God and Me in 2023

by Lawrence Hollins

Today I’m turning the page, and I thank God for setting me free from that cage, and not sending me to my grave, because I had a crave, I was in a daze, and I walked around in a maze for days

My father God said it was just a phase, and that’s why you’re able to turn the page

From that ghetto vacation,

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Reflections from a 40-Year-Old

by Rupal Ramesh Shah

PLAY UNO
It is an easy game to learn if you can follow numbers and colors, and
a great way to bring people together.

DRINK WARM CHAI
Nothing soothes the heart like homemade chai on a cold or hot day.
Even better, try that cup of chai with cardamom, ginger, or saffron!

GIVE FIRM HANDSHAKES
Handshakes convey both confidence and collegiality.

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Poetry

SUBTRACTED

by Dee Allen

Sisters aren’t valued

In this world of ours

Seen nowhere on the streets

Not the hospitals, malls or bars

Because they’re

Missing

Subtracted

From the city

Headcount cut down in size.

Sisters aren’t respected

In this world of ours

Yet their kin are fraught w/ worry.

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What Black History Month Means to Me

by Tariq Johnson

It is a time of Reflection to sharpen my perception of who I am and where I come from. The struggles that my ancestors went through, to overcome the obstacles of racism and achieve their goals. So the positive definition of the word N-I-G-G-A could and would become: Never Ignorant – Getting – Goals Achieved.

I am 58 years old, born in 1964 when Black Power really meant something to my people.

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Make the Change

Make the change 

Give your change 

Lend a helping hand 

Buy a meal 

Feed the soul 

Don’t feed me the processed 

Feed me the organic truth 

The fiber, the greens 

The antioxidants to give me life 

Make the change 

Give your change 

Read me a lyric,a story 

What’s your story? 

Can you smile that it makes me want to dance and sing To perform art,

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My Proud Ego

by Aaone Enose

My proud ego is yelling revenge,

But I know forgiveness is the best!

I don’t want to jeopardize good things I’ve accomplished,

Lord please remove this devil from my ear that’s evil and toxic!

I forgive my sister who stabbed me in San Francisco with a knife,

I’m just grateful Lord that you didn’t allow her to take my life!

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Objectophilia

by Dan Hoeweler

To my quad-processing binary

Turing machine,

To my machine language

Interpreter,

To My discrete algorithm

 Analyzer,

To my multi-thread

Processing module,

Your cache

Your chassis

Your solid state drive

Your motherboard

Electrify my cerebral pathways

In ways that no programming language

Can express.

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Drunk in the Dark

There is no limit to the depth a man may fall

Listen to the man laying on the floor defeated

For he has wisdom to share

And a story to tell

Misery is intoxicating

A shadow so dark

Cast by a bright red sun

Ever present, forever constant

Blanketing me with grief

Bedding me in pain

A pauper rich only in emotions

Until there is no more,

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Eric ‘E-Tee’ in Memoriam

We are devastated to learn about the loss of Eric E-Tee, a longtime Street Sheet vendor beloved by many. Eric, known to many as E-Tee, lived here in San Francisco since he was 27 years old. E-Tee sold the Street Sheet since 1989, when it was only one sheet of paper. He usually sold the paper outside of Peet’s Coffee on the corner of Van Ness and Turk, wearing his distinctive gray fedora.

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In April

Sunlight through a cloud 

Bleaches the bones of  

Something small,  

And long forgotten. 

Reflecting on a  

Silver strand in 

My dark hair,  

While a cruel wind  

Masks as warmth. 

So many lives 

I have lived,  

So much happiness 

I have feigned 

In the month  

Of dust and lies. 

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