***For JazzyFaye, Mods, & the Winos***

This poem is from my poetry book that I've put together for my family and friends for the winter holidays (Don't worry it's copyrighted 😆). Peaches Royale MsBlue or any of the wonderful Winos, can you please tag Jasmine so that she can see I kept my promise? There's a million Jasmines on here and I don't want to mix them up.

'Remember When'

By Born2Speak

Remember back in the day

When Crooklyn could've described the Bronx

And Brooklyn was the spot

Back when Atlanta streets

Were the place to be and be seen

Back when the internet was an invention

For Star Trek conventions

When Hip Hop was still a lady

RnB made babies without vulgarity

And in "Between The Sheets"

We still had "Quiet Storms"?

Monday thru Friday was for working

Before there was twerking

Doing "Da Butt" was the craze

Because of "School Daze"

We drank Alizé during commercials about Michelob

But up and down the block

You heard, "Domino!"

From open windows

I remember block parties

And a game of spades got everything started

Jade sang, "Don't Walk Away Boy"

And children toys

Got them to play in fresh air outside

Back when we would slip and slide

On couches covered in clear plastic

When we walked across shag carpets

And built up static because we were so "Electric"

"Lawd A'Mercy" I remember back then

Back when

M'tume's "Juicy Fruit" blasted from car stereos

And everywhere you'd go

The best jams were on repeat

Remember when a personal mixed tape

Was a special gift you gave

"Play another slow jam, this time make it sweet,"

Brought everyone to the dance floor

"Fire and Desire" brought the heat

And New Edition

Were still children with ambition

On their way to being Boyz II Men

Sunday mornings carried Mahalia Jackson

On the wind

Back then

Sunday dinners were for gatherings at Big Mama's

For a feast we would eat in togetherness

Afterwards we'd rearrange furniture

For talent shows

And Lord knows

Aunt Bertha couldn't sing

But we enjoyed it all and had a ball

When Unc would crack jokes

That made us weak

We kept Big Mama's full of love each week

Those "Memories, Sweet Memories"

Replay a thousand times

In my mind...

Back, when I Remember When

Hey Winos. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I just wanted to share a little Aretha with y'all to smooth down the edges before a new week greets us at sunrise. There's nothing better than your man holding you up when it feels like the weight of the world is riding you like that nag your grannies used to warn you would come around every once in awhile. This is dedicated to my husband (a secret Wino who just happens to be in the room with me as I'm watching a live 🤣), who rubbed my scalp like Celie did Shug's and chased my dark thoughts away and reminded me that everything always works itself out according to God's plan and timing. There's nothing like a bit of love showing up, just when you need it, so I'm sharing it with all of you. Good night, Winos, and rest well...Until the dawn. 💖

https://youtu.be/T-fz6TAipqo?si=avUxKFWmj7WJRs-f