Hey there lovely people! I hope you all are still being safe with everything that is taking place across the world. I am sure that some are on quarantine due the coronavirus sooo, I have some entertainment for you. That’s right it is Feature Friday here on No Line Left Behind. So without further ado let me introduce you to our next feature with Buddah Desmond and his poem, “Home (Don’t Give Up). However, you know how we do it here on No Line left behind. Let’s get to know him a little.
Welcome to No Line Left Behind.
So what is your name and where are you from?
My name is BuddahDesmond. I was born in Washington, DC, and raised P.G. County MD (primarily Forestville, MD and Greenbelt, MD). I currently reside in Alexandria, VA.
Okay, VA in the house! What do you believe the poets purpose is?
The poet’s purpose is to tell the truth. To be the voice of the unheard. To write about things seen and unseen. To write about the good, the bad, and all the notes that lie between. To write about the familiar, and that which makes us uncomfortable. To write that which is in your heart, mind, and soul. To evoke feelings, incite discussion, open minds, and offer different perspectives. If the poet’s work truly resonates with audience, it may inspire positive action or spark social change.
Hmm, yes to all that! So tell us, how long have you been writing and do you partake in any other creative writing?
I’ve been writing since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I started writing short stories, and eventually moved on to song lyrics. I wrote my first poem when I was 10, but didn’t write another poem until I was 12. I continued writing song lyrics between that time, and read a great deal of poetry by Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, and Paul Laurence Dunbar during this time. (All of the aforementioned writers are major influences.) Aside from short stories, song lyrics, and poetry, I also write prose, essays, and blog posts.
Oh, those are some of my favorites as well. What would you like people to know about poetry?
Poetry is about getting beyond the surface. Lifting the veil if you will. As poets, we write about the human condition. The ties that band. The things that bring us together, without shying away from the very things often used to drive wedges between us. We bring our unique styles, sensibilities, and experiences to the forefront, and it colors our work. We live and breathe poetry. It’s a powerful art form, and its language is universal. There is no life without poetry.
It takes bravery to be a poet. So I agree. Do you have a favorite poet and why do you choose them?
I have so many favorite poets. It’s hard to choose just one. But I’ll be good and mention only one of my faves today. LOL! If I were to choose one poet, I’d have to say Maya Angelou. One of my all-time favorite movies is Poetic Justice. I’m a big fan of Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur (RIP), Regina King, Joe Torry, and John Singleton (RIP), of course. My mother and I went to see Poetic Justice opening weekend, I believe. The griping storytelling and the performances drew me in. I’ve watched it countless times. While Angelou’s poetry in the film moved me, it wasn’t until a year later that it truly began speaking to me in ways that nearly defied comprehension. Around this time I purchased a paperback of Maya Angelou’s Poems. I carried it with me and read selections from it practically everyday for a year or so. It was like my poetry bible.
Angelou has a way with words. She commands them. Her work is sincere, passionate, and engaging. It expresses a consciousness that, no what year it is, remains relevant on social, political, cultural, and historical levels. She is a poet’s poet. When you read Angelou, you’re deeply moved and come away with a better understanding of yourself, the human race, and the world.
Yes, she is one of the greats. Her poetry has always resonated with me. Poetic Justice is one of my favorite movies of all time. So, do you have any upcoming events?
I don’t have any upcoming events yet. However, I am in the process of publishing my next project entitled, From The Inside Out. In addition, I have another poetry manuscript in the works tentatively titled, Everything I Miss(ed) At Home. So stay tuned!
Oh wow, that is so awesome. Im looking forward to supporting you. I hope that the both projects are a success.
And there you have it folks. Now we introduce to you, Home (Don’t Give Up
Home (Don’t Give Up)
by BuddahDesmond
Home is more than the place
where you grew up
More than the place where your family resides
It’s a place that nourishes you
Loves you
Teaches you at the turn of every moment
of the day
Home is solid
It gives you what your soul needs, what your
spirit is calling out for—at just the right time
Home is a provider
Of tangible and intangible things
While you can make any place home
Every place you inhabit won’t feel or be home
You may go through lifetimes of soul-searching
before you find a place that
welcomes you unconditionally
The place that always has its arms open,
ready and waiting for you
Home shouldn’t shame you
Debase you
Shade you
Shouldn’t question your reason for living
Home shouldn’t abuse or neglect you
Home plants gardens of possibilities
within you
Home offers the foundation from that
which you grow
Even when you think there isn’t anything else
left for home to teach you—
it does the impossible
Home is a bearer of gifts
We may not always be willing to except them
We may not know what to do with them
Trust there will be a time when these gifts will
bless you (usually when you least expect it)
Sometimes you have to recreate home
Have to build a new home
Or seek home elsewhere
Especially when the place you’ve called home
has betrayed or ostracized you
It may take some time, but you’ll
find your place
Or it may find you
And when you find it—everything will
make sense again
Everything will feel right in the world again
You’ll feel connected again
Home—there’s no place like it
Home—if you’re lost, you’ll find it
Home—if you’ve been put down, it’ll
build you up
Home—will affirm that you are enough
Home won’t give up on you
So don’t give up on you
Don’t give up!
There you have it people! Round of applause. For all things Buddah Desmond check him out at the links below! Remember, let’s support our poets near and far.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/buddahdesmond/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BuddahDesmond/
Website: http://buddahdesmond.com/
Bio
Buddah Desmond (aka BDez) is a writer, poet, singer, artist, cook / baker, and health & wellness advocate based in the DMV. His work showcases the gritty side of life and imbues messages of healing, hope, and resilience. His past poetry projects include Prevail: Poems on Love, Life, and Politics (2012) and Exotic Shifter (2014). His writing has appeared in numerous publications including MOOV, MUSED, MelaNation, and LitMag. He is a member of Gamma Xi Phi, and has served as a healing leader in the DC-based arts + faith + social justice organization, The Sanctuaries. His next two projects, From The Inside Out and Everything I Miss(ed) At Home are currently in-progress.
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