Read an Excerpt
On Top of my Game
By Johnny W. Jackson III
Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2012 Johnny W. Jackson III
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-1003-4
Chapter One
A Sista I need a sista who is family but not blood
A sista who shows you her world in her eyes.
A sista who dreams of places to go that I only imagine about
going.
Telling her brother tales of her future and why the world is going
to need her.
A sista that has seen her brother before but hasn't met him until
years later.
One that knows her brother cares about her no matter how far
they are apart.
A sista that describes love as a "perfect timing"
The timing is perfect because family finds each other.
I need a sista who wants a brother to show her she is not alone in
the world.
A sista who likes family photos and sees herself smiling in each
one.
A sista who just wanted a brother to look after her and her heart.
I Need I need that good love that strong love
That Mary J. Blige I need to be happy love.
I need that fire love that burns my heart as you keep on
feeding me cupids arrow.
I need that love that taste as good as grandma's tasty 7-up cake.
Well not that good but something with both feet and a toenail in it.
Not that skin deep love but let's just say did you ever hear that
saying
"When I cry you cry multiplied by two" why two?
Because the world is what we see in our eyes and it takes two of us
to help each other open them.
I need that love girl, thats deep down in my soul that combines with me.
Yeah that's what I need.
All in a Dream Sitting here imagining you next to me
wondering if these words leave footprints
and not sketches in your heart.
Looking at your eyes and how they match
the tone of your smile.
Holding you in my arms wishing this dream
will last forever.
Looking at how tasty your lips look and would
you mind if I tasted them forever.
Cuddling up feeling the embrace of my hugs.
Will I ever get the chance to show you the true
meaning of happiness?
Seeing through the mist of the clouds holding hands
going through life as one always putting you beside
or above me and never below me. Shedding tears of joy every time
we meet, showing you there is no one better.
Knowing this girl brings something special to my heart
and my life.
Relieving you of all distractions only putting positive
thoughts in your head and me at the same time.
Beautiful Black Woman Beautiful black woman, my beautiful black woman
Queen of my soul
The one I live for and the one I put first
Mother of my heart and my constant everything
Pretty deep coconut eyes and honey tasting skin
Ebony essence
The one I must hear and see to breathe
The one I must have
Tear drop smile
Romantic thoughts are forever with me and you
The faith that maybe I can hold her one day and forever
Two people two minds
One love
Testimony of my beautiful black woman
Feelings on Paper Watching TV as it watches me.
Sitting here writing on paper telling it
everything I want it to know.
Slow dancing with my feelings as it
walks around you, as she is a part of my world.
Each day we step into a new kind of love but
instead of going with the song her name is now my last.
Can I Where should I start?
Can I walk with you to class?
I'll carry your books as you hold my words.
A statement that was prepared at sight and conceived with thy eyes.
Only difference is when I give your books back I still have your
heart which I'm keeping.
Can I open the door for you? Are you in?
I'm talking about my mind, Are you in?
Can I pay for the meal?
I know I don't have to ask but independence is written all over
your attitude
and that's why I researched, looked up and approached that line.
That line of you not having to settle.
Chapter Two
Fall I wonder why they call this season fall
Is it because of the leaves falling or us watching it fall together
The temperature is falling but not before you start liking me
Holding your face against mine
Are you still red in the face?
Look at the sky the clouds are moving with us
Does that mean were getting closer to marriage or separation?
Each day brings one or the other closer
Are you ready for it?
The air is falling on us, take cover because each breath
brings a longer journey of walking and then sprinting
The wind is pushing us this way does that mean were suppose
to fall this way or naturally?
I still like this season even if fall is two steps away
That Feeling The feeling of being loved is like no other.
It's the sound of a drummer loosening up in your heart.
Together the thought of sharing worlds follow us,
not knowing that we live in the same one.
My poem is your dream, so does it make it mine too?
The only feeling that surrounds you when you see me is
the growth of me and the stars that are below me.
Waking up to it and praising it.
The feeling that stays at its peak and I still have
to climb it even higher just to show off.
If you're smiling now, I guarantee you will be when I jump down.
I know nothing intimidates your path but the next level. I mean't
the one with me.
Empty A pretty girl stood in front of me and I let her get away.
I traveled to see her thru the toll, but I never had exact change.
A girl that should receive happiness but doesn't.
I pray everyday that she does, months overlap and so do my words.
Low self-esteem followed and I had to scratch thru the braids.
Ten is the proper word to call her and I was too slow on giving
those given
reasons.
Mailed but not sealed the words leaked out on its destination.
Who makes her feel this way?
A girl that criticizes herself to bring herself down.
I tell myself that isn't real and I won't believe it.
Her compliments come from me, a friend, one person looking
through the back window of an outside family.
Flowers that she receives and a reaction she is not sure to take.
I was trying to help strengthen her mind and I was taken out of hers.
My best friend, who made me see a ten, the first double-digit number
and the last one I met.
The one who had all my numbers and memories had made our
relationship a memory.
I have run on empty with no more memories to create in this
indescribable friendship.
Too Deep Hold my hand and crawl with me.
What is the possibility of this relationship?
Maybe we can grow into an inseparable romance.
Reality has no boundaries.
Let's talk about why we are here ... and where we can go.
Thoughts of us become new subjects to the world.
Look outside our kingdom is waiting for us.
It's the year of raining smiles.
When I'm here happiness is unlimited.
The Sharpness of us My heart has spoken ... The sum of it all
is the sky is falling in your hands.
Maybe that's why I feel the embrace of it.
Just last year we met in that vacant season.
The mind of being God's son.
You don't have to pay the toll,
it's already taking its task. Damn we created
a monster. Between us it's more like it never
rains on our parade.
Remember today friend's becoming the best of us.
The theory of smiling cooked with a pinch of tucking you in through
tomorrow, which becomes today and then tomorrow again.
I guess the world has found its peace right here.
No put your hand here ... yea right there.
1st Grade Love What you thought a Romeo can't start at an early age?
She was a quiet pretty girl, with a big smile. Talking usually ends in
a hug and a kiss goodbye. Taking her out was seeing her at school,
like the classroom to be exact; and let me tell you I was too faithful
to my class.
We told each other that love was in the air and we started breathing
it in.
Now it hits the heart. Touching and kissing with recess in mind.
That was our thing under the bridge. We didn't know what we
were doing.
We were having school ourselves. Writing notes that ended in crooked
words that we learned that day.
Our body language took over and those words came... "I love you," and
we did to a first grader's point of view, right behind candy and
chocolate milk.
Chapter Three
Come The water is over our head
shall we move or lay in the fall of it.
The sprouting of a new forest,
you know our backyard the one
we grew up in.
The thought of slamming the door
of our new house, not yet our home
until we seal it with a few more slams.
This ring I share with you and the kiss that seals it with my breath.
Come to me ... I can't keep these thoughts
to myself. I want you
close. They say a scent is airborne and that
I can't see it. I don't agree.
Why ... what does love smell like?
I guess it depends on what you think it is.
I can smell it from across the room, and
your eyes just signed off on that.
Come and live the same prayer with me.
It's just my thoughts waiting for my eyes to open ... come and
help me see it.
Slow Storm The water is un-breathable and
the shower is underneath my head.
If you saw a puddle on a sidewalk
with my reflection, would you like to know
how deep it is.
Jump in ... it was your moisture from your thoughts
of me. The fog is growing in the air and the
dampness of it appears on my lips,
my hand ... my skin. Fog is everywhere and
since you created it, my lips is the first thing
you thought of. The smooth rain takes our breath away.
It's been going on for about a day now ... that day feels
like today.
Stay for the storm and the drizzle
and I'll bring the thunder and lightning.
It's more than a change of weather.
Every time you come around I can do that ... now are you glad the
weather man told you not to bring an umbrella.
Come I'll hold you through this storm, fast or slow, steady or light.
Masterpiece Make-up and the smell of natural beauty,
the beginning of my selfishness mixed
with the pursuit of my second happiness.
The dime that someone dropped and the
same one that I stepped under.
You asked me why ... answer of confetti
Hold this bond and watch it grow over me.
This is too real, playground dreams that
only a few get to experience.
Maybe that's why I fell on one knee that night
and we're here now and tomorrow.
The steps that became leaps of joy,
so while I'm running I'll grab that picture
for our living-room that I promised you along
with that same feeling from that white winter
day we met. So the smell of natural beauty without make-up
because nothing about her is made up ... its all true.
My Other Half The reflection of my heart is standing outside the mirror
my christian sister with the same father.
Honestly I knew you were here,
I just didn't know when I was going to touch you
outside of the family reunion.
A feeling of being born, but it's not a sight for
sore eyes but more like a swan for a dove's beauty.
The thing that matters most in the beginning of the
relationship and the harder it can get if we allow others to lift up
our bond.
Our connection is too strong ... my other half
the other side of my hand and my heart. You look at half and see
the presence of both.
Token The toll ... I paid it ever since I found you.
I should have had an I pass, but I did not know I would keep
passing through here for you.
I passed the toll many times and I was wondering if
I was going to cross your path.
No accident on me being here at different skies of the year.
I am like a man of much strength and when it comes to you
I feel like me carrying the world is not enough.
Take this token, pocket it and never spend outside of the
toll is what she told me. Look this way ... each time you see
my teeth you know I'm here for you. Next time you
will see even more teeth. I always keep it real
the only game I play is trying to make it to your heart without
pressing continue.
One of the pawns told me how to get next to the queen and
I will ... now king me and lets go get something to eat. This day I
stood beside you and offered you a
token of my heart, along with a cloud. All you have to do is feel it
up with things that we can do.
Graffiti I spray paint our name all over the town with our faith,
our faith of growing and symbolizing why we are here.
This time next week the bridges and trains have all been
spray painted, the world has to know about us right ... I get mail
from across the world ... I guess my message has gotten to them.
Graffiti the power of words, that's almost like
saying bloody-mary three times in the mirror.
Say it ... I dare you. I sprayed it with a can on this day
and she signed it with hand prints on that day.
Graffiti has multiple feelings, mostly on the inside of our house.
Trust me we didn't just move in it ... It's all on the floor and
bedroom. Wait ... you get the idea. I've been after her since
I knew I had the power to leave it all over town. Last week next
month I guarantee Graffiti was on my mind.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from On Top of my Game by Johnny W. Jackson III Copyright © 2012 by Johnny W. Jackson III. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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