underwear visible to all. However, I am not sure I want local or national law makers dictating what my brothers, cousins, other relatives and

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-37802022899403473302008-07-27T21:11:00.004-04:002008-09-20T23:22:43.590-04:00

Today, at First Missionary Baptist Church, our Pastor, Rev. Herb Rhedrick, delivered a sermon entitled "Stay Connected." The Old Testament text was Isaiah 5:1-4. The New Testament text was John 15:1-5."I Got Da Hook Up"My pastor reminded me, today, that without Christ, all my endeavors, all my efforts, all my actions are in vain. I am nothing without Christ. But with Christ abiding in me, all

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-50461088408373771232008-07-26T18:55:00.003-04:002008-09-20T23:21:46.332-04:00

The following songs are among some of my favorites. Every time I hear one, I just want to jump up and dance. If I'm driving, I crank the volume up, open the sun roof and sing along at the top of my lungs!1. "Everybody Clap Your Hands" -- Joshua's Troop2. "Love Him Like I Do" -- Deitrick Haddon w/ Ruben Studdard & Mary Mary3. "Heaven" -- Mary Mary4. "He Reigns" -- Kirk Franklin5. "Psalm 150" -- J

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-53533200710948319962008-05-31T11:16:00.003-04:002008-08-10T10:18:56.529-04:00

North Carolina held its primary on May 6th and I proudly went out and cast my vote for the Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. I plan to do the same in November's general election; once he pries the nomination from Hillary's cold, dead hands, that is.Shortly after casting my vote, I was discussing various social and political issues with a group of friends and relatives. The conversation turned

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-868498548260008686.post-6116604527688299802008-05-05T14:02:00.004-04:002008-09-20T23:18:02.767-04:00

Yesterday, I did what I do every Sunday--got up and attended church with my family. From my elevated perch among my fellow choir members, I watched my husband of 7 years stand on his feet and give thanks and praise to the Most High. I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for him and our beautiful 4 year old daughter, worshipping among her peers in their own separate service.The sermon topic--"

The Soul Poetnoreply@blogger.com0