Moondustwriter Thursday featuring David Wilkins

 Welcome to Moondustwriter Thursday
I am Leslie Moon - today I am featuring my  friend David Wilkins. I have to say I am proud of David and appreciate his approach to life. He has overcome obstacles and is now using poetry to help in his journey of life and discovery. If you know any youth who are striving to express themselves, encourage them to write. I would be more than happy to consider featuring them. It is an honor to encourage and display creativity on this blogsite.

I am Youth 

by Moondustwriter

When you look at me

what do you see?

A shape?

a smile?

tresses of hair?

But do you see the heart of me?

Do you hear the song that  flows from my lips

What color is me on the canvas of life?

What words do my hands inscribe

on the orb of tomorrow?

Look

For I am your tomorrow

with all my hopes, hurts, doubts

Here I am

your future stands

when you look past me

you miss potential

if look in front of me

you miss resources

in my mind

will be discovery

 in these hands

ideas will take shape

for my tomorrow and yours

I am youth

Have you ever considered what the youth of today have to face? "Sure I was a youth.  I know what it's like." But do you? I see the formidable walls that youth face today. Walls that were either absent or lower when I was a youth. The pressure is greater, the opportunities fewer, the doubts intense. The rate of suicide and attempted suicide in youth today is staggering. Can we stop it? Maybe not. But there are those that believe that if we tap into the source of that energy and stimulate creativity, we may woo these searching individuals into a less destructive reality. The world can be a place of self-expression where black and gray and green and yellow all ask to be utilized by this next generation

Something that strikes me about  David is his vivacity for life and entrepreneurial spirit. He has grand goals and dreams for his tomorrows. He needs to get through his todays first.

When I interviewed David , I heard the passion of a young philosopher.  I asked David what poetry means to him: "Some people call it (your painting,your poem) a masterpiece; others call it a waste of time."  "Everything has an audience; everything an acquired taste." Hmm if that doesn't get you thinking keep reading.

David started writing poetry about eight months ago (at 14). "Poems may tell a story; they may be a way to express anger, frustration, pain. Poetry is a channel, a means to express emotion rather than waste that energy."

When asked if young people need a channel for emotions, David was emphatic. He expressed the need for all youth to get an avenue:" Whether it's painting or clay, dance, poetry, or basketball - do something that matters with that emotion."
For David, he can feel the pressure (of life) like fire in his veins. That pressure used to be expressed destructively toward himself. Now, as he writes, the pain and anger recedes ,slowly at times; he finishes with a sense of satisfaction and perhaps a smile. In the end, the anger and the pain is gone; he has before him creative expression - A masterpiece!

As you read this young man's work, think about other teens who are longing to find a way to express passion, anger, doubt, fear, resentment... Poetry is one great outlet for all.

 Forever and Always

by David Wilkins

i was sitting on a bench chilling and alone

 i saw you today by the board walk

 you said lets talk and take a walk

 when i saw you that day

i needed to say

i love you

make you feel invincible

in every word i say

I'm taking a risk , taking a chance

so tonight i'll ask you to dance

 we will waltz

this night under the stars

this night under the moon

and the second you leave

is a second too soon

 I'm stuck in the rain

 its like a monsoon

stuck thinking of a way

to get back to you

 when i get to your door

i cant find

the words to say

you pull me close 

tell me it will be ok

 as the tears fall from my cheek

you whip them away 

 tell me not to weep

 i hold you tight 

fear letting go cuz if i do

I'll go into limbo

so THIS night under the stars

 THIS nigh under the moon

I'm not letting go I'm staying

close to you

***

i love you forever and for always

so when day break comes

(and its coming soon)

ill still be close to you

i love you forever and for always

you know this is true

i love you forever and always

our love starting anew

forgetting the past

and all the hurt we've

been through

all the crap life's thrown our way

but because of you i can resist this sway

i love you

i hope you love me the same

the way to hold you close

on a calm quiet bay

i love you

tell you everyday

kiss you letting you know

its gonna be ok

remind you in that subtle kiss

that i love you I'll always be here

I'm not leaving so never fear

i will love you forever and always my dear

 You Hate Everything About me

by David Wilkins

you hate everything about me

i don't blame you but there is one thing

you must see

i didn't love you for you i loved you for me

before you ask me to drown

i must share something i found

in all honesty it's quite profound

if i die tonight just know i thought of you on my

very last flight

i hit the ground but i didn't die

in the street alone i lie

waiting to peacefully die

but as i'm bleeding out

i close my eyes

and something strange happens inside my mind

i saw your face and it gave me the strength to do

what i couldn't do before

get up take back my heart

something you should know before i part

your eyes still put me in a daze

freeze me in a trance

right here in my stance

you give me a glance of reminisce

feigning your innocence

i still love you but you don't love me
so i guess its time to walk away

i don't want to go

but you don't want me to stay

i love you and you know this to be true

even knowing this you said

"that's it- we're through"

not thinking about all the pain I'll go through

but you told me oh well

funny thing is I'm headed straight for hell

my last wish is to wish you well

never forget that dream

you shared with me that midsummer's eve

you and your kids playing peacefully in that field

you don't know it but i fight to keep that peace fulfilled

but you don't care

and i don't matter

thus the plans for my life will just fade and shatter

and all the things i cared about no longer matter

they all hit the ground like a piece of glass

off like a time bomb they all go blast

and thus goes my life

off this bridge in the middle of the night

so i love you farewell even though you wont miss me

good luck finding my body

but then your there you stop my jump

say your sorry you ll help me over this hump

i pull you close savor this embrace

i love you so much is what you said

with that look on your face

so bad story happy ending this is life

and my story in the telling

Check this link for more by David

Mat Lloyd poet and activist was featured several months ago on One Stop Poetry by Pete Marshall. He is seeking for solutions for young men and is trying to curb the suicide rate in men.

Two Inches To The Right: A Poem By Mat Lloyd

Two Inches To The Right
A Poem By Mat Lloyd


Today's feature is Two Inches To The Right, a poem which portrays a tale, so often heard these days, of the increasing knife culture experienced within the UK.

In Mat's words, "living near London, the poem has never been retired and still appears in my performance sets. With youth violence seemingly growing year on year, the poem is as relevant now as it was when I wrote it. People blame hip hop culture, movies, video games, parents, the education system. unemployment, the list goes on. i don't have the answer.

The saddest thing about "2 Inches to the Right" is all to often, someone from the crowd comes to speak to me after I leave the stage and tells me of their friend who died in a similar situation. This poem gives them hope that some may listen, and think twice."

Despite the fact that this gritty piece is set in London the poem undoubtedly will touch on youth culture throughout the world.




Two Inches to the Right
A Poem By Mat Lloyd

There was a murder last night

Because it was two inches to the left

Now you wouldn't have heard of last night

But it was two inches to the left!

You see they blame it on boredom

This getting drunk in the park

And they blame it on boredom

Terrorising people in dark

And on this particular cold dark night

They'd chosen their usual path

They were stupid, drunk and bored

And someone was going to feel their wrath

In the dark they chose their victim

It was easy, a random choice

Because they were stupid, drunk and bored

And some was going to hear their voice

As head idiot swung his instrument

He had all his friends running in tow

Now he wasn't quite sure why it was cool

But at least his mates said so

And as he struck the head of RANDOM

He stumbled to the floor

He was dead before he hit it

They didn't need to kick him more

Witness's they screamed and hollered

But idiot ran off into the night

Whilst random up and left this earth

And walked calmly into the light

As the judge handed down the sentence

It sounded a lot like "LIFE"

He said, "Get this idiot shackled"

"And in a cage tonight!"

His lawyer said, "If you hadn't killed him"

"You would have been alright!"

"You probably got community service"

"And been in your own bed tonight!"

Now idiot, still an idiot

Realises it's not quite so cool to fight

Sits there in his handcuffs and chains

And wishes he'd hit 2 inches to the right

Copyright Mat Lloyd

For a copy of Mat's Collection please click on the link below

Mat Lloyd: Award Winning UK Performance Poet, A One Stop Spotlight

Mat Lloyd: Award Winning UK Performance Poet; A One Stop Spotlight


Today and tomorrow One Stop Poetry has the pleasure of highlighting Mat Lloyd. Mat has been performing poetry around the UK for 5 years, winning awards and accolades along the way. In 2009, he released his first official collection, Demo Tape. Today, however, I am dedicating this page to a charity that Mat is fully behind..CALM....

CALM...Campaign Against Living Miserably...is a UK Charity devoted to men. Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 15 - 34 in the UK, averaging  3 deaths a day. CALM is dedicated to helping  reduce the number of these deaths.

Todays feature poem, Blokes, has been used by CALM to promote their cause. It also has been released as a short film, winning Best Film at the ShortCuts Film Festival, 2009....



Blokes
A Poem by Mat Lloyd

I started the evening
By telling him
That he looked a bit fat
And he explained that
"Well.....
every-time I fuck your miss's
she gives me a donut, slut!"
Thats how we were
Him and me
Him and us
Friendly banter
And the odd
Over the top cuss
Plenty of bravado
But no false pretence
And none of our joke
At anyone else's expense

And that night
We were trying to cheer him up
The only way we could do
With Jaeger bombs and tequila
Anything with Alcohol was good
Hell they'd done it for me
With toasts of
"Screw her she's a tart"
And they were fully aware
Of my broken heart
They never snapped at me
When I was acting shit
Or complained
When I was stressed
They picked me up
And sat me down
When I was a drunken
Mess

But anyway, I digress...

Tonight
I had on my supportive hat
I told him
She looked like she apple bobbed
In chip fat
And he laughed at that
That's how we were
Him and me
Him and us
Friendly banter
And the odd
Over the top cuss
Plenty of bravado
But no false pretence
And none of our joke
At anyone else's expense

Maybe its because we where blokes
We didn't show emotion
And I suppose through the commotion
You can see that we cared
My mate stared into space
Blank look on his face
That's how I knew
No amount of cheap shots
And bravado
Could change his mood
Change tactics say something crude
That's how we were
Him and me
Him and us
Friendly banter
And the odd
Over the top cuss
Plenty of bravado
But no false pretence
And none of our joke
At anyone else's expense

That night my mate found salvation
In whisky and pills
His text saying "I'm sorry"
Still gives me the chills
That last night a memory
I remember with a blur
Should I have said something different?
That's just how we were.

I was angry at first
What could I have said
Would it have made a difference
So he'd be breathing instead?
Maybe among the cussing and bravado
And the shots on that day
I should have said "I'd miss you dude!"

But he would have probably called me "GAY"

copyright Mat Lloyd