NEW POEM - "Old Vices (Something New)"

Hey Everybody-

I'm out here in the beautiful Chi (Chicago for those who don't know). I'm enjoying my little break from reality and I'll be back soon to get back on my grind with my project. I know that I shouldn't be working AT ALL while I'm out here, but a few words came to me last night after I got in. I thought that I might drop it on here. It's a short piece that kind of just came out on the page, nothing important. I might actually re-do it, add a little....I don't know. Anyway, hope that you or somebody can see value in it. Let me know what you think.

And keep your eyes open for some new events and ideas that I have coming up in the near future. The book is coming soon and I am excited about what is about to happen. Keep spreading the word to family and friends, anybody you can spread it to! Thanks for reading. Peace!

Old Vices (Something New)

I know I've got my vices
Bad habits got me chained down
Strongholds yoke me up
As a result, my head hangs down
And my spirit stays pressed down
So far from success now
Or even merely overcoming
My addiction's overrunning
Forcing me to settle
Making a home in my discomfort zone
This discomfort's home
And this real estate is like Section 8
Except it's all by choice
Instead of being like George and Weezie, opting to elevate
And so now I look to those same deluxe living spaces
Having grown discontent with past living spaces
Making a rash decision - now ready to break out
Having grown discontented with old lusts
Making a promise to myself, discrediting old trusts
A step we all need to escape the old "us"
Transition to the new "me"
If only you all knew me
And the beautiful struggle I fight
Never claimed this change to be easy
But I took hold to "I will" and let go of "I might"

I go through these trials
All in hopes of escaping these old vices
Looking for a better way of living
Tired of accepting the way that my life is
Knowing that my prior results are trivial at best
Losing the old and gaining the new
All in the game of becoming my personal best
I'm tired of the old, now I want something new


-W.A. Gordon

My Cleveland Cavs - Funny Commercial

Hey Everybody-

This post is nothing but a break to laugh. I'm out in Chicago enjoying some days off, but I didn't forget about my people. My Cavs put on a hilarious commercial. Click on the link and check it out!



Oh, and BTW: stay on the lookout for some new info coming soon about the book release and surrounding events. Peace!

-W.A. Gordon

NEW POEM - "Money Persepctive"

What's up Everybody-

Thanks for stopping through. Just dropped a new piece called "Money Persepctive" and hope that it reaches out to a lot of you. Let's face it - everybody's been affected in some way by the stuff going on today. I have people in my own family who are going through it. I've heard the word "layoff" way more times than I would like to in the last 6 months. This is onwe of those pieces that kind of explains itself. I put a little bit of wordplay in it, but it's pretty direct. As usual, read it, and drop me some thoughts, if you can.

On another note, my group on Facebook is growing and is almost at 100 as of today, which for lil' ol' me is a big deal. I still want to get the word out, so please keep telling your family, friends, co-workers, and even your haters (any and all enemies welcome - LOL). I have some promotional events/contests in the works so be on the look out for them. Until then, keep reading and showing the love that you already have. Peace!

Money Perspective

In these times some aren’t doing that well
Barely keeping their money straight
Even Europe isn’t that hot
Their pounds lighter - looking more like featherweights
Forcing me to contemplate and meditate
Counting more blessings than dollars
Taking some chances that many thought they’d never take
Trying to dream up a reality of stacks of dollars

The dollars aren’t the “be” and “end” all
For some the hopes then fall
Causing despair and confusion
Making many think that there’s no way out at all
Choosing to side with doom and gloom
Letting no light up in the room
Accepting this financial eclipse
Putting flowers on their Savings’ tomb
And worse yet, leading the funeral procession
Purple flags on each car en route
Music more somber than U. Raymond’s Confessions
Since money dreams recess and are on their way out

Still, let me expose the other side
Reveal that there might be a way out
Weeping endures for a night
Only until we see that the sun came out
Erasing all of the darker days
Gotta love the Brother Parker ways
The game’s giving a fresh start
A chance to still get the spot next to Park Place
Moving clear from the Baltic & Mediterranean
With reserves now high just in case it rains again
With even higher stockpiles
More than the nuclear once found with Iranians

I speak with overconfidence
Because I am so confident
That these times will pass soon
Words of hope to those who say they won’t last soon
Watch how the cash swoons
Enough to fill all the wallets and pockets
Just be careful to not let cash rule
As fast as money comes, Uncle Sam’ll be quick to stop it
I give you these words to see you through
Don’t let the lack of green make you blue
Or make you see red
Open your eyes and choose optimism, instead
And, besides, money isn’t everything
From what I’ve heard, can’t live alone on just the bread

-W.A. Gordon

NEW POEM - "There For You"

Hey Everybody-

I'm up late again and had to keep my word on putting something new on the blog (something that I WILL get better at doing on a regular basis). This is a piece that I wrote a little while back, but I feel still says a lot. As usual, I'm spilling my thoughts out to you and welcome your feedback. Hope to hear from you. Thanks for stopping through.

There For You

My empathy goes beyond physical reach
This life continues to teach
Reviewing life lesson after life lesson
And if pain is love,
Then I’ve morphed into the cupid of the millennium
Not experiencing the pain myself
But I feel the burn of her, him, and them
With wishes to remove the affliction
My sincere words saturated with pure conviction
Sorrowful words pierce my eardrum
Taking them in, I cringe some

Wanting to go outside to start up the engine
To provide some type of escape or outlet
I say “It’s never too late”
But the straits are dire from the outset
And the positives
Never see the light of day
Sometimes no matter how good one lives
Life can still be as dark as night today
And all that I can say
Is that the struggle still reflects beauty
Round after round with trouble
Mirror providing a stronger prototype that you’ll see

Having been purified by flames
And washed in renewing waters
Endured to be MVP of life’s game
Able to testify that it only gets harder and harder
As you approach the lighted tunnel
Know that your pain has been felt
My understanding is far from subtle
There for you more than you’ll ever realize yourself

-W.A. Gordon

The Cover - UNVEILED

Hey Everybody-

I will be putting up some new work soon, but in the meantime, I have some exciting news to drop. This picture you see to the left is the official cover of the book to be released. It just came to me and I want to give props to the artist Seville Simpson. I had a crazy vision and this cat knew how to put it into something everybody could understand. Take a look at the detail and see what I mean, for real.

Shout out to Seville and his team, I'm So Mars. If you're plugged in on Facebook and want to check his work out further CLICK HERE, you won't be disappointed. This man put his gift into this one and for that, I'm grateful.

Be on the lookout for some new material and some more important promotional news that's still to come. Peace and be blessed!

"Wishing Against Reality" - AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY

Hey Everybody-

Thanks for being patient with me. Life's been happening and has been slowing be down on my blog game and unfortunately my book, too. Nonetheless, as promised, I want to post my commentary on a poem that I posted a few weeks ago. If you remember (and if you dont, just scroll down and act like you know - LOL), I added the disclaimer that that particular writing was probably the most abstract piece that I'd written in recent memory. I got a few comments from people and wanted to give some clarity about the poem and what message I was trying to get across.

So, let me try to break this thing down, stanza by stanza. The first stanza centers around someone who has come a long way, but still looks to their past. No matter how much progress has been made, a certain person, event, or something from this person's past is coming back to memory and is bigger and badder than it was when it all first went down. Now, I emphasize the possibilities of person, event, or something else because this piece was made to be relative to as many as possible in terms of separation and trying to move on and away from what/whoever it is for your own good.

The second stanza simply points to the lack of empathy from the person or persons involved in or around this reflection of thought. In my opinion, nothing can make a painful memory worse than knowing that there were people there, or at least in the "know", who weren't sympathetic or even empathetic to the negative feelings that came to pass. An even worse feeling is when those same people continue to move along as if nothing is wrong and the person affected can't determine whether or not they are oblivious or just callous, adding more fuel to the fire. Again, this piece can relate to you in a number of ways, focusing on the separation that can occur in several different areas. I'll assume that many will find value in the area of relationships, whether family or otherwise.

The final stanza is a review of how the person got to this point in the first place. More importantly, it revisits the effects of everything, carefully studying how everything could've played out differently and even where they themselves could've walked a totally different way. I try to round out the poem with self-discovery following these thoughts, acceptance that what's done is done, and the desire that many of us have to try to get a "do-over" and make it better the second time around. And that, my friends, is what this poem was about.

I tried very much to simplify my thoughts for you around this poem. Truth be told, the words that I just gave you probably don't do it justice, but in the interests of keeping your attention and not blogging you to death on this one, I did the best I could to keep it simple. If you feel that it is still too abstract, let me know and I'll talk with you directly. This poem was intended to be general, but I admit that it had some personal attachment (not TOO much ;-)). Anyway, I will be posting another blog soon, hopefully with a poem (pleeeeese, believe me this time). Break time's over and I'm ready to work. Get at me, people. Thanks again for visiting me!

-W.A. Gordon

NEW POEM - "Endurance"

Hey Everybody,

I'm sooooooo sorry for the absence. In between being sick and some changes in my job, I've been working on some outside work, and also life's been crazy beyond words. I apologize for not keeping up and pledge to never let it happen again. This blog isn't the only one suffering, I still have to catch up on my other ones (don't forget cavaliers.gearupforsports.com/blog and cowboys.gearupforsports.com/blog - show me some love!!!). Anyway, I'm posting a piece to whet your appetite in the meantime. It's shorter than most and is pretty direct. Also, I am planning to do a Author's Commentary soon on my last poem, "Wishing Against Reality" due to the response I've gotten. Let me know what you think. Thanks again for visiting me. Peace.

Endurance

Tired of routine
Growing weary of this scene
Same ol’ ish every day
Refuse to become obscene.
With the things that I’ve seen,
I’m now an experienced teacher
Classes now in session,
No longer coaching from the bleachers.
Although the spectators view is wide
Close to those looking in from the outside
My inside perspective provides clues
Jump into the dark pools of my eyes.
Look into my soul
See the marks stretch over time
Fatigued more than players past their prime
Stuck in perpetual overtime
Forced to resort to overdrive
Pushing past the limit set by those prior
I sit on the stand, trial by fire
No one can judge
No one can call me a liar
Testifying on my own life
Forcing the prosecution’s case to retire
Defending against the forces that be
With this all forcing me to be
Stronger than before or ever
Enduring the pain to enjoy the pleasure

-W.A. Gordon