CHANGE

"Change is what is left over after what is spent." - Luchetta (Cookee) Manus © 2013

This. Is one of my sayings and it means when you have exhausted yourself purchasing things. In life (exhausting yourself physically and emotionally going through things in life, which you learn lessons from)

All that is left is for you to Change!

Of repeat the same things not learning from them

So mu quote,"Change is what is left over after what is spent."

BECAUSE YOURE HERE

Poem title: Because You're Here
Written by: Luchetta(Cookee) Manus
© 2013

Be your wonderful selves

It is you who bring color to the black, white, and grey canvas of this world.
Understand that your uniqueness should be celebrated inside you everyday you wake up.

Love yourselves

You cannot begin to love others until you have conquered your own disability of self hatred. Taking the time to nurture yourselves makes you a far greater asset to those who haven't mastered the task. Helping those help themselves

Believe in yourselves

Your dreams are entangled with other dreams of people creating a need of one another Supporting each persons vision for the bigger picture each of us contributes to

Life has winding roads
Valleys low
Mountain to climb
Bridges to cross
Some may need to be burned
You live and the joy in it is that you learn
You are valuable
You are needed
Turn someone's dark nights
Into days of sunshine
We have that power

Let it be

Because you are here occupying a space here on Earth metered, by time that God and creation may smile at the thought of your existence

PISSED OFF MOTHER

Title: Pissed off mother
Written by: Luchetta Manus © 2013

Kids don't wash dishes
Now they will eat out their hands
Problem is now solved

KNOCKING OUT TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

Poem: knocking out two bird with one stone
Written By: Luchetta Manus © 2013

Haiku style

I'm using Sharpie
To write my awesomely deep
Poem and get high

WHAT HAPPENED TO FAIRY TALE ENDINGS

Poem title: What Happend To Fairy Tale Endings?
Written by: Luchetta Manus © 2013

In love with the idea of love
Fairy tale, happily ever after 
Till we grow old

I'm in love with the falicies of love 
Soul mates
Understanding and caring
Being one unit
Unbreakable more than Alicia Keys
Unbreakable like a Charleston Chew
Those are hard to break

For Heaven's sake

I'm in love with the aura of love
Sunny days and fewer ones with rain
Embarking on a life journey
Weathering the storms
Entering life of the unknown

DEVIL TALK

Poem title: Devil Talk
Written by: Luchetta(Cookee)Manus © 2013

God is whispering
Devil yelling
Telling me
God is selfish, dwells in vanity
Ecocentricism
I block it out
Try hard not to listen

Life
Decisions
Hypocrytical people labeled Christians
Makes me wonder if their is a point the the voices yelling

Is demanding an answer from God Blasphamous?
Arfter all we are not mere accidents
But for some of us
Life is hard to bear

Hell on Earth makes you look up to heaven skies wishing you lived there

Don't want to eat the whole damn cake
I just wanna piece, will do
To know what it means to have peace from the devil yellin in my ears to cease

Hear me o Lord
Your dark child's cries
Of over exaggerated truths
Lies
Lights out to faith
As it dwindles
Dies
Faith tries
Stays alive
After repeated resuscitation
From flat lines
Lord I'm running outta time

SACRIFICE

Play on word haiku. These are haiku poems which I call how cool= haiku

How cool/haiku title: sacrifice
Written by: Luchetta(Cookee)Manus ©2013

Today I died slow

Hurting myself with warfare

Can only blame me

THE WORKING POOR

DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF POOR: 
(ADJECTIVE) LACKING WHAT YOU NEED TO LIVE COMFORTABLE IN SOCIETY

DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF WORKING:
(ADJECTIVE) THE ACT OF DOING WORK
WORK TO GET PAID

Poem Title: To the Working Poor
Written by: Luchetta(Cookee) Manus © 2013

How can I pledge my allegiance
To my country
To my flag
Singing athem hymns
Of something I never had
Freedoms and equality
Those words mean lil to someone like me
My sin?
Never fitting in
Born on the wrong side of town
When you struggle to come up
The system keeps you down
Indecisiveness is an unknown disease for the rich community
Survival decisions the
The rich was granted immunity
Wake up in the morning
Your kids are hungry
Lil money
Cabinets bare
Do you dare
Make a choice?
We can't have both
K kids its either bread or toliet tissue
Catch 22
Baring the shame of a capitalist society
The poor are poor
The rich feel entitled
They say being poor is by your own doing
If I work, you work, we all work
Hard
We are supposed to be upward moving
from our 99% to their 1%
The system is designed to keep the rich, rich
The poor, poor and dumb
Being numb about the reality of things
And nothing change
The government leaves you with one dollar
And takes two
I thought you knew
Poverty
People are starving
Noone is sharing
No compassion
No caring
What happens to our poor
Our elderly
Our weak
Unemployment
Abuse
Our young deceased
Believing lies
Suicides
Broken family ties
Lost lives
And only the strong survive
If your rich
Enough to live this life

Written by: Luchetta(Cookee) Manus © 2013

CORRUPTION

Play on word haiku. These are haiku poems which I call how cool= haiku

How cool/haiku title: Corruption
Written by: Luchetta(Cookee)Manus ©2013

Save me from my sins
Human flesh of this weakness
Living restraints kill

FEAR NOT

Play on the word haiku
These poems which I call how cool poems=Haiku poems

Title of poem: fear not
Written by:Luchetta(Cookee) Manus © 2013

Some people fear change
I joyfully accept change 
I'm not some people

INSANITY

For one to keep hitting their head on a brick wall, thinking one day it will turn into a pillow, that my friends, is called insanity.

Allowing others to convince you that what your seeing isn't a wall is called, manipulation

to accept a lie which isn't true, as if it is truth is called choice.

Know the difference is called maturity

Written by: Luchetta (Cookee) Manus © 2013

PUBLIC HOUSING

Title: Public Housing
Written by Luchetta(Cookee) Manus
© 2013

Where I live?

Dreams are thrown by the wayside like the trash which isn't important enough to make it to the dumpster.

Where I live?

Children playin outside ignored by parents, who are too distracted by their own lives to pay attention to their precious investments.

Only a prerequisite to how the world will treat them when they grow up, being reminded that they are a product of their environment which the media has created.
They televise us with

No ambition
Pants saggin
Lazy
Uneducated
Trouble makin
Niggas

That's what the media created

Where I live?

Opportunity presents itself by nigga knockin on doors leaving a post it note like Fed Ex, saying you didn't answer the door fast enough to receive it

Where I live?

We are told we can buy our freedom within a capitalist system built on the backs of our slavery and oppression. If we are willing to want better for ourselves. One of the many lies the devil tells.

Where I live?

We work hard to be broke. Minimum wage barely pays the bills and neither does our overseen talent and ambition.

Where I live?

Troubles are grey clouds, sprinkling rains hardships on the undeserving and innocent.

Some of us were born here, some of us don't belong here, but all of our life's predicaments landed us here. Where is the exit sign?

Where I live?

celebrities blast music in cars with shinny rims. Rich with ignorance , no retirement plan or homes owned. The government can't jack them for taxes they don't pay.

Where is live?

Where I live?

Damn this is where I live

Offset

The purpose of my existence terries

I am struggling to find a sense of purpose

In a world which has taken the meaning of purpose away

I question

What reality is?

I’ve been dreaming so long

Of establishing a reality for a positive reality for myself

That my reality has become dream like

And my dreams are dry reality

Making everything for me pseudo

I am in a furious mental quarrel for my mind’s freedom

Trying to break the grips of what I fear most

Imminent failure

My mind needs its rest

untitled (I hate you)

             Written By: Luchetta (Cookee) Manus © 2013

              Poem Title: untitled

I hate what I see in the mirror

Chasing down 80 proof fears

With shot glasses of tears

My heart has been aching for years

With all my make up covering me

Inside I feel so ugly

People’s words destroy me

My heart aches to see smiling faces

Of happy people

I’m wondering why joy passed me.

I’m a square peg

Trying to fit into a round hole

Trying to hang on to truths

As they unfold

Me trying to do good

Is getting overrated and kinda old

My faith is failing

Or maybe I’m failing my faith

Either way

I’m insecure of my fate

I made many mistakes

And still making them

Me

You can’t harness the sound of thunder

Can’t predict where lightening will strike

Tell nature to stop being so damn beautiful

Can’t contain ones passions or hungers

Do the Heavens have a beginning?

Do the Heavens have an end?

Animals are happier free from captivity

Then tell me 

My friend

Why this freedom doesn’t apply to me?

Why do you attempt to control me?

Respect Me

Respect me

Respect my mind

My god made me in place and time

According to his likeness

Human race has categorized men

By religion, class, and race

Keeping men in darkness

I will not set my dignity aside

Because of the poverty

I temporarily found myself in

You don’t have to like me

But you will respect me

I will fight to maintain my dignity

I will fight to the bitter end

They say I love being poor

Government place people in the system

Where the sky is no longer the limit

More like the limit is the floor

I pray for those who can’t afford to eat

For the working in poverty

Pray for ends to meet

For people like me

For the mother who dreams were smothered

By people telling her there is nothing she can do for herself

Shattering the dreams of kids

Because of where they live

Stop the madness

Our children are our wealth

I hear them say

Give up!

You won’t make it!

I’m gonna make it

And not gonna pretend or fake it

I pray for the man with a plan

With rock in his hand

Getting his hustle on

In his mind he wrestles

Right from wrong

Going through it

Poverty is a mutha fucka

I pray for peace

Prosperity

And better luck and

A WAY OUT!

Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge

Don’t toss me to the side because you don’t understand my struggles

You can’t grasp me

I won’t allow you to demean me

Because I don’t have as much as you do

If you was me

And I was you

Could you walk in my shoes?

Can you see my side?

If you do you would be moved

With compassion

I know I would for you

Damn my struggles

Axel Rose says, “Welcome to the jungle.”

People have become like animals

Putting down and hurting

Mentally and physically killing one another

A world lacking loyalties, peace, and how about sensitivity

I gotta bet em

I can’t join em

One day the righteous time to shine will come to be

I’m gonna stay strong

Because I still have a dream

It's Complicated

I find simplicity

In the complexity

Of things

Tryin to figure out

What my tomorrow brings

Tryin to figure out

Who I am starring at in the mirror

She no longer looks familiar

She has to go back to the basics

Of where she started

Free

Light-hearted

To a time when she was her own queen

She validated herself

Reigned with her own identity

SMH @ The Game

The more the game change

The more “I” stay the same

When recognition is given to

No talents, suckas, and lames

Selling their souls for wealth and fame

Their shame

The future game needs REAL help
Educate minds
In remembrance of times
Of conscience poetry, art, dance, rap, street rhymes
Back to the basics
The birth
The start
When we communicated the woes of the street
Give voice to the weak
Spoke of the contents of the heart

Being proud to be black
Pride we all took part
Proud to be black was the reward
Propelling our people forward

The more the game change
The more “I” stay the same
Refusing to become a
sell out, no talent, sucka, or lame
Our focus has negatively shifted
Power and money is to blame
Selling one’s soul for Earthly temporary fame
Missing Heaven’s permanent gain
Off focus
I stay the same
I can’t be changed
Or rearranged
Nor will I be disengaged
With my identity
I worked hard to become me
Physically, spiritually, and morally
The truth made me free
Release from non recognition’s prison
Talented people in them
Become conscience teachers
Let s play follow the leader
Who will be a leader

Looks Aren't Everything

Can I trade my smile in for some time alone with you?

Can I remove the shimmer from my eyes?

To create strong bonds and ties

Can my ears hear no lies?

Can my body buy your admiration and commitment?

Can my lips buy your contentment?

Can my heart buy a portion of your soul?

Release treasures untold

Beauty is nothing without someone to behold it

I’d sell it consider it sold

If it will buy me your love to have and to hold

desparation

Can I trade in my smile?

For time alone

With someone to call my own

Can I remove the shimmer from my eyes?

To maintain a strong bond and ties

Can my ears hear the truth?

Can my heart hear no lies?

Can I buy admiration and contentment?

Can my love buy a portion of your soul?

Release a treasure untold

Beauty is nothing without someone in which it beholds

I’d sell it

Consider it sold

If I can buy your love to have and hold

Candy

Candy

The sweetest thoughts

I had today

Were of you

You made my soul content

Made my heart and body sing

Whenever you touch me

My mind was pleasured

By everyone of your words

I always enjoy

My outta body experiences

With you today

My lover

I dream of you

While your scent

Is on my pillow

Mistress of the night

Mistress of the Night

She’s the Goddess of his day

I am the mistress of his night

The three conflicts

Emotions take flight

Her affections for him

Are sweet and endearing

When the sun is raised high

Yet are betrayed by the heat

Of our escapades

When the moon

Dances across the sky

He seeks safety from her

For his wandering soul

I harness the lust

He cannot control

Can the sun shine all the time?

Can the moon be gone?

Why can’t the moon stand alone?

Why can’t it be on its own?

I want the sun

To stop shining

I’m devising a plan

In my head

Then maybe he’d want me

The moon instead

Me lying next to him

Him and I

As he gazes into the sky

Waiting for his sun to rise

My heart sinks knowing the reason

Nothing I do for him

To make him always dwell

In the evening

While I am holding him

Kissing him

Making love to him

I stay clinging

To hope

For Sale

Give me what I want

I will give you what you desire

Beyond what you need

I aim to please

Empty yourself out for me

I want you hollow

I lead

You follow

It is good for molding you

You do what I want

You to do

Dissolve your identity

I have done this to many

You won’t need one

Enchantment

Entrapment

Be my servant

Self serving

Learn from me

And love it

Make a choice

Forfeit to me

Your identity

Your freedom

Your voice

Single Woman

I can’t be molded
I already posses my own shape
Have my own unique form
You can’t strip away at me
Piece by piece
until I am to your liking
If you did, you wouldn't like me
Hell, I wouldn't like me
Holding me captive is wrong
Even when you feel it is right
Free spirited
I flow free as rivers
 without end
Free as the wind
Free as the beginning
No end
Infinite
-Written by Luchetta (Cookee) Manus 2013

breakthrough

Life stories
Light stories
My stories
I write my stories
My journeys
Took me places
... New and familiar faces
I'm dream chasin

I lay claim
To save
The last of the good
Within me
Often misunderstood
I lay claim
To hold onto
The good that is left in me
Kept in me
While outside elements
Want to taint me
So, they call shout their glories
Consumed with victories
Succeeding over me
To smother my dreams
Keep my dreams
From breathing
My life isn't perfect
But, it has deep meaning
I lived through
Loss and gain
Love and pain
Struggle and peace
Chaos then it cease
I'm still breathing
My life has deep meaning

-written by Luchetta(Cookee)Manus 1/28/13

Beware of what you ask for

Poem title : Beware of what you ask for

Beware of What You Ask For

You're chasing
But do not know who I am 
What you're chasing after
Tunnel vision
I cause natural disasters
Or amazing phenomenons
Both turn ons
You want me to be "The One"
Flirting with temptation?
Leaves one crazy
Yet heightens the imagination
May lead to your insanity
For me
Look inside me, baby
Before you make that jump
Leap 
Of faith
You will love and hate me
Do you see me?
Know I am unique 
Yet aim to please thee
Only if me and you 
Be
Meant to be

Written by Luchetta(cookee)Manus 1/30/13

My Grandma

Poem title: My grandma

She was the angel on my shoulder, while the devil was surrounding me, persuading me to engage in everything she asked me, "Not" to do.

Her life experience and seasoned maturity spoke through her voice of care and concern for me, but usually the devil in me won.

She stayed on her knees praying her pleas to the all mighty, that I wouldn't turn up missing, or dead. She prayed for stability, so I would keep a healthy mind and not flirt with insanity. As I often did.

She also prayed I would be in good bodily health, and for some reason her prays NEVER fell on deaf ears. The Lord willingly agreed to her terms because I am still alive.

Love was the language often spoke from her lips, along with a couple curse words from time to time ,when a situation presented itself.
Phrases like, "Lawd, have mercy!" or "God don't like ugly!" Followed by maybe a lil of " You gotta get tougher skin!" Rang in my ears. Melodies of correction to get myself together.

In regards to my grandma, It must have been difficult to carry the weight of others, especially when she had more compassion for others than they did for themselves.

She was a living book who's title was, "Virtue." The pages of her life was knowledge and wisdom. Each line on her face was written with praise. The son sparkled in her eyes.

She owned the hard substance of, "I don't give a fuck," she wore on the outside, with the soft substance of faith in the interior. I bet this, helped her to maneuver through life's ups and downs.

She always seemed to know what to do, when I didn't know what to do. Sometimes when she didn't really know what to do, that is when she went to God and she knew he knew what to do. That's what she did.

She held an awesome position in the family and in my heart.

I hope where in Heaven, she is radiant with pride ,knowing I am not the finished product and also knowing
One day I will be joining her in glory.

Written by Luchetta(Cookee)Manus 1/30/13

The Artist

God is an artist who painted life on the canvas of creation-wriiten by Luchetta(Cookee)Manus © 2/9/13

Reroute

If point A is home and point B is destiny
If I didn't leave early and left a lil late
Can I make up my time along the way?

If I made mistakes
Taken all I could take
Took a couple detours here and there
Will I still make it there?
To where?
To my destiny

I look at me now
I'm not what I'm supposed to be
Can I retrace my footsteps

Back if I feel the need?

I thought I was turning right

But went way off track to the left
I thought I knew best
God put me to the test
And I failed

Reroute...
Take next turn
1 mile at redemption

Written by Luchetts(Cookee)Manus © 02/10/13

high

I'm am addicted to breathing in life like the aroma of flowers in bloom.

Maneuvering through the thorny spaces to find beauty within.

Absorbing happiness through my skin, warm rays of sunshine.

I am addicted to creating meaning. In search of purpose.

I wear contentment like a woman coming indoors from the cold outdoors.

rain

THE RAIN TODAY BROUGHT BACK SO MANY MEMORIES

When I first stepped outside in all that rain I was like ughhhh, but when I spent a moment in it was cool yet not cold. wet but satisfyingly refreshing. The smell sound. I splashed for a minute like a kid :-) This rain is awesome

It reminds me of being lil playing in the rain. From time to time I was allowed to go out get wet Wash my hair outside in front of my grandma's house on 21 between German and Holland streets

It reminded me of gourmet dishes made with mud and sticks with make shift drive through window where I would say, " Can I take you order please?" This was to my imaginary friend who also enjoyed eating my fabulous mud pies.

This rain reminds me of a romantic time I had with a gentlemen. It was like out of a romantic or erotic novel. Making love outside in the rain. 

This rain reminds me of a cold walks at night crying from loss and a broken heart. The feeling of being lonely and unhappy. I was glad that the rain hid my tears and pain from peoples' sight

morning after

Sobriety is enlightening.

You used to be my drug. The same drug which took me high, was the same drug that left me hung over.
Sick from the excitement passed. Headache from your withdrawn emotions. Throwing up what's left of the passions ,which went away with your touch withheld.
Laying on the bed wonder where my next fix of you is coming. The next fix to keep me from suffering from the guilt and shame of needing you so much the way I do.
You are forbidden and harmful to me, yet your love excites me

are there any survivors

I quarrel within myself
With my environment
To hold onto
The lil good
Left in me
The lil good left in me
Which still remains
After friends came and went
... After the break down of relationships
After the depletion
Of some distant goals and dreams
My future is gasping for lil breaths
Of air to stay alive
Standing on the last leg
Of hope
The lil good in me
Survived
The wandering hands of
A sick and twisted mind of an adult
When I was a child
The rape of my innocence
Removing safety from me
I survived being taken for granted
Being used
Heartache

I survived abandonment and neglect
By people who cover up their
Ill intentions
Camouflaging by
The words
I love you
The lil bit of good in me
Has fought the enemy well
I won several battles
Now its time for war

music

Music is the celebration of life to melody

Rumors

Follow me
to distorted reality
depending on where you're standing
when you're viewing

Follow me
where I think for you
it's "my" truth
your are released from thinking for yourself
I creep in for no rhyme or reason
it's stealth even
I extend my hand of help
being hazardous to your mental health

Follow me
I will lead you
you may or may not be mislead
I conjure up the dead...
things people have forgotten about you
all that's said
I am the whisper that says,"Say this!" in your head

Follow me
the possibilities
of endless stories
throwing off people and judgment
only few would rise above it