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    The Fool (Poetry and Other Works)
    The Fool (Poetry and Other Works)
    The Fool (Poetry and Other Works)
    Ebook112 pages1 hour

    The Fool (Poetry and Other Works)

    By Jeffrey V. Perry

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    About this ebook

    The Fool, Poetry and Other Works is the last book in a series I now conclude to be THE POSITIVE PRIME, which was the title of my first book of poetry. The Positive Prime began my story and my process as a poetry writer. It is my “Self – Identity” and the beginning of the story of how I viewed the culture of the African Diaspora and culture within the world. I attempted in my next books, Conversations with a Soul Brother, Soul Food, Legacy of an Ex-Slave, and even Alternating Views to construe that the Black perspective in real terms, is a nurturing spirit, which is expressed as ‘the soul’ as I view “us” to be as a culture. I always understood that any poet has the responsible to represent his or her culture, like Nikki Giovanni speaks to Black folks, mainly and as William Shakespeare talked to the English-commoner in his day. Art and writing, in particular, are the culture of those who express their perspective as a person, through a culture or background, first. “We are who we are.” It is often noted that arts and literature transcends all cultural backgrounds, which I can agree with, for the most parts. But, saying, “we are who we are,” is a “crock” mainly, told to us Black folks, in order to to have our culture not impacted on a global level; but instead, to have us minimized, and in many cases excluded all together, from the Western Educational curricula.. Black culture is very different from white culture, before or after, any Imperialist influences. I have noted in my essay, “African-ism” (In Alternating Views and Conversations with a Soul Brother) that even, the Afro-American culture is a culture upon itself as the blending of our African roots with the Western culture in which, both, we exist. It all sounds so simple now. But “African-ism” is all about who the Afro-American is and who we have become. In many of my other books of poetry, I delve into “me”, as a spiritual being, as evidenced in Welcome Home, Obedience to Poetry 2.0, and For God, for Love, for Country, and for You. I look at my religious background as something that I am willing to embrace, rather than forego, not because of any social need, alone, but as a part of my personal development and culture. (I have several great-uncles who were prominent preachers in the Free-Will Baptist Faith). I have continued along that road and I have incorporated my religious upbringing or exposure into all my writing, as the spiritual being that I am.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJeffrey V. Perry
    Release dateJun 29, 2011
    ISBN9781604819076
    The Fool (Poetry and Other Works)
    Author

    Jeffrey V. Perry

    Jeffrey V. Perry, Writer, Poet, and Author Jeffrey is a fifty-four (54) years old, Afro-American male, born in North Carolina in 1955. He has had several creative writing classes over the years, and understands the academics of literature. He attended Dartmouth College, undergraduate, and holds a Master of Science in Management. His titles include: The Positive Prime, a book of Poetry Publish America, Inc, LLP, 2007, Conversations with a Soul Brother (includes essays), Outskirts Press, 2008, and Welcome Home, Soul Food, Legacy of an Ex-slave,in 2009, and Obedience to Poetry (2.0)and Alternating Views 2.0 in 2010, all published at Harlem Book Fair Publishers (now Wordclay). He has published several essays, which are included in his collection, Alternating Views 2.0, from the Mental Health News, "Quality Life Promotes Recovery" and "The Economy's Effect on People: a Peer Perspective,' and is published in other NYC area mental health journals.

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      Book preview

      The Fool (Poetry and Other Works) - Jeffrey V. Perry

      THE FOOL

      (POETRY AND OTHER WORKS)

      JEFFREY V. PERRY

      Published by Jeffrey V. Perry at Smashwords

      Copyright 2011 Jeffrey V. Perry

      Discover other titles by Jeffrey V. Perry at Smashwords.com

      Dedication

      TO DEXTER L. PERRY (01/16/1954 – 12/18/2010), MY OLDER BROTHER

      Even the whole is simply made of its parts

      AND TO ALBERT POLLACK, who also passed away this year.

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      FOOL - THE PROLOGUE

      FIRST POET – THE LOGUE

      GHOST EFFECT – THE PREFACE

      Introduction

      (POETRY)

      TRUE LOVE

      THE FOOL

      THE END TO BIN LADEN

      SATAN’S DAUGHTER

      GODHEAD

      HATERS

      WHAT FRANKLIN MEANT?

      YOU ARE THE FIRST LADY

      I DO NOT MOCK SHAKESPEARE

      JOSEPH, FATHER OF JESUS

      I AM LOVE (CS)

      WHOLLY HOLY, THE LIFE I AM LIVING

      MY MOTHER’S DAY POEM

      HOW DOES VENGEANCE MATTER?

      IN RECTROSPECT

      IS IGNORANCE STILL BLISS?

      ETERNAL HOST

      WILL THERE BE ROOM AT THE END?

      GHETTO LOVE

      DUALITY

      OVER THE RAINBOW

      JUST LET IT BURN

      SNOWFLAKES

      TO MY BLACK WOMEN (#3)

      IT IS NOT MY BATTLE

      SUB (terrain) WAY

      THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT I KNOW

      OBLIVION

      FOREVER

      SEEMS LIKE IT ALL IS COMING TRUE

      A STONE’S THROW AWAY

      SIGNS OF THE TIMES

      A SHIP OF FOOLS

      THE VIRGIN DIARY

      NUBIAN LOVE

      A RHAPSODY FOR LOVE

      MAN

      I HAVE SEEN THE EYES OF MEN CRY

      MY BEST MOVE

      (ESSAYS)

      MY POSITIVE PRIME

      THE DREAM THAT WILL LAST FOREVER

      LIFE AS MUSIC

      WORLD NEW

      ONE

      (BONUS MATERIALS)

      A PEER PROVIDER’S PERSPECTIVE: MORE THAN GETTING IN THE DOOR

      SHOULD THE MEDICAL MODEL SUPPLANT THE PEER MOVEMENT?

      THE POSITIVE PRIME HAS BEEN FULFILLED – THE FINALE

      ACKNOWLEDGMENT

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      BIOGRAPHY

      LIST OF BOOKS BY JEFFREY V. PERRY

      Foreword

      FOOL - THE PROLOGUE

      Fool is a rather negative term, especially since the dictionary defines a fool as: a person who lacks sense of judgment. I will leave it at that. At our present time, I prophesy that we are where the fool has clout. Let me also point out any reference to Scriptures (The Holy Bible) will be according to the King James Version (translation). As the Scriptures say in Proverb 11:29: He that troubled his own house shall inherit the wind; and a fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. However, any fool we know could have a more prominent role than we understand. So, what are those whom we assume to be fools telling the world about its truths? Maybe it is not their foolishness we should be ashamed of, but rather that they are voicing our truths, out loud! And maybe, just maybe, we should stand back and listen.

      We are looking at the worst of times, for many who struggle to live day to day, while those who thirst more and more for power, seem to ignore even their own vultures using ridiculous excuses, which we just accept as the truth. Scripture again says in Psalm 14:1: The fool has said in his heart: ‘There is no God.’ ‘They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. We are in the midst of a troubling and a confusing time, where what seems good, turns out to be bad, and then, the bad proves to be the better good. We just have been lied to tremendously, not just face to face, but in every aspect, imaginable. The Scriptures have even added to our confusion, because many individuals, spoken of, whom we have accepted to be of good character, have proven to be not of good will or moral repute. We have gotten used to disappointments in our leaders, and thusly, in each other. But, do not be surprised! St. Mark 13:22, points out that, For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to deceive, if it were possible the elect.’ But there is still more truth and proof in the Scriptures to be had to oppose even wickedness, for the truth is in the light. Proverbs 3:35 states, The wise shall inherit glory: but Shame shall be the promotions of fools. So, remember that the shame that we witness before us in our trusted servants is the sign of their foolishness and not becoming of those whom we should follow. So, whom should we choose in their places? Proverbs 1:7 offers some insight: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Our struggle as humankind is not an easy one; however, we have been given the equipment with which to fight that struggle.

      Unlike any of God’s other creatures, we are given our own mind to help us out of confusion, and also to help us to learn truths for ourselves. Once we learn and have some truth, then we can decipher how it applies to our lives. Knowledge of any and everything is the beginning of the wisdom that we need in our human struggle, which is a part of each one of us. Remember, also, to embrace knowledge and not despise it. Everybody plays the fool, sometimes,… because we all begin life without knowledge or wisdom; but to be fooled two or three times is our shame and the consequence of looking up the wrong tree, or taking bad advice; even more tragic, we play this foolish role, when we fail to think for ourselves. Our failure relates to how we choose or our lack of choice thereof. Choice is having more than one alternative; it means that we decide for ourselves and in turn, take responsibility. Choice becomes our doings and our faults or consequences, whether good or bad. A fool is left without a choice and always blames others for what are his or her actions (and responsibilities).

      In one sense, I have opened a new can of worms, which suggests to some that I support just giving those whom we term as fools, socially - total responsibility. It may even seem that I am intimating that those now incarcerated maybe even be released back into society. I would support newer and fairer social services and penal systems, but this is not about any total responsibility for just anyone. It is about individual choice and an opportunity. Although many of our social systems, including our mental health and criminal system, may have been based on rather fool-hearty past ideologies, which border on insane and almost criminal reactions, we are still faced with that sense of individuality that needs to be extended to all our citizens. It is more what I see as how, even those who we may wish to term as fools, should be treated fairly, simply because, we all came into this world with nothing, which includes, the lack of wisdom and knowledge; and who knows what intellect or sense of reason with which we will leave here? Just like the song continues, Everybody plays the fool, sometimes, no exceptions to the rules… Or, is there anyone too naïve or actually foolish enough to believe that what is breathed in Job 1:21 is just hot air?

      FIRST POET – THE LOGUE

      I never knew myself to be a writer, but I realized that I had an ability to create verse and poetry. As I mentioned, I was about seven years old, when the spirit came upon men and I wrote my first poem. I knew something happened that was special because I felt a loss of control as this spirit wrote with my hand and my mind. I saw myself writing what was coming out of me, as I felt this

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