This was a day unlike any other
before or after
How I cherished the laughter

We shared
on that Monday afternoon
So glad it was sooner rather than later

A date with my father and my mother

As I sat across from these two exquisitely beautiful people
My gratitude is much more than I can confide
at that moment

Seemingly ageless for most of my life
I begin to notice the unavoidable process of
maturity setting in

The hair getting a little thin
and the gait a little slower
But just as deliberate
just as meaningful

I treasure this moment
For, what I see before me
are two people who have endured
tragedy, joy and pain

Catastrophes that would have driven others insane
Misunderstandings, heartbreaks, disappointments and grief
Cries toward heaven for the Lord to send some relief

Days when they didn’t know how
the bills would get paid
Yet, thankful for being given one more day

That’s how they’ve faced life
One foot in front of the other
I look in amazement, from across the table,
at my father and my mother

Though the sunset years
is where they now stand
I still catch a glimpse of them
holding each others’ hands

Not diminished by time,
the love’s still there
I’ve learned so much from watching
their life together

Instructing me on just how to live
there is nothing I would trade or give
for my parents

And I realize even more,
on this day that is unlike any other,
how truly blessed I am
to be on a date
with my father and my mother.

Fertile Ground
© 2005 VonDelisa

Make me your instrument
Use me as you will
Plant in me seeds of hope
Make me your fertile ground

Speak to my heart
Show me the plans for my life
I’ll be satisfied just to know
A little at a time

You said I wouldn’t be able
to understand it all at once
So, reveal it to me a drop at a time
Until I’ve seen it all

Make me your instrument
Use me as you will
Plant in me seeds of hope
Make me your fertile ground

Use me as a conduit
to carry a message of love
May it be evident in what I say and do
A visible sermon from you

May I stand like a tree
planted by the rivers of water
Rooted in your word
A guide through a heavy burden

Make me your instrument
Use me as you will
Plant in me seeds of hope
Make me your fertile ground

Grow me as you see fit
Prune me when I need it
Cultivate me a bit
So that there is no limit
to what I can do

With your strength
I can do all things
Equip me to bring
A message of hope and love
for this generation and those yet to come

Make me your instrument
Use me as you will
Plant in me seeds of hope
Make me your fertile ground

Who Do You Belong To
© 2003 VonDelisa

What name do you answer to
Yo? Nigga? Pimp? or Dog?

Is it yo?
What is it you lookin’ fo’

How ‘bout nigga?
Got your finga’ on the trigga’

Maybe it’s pimp?
Your identity’s walkin’ with a limp

Might even be dog?
Been in a fog way too long

When you gonna wake up
sleeping giant and see

You don’t belong to the State
You’re God’s property!

It's Written All Over Your Face
© VonDelisa

IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE;

THE YEARS, THE TEARS, TIME COULD NOT ERASE;
LIKE A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, IT ENCAPSULATES;

YOUR LIFE STORY,
AHH -- THE PAIN AND GLORY;

IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE;

MOVING THROUGH THE CROWDED STREET,
FEET SHUFFLIN' -- HARDLY SKIPPIN' A BEAT;
YOU'RE LOOKING, BUT YOU JUST CANNOT SEE,

IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE;

SISTER GIRL,
HE SAID HE'D ROCK YOUR WORLD;

BUT OVER TIME,
IT BECAME ANOTHER LIE;

IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE;

I SEE THE HURT, I SEE THE PAIN,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY THERE, YOU CAN RISE AGAIN;

FROM THE ASHES OF SORROW, FROM THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR,
SHAKE IT OFF GIRL, LIKE TO DON'T BIT MORE CARE;

IT'LL COME TO PASS, IN TIME YOU'LL SEE,
HOW TRUE LOVE SHOULD REALLY BE;
BUT FIRST IT MUST BEGIN WITHIN THEE;

IT'LL BE WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE.

My Shoes
© VonDelisa

DIDN'T I TELL YOU. . .YOU JUST LIKE IMELDA,
ALL THOSE SHOES!

TWO INCH, THREE INCH, LOW TO THE GROUND,
SOLES SO SOFT, WON'T EVEN MAKE A SOUND;

WHEN THEY HIT THE FLOOR, AS YOU GLIDE, AS YOU SLIDE,
MY SHOES HAVE THEY EVER TAKEN ME FOR A RIDE;

CUTE ONES FOR PARTYING, SERIOUS ONES FOR WORK,
SOPHISTICATED ONES, SO NICE, BUT BOY DO THEY HURT!

SCRUNCHIN' MY TOES, BEAUTY KNOWS NO PAIN,
CAREFUL DON'T PUT ON THE SUEDE ONES, THEY'RE CALLING FOR RAIN;

MY SHOES, EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW,
COOL OR SASSY, TODAY WHICH WAY WILL I GO?

TAKE YOUR PICK FROM OFF THE RACK,
DUST THEM OFF NOW BEGIN TO PACK;

ALL TEN TOES DEEP INSIDE,
GET READY, GET SET, IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE!

My Kitchen
© 2003 VonDelisa

IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN

IT WAS THE HEAT THAT KEPT THEM STANDING AT ATTENTION

SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO BRING MY KITCHEN UNDER SUBMISSION

KEEPING THOSE BEADY BEADS UNDER CONTROL

ONE BY ONE, THEY BEGAN TO ROLL

STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS AT THE NAPE OF MY NECK

TRIED TO COVER THEM WITH MY ‘DO, BUT NOW, WHAT THE HECK

THEY’RE A PART OF ME, A PART OF WHO I AM

MY KITCHEN DOESN’T EVER KEEP ME FROM BEING GLAM

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY’RE AT THE VERY ROOT

OF WHO I AM AND THAT SUITS

ME JUST FINE!

Daydream
© 2003 VonDelisa

CLOSEST THING TO PERFECTION
TO CROSS MY PATH FROM EITHER DIRECTION

IF I TOLD, WHO WOULD BELIEVE ME
COULD MY EYES BE DECEIVING ME

IN THIS WAY
WHEN I SAY

HE’S THE ONE!

SAID IF THINGS DIDN’T WORK OUT WITH ME AND MY MAN
I WOULD LOOK FOR HIM THE BEST I CAN

I’D NEVER SEEN A MAN QUITE LIKE HIM
MADE ME TAKE A SECOND GLANCE AT HIM

COULDN’T QUITE SHAKE IT
THE IMAGE STAYED IN MY MIND

IF THINGS DIDN’T WORK OUT
I KNEW I’D HAVE TO GO FIND

HIM – HE’S THE ONE!

PLEASE DON’T WAKE ME IF THIS IS A DREAM
‘CAUSE HE’S THE CLOSEST TO PERFECTION I’D EVER SEEN

Fairytale
© 2003 VonDelisa

I BELIEVED YOU WHEN YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME
SAID WE’D BE FOREVER
DIDN’T THINK WE’D EVER
FALL APART
THAT’S HOW IT STARTS
LIKE IN A FAIRYTALE

IN THE BEGINNING
WE COULDN’T LOSE FOR WINNING
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
THAT’S HOW WE WERE GOING TO BE
CAN’T YOU SEE
SO MUCH LOVE, SO MUCH LAUGHTER
LIKE IN A FAIRYTALE

WHEN YOU LEFT, THE DREAM WAS SHATTERED
LIFE WITHOUT YOU DIDN’T REALLY MATTER
PIERCED MY HEART JUST LIKE A DAGGER
THE PAIN MADE MY FEET TO STAGGER
‘TIL I GRABBED HOLD OF WHAT WAS REAL
AND ALLOWED MY HEART TO HEAL
TO AGAIN BEGIN TO FEEL

I WONDER
CAN REALITY EVER MEASURE UP
TO THE FAIRYTALE?

Friends
© 2006 VonDelisa

You touched me with your flowers
You made my heart skip a beat
You gave me a reason to smile once more

I’m here for you as you now go through
I’m here when you need to talk
I’m here to help in times of distress

We crossed each others paths
We came full circle again
We stand on the verge of something good
We walk together as friends

Joy in the Journey
© 2002 VonDelisa

COUNT IT ALL JOY, THOUGH TRIALS MAY COME
FIND IN YOUR JOURNEY THE LESSON – BATTLES YET TO BE WON

FOR IT’S NOT JUST THE COMPLETION, BUT THE RUNNING OF THE RACE
MANY AN OBSTACLES YOU’RE GOING TO FACE

SO TRY TO SEE – NOT ONLY WITH YOUR EYES, BUT YOUR HEART
REALIZING THAT THE STRUGGLES ARE ONLY A PART

A PART OF THE COURSE, THE MAP OF YOUR LIFE
IN SPITE OF THE TOIL, IN SPITE OF THE STRIFE

YOU CAN LIVE ON
YOU WILL LIVE ON

THOUGH AT TIMES IT’S HARD TO SEE
WHEN YOU FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY!