I could still taste the stench in my mouth

when I uttered “forgive me”.

“The truth shall set you free”

(we were so precisely taught) echoed in my head.

Nothing or no one but the Creator could help me escape the black gloved hand that will devour any open flesh.

I heard the Just Judge thunder, “No more than 40 stripes”.

The judgment was set.

The painful reality of the hot leather strap cutting my face,

cleansed my mouth.

The wrath of the strap caused my flesh to split open.

Every secret sin and transgression oozed out of me

like a stream of lava.

It’s funny how pain escapes you in traumatic situations.

The only pain I felt was deep within my soul.

Falling to the cool dirt, my sentence was served.

No one ever said forgiveness doesn’t come with punishment

or correction.

Within an inch of my life, I finally learn

the sweetness of true forgiveness.

The one who gave the punishment, sparing my life

helped me from the ground.

The sky is so radiantly blue, so clear.

There was a spirited debate last week about the state of the Poetry/Spoken Word Industry. I posted this question to get a ground zero perspective on the matter.

Authors, performing artists, song writers, speakers and recording artists get paid for their artistic ability and services. What about Poets and Spoken Word Artists?

Should they be paid for their artistry? Or is their talent a gift to be offered to the world?  What are your thoughts?

Today Kolayah is telling the Movers to say what you want… just spell my name right.

How to stay creative and live your passion in the midst of naysayers and the Rumor mill.

Spring Survivor Mix

1. Jose Wales and Admiral Bailey – Ballot Box
2. Damien Marley and Nas – As We Enter
3. Cypress Hill ft Pitbull +Ma – Armada Latina
4. Sunday Girl – Four Floors (Diplo Remix)
5. Gorrillaz – Superfast Jellyfish
6. Dubsection ft Kolayah Keevan – Survivor
7. Major Lazer – Hold The Line (DJ Madd Remix)

Hear Here>>>

http://fairtilizer.com/track/dubsectiondjmix

they smile to show their Fangs

interesting how they shape the illusion

for those unaware it is a terrible shame

to miss an obvious protrusion

caught up in daily tasks and dodging drops of rain

there is no wonder for so much confusion

in a world where they forgive no stain

and the inhabitants beg for inclusion

©2010 Kolayotunde

My son’s school has an interesting car pool system. At the beginning of the school year, each child was given a sign with their name on it and a suction cup with a hook on it. Before you get in the lane, you are to hang the sign on the hook. The purpose is to make it easy for the teacher to call the correct student out to get in the proper spot for the right car.

Keep in mind; there is a sea of cars driving in and out of the pick up line every day and a crowd of students to match. Here is the amazing thing. It is almost the end of the school year and most of the cars have long-lost their sign with their child’s name on it. With fluid ease the teacher calls out each child’s name as the vehicles pass by. Every now and then, she may ask a driver to roll the window down to get the right student name to call. Most of the time this happens if the parent is in a different car. This is so amazing to me. She knows each parent/child by name and she keeps the line moving swift. The child is safe and in the correct car. This type of person always stand out in the crowd.

In all of my years; I have noticed three things.

1. People love to hear their name.
2. Powerful and Affluent people know and call everyone by their name.
3. Successful businesses build relationships with customers and engage them.

There is something powerful in a name. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside to hear someone call you by your name. It electrified my day the first time I walked into the coffee-house and they addressed me by my name. Yes, they do ask everyone’s name when they are filling a drink order but not in my case. I was not asked for my name. On top of that , they knew what my favorite drink was and had it ready for me most days. They engaged me. They knew what I did for a living, asked me how my business and day was going and introduced other customers to me because they felt that I was a person they needed to know. The local coffee-house is now my favorite coffee-house. It is my community.

When you address people by their name and truly engage them, you will not just have loyal customers. You develop good friends and RAVING FANS.

Can you think of any brands, businesses or people that know you by name?

Today on the Morning Drive I discuss who are you and why are you here? “One word from our anointed mouths can spark a vision into someone’s being until begin “Being” becomes”.

This Morning I share a verse from the new project that I am working on.  I will be coming to a city near you.

Is that when you are most creative and adapt? OR…?

Today Kolayah in excited (Electric) about a brand new day and
a NEW outlook and new direction of his artistry and career.

Catch me in a city near YOU!