2PENS&LINT
a new direction in poetry
2 Pens & Lint LLC
P.O. Box 3292
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Scripture
And He said, “Open your mouth, and I will fill it”
I said “Ok Lord”
So I opened my heart and spilled it
Opened my mind and cleared it
Opened my soul, so He could receive it
Then, I told Him my dream of becoming a poet
So I cocked back my lyrical gun and this poem I killed it
I told Him that I’d be committed, so my actions could prove it
So when His blessings began to flow I was in the position to grab it
‘Cause He and His words had me strung out like an addict
Then I told Him about my dreams
And how my spirit was busting at the seams
And how the haters backed up when they heard my screams
When I told them my gifts were deemed by God himself
Yet, with all of this I yell unto Him for help
Help, sew back my soul with every stitch
‘Cause I feel like I’m drowning in a ditch
‘Cause my insecurities struck me out today with the fast pitch
Yet I still have this crackhead itch to succeed
But I can’t seem to get away from this negative mentality that seems to stay
‘Cause Contrary to T.I. the old me still gets in the way
I try to dip and dodge that way of thinkin’
‘Cause my aspirations are trying live today
Like I can’t seem to make a decision
‘Cause my pockets are whispering Physician’s Assistant
But my heart is beating to pursue my poetic vision
And life is telling me I must provide for my mom and
I wish I could fuse these things together like atoms back in the day in college chemistry
But nothing is that easy
‘Cause none of us have a magic carpet or a teapot with a genie
Not you or me
But I do have God who continues to set my soul free!
And He said, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under My mighty hand, that I may lift you up in due time”
I said, “Ok Lord”
So I began to grind
With this vision on my mind
To impact the world with every rhyme
Like changing that kid’s mind to commit a crime
Like having that crack addict drop his pipe just in time before he lost his life to a hit of a dime
Like motivating that baby daddy to stay instead of leaving his girl and his baby
behind
Like encouraging that single mother to stay focused and take it one day at a time
Like speaking to those high school students who think college is an image that they can’t call mine
Like talking to that homeless person and understanding what went wrong, how life switched up and changed its song
Like looking into my sister’s eyes and telling her the truth without little white lies that life will be better for her and I ‘cause Obama’s making shit happen not like Bush and his disguise
Like shaking sense into these kids who continue to sell drugs as their demise
because they failed to realize that God gave them gifts to improve their lives
Like whispering opportunity into the ears of the teenage mother whose baby screams mommy because she’s too young to feed her child something to eat, so she stands on the corner tricking, trying to make ends meet
Like giving people a chance that live in the projects not because they want to, but life has shown them that’s all they should expect instead of educating themselves so they can be getting paper saturated checks
Like I’m writing this poem and beginning to cry
‘Cause my spirit is asking the question of why
“Why Lord are these people struggling like this?”
Then I tried to make sense and instead gave excuses that turned into blame
Like it’s their fault that they created these problems that caused them so much shame
Then, I realized that God’s Scripture can decipher the answer in a message
So I wrapped up my prayer and left Him with my many questions
Blessed with understanding that it was meant to be like this
‘Cause He is in control with the same scripture that helped me write this piece
So to all the people who read this remember to seize the day and every opportunity that comes your way, continue to pray because God is good each and every day!
-Tanesha J. Douglas
-Scripture is featured in Old vs. New: The Chronicles of Growth.
I’m Just a Kid
I’m just a kid
I’m just a motherfuckin’ kid
21 years, but I got talents 'cause I’m talented
Birthed from a single mother whose talents are just as big
She juggles so much I wonder how she has time to live
I got a little sister who since her conception her intelligence
Has surpassed mine when I used to do the things that she did
I go to a university with people all around me
Trying to get a piece of the pie we call a job bid
But the recession is here and their opportunities are lookin’ limited
But I’m not scared
‘Cause I climb all over them and stand on top like Superman did
Screamin’ I’m just a kid
I’m just a motherfuckin’ kid
I’m going to make it
At 21 years ‘cause I got talents ‘cause I’m talented
I got fired from my job of 4 years
I blamed it on racial disparity and cried so many tears
But when I take a step back to look at the big picture
“The Man” fired me because my destiny wasn’t theirs
My steps were ordered to be here
Spreading my words to you
So my reality became clear
That my poetic thrust produces a rotating halo
Pulling you into me as if I was a cowboy with a lasso
The funny thing is that I stand here as if I'm just a kid
How could I ever think that my poetic art was dead?
I had to look again through 21 years and found talents ‘cause I’m still talented
And I’m just a kid trying to play with cards that I’ve been dealt with
I don’t know where my life is going to end up being
‘Cause life will take me along this course
But I’m not afraid of getting lost
With God as my host
‘Cause if my career spittin’ poetry don’t pop off
I still got a degree cause my mom made sure I had that paper
‘Cause she knew it’d set me free
And unleash my intelligence ‘cause I’m intelligent
Hittin’ you with knowledge about shit you didn’t even know existed
‘Cause where the books couldn’t teach me, the streets did
Life, its companion picked up all those extra pieces
To produce a wonder called Tanesha
Man I’m just a kid
I’m just a motherfuckin' kid
With 21 years, but I got talents ‘cause I’m talented
Don’t think for just one moment
That one night I decided to pick up this mic
‘Cause my abilities were already genetically predetermined
To the point where I came home my crib had a book of composition in it
It was my predisposition to have shit written
So 21 years later you’ll be hearin’ this poem that I’m spittin’
Like an eternal inferno
I know I got you sittin’ in your seats burnin’ slow
But the next poet can be my coolant
Before I sit down I gotta tell ya’ll one more time
That I’m just a kid
I’m just a motherfuckin’ kid
I’m going to make it at
21 years ‘cause I got talents ‘cause I’m talented
‘Cause I was birth from a single mother whose talents are just as big!
-Tanesha J. Douglas
-I'm Just A Kid is featured in Old vs. New: The Chronicles of Growth.
One Who Is Me
I am that independent poet
Lil’ Jibri
Do not compare Queen Latifah to me
Cause I’m trying to do this separately
Cause I’m trying to go down in history as this great legacy
To where in the future
Teachers will be teaching lessons based on me, lyrically
To the point when you think of Langston Hughes
You think of me and my poetry
With a flow so heavy
That always can’t even hold me
To this generation I bring positivity
Breaking stereotyped shackles and linked chains
For the black and white man
I switched the brains
From a hatred to a icy blue love and
Recognizing the significance of the purity of a dove
Bringing peace in all our races and diversities
So when I see achievements
It’s livens me
Frees me
And shows me
That the world can be changed by
One who is me
Lil’ Jibri.
-Tanesha J. Douglas
-One Who Is Me is featured in Old vs. New: The Chronicles of Growth.
Heaven’s Poetry
I’ve lost my mind
And I don’t know where to find it
Because it’s been carried away on this mental exodus
Called Heaven’s Poetry
You see He took my worldly mind
And replaced it with that of poets that came before me
Like Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurtson, and James Baldwin
Just to name a few
Because if you’re a real poet
Then you would know
How long the list goes on
I’ve lost my sense of direction
Because I’m so caught up in writing
That I get lost just thinking
When this pen writes it’s not me
Its mechanics
Somehow my fingers know how to print letters
Without me even commanding it
From my brain
Cause I’m robotic
Tic tock I don’t stop
I’ve lost sleep over this art form
Because there’s no specific time to create a poem
As poets we are on God’s time
So when He says, “write my child”
I awake from my slumber
Ready to spill ink onto these papers
At a moment’s notice
Until my fingers crumble
Humbled I will forever be
To be blessed with this art form called poetry
Without it I swear I would be 6 feet deep
As a child, I couldn’t find myself
I’ve lost my way
And I had no one to confirm who I was
Trapped inside misery
The end I couldn’t see
As if no light would shine upon me
All I saw was darkness
Until I saw this composition book posted under a light beam
Curiosity killed the cat
So I decided to grab it
Every since then it’s been my best friend
It’s been there since I came out from the
pits of death
It’s been there since I emerged into success
With the titanium "S" engraved on my chest
Yes, I’m going to make it!
Yes, I’m going to make it!!
Yes, I’m going to make it!!!
Yes-I’m-Going-to-Make-It!!!!
That saying is like my favorite song constantly on repeat
That affirmation has allowed for me to find who I am
Amongst this jungle of others
Making my way through these human bodied serpents
Trying to ingest in me their ill-fated poison
I’ve lost everything else but not my anti-venom
Because all I have to do is spit one line at them
They go down like the Domino Effect
My top five like T-mobile
Is carefully selected
Because you can gauge how far you’ll go
By the company you keep
And I’m going far, so God takes up all five seats
I will forever be lost within this world we call earth
Because in Heaven’s Poetry God has already found me.
-Tanesha J. Douglas
Purchase Old Vs. New: The Chornicles of Growth by Tanesha J. Douglas
2 Pens & Lint Interview with Tanesha J. Douglas