Friday, December 5, 2014

Do You See What I See?

New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Cleveland, Jacksonville...the list goes on!

Across our whole nation, from coast to coast, demonstrations and protests are growing. People of all ethnicities are taking to the streets to make their frustrations known and their voices heard. Some are marching for justice and peace, some against police brutality, among other things. Regardless of the details of any of the highest profiled cases in the news of
late, people of all shades are showing up in massive numbers, going as far as marching from city to city, shutting down highways and major thoroughfares, chanting and holding signs that bear the words that describe the feelings in their hearts. I see a shift in the atmosphere. I see a shift in the level of tolerance of the people in this country... the youth in this country. People want to know that they live in a country where there is equal justice for all. People want to know that their futures, and their children's and grandchildren's futures are secure in a country where all people are treated the same. Whether you agree on the issues or not, the country is showing us tonight, right before our eyes, that they want change. The people of this country demand change. I, for one, am in total admiration of the movement that is taking place before my eyes! I am beyond moved to know that people of all shades and walks of life are able to come together on some of the issues that plague our nation and demand change, and in a non-violent manner.

I've heard it said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. And I'm proud to see Americans coming together, unified in peace, to stand for liberty and justice for all.

Whether you choose to ignore, take part, or simply watch it unfold before you, it cannot be denied. There's a shift taking place... a movement. Something is happening in America. Where will it lead? Do you see what I see?

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Elevators: A poem

Elevators
Waiting to discover what’s beyond the door
A long awaited chance to see what awaits you on another floor
A toe tapping stance you take as you await its arrival
Without recognizing that what’s at stake is your survival
Ding
You step in as one person and emerge as an entire generation
You never imagined that on this night you’d have to face the entire nation
What started out as just a ride suddenly became speculation
Never thought for one minute you’d be the poster child for degradation
Boom
Your life has changed in a flash, in the twinkling of a minute
You want out of this box, but half of you is still in it
How could things come to this when all you wanted was a ride
You wanted IN, now you’re there, but wishing you were outside
Ding
You step out of that box, but you’re not the same person
Now you’re bruised, perhaps broken, and for that reason you’re cursin’
What occurred during this ride that causes you to wear a frown
Did you not realize that whatever goes up must surely come down
Elevators
Ain’t no need in puttin’ on airs
Sometimes it’s better to just take the stairs


©2014 Sharon Denny, All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 10, 2014

What Purpose Has the Kite Without the Wind (It's not all about me)

This morning I happened upon a television interview with Pharrell Williams. You might remember him -- the singer/producer who performed the song, HAPPY (Clap along), that had people of all ages and cultures up and out of their seats earlier this summer! I began to pay attention as the interviewer was questioning Pharrell as to his feeling about the song being such a big hit and whether or not he felt as though he had "made it." One thing that stuck out to me -- actually tugged on my heart strings -- was that Pharrell said he didn't feel that way. Toward the end of the interview Pharrell said that it wasn't about him, and that all things work together for good. He shared that he felt when people start to focus on making a hit, and it being all about them, that's where we fail. He ended his interview with, "It's like when you fly a kite; it's not about the kite, it's about the air."

I began to think about how hard it has been for me to write for the past couple years. I purposely took a break after writing my last book, HALF, because it had emotionally drained me...emptied me of my feelings and I needed to just sit and recover. Not only that, but I had put so many months, weeks, days and hours into writing this book, that I was just happy to have finished it and wanted to take a break from my 24-hour stints sitting at a computer, going from my 9-5 and then to home to lock myself in my room and write. However, there came a time when I wanted to write again. But I wanted to write a hit novel -- one that would end up on a bestseller's list and leave people in awe! I wanted it to have such a profound twist that folks would be talking about it forever! Hey, I'm just being honest here and I'm sure I'm not the only writer who has internalized this type of success!

Over the last couple years I've begun writing projects, novel ideas from this topic to that topic, but every time I open the files for these projects on my computer, I just sit there, scratching my head and thinking to myself, this just isn't enough! Nothing would come to me! I felt as though the god of writing had abandoned me...left me to fend for myself! Just the other night I sat at my computer again, a blank Word document in front of me, begging for the words to come that would lead me to a hit novel, but again, nothing! Why have you abandoned me, Oh god of words? Silly, I know!

In all of my writing trials of late, I have not been able to overcome what has held me bound. But the words spoken by Pharrell in his interview were somewhat of a godsend to me. I'm not supposed to be searching for words to write a hit novel; how vain is that of me! I'm not saying that there are not writers out there who are not supposed to write novels that blow minds; that would be silly. But, perhaps, it is my purpose to write about something else -- something near and dear to my heart. I admit that I've been reluctant to reveal my total self to the world...that I'm afraid to wear my heart on my sleeve (or to describe it fully on paper), for the world to see. I tried to go as deeply as I could in my last novel, HALF, but even then I wasn't able to completely unfold my self and fuse it with words. Perhaps, though, I have a testimony to share, a story to tell that would benefit someone else who might be dealing with the same experience from the past, the here and now, or even in the future.

Silly me! I have been missing the forest for the trees! What I've been looking for has been right in front of me the whole time and I've fought it with every ounce of my muscle, but it keeps coming back to the surface. The power of purpose is relentless. Well, I've underestimated it, but purpose showed me! It has come back to tug at my heart in the most powerful way, and all I can do is bow down to it and relinquish my so-called attitude that I'm going to do this my way. No, it is not all about me! I may be the one flying the kite, but I have to remember that the kite will stay on the ground if there's no wind to carry it upward!

Never Underestimate the Power of Purpose!

~ SD Denny

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Do What Makes You Happy!

Many years ago my father asked me why I never finish anything that I start. It was strange to learn that he saw me in that light because I've never been disappointed with myself in that respect. I explained to him on the spot that it's not that I never finish anything, but that I have many gifts and talents, and it enriches my life to dibble and dabble in all of them. I like to serve all of my passions and have been this way all my life. As a youth, I was very athletic and loved track, ballet, swimming and gymnastics. I've been writing since I was a little girl, and soon developed a love for reading. Today, I still enjoy reading and writing, cooking, traveling and exploring, and I love old things like antiques, historical landmarks and architecture. One of the passions that few people realize I have is photography! I love to take pictures of any and everything, and another itch to take my photography skills to another level has surfaced, so I'm scratching! I just ordered a new digital camera and I'm going to head for the hills when it arrives. Be on the lookout for my own creative captures soon ... and know that SD Denny hasn't changed one bit. She's still the same SD Denny she's always been!

Friday, June 6, 2014

In the Fire Hydrant


 Growing up in Brooklyn was like growing up in a totally different world, but you might not know that unless you've lived someplace else and had something to compare it to. A typical summer back in the 70s where I lived in Bedford-Stuyvesant included someone busting open the spout of the fire hydrant on the corner of Quincy and Stuyvesant Streets. The moment we discovered the hydrant had been “compromised” we all headed to the ghetto “water park” and got crazy! Someone ran into the house and emptied a can of vegetables and cut both ends from the tin can so that they could make a spout to shoot powerful streams of water into the crowd or into the air. Everyone had fun – even the parents! This corner just happened to be on the B52 bus route, so just imagine the bus drivers’ hesitation to drive through. They stopped long enough to tell the bus riders to close the windows because when they drove through, someone took the tin can and shot the bus full of water! Car drivers weren't spared either, so some of them decided to take an alternate route when they saw the crowds in the water-soaked street. Sighhh … I don’t know if this sounds like fun to any of you, but coming from Bed-Stuy, this was by far more fun, playing in the hydrant with all your friends from the block, than any boring old water park could ever be!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Organically Me

Organically Me

When the winds blow at the nine o' clock hour
And when the teardrops fall from the heavens
I'm free
Scorching sun rays like New Orleans
Drippy streams of melting ice cream
Misty skin from the heat summer brings
Don't criticize me
After all
Life is but a dream
Let me be free
Free to be
Organically me

SD Denny ©Copyright 2014