County Lines: The Poetry of Sacramento

by
Bob Stanley, Sacramento Poet Laureate, 2009-11
County Lines will feature a local poet each week. As poet laureate of Sacramento city and county, I want to publicize the work of many fine writers that call Sacramento home. If you have comments or suggestions, or want to be considered for the County Lines series, please contact me at Bob Stanley. 

WEEK 21: February 8, 2010


TERRY MOORE (TMO)
In Sacramento, we are very fortunate to have award-winning spoken word poet, Terry Moore, as part of our poetry scene. While he has performed his poetry all around the country, he organizes and hosts plenty of local events to showcase other artists from the Capital region and beyond. Terry hosts The Show, the popular Saturday night series in Oak Park. You’ll see him there on the last Saturday of every month, taking videos, making sure everyone is comfortable, getting young people to participate, and introducing acts with warmth and style. But when T-Mo takes the stage to speak his own pieces, the intensity goes up. Working smoothly, often with a two- or three- piece band behind him, he’s so comfortable with his long, narrative works that he often rewrites them during a piece – adding details that fit that night’s appreciative crowd!

By day, Terry provides important services for the community at the non-profit Center for Fathers and Families. In the evenings, he’s putting on events for poets, vocalists, dancers, and more. He founded the Black Men Expressing Tour, as well as the Friday night Blackout Poetry Series, The Underground Poetry Series, and The Show. He also produces a TV Show – Moore Time for Poetry. Check his website to get updates on the appearances he’ll be making, as well as the events he’s coordinating. On Friday, February 19th, Terry will be celebrating the release of his new book Born To Love You, and performing at the Upper Level Lounge, 26 Massie Court, Sacramento. This event begins at 7 pm, and costs $5 at the door.

Terry’s poetry often talks about relationships – the kind of work that we have to do to make relationships work, but he works in plenty of tenderness, humor, devotion, and of course rhythm and rhyme along the way.  Enjoy the words of Terry Moore, and check out a few links I’ve listed below that give you an idea of what’s coming up next from this remarkable writer and performer. You can contact Terry at fromtheheart1@hotmail.com, or 916-208-POET, But best of all, go hear him perform his poetry in person! To find out more, go to www.mybmsf.com/terrymoore or www.terrymoore.info

TERRY'S POETRY

Patiently Waiting

I ran my fingers through her hair, grabbed the back of her neck and began pulling her close to me, but she vanished before our bodies touched.Five minutes later she text messagedme from heaven saying it wasn't time to fall in love yet, so here I am waiting patiently on fate. I 'm hoping that what they say is true, I'm hoping that good things do indeed come to those who wait!

Easily Broken

Here we go again
Another day has gone by
We’re still asking ourselves
Why?

I walk and every step is away from you
Inside it’s not what I want to do
But you said you’d be best without me
So, I have no choice but you let you go free

But deep inside, I know we never took the time to pray
You were so focused on taking your love away
There’s no doubt, we could have made it through
If, I would have gone to the altarand kneeledwith you

Now we’re in a recession
And you don’t have any protection
I’m over here and you’re over there
Thinking about each other but acting like we don’t care

Just think of the wonderful times we laughed together
The times we fought hand in hand through stormy weather
We defeated the enemy time and time again
But somehow now we’ve given up and givenin

You keep subscribing to those crazy thoughts
When you know you still love me a lot
You know it won’t be the same
Waking up, and not hearing me, whispering your name

Meanwhile, I’m looking right through your fake smile
The one you’ve been displaying for a long while
How could you be happy alone?
Knowing the love we had for each other can never be cloned

You say you want me to forever walk away
Even though the best is for me to stay
Too bad the angels in heaven can’t brag on us anymore
I keep hearing God telling us not to close the door

Another good Christian love that drowned in tears
Another perfect match that’s conceding to fears
I’ll be praying for us
And open to your touch, because I love you that much

There’s no doubt if we put God back in the middle we won’t be apart
There’s no doubt if we don’t, we’ll live forever with damaged wings andhearts
Ugly is forgetting what we had, beauty is reinstating our swag
This love was meant to be so I'm still hopin'
That we don't let ourselves become...SO EASILY BROKEN!

My Little Angel

I knew you were an angel from the moment I laid eyes on you
I was right there where a real father is supposed to be
Watching you enter into this world
Waiting for the nurse to hand you over to me

That was my proudest moment
A moment that will always be in the center of my heart
It was then that I decided
That I would never allow anyone but God to tear us apart

Now you’ve gotten older
I’ve watched you grow tall
I’ve watched you blossom into a beautiful rose of a little girl
A rose that I will never allow not even one of your petals to fall

I was the very first to hold you
I was the one who gave you your name
I will always love you my little angel
I hope you feel the same

You will never understand what it took to be with you
It was important to me to be in your life along the way
Now that I’m here let me make it clear
Only my life’s expiration can take me away

I’m so proud of you my angel
You are such a beautiful and wonderful little girl
Thank you for being the greatest gift I could ever ask for
Thank you for being the center of my world.

<< Click here to view archived County Lines.