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Ja Angelo Poem
A seven day event
Based on African descent
Culminating in giving gifts and a large feast
Based on African festivals ranging from the West to the Southeast.
Within, you will discover the seven principles and seven symbols
Kwanzaa also has several hymnals
The first day represents unity
Within their family, nation, race, and community
Unity is important to succeed in tasks
All one has to do is ask
Building from unity is self determination
This is the image you create for you and your future generations
Next comes Collective Work and Responsibility
Finding solutions collectively to others problems in an effort to build and maintain the community
Following this is cooperative economics by supporting businesses and profiting collectively
This would work rather effectively
The fifth day brings purpose to bring one back to traditional greatness
This is done by teaching various vocations
Following this belief will greatly improve the community’s foundations
Not to mention peer relations
Creativity is leaving the community in better condition than when you became of age
This allows future generations to make a better wage
It will also make for a community that is more beautiful and beneficial
On the last day is faith in parents, teachers, and community leaders
It is also a time to celebrate victories and be our own cheerleaders
Now on to each symbol
I’ll try to make it simple
My intent is to familiarize each meaning
The first is crops to symbolize collective planning and work
From a business person to a clerk
The mkeka is full of nuts, fruits, and veggies
The crops on the mkeka varies
On to the placemat, as I have aforementioned
That was my intention
It symbolizes historical and traditional foundation for people to stand and build their lives
An ear of corn represents fertility
One is placed for each child on the mkeka to bring luck in their ability
The muhindi also brings hopes for the future of the family
To spare them a life of agony
The seven candles are meant to symbolize to recreate the sun’s light
These candles are placed in the kinara and shine bright at night
Three red, three green, and one black
The Unity Cup is used to perform a libation ritual in honor of ancestors
They don’t get drunk and do dance gestures
On the last day, gifts are given to encourage growth, achievement, and success
This is best accomplished by making handmade gifts which may increase stress, but is also a caring way to express
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
A day of prayer and fasting
To show the Lord our love is everlasting
We promise to sacrifice a luxury or a pleasure during Lent
It is forty days well spent
We will not partake in what we sacrifice until Eastertide
Hold on, we are in for a ride
From burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday
We repent and pray
With a cross on our forehead
As the Bible has aforesaid
Used as an external sign of repentance
And our hope for heaven admittance
Now comes the true test
Are you ready for the rest?
This is not a time to sacrifice something easy
For that would be meaningless and sleazy
Lent is meant to show God we repent our sins
For this is where forgiveness begins
If you are a smoker, give up smoking
Be thought provoking
If your pleasure is alcohol
Make sure you get a round before last call
Fasting is commonplace on various days of Lent
And should not be bent
For it symbolizes Jesus’ fasting in the wild before spreading His gospel
This includes many religions but one is not Pentecostal
Roman Catholics also abstain from meat
Vegetarians will surely not cheat
Do not get ashes from an urn
Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Shortest day, longest night
Celebration of light
Glistening ice and snow
Temperatures low
Bare trees
Ponds freeze
Dress warm
Long sleeve uniform
Cardigans and sweatshirts
Goodbye mini skirts
Silk and wool
Indoor pool
Soup and stew
Don’t misconstrue
Wish Bread
Glaze spread
Cinnamon and cloves
On stoves
Ice skating
Snow tube inflating
Snow skiing
Snowboard leaping
Snowshoe wearing
Spectators staring
Hope, intentions, and new year
Celebrate and cheer
Yule brings hope of life
Robins and wrens in strife
Red, white, green, and gold
My, it’s cold!
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Groundhog Day
What is it they say?
If he sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter
Should we let something like this become a hinder
After all, this started as a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition
Who thought of this proposition
Was this used for farmers to seed their fields and grow crops
If it was I have to give them props
For such a foolish thing
To predict the coming of spring
The holiday spread throughout the United States
And into Canada surely the groundhog’s reaction had some meet their untimely fates
Silly enough, this is not the only superstition of an animal predicting spring
This surely isn’t a thing
German speaking areas believed a badger could predict the weather
All of these superstitions came from someone clever
Supposedly, these are extensions of a Christian festival called Candlemas
Someone most have been smoking the grass
After all, studies have proven them all not correlated
Still, some cannot help being elated
It’s still unbelievable that studies were actually done
They might as well conduct studies on black cats or another one
Other animals like the bear, marmot, and fox were also used
But don’t worry none were abused
It appears these lores all come from Europe
I wonder if they drank too much of their special syrup
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
In 1963, Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
What he asked for should not have been a far reach.
Dr. King was rather unique
And boy did he like to speak
He spoke on equality and racism
And spread his message through activism
He was one of the most prominent activists during the Civil Rights Movement.
He was hoping for enlightenment
He led nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience
Based on his years of experience
Dr. King was against discrimination and Jim Crow laws
They didn’t align with his cause
For this, the FBI deemed him a radical
That just wasn’t practical
He won a Nobel Peace Prize for combatting racial inequality
A major step for civil rights in American polity
In 1968, Martin Luther King met his demise
His assassination led some to theorize
Would he be surprised to how little we have come
Or would he be thankful for improving equality some
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Girls Gone Wild
Careful, you may just have a child
Drugs and alcohol plague the alleyway
Stay away as there is a price to pay
Is the meaning of Mardi Gras to go buck wild
Let’s look and see if it’s been defiled
It started as a custom of using all the fats in the house
I wonder if any crumbs were left for a mouse
This was custom as it was the last night to eat rich and fatty foods
I bet this left people in good moods
As it was a ritual to fast and sacrifice a pleasure
In hopes of good health and a great treasure
Mardi Gras is a celebration of life before the somber holiday where we correct our faults and control any desires
In hopes of keeping Satan away with his temptations and fires
Green for faith, purple for justice, and gold for power
This is no time to turn sour
For we all need strength to resist his temptations
And carry ourselves peacefully like the United Nations
In 1887, wow that was long ago
Two French Catholic brothers brought Lent over from a chateau
By 1889, women already exposed their breasts
To the rest
Men in tuxedos and women in lace
Masquerade balls, parades, and costumes were common place
In the late 20th century, commercialization caused more women to show their tatas arousing the men
However it is censored on CNN
This encouraged more people to flood the streets
While Bourbon Street residents charge for lawn seats
This sad state of affairs
Is the heart of making millionaires!
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Many think this holiday honors all United States presidents we elect
But let me reflect
It is Washington’s birthday that we celebrate
It honors President Washington and President Lincoln as of late
Let’s see how they relate
Washington was a good ol’ lad
He was the best that America had
Unanimously elected to commander in chief
He gave colonists some hope and belief
Posthumously, promoted to a six-star general
That will forever remain unattainable
Presided over the Constitution writing
That must have been rather exciting
Unanimously elected as our first president for two terms
To which he affirms
Relinquishing his power
Setting a precedent for every successor
Lincoln was a prominent figure
During the Civil War
Another commander in chief
With a strong belief
His Emancipation Proclamation
To end slavery in our nation
He met his untimely demise
By a Confederate that did not sympathize
Both of these men deserve a day
For creating the country we know today
Though it is not perfect in any way
America is where I want to stay!
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Humid and hot
Scorching parking lot
Longest day, shortest night
Light and dark fight
Shorts and tank tops
Sandals and flip flops
Cutting grass
Catching bass
Beaches and amusement parks
Hungry sharks
Summer-do’s
Badminton and horseshoes
Green grass
Oaks and Sassafras
Daisies and sunflowers
Sun is up for hours
Bonfires and torches
People on porches
White, red, yellow, gold, orange, and green
What a beautiful scene
Lemon, orange, and rose
Litha strike a pose
Power, creativity, and healing
Sights are appealing
Brightness and inner power
Stop to smell a flower
Litha is a scorcher
Some think it’s torcher
Some think not
Wow, is it hot!
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Today, we celebrate the men and women
The men and women who have served our nation.
Served our nation to keep our freedoms intact
Keep our freedoms intact to express our thoughts
Express our thoughts based on beliefs and values.
Beliefs and values that are opinions today.
Opinions today that may become laws later.
Laws later passed by politicians we choose.
Politicians we choose on Election Day.
Election Day allows the majority
The majority votes to elect people
Elect people to serve Americans
Serve Americans by creating new laws
New laws on abortion and education
Education to help shape future leaders
Future leaders who are now our children.
Our children deserve the same freedoms we have
Freedoms we all may have taken for granted
Taken for granted and leaned towards extremism
Extremism such as violent protests
Violent protests like January 6th
January 6th was an attempted coup
A coup to undermine our democracy
Our democracy that people will defend
Will defend to the end by giving their lives
Giving their lives is the greatest sacrifice
The greatest sacrifice for all the people
People should honor and show some gratitude
Show some gratitude towards all our veterans.
Our veterans protect our freedoms and laws.
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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Ja Angelo Poem
Christmas comes but once a year
For us all to spread some cheer.
How we do it is unique
Others need not critique.
Your traditions are your own
Don’t let others put them down.
Our traditions make us special
Be they different — still sentimental.
Decorations and lights play there parts
The day after Thanksgiving is when it all starts
We demonstrate our faith in the Lord above
By showing others our respect and love.
Expensive gifts are not required
As businesses have inspired.
From cacti to conifers
For treasures to others.
And stockings or shoes
For goodies like cashews.
The intent is the same
Sentiment is the name.
This is the time of year
To show kindness for those we hold near.
From homemade cards to store bought gifts
And homemade foods to store bought grits.
Gifts can be made or bought,
What matters is the thought.
Too often we lose sight of its meaning
We give praise to God — the supreme being.
Copyright © Ja Angelo | Year Posted 2022
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