Stories

the VisitorThere is comfortin knowingthat my TOD documentis now up to dateand signed.[What’s the hurry?]My very next visitormay be Covid-19.TOD, Transfer on Death.fJanuary 2, 2021

the Peacock and the Partridge.two birds with feathers,but not of a feather. one struts about squawking,displaying its brilliant plumage.the other is served on a platter,with its plumage plucked.one says ‘look at mebut do not touch’the other says ‘be nourishedby my...

Privilege! I also know privilegein a world of lightskin is best skinBUTnot light enough skin means I am still tailedby workers at Walmartand at Home Depot,regardless of the manyvisits and cash spent there.All that to sayprivilege is not onlyreserved for white...

It takes 2 to Tango.Some dancers movein smooth syncopation.Some dancers moveas two, and not as one.Some dancers movein fear across the floor.Most dancers are ableto improve with guidance.Regrettably, we may preferto stay in safe havenswith others like...

Just listened to Orwell’s Animal Farm on Audible.It appears our human dilemma is constant.We have Napoleons, Squealers and Snowballs, and we all know a Boxer, the hard worker and Napoleon follower. When has this country ever been by and for ALL the people? Some say it...

Choosing Sides (out loud).Mitch has packed the courts with Conservative appointees, while disregarding the pandemic. Regrettably, I do not believe Biden has the will to play hardball with the Wrong Wing of this society. Obama tried compromise. What did that get him or...

Thinking out loudI formally decline any invitation to enjoy a happy gatheringwith your family during thenext Native Day feast.OK, OK, I know we are biting our nails (toes and fingers) downto the bloodied flesh,hoping we haven’tinhaled a Covid19 exhale.Plus,the burning...

the COVID sprinkler.I find it kind of . . ., no,more than interestingthat our President gave a pep talk to flag wavingcolored folk wearing MAGA caps.Colored means black brown and otherfolk.The same homelessjobless prison bound COVID dying communities being shot jailed...

a Cancer, unnamed.You sayI hate your burninglooting and riotingin our inner cities.Let us talk moreI sayMLK talked and talkedand gave us a dreamwe all recite in part.It got us a day off.I saytalk has its time and place,but resistance to changehas festered since...

“Wolf” boy.The boy cried “Wolf”every day.One day the boy cries,"I am dying.”Some say,“Let’s save the boy".Some say,“Die already Wolf boy".”Some say,“Change is the constant".What do you say?Reflections on our current President.fOctober 2, 2020

I DON’T WANTAdding fuel toI DON’T WANTcreatesI DON’T WANTwaves.When many of us fuelI DON’T WANT,what we getis what we see.I DON’T WANTtidal waves.fOctober 1, 2020

Just watched'the social dilemma’ on Netflix,and realize how addicted I am,and manipulated by social media.The question is,now that I know this,will I delete it from my life?I think not.We can alwaysrationalize addictions.f9/28/20

I benefit from white privilege,not because I am white,but I am light, or was,as gravity and emotiondim my appearancedown to the roots. In NYC, folks thought I was Puerto Rican.In India, folks thoughtI was Indian.One doctor in this area told his dictaphoneI was white,...

Good FriendsWe left Vietnam,with our friendshanging from choppers.We're leaving Syria,with our friendshanging from trees.Smokey the Bear says,'Always leave your friends,with a loving heart',or something like that.'Trees are our friends too.'f9/13/2018

Talking out loud.Ducks say quack quack quack.Dogs say woof woof woof.We go yack yack yack.Is there a difference?Ducks and Dogs can relatewith most every mate.We study books and the lawand still can't communicate.When ducks and dogs get cross,they duke it out to be...

3 bellesEvening tides,a dark seascapeon a moonless night.A foot in time,one still behind,not here, not there.Eat your heart out.If no light pours through,do it again.f8/25/2020

a Day 1 story.I been pulled over by copsmostly black and whiteN0. mostly white.cops are symptoms white vs. colors, symptomsblack shootings are symptomsthe Truth isColumbus was out to enrichhis personal fortune.Lincoln didn't give a damnabout a bunch of slaves."Keep...

"Today, you are now free."Painting the street yellowain't gonna do much'bout black crimeon black folk.That paint is gonna be goneand the street will just befull of more potholesand hot verbal air,and black folk will still live and die in communities and our...

Summer: 2022What's your summergoing to be like?Oh, I'm going to stay in. I'm not so young anymore,can't afford that COVID shot,and my Insurance won't cover it.Well, at $800 a shot,and you need all three,not many of us can affordthat, with no 100% guaranteethat a...

Stinkin’ thinkin’.“Run over to Charlie’sand ask him to give ussome hot dogs, right now."What did you say?"I gotta repeat myself? This is the fourth of July. We supposed to have hot dogs.""You must have lost your freakin' mind. The shock of them taking the houseand...

an Ordinary Day.To white folks,aboutan Ordinary Day.They sayGeorge diedon an ordinary day.I saywe all dieon an ordinary day.The difference isyou will die in an ordinary way.George Floydis/was a black manin the U.S. of A.f

LogicYou have owned a car for several years,and it has its pluses and minuses,but generally it runs for you.Along comes a person who then says,"I have a much better car for you,and am passing a law that willmake your car illegal to own".Some of us will want to knowhow...

Birds and Bells.The blue birds sing.I imagine the soundsThe door bells ring.I'm hearing are birdsand bells and other things,The blue birds sing.but my psychiatrist saysthe bells and birdsThe door bells ring.and constant ringingand singing in my headThe blue birds...

a Rant!A short while ago, I observed a discussion about Aunt Jemima, the woman on the syrup and pancake label. I found the different statements and positions about her, worth a few notes. Nature is not either/or, one or the other. Nature IS. Simple as that. IS.Action...

One Play,in 2 Acts.1.We teach your kidsour history of conquest.Many years laterthe planted seedsof shame and blamelive in your daily lives.Poverty is a state of mind delivered to all you colors.Subjugation and dominationhave ruled your defiant roosts,since we landed...

I hear. I say.I hearTrump TrumpTrump TrumpTrump is thatTrump is thisTrump good"Trump bad.I sayTrump followsin the footstepsof his founding father.f 4Beth Davis, DeAnna Woolston and 2 others

Convenient in action.When the current activities,marching talking toppling speaking writing, haverun their course,what then?Will services be based on need?Will schools be equally funded?Will banks start giving loans?Will equal pay be made law?Will policing be color...

An interesting time in the human timeline.Covid-19 has been dealt with in a hodgepodge manner in the world, but especially so in the U.S. We may experience serious consequences on the back end. All we can do now is useappropriate PPE , keep our fingers crossed and...

THENERVOUSBREAKDOWN.COM #AmplifyBlackPoetry: Poems from Fred Nicholson In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, TNB Poetry has created this space for BIPOC voices to shine. We will be publishing work by Black poets daily.

Got up today at around the usual 10:30 am or later time. Had breakkie. Prepped the large pot for cucumber starts.Came back into the house. Sat here on the low kitchen bench and burst into tears, feeling lonely and alone. I am fine with being alone, but not lonely. Up...

At timesI wanna’ be goneabsolutely MIAno knowingno todayyesterday or tomorrowno mindpast orfutureno fathermotherno yes nono,at times.f 1Khadijah Tracy

Who got here firstMe or the Captain?Captain? you askYeahthe old guyin the backof the roomRoom? you askYeahit changes when I goeach timeGuy? you askYeahhe she it isthe word sourceOld? You askYeahold guy ishe her us allsince day oneBack? you askYeahstrokesyard stagemy...

At the Hickory Dickory Dock,Billy T. mouse jumps up eachof one hundred and two stepsof the Down Town Clock Tower.He has not been this highabove sea level ever before,and wants to see for himself,if life is better living higher up.Billy T. has fought fellow micefor the...

Think about how far we have come.Body parts are fashionably clothed.Sexual tools are used for pleasure.Most products are manufactured.Eating bananas in Nome, Alaska.Getting skeletal bone replaced.Being here now escapes us.We converse with more than an Ugg.We rape and...