Poems About the Mind
A Divine Mind
Children born with such a creative mind
Blind to the negative things we have defined
Loving laughter made from the divine
Unlimited thoughts enjoying the present time
Let us get out the way
No need to corrupt an untapped mind
Just nurture the seed from this new grapevine
Living in a system that corrupts brilliant minds
Placing fear in doubt producing a columbine
We learn from history stop focusing on the dollar sign
Robbing our children producing no artistic pipeline
I jumped off the ship now raising my bloodline
Desiring to watch them age like red wine
Children ignore the hatred that we teach you
Choosing instead to embrace the opportunities of this time
You are not meant for the assembly line
You are divine
By Rafa Selase
More Information:
Rafa Selase is a poet, pianist, artist, athlete and jazz activist. Influenced by the community, culture, and sounds of the Northern California Bay Area, Rafa Selase's music, art, and songwriting aspires to speak to people across the globe on all levels of the musical, poetic and artistic spectrum. A proud native of Vallejo, California, he has been quietly building a career as a multi-talented artist.Selase is a multi-genre artist that has ventured into a socially conscious alternative hip-hop-infused acid jazz album he called, "Red Blooded American.” With social change igniting worldwide, the Red Blooded American album feels like a protest song album, but rather it is a philosophical take on freedom and what we can learn from a poet's observations.
Poets like Selase are easily recognizable but often the best poetry elicits such a strong response because well they seem to write from a place of conviction, and knowledge that is rare in today's world. On occasion, such nuanced poetry can even inspire a thoughtful and respectful silence. Everyone is talking but few have the depth of Selase's work. I personally loved the work of James Baldwin, Tupac Shakur, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Ryszard Kapuściński, and Eldridge Cleaver. If you enjoy or appreciate any of the above poets' work you are sure to find great gratification in his poetry books.
Here are a few quotes from industry insiders and professionals:
"Reflecting the musical adventurousness and eclectic artistic brew of his Bay Area roots, Selase has a stunning body of work that encompasses everything from spoken word to acid jazz to New Age." - The Journal of Roots Music - No depression
"It also echoes the pioneering spoken-word music of Gil Scott-Heron in its real and vivid poetry. As one can interpret from the title, Selase reflects on the social and political environment of living in America now. If Public Enemy was the CNN of inner cities, Selase is its literary observer." - All About Jazz
"Selase persistently soaks you in the truth of the moment – it’s provocative, thoughtful, and eye-opening, all at once." - Stereo Stickman
"There is a crazy power that emanates from this music. However, the atmosphere is serene, it advances without arms, hatred, or violence." - ANOTHERWHISKY FOR MISTERBUKOWSKI
Beautifully,
Rainha Joy