How I Feel Affects Other People...

WOMEN

... Can’t live without them (period)

And I wouldn’t want to have to be the one to prove it...

Thus, as I sat beside the fireplace last night,

my thoughts drifted to you.

Not the words we exchanged during our last time together,

but to you

And as I listened to the crackle of the wood

I was reminded of the crispness and effervescence of your smile...

A glow of encouragement, inspiring me to breathe

and enjoy this walk of faith.

Starring into the dancing flames

I saw the many faces of your beauty, and sensed your moods...

As you stare into the mirror we now share.

Funny, how it seems I have a message...

When I am merely the messenger.

Clever, how I mouth your words...

With no sight of your hand running up my back.

Lasting, your affect on the lives you touch...

Neither beginning nor ending with mine.

Oh, I could go on...

BUT, I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU

(PERIOD)

”Your Name Came To Mind”
© 2006
Available at
www.sportyking.com

How I Feel Affects Other People...

Do you realize that negative people don't want to be around positive people?



Sometimes we look at it from the other end of the deal, but think about how your smile just gets on a negative person's nerves... like their frown can get on yours.


Stay positive to keep the negative people away.

This poem is about Rosa Parks, who knew not to listen to negative people.

Holy Rosa

Didn't we mention that the bus was only the beginning?

For this movement meant much more than a ride.

The strength in this woman was her obedience...

Yet her spirit was motivated by her pride.

Pride made a comment to Wisdom

Asked it how necessary it was to lay low?

Wisdom was no fool, it said I'll go with you...

Just promise me that you'll take it slow.

So they worked their way to the front of the bus

(these two… Pride & Wisdom)

They made no pause, as others watched and warned.

And as they sank into that seat

that moment became everlasting

For never had authority been so scorned.

Fitting that her name was Rosa

For she rose above the pain that held so many back.

The pain that says slavery is mental

And it's favorite color never has been black.

Slavery's favorite color has always been ignorance...

Ignorance (somehow) continues to erase love.

As you take your ride in this lifetime (be smart)

Make sure the driver of your bus is up above.

© 1984 Sporty King
”Your Name Came To Mind”
© 2006
Available at
www.sportyking.com

How I Feel Affects Other People...

YOU KEPT ME UP

LATE LAST NIGHT

I could almost make out your figure

Through the darkness in which we sat.

And so I sat and I listened,

And I felt your every word

as they lingered in the black.

I closed my eyes.

But I opened them shortly

(for I missed you in that span)

Your fragrance enticed my nostrils

Your voice welcomed me back

Your actions called for my attention

Your wisdom rang in my ear.

You kept me up late last night

And you weren't even here.

© 1994 Sporty King
"Do You Have Any Idea... How Fine You Are?"
Available at
www.sportyking.com

The truth is we all keep someone up late each night... worrying about our safety... how we handled a situation... what we last spoke about....


Though I obviously wrote this poem to express my feelings to my girlfriend, who was studying abroad, years later a friend of mine honored my writing as she used it to eulogize her friend.

See the power of words, and resolve to define them to express your feelings with no boundaries on how you use them. And be sure to tell someone you love them today.

How I Feel Affects Other People...

DATE YOUR MATE

May I suggest that if her name was once Sweetheart,

and his Honey

That you continue to say them with no bite?

And that one of you has to wonder

what surprise YOU have, to make this a special night?

Look, I don’t care if you’ve gotten older

or put on a little weight

It takes some work to stay in love

You’ve got to date your mate.

Flowers are supposed to bloom and wither

So they can be renewed.

And, fellas, if you start then stop sending them

She’ll get them from some other dude.

Now hold on ladies,

don’t accept those replacement flowers so fast

How much are you doing of what you did

To get them in the past?

If you were a gentleman who opened every door

Don’t suddenly wake up one day

and act like it’s such a chore.

Don’t switch to unscented soap

if you once wore cologne.

And if you do, don’t wonder why

she spends so much time on the phone.

Remember, if it was a whiff of your perfume

That made him stick out his chest and spread his plume

No matter how many children or situations

It’s not too late

To relive those precious moments

You’ve got to date your mate.

If he was once your knight in shining armor

Or she, your damsel in distress

Admire the way he looks in a suit

Compliment her on that new dress.

It’s never too early in the morning to show your love

Any time of night is not too late

If you’ve done it before, do it again

You’ve got to date your mate.

You were blessed to have met one another

Do you doubt that destiny?

And after you’ve erased all the unpleasant memories

Would your faults be strengths with someone else?

Are you guaranteed to wake up tomorrow

to share or see a smile?

Will you find a little less rhyme or reason

Even see all you have at stake?

Have you forgotten so much about the good times

That in hindsight they were all fake?

Don’t let the thin line disappear

And turn your love into your hate

It’s a chance not everyone gets

So don’t take it for granted

You’ve got to date your mate.

© 1994 Sporty King
"Do You Have Any Idea... How Fine You Are?"
Available at
www.sportyking.com

How I Feel Affects Other People...

THE IMPLEMENTATION CREW

So often we complain about

the Week From Hell,

where we go nothing done

because of problems, trials and tribulations.

How about the Week From Heaven,

where so many blessings showered down

that we didn’t get to do all we planned?

I wish you a Week From Heaven,

where nothing goes according to your plans…

but everything according to His master plan.

© 2001 Sporty King
“Starting Today… Weekly Affirmations for Daily Living”
Available at
www.sportyking.com

How I Feel Affects Other People...

In 1995 I wrote I Found Out I'm Dying: A Celebration of Life in Spoetry. It's amazing how many people missed the subtitle, ultimately missing the message. After writing that book I began a wonderful journey and test of my faith. The challenge of marketing a speaking career based on the use of poetry took me on a roller coaster ride of fear and joy. It was during that ride that I grew and came to the realization of my deep belief in God and myself. That ride took me through Chapter 13 & 7 bankruptcies, foreclosure on my house, automobile repossession, used-car flashbacks, real estate and income tax troubles....

You see, these twists, turns and drops on the ride reminded me just how wonderful this gift of life is. They reminded me of just how alive I am. And that we must all recognize and remember that what we most enjoy about the roller coaster is the drop.

I FOUND OUT I’M LIVING

Actually, I've known it for quite some time now

Yet only at a surface level.

And, again, I thank you (God) for yesterday,

as much as I do for today.

And I ask that you (my friends) join me

in recognizing that the challenge

of this roller coaster ride called "life"

is even greater when you take responsibility

for your actions and self.

For as I am able to look at where I was, and what I did

It becomes more evident to me who I am.

And through that realization I extend my hand to touch you

Actually to feel you

Because in my position as Conduit of Good Spirits

The physicality of our sharing pales in comparison

To how and why we must love one another.

I found out I'm living.

And when I woke up this morning I praised that vision

That I might be allowed to ride His coat tails

And see Him in my every decision.

I sat by the window and took in another breath

For somewhere... somehow... someone else... didn't.

So I checked my five, for their alignment with my sixth sense

Thus my ability to experience... experience... experience... experience... experience...

While my smile sent a flush of joy to every tip

Of this temporary body I occupy

And came back in an unspoken word of comfort.

I read the Word to exorcise my soul of fear.

I recognized what other called miracles

As the blessings that were always there

I found out I'm living

And that I have been since Day Number One.

Yet it was not until I released my physical self

That I was really able to give God the glory

And thanks for all that I've done.

© 2006 Sporty King
”Your Name Came To Mind”
Available at
www.sportyking.com

How I Feel Affects Other People...

If I can pay you to compromise

who you are…

… you should be prepared to receive

less than what you’re worth.

As we grow our businesses,

we come across several situations

that will ask us to “fake it, to make it.”

Consider the fact that you may get the business, yet you may be required to continue to be someone other than who you are.

Expect to be respected for who you are…

by first respecting yourself.

© 2001 Sporty King
“Starting Today… Weekly Affirmations for Daily Living”
Available at
www.sportyking.com