A Message For Our Youth

Dear Reader,

I wanted to take this moment to say something to our young men and young women. If you are an adult who haven’t realized it or gave much thought to it, our youth is our future. Please take time to share this with the youth around you! Help me encourage and inspire them to be the very best they can be. Let’s aid them to be better today, than they were yesterday and greater tomorrow, than they are today. This is the least that we can do.

My message to our youth: I encourage you to give life a chance by trying you. Try you before you try drugs, gangs or violence. Give yourself a chance to live out your dreams.

Be seekers of the truth and do not take things on face value. Ask questions and be hungry for knowledge. Know your worth and do not sell yourself short. Live for what is real and know that your life is priceless so that you don’t die for anything less.

Strive off your strengths and strive to strengthen your weaknesses. Stay positive and know that your dreams can become reality through your determination and true dedication.

You are beautiful in every essence. You are greatness in every shade. Know yourself and that you have the ability to change the world and shape your destiny.

Believe in yourself and know that there is absolutely nothing that you can’t achieve. Nothing in this world is out of touch for you, if you just reach.

Try you! Believe in you! Be a leader! You are amazing! You are beautiful! So be proud of who you are and always stay true to you!

I believe in you!

Sincerely,

Drako Sullivan

(Copyright 2017)

A Father’s Dream

A Father’s Dream
By Drako Sullivan
Copyright 2017

I heard the echoes of heart beats
and felt the presence of the unseen.
Voices calling out to me, sometimes
the voices are loud and clear.
Other times they’re distant and weak.

I close my eyes to search for images that are
in the shadows of my dreams.
I have prayed and prayed to one day have
children to carry on my name.

Their eyes, their nose, their lips and
even their built is just like my own.
Sons and daughters for me to love and
teach. Preparing them to deal with the
whims that this cruel world brings.

Equipping them with the tools of honesty,
integrity, and self-respect so they can craft
a life of righteousness and self-dignity

Giving them wisdom so they will know
strength starts mentally. Encourage them
to dream big and live up to their full
potential to be the very best they can be.

A father’s dream… sons and daughters
both a better version of me!

Appreciation…..A Robin’s Nest (Haiku)

A moment to share and to show my appreciation.

When I was working on this haiku, I couldn’t help but think of a good friend of mine, Kaie. He was the one who spent time trying to teach me how to write fix form poetry, well, poetry period. I remember the first poem that I shared with him and his response was and I quote, “What is this, a riddle?” I couldn’t help but to laugh. He said in such a constructive way that it encouraged me to go back to the drawing board. The advice that he gave me was to try to work on my imagery. Paint a picture. Poetry express feelings and emotions. Now I try to invoke feeling and emotions in each poem that I write. I am still working on the craft of writing and it is out of the love that I have for words. Along with the respect that I have for the power of words. I hope that my efforts are correct with writing this haiku, if not, I am sure that I will hear from Kaie. So I would like to share with you, “A Robin’s Nest” and I hope that you are able to take time out to give me feedback on this poem. All that I know about writing is self-taught or it came from what good friends like Kaie Omodele and Jorge Landrian who took time out to teach me. If you feel that something is not right with it or if the syllable count is off please share. I am looking forward to your advice and constructive criticism. Thanks in advance.

 

A Robin’s Nest (Haiku)
By Drako Sullivan
Copyright 2017

 

A Robin’s nest tight.

Fierce winds destroy twig by twig.

Robin’s nest broken.

 

Writing this poem, I was thinking about how single mother’s fight to keep their home together and do all they can to provide for their little ones. But, somehow this cruel world find some way to break that home. I can only imagine the pain and the stress that a single mother has to endure. I feel your struggle and I encourage all single mothers to keep up their hard work because it is your effort that make this world a better place and inspire men like me to do better and be better. I love you all! So keep doing what you are doing, especially you, Momma……I love you!

 

Drako

Somebody Lying

Somebody Lying
By Drako Sullivan
Copyright 2017

I don’t know who is the blame…

Maybe Constantine or King James

but it’s impossible for me to believe

all this devilment was done in Jesus’s name.

I was told that this is a

God fearing land.

I believe this until I started

asking questions.

With constant contradictions

they exposed their hand.

That is when I began seeing that…

Somebody lying.

With small pox they wiped out a

nation of natives and to this day

they’re barely existing. Now they

want me to celebrate Thanks Giving.

I am still confused, and trying to determine

the connection between Christ, Santa and

all this frivolous spending.

Excuse me for laughing but this is funny…

Why is the resurrection represented by the

Easter Bunny?

In 1776 my ancestors were being captured

and committed to slavery. And now they want

me to celebrate independence.

It is hard for me to rejoice and sing knowing

while America’s freedom was gain my people

were still in chains.

So they can keep the dreams they are selling,

I ain’t buying because I know that somebody

lying!

Dear Londyn,

You are my first grandchild and it will be years before you are able to read these words; and more years will pass before you are able to understand the significance of this letter. Right now we share so many things in common that many wouldn’t give a second thought to. You were brought into a world that I had hoped that would be full of peace and harmony. But that is only in fantasies. The reality is we are faced with many uncertainties.  Right now you still have your innocence and I am trying to regain mine. I don’t know what to expect and you don’t have a clue, your world is still pure. We are bonded by blood and share a love that is completely unconditional. With that being said, this is my promise to you, to give you love that is unquestionable or deniable. I promise to teach more than I preach. I will do all I can to help give you the tools you will need to make it in this cruel world. I promise that you will always receive the truth from me. I promise to be an example for you to follow, but I will encourage you to find your own style. I promise to be supportive in every way. I promise to always be around for as long as the Lord allow. With the birth of your life, I have been given a second chance to make things right. So, I promise, to you, not to make the same mistake twice.

Love,

Grand-Daddy

 

*This is a message from Drako Sullivan written for his first grandchild, Londyn. She is now 1 year old.