Scribbled lines and Ambitious thoughts

Thoughts, Quotes, & wisdom expressed from others to YouRjzTruly. I'm not sure what to call my writings, but for now I call them Scribbled lines. My lines tell stories, spill poetry, and express the thoughts, trials and tribulations of a Street Wise Scholar in the City of Los Angeles.

[rjthewriter]

Von Roburts - LaMayDay

When people attend a comedy show, they reasonably expect to to leave laughing. However, when leaving a showcase featuring Von Roburts, people leave laughing and thinking about the insight he shared, as well. Von is a hilarious comedian who’s commanding presence and blunt honesty make it almost impossible to ignore what he is saying. HeRead More

[rjthewriter]

K.Ro$$ Finessin’ A Check - LaMayDay

Los Angeles based songwriter and recording artist, K. Ro$$ comes with a unique sound that intrigues the minds of anyone listening with relatable lyrics that captivate audiences of all kind. Recording his debut project, Finessin a Check at Hitway Recordings in Hollywood, CA., K. Ro$$ is next up in underground world. His single, “Make itRead More

Get to know @flawsyrawsy in less than 3 minutes at www.LaMayDay.com

[rjthewriter]

Verses & Flow 2016 Revamped! - LaMayDay

Verses & Flow, a hot TV series intercepting poetry, life style, and music for new comers and iconic figures, has returned for its sixth season! Sponsored and Partnered with Lexus since its debut airing on TV One in 2011, Verses & Flow has captivated audiences with Poets and Musicians who have set the stage ablazeRead More

[yourjztruly]

That Wednesday we took Flight and blessed the stage. Full performance is in the bio! Thanks for the opportunity. @flightschoolopenmic

#rjthepoet #poetry #poetrygrind #spokenword #songwriting #singer #deja #music #fusion #sourcemagazine #fadermagazine #karencivil (at Flight School Open Mic)

[rjthewriter]

Enter Prentice Powell: Bay Area's Finest - LaMayDay

Prentice Powell, from Oakland, California, is not your average Poet. This Spoken Word Artist, Father, and Husband has been spitting poetry for over a decade; which has taken him on a journey to unimaginable heights. He is an NAACP Image Award Nominee, and has been on a summer tour with Jill Scott as a memberRead More

A conversation I had with the Poetic Legend, Prentice Powell.

[rjthewriter]

Late Night Write

Momma confided in me today... Oh how I love her so... Always wanting the best for her children despite the choices they make even though She said if she had all boys we'd all prolly be as productive as I appear to be. It brought tears to my heart as tears ran down her the side of her soft brown cheek Got me feeling meek as she Shared with me her fears of hard work being in vain Or hearing about her only son being slain. Tired of the scams and schemes, Only wanting the 5 of us to pursue our dreams Encouraging us to be the best we can be While reminding me there's no place for a black man in the Army. Then she asked about you. Didn't have much to say, so I said you're doing fine despite the time that has passed since the last time we've had a conversation. I guess that's my fault. Got me feeling I should lokc my heart in a vault somewhere and focus solely on the art of masking my emotions... Denouncing any commotion on the topic of that emotion, Love. Love... It's the unforeseen force that will have you up all night thinking about someone. It's the unforeseen force that can change the course of any person's life. To be honest... Well to be further honest, it's the only reason you were mentioned in this with little tension because you're part of the reason this was written. Man, Life sure has its way of intriguing me.

[rjthewriter]

Untitled Scribbling

I could never be a broke nigguh. The thought of that consumes my mind so often it makes my stomach turn Round and round And round and round it goes Paralyzing my body from making any Effective action while driving my mind a hundred thousand miles a minute Got me feeling some type of way living 28 years on this planet And the thought of me being here almost 28 years and not completely locking in on what needs to be locked in has got me feeling some type of way. Got me like a walking contradiction. Sadly happy to see my friends fail towards success Living to die and dying to live While Overwhelming myself or allowing myself to be overwhelmed by.... The pressures of society. Gotta have a degree Gotta have a job Gotta have a hustle Gotta have this Gotta have that Gotta have money Gotta have a house Gotta have jewels Gotta look good Gotta smell good And that's just to be heard... Just To be heard. Like birds chirping in the early morning. Speaking of birds, They say Birds of a feather flock together. Speaking of the flock, people say that I'm starting to change. Like change isn't supposed to occur after earning a little change. A changed mind is a changed life and a changed life is a changed soul. So Really, I say if I'm changing that's good because it's the application of the information I retained. You see, I've been soul searching, wandering... Tryna make sense Out of something to make cents From someone who created sense Writing the best poems I have in my mind and spilling the ones that reflect my inner most desires, fears and weaknesses on paper Only to set a blaze on stage similar to whoever your favorite poet is. Painting pictures with words and Articulating with the few cents I have Of The dollar and dream I intend to achieve. To be the best me that I can be. To see my family and friends free. Free from debt. Free from stress. Free from strife. Free for life.

[rjthewriter]

The Mimosas

It was the mimosas that did it It was the mimosas that made me feel so lit It was the mimosas bro. They made me feel so legit. The mimosas bro. They were the cause behind me telling that woman she looked so right. And the reason I kept her in my sight. It was the mimosas. They gave me just enough courage to admit, That there is no greater feeling than the feeling of being lit. It was the mimosas bro They had me sitting at bay. Sitting at the whiskey reds in marina del Rey. Along with my favorite waitress named K. Watching people on cruise ships As people look at me like 'whose this' as if We all aren't in here for the same reason. I mean, is eating not a good enough reason to eat without treason? Maybe I'm thinking too heavy, watching these waves got me feeling wavy bro, it's gotta be these mimosas. Because this one has just a bit more champagne to numb the pain of the turmoil taking place in my city. Knowing damn well ain't nothing pretty about brothas killin brothas behind streets we don't even own. Its the mimosas bro.... The mimosas Got me full of these unlimited omelets Had me looking for my un unlimited wallet Thinking I'm Losing mine , until a random white guy pointed it out, bringing some peace bakc to my mind. Ironic isn't it? 400 years ago we FashO wouldn't be sitting across from each other Yet alone having quality O with the J. Almost had me guess if racism was still alive, Until I realized that real lies in what resides right before my eyes. It's gotta be the mimosas.

[rjthewriter]

Sacrifice

So I quit smoking today. Well, at least I thought I did. Then deleted the majority of social media from my cell phone. Blocked a few phone numbers from my contact list and expressed everything off my chest to everyone I felt that had something to do with where I am as a person today. This couldn’t be a better time - “2016 is no different than any other year!”, says the person without vision. The plan is written, the time for execution is now. The question left unanswered is “What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals?” Then I pondered… Weeks later the decision was made and we got to work. Credit card limits were increased, but none of the balances have decreased. The top flight part-time job that demands full-time hours provides no true benefit to me other than the bi weekly checks I stretch ends to meet and cover monthly rent, car note, phone, gas, light, and cable bills…. I just want to run away sometimes. Like, literally run away, how Simba did on Lion King. Run away where exactly? Back to the 10th grade. Back when playing basketball, honor roll, and writing was my only focus. And bills were foreign to me. (Laughs) I would tell 10th grade me to focus and take my writing more serious. Fast forward, These days I’m told it’s an honor to roll one when these days I don’t want my thoughts clouded to begin with. Haven’t hooped in awhile, but that life is still in me, and writing… Well thats been my escape from everything since I first learned how to write. When I was oblivious to the awkward stares I would get for putting a pencil in my left hand. You see when i write I can do anything I want to do, go where I want to go, and be who I want to be. And that’s just me.

[rjthewriter]

Untitled Poem

I know my fam loves me. Why? because they fostered the gifts I didn’t know I had. I know my friends love me too because they put up with my silliness and preachy words sometimes…. Okay most times. But for those who are neither some get tired of me because I speak on injustice so often. Like police brutality or the government’s agenda to eradicate the black man from the inside out. But today… Today I’m Scrolling through my Facebook timeline. Today I see students crying about a rally they were kicked out of. Read further into the incident and found it had something to do with being president. Watching that Trump guy look so Frump Not knowing he’s such a Gump in need of a few Lumps To put him in a Slump. Got me thinking, Maybe that’ll knock some sense in him. Or knock the Dump out of him. Either way it’s safe to say there’s work to do. No time to waste if you’re breathing right now. So I write, everyday, kind of how I’m doing, right now. Write Like I have nothing else to do or don’t have a job to go to, right now. Write like I gotta get these thoughts off my mind and haven’t been drinking at all, right now Write Like there isn’t a tomorrow because really it’s not promised to anyone breathing right now. To be honest I’m sick of grieving. Aren’t you? Well Aren’t you?! Aren’t you sick of people being killed in cold blood? Aren’t you sick of people treated like mud? Flooded with debt, and stressed over mess we can’t control. Losing sight of how blessed we really are just to be alive. Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Oh I get it… You’re okay with this. Been okay with it in fact. Better yet, afraid. Lost in an illusion, thinking you really got it made repeating the same ol routine, making yet another scene to impress who? Your peers? Nah, That can’t be the solution. I rather steer clear of the in-crowd and roll with the tuff crowd. The crowd not afraid to say what’s on their mind and fearless when it comes to practicing what they preach. The crowd our ancestors paved the way for. The crowd ready to Lead the next generation as the present day ancestor.

[rjthewriter]

JUS JEF by YouRjzTruly - LaMayDay

Juan Ernesto Fernando, also known to friends and others as JEF, is an American Guitarist. Although his name may not be familiar to many listeners at the moment, working alongside names like Stevie Wonder, Jhene’ Aiko and Jennifer Lopez are bound to change that. In fact, by the end of this write up, readers andRead More

[rjthewriter]

Credits to the inspiration behind this recitation: Life America Prentice Powell Rudy Francisco The Brutha that abruptly interrupted me to ask for someone I knew nothing about, then watched me intently and gave kudos after. That helped and was greatly appreciated.

[yourjztruly]

Spilled thoughts from we to you. Enjoy!

[ireadintothings]

Being Normal

by Janine Booth

Normal works from nine to five Normal wants to learn to drive Normal doesn’t think aloud Normal melts into the crowd Normal laughs at normal jokes Normal hangs out with the blokes Normal’s reading normal books Normal sticks to normal looks Normal isn’t weird or strange Normal sees no need for change Normal’s aspirational Non-denominational Norman’s normal, that’s ok Ava’s average, come what may But Zeke’s a freak and Todd is odd And Jane’s a punishment from God Normal’s limbs all work just fine Normal sits with neutral spine Normal’s straight - in every sense Normal’s sitting on the fence Normal’s happy with its gender Normal man is not too tender Normal woman not too tough But normal isn’t good enough So normal craves success and fame Normal isn’t quite the same For women as it is for men Normal goes to bed at ten Normal’s hers and normal’s his Normal’s what it says it is Normal thinks like normal should Normal thinks that normal’s good Normal keeps you ‘in’ and cool Keeps you safe from ridicule Cos normal folk are never cruel To other normals - as a rule Normal’s neither thin nor fat - Who the feck decided that?! Is this definition formal? Who determined what is normal?! Normal tricked and normal lied - I couldn’t be normal if I tried

Note: I absolutely adore this poem by Janine Booth, a self-described “Marxist, trade unionist, socialist-feminist, aspie, and bi author” who has been active in the workers’ union movement as well as the London spoken word poetry scene for decades. Also check out the live performance of the poem.

[rjthewriter]

[yourjztruly]

“Filled with over 30,000 thoughts, Flashing more than 20,000 images a day, The body may rest, but the mind of an artist never sleeps.” - YouRjzTruly #NationalPoetryDay #Writer #Poet #Poetry #StoryTeller #PicturePainter #LeftHandBandit #MotivatedMindz #CreativeOutlets

[yourjztruly]

Conversation rules the nation.