A Freestyle Piece: Committed to You - 6/15/11

"I'll hand you the sky, show you endless possibilities...go conquer the world, you can leave your heart here with me. Whether you find success, failure, or something in between, I'll co-star until the Man upstairs ends the scene. Behind every great woman is the power of her will; beside every great woman is the great man that helps her be as great as she feels. You have what it takes in you; I have faith in you."

-A. Lewis

Nature vs. Capitalism - 6/15/11

"Nature is predicated on bountiful creation; capitalism is predicated on bountiful consumption. Nature is harmonious continuation; capitalism is disconcerted & trend-based. Nature requires, creates, & recycles oxygen; capitalism requires, creates, & spends money. Nature is frugal, using what it needs; capitalism is cancerous, using any & everything it can. Privilege & disparity upset the balance of human nature."

-A. Lewis

A Brief Philosophy: Wise Individuals - 6/15/11

"There are two types of wise individuals in this world: those who have failed, and those who have observed said failures. The difference lies in perspective. Those who fail have a definite one. Those who observe have many fluid ones; they see it for what it is, & see it in different ways. The wisdom arises from what both types learn. Logically, the wisest individual is the one that also observes their own failures."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Your Style, Your Spirit, Your Smile - 6/15/11

"The way you dress makes your soul effervesce; you look your best, never messed, always smiling, never less. Forever blessed with a style based on your spirit: rocking sneaks for the streets & heels when making deals, stilettos for sipping amarettos & wedges to keep it edgy. So heady and intelligent, but graceful and reverent. Just showing love, hope you don't mind this. Like the soul within, your style is timeless."

-A. Lewis

A Message to Brothers About Lying - 6/15/11

"Lying (which includes making promises you don't intend to keep) to a young lady is like dropping an atomic bomb. The initial damage is great, naturally. But, it's the aftereffects, the fallout, that do the most damage: they radiate long-lasting pain and trepidation, create an area of callous sensitivity, and make it unfair for anyone who ventures there, as they may be blamed for it or asked to clean it up."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Getting Over You - 6/15/11

"You'll never know what it could've been, & you'll be haunted by the fact that if the chance came back, you'd try it all again. The people that care will say 'it's their loss.' That doesn't cover wondering why it didn't mesh perfectly, the self-doubt that arises furtively, or the uncertainty that's felt so certainly. It's difficult to hate someone you thought was great, even after they fail to step up to the plate.."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: But I Couldn't - 6/15/11

"I wanted to write you a beautiful poem, attempting to put your appearance into eloquence on paper. I wanted to compose a beautiful song, allowing you to hear your essence now and later. Maybe I should've painted a master piece, or used clay to sculpt a masterpiece. I couldn't figure out how to represent what you mean to me...so I show admiration by appreciating who you are, who you've been, and who you mean to be."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Love Isn't Easy, But... - 6/15/11

"Love isn't easy. We can work on it every day though. Build affection on hugs and kisses, engage in reflection on life's near misses, and take time to enjoy just how special this is. Disagreements don't require demolishing our foundation to feed an ego; diplomatic discussions are a respectful way to deal with the emotions we show. With feelings striking like lightning, our actions are the thunder."

-A. Lewis

A Brief Philosophy: Spiritual Vigilantes - 6/8/11

"We cannot be spiritual vigilantes. The adage 'hurt people hurt people' shows why. Metaphysically, when someone hurts us, they sever a connection. Bitterness arises from the spiritual pain. Hurt people begin to act like the people that hurt them in an attempt to balance out the world. They attempt to balance what they got by putting it out, which is inane; the universe's flow cannot be 'balanced' by any single soul."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Beyond A Good Deed - 6/8/11

"What's the use in trying if you just assume I'm lying? All those wolf tickets you've been buying had you flying out to nowhere, even though you took Cloud 9 to go there. They got you high without the weed, got far without speed, and took what they wanted while shunning what you need. Such disrespect cuts deep; you're just now beginning to bleed. Looking for someone to clean it up, but that goes beyond a good deed.."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: All She Knows Is "Make Up" - 6/8/11

"She wears so much because all she knows is 'make up.' When he does something wrong, she has to make up reasons why it's ok. When she does something he doesn't like, and it ends up in a fight, she has to make up reasons to stay. Men want her body, but her self-esteem is shoddy, so she makes up reasons to lay. Ashamed of all the games, she makes up reasons to play. However, black tears are her reasons to pray..."

-A. Lewis

A Brief Philosophy: War Is A Strong Word - 6/8/11

"War is a strong word. It requires aggression and violence from two opposing sides. America has taken this word too far. The 'war' on terror alienates Muslims because they are dying in senseless attacks. The 'war' on drugs/gangs alienates Blacks because we're stereotyped and assumed to be at the heart of the issue. Declaring 'war' is like telling a group they're the enemy and will be attacked."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Dollars and Change - 6/8/11

"Chase dollars all you want; just keep in mind that they're comprised of change. Posting different profits in each quarter brings many dimes; they're cool while helping you smoke your nickelbags, but then you realize they've opened their legs too many times. Real brothers will drop pennies for your thoughts; the riders will gas you up and talk about the cars you've bought. Success brings more than what was sought..."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Our Love Displayed Artistry - 6/8/11

"There's an image of you in my heart...you left quite an Impression. Our Still Lifes still live in my memory. We were Cubists by night, fragmenting our minds to find passion and depth, and Classicists by day, focusing on simply living greatly. We were Expressionists at times, baring our emotions; we became Minimalists whenever we needed to quell a commotion. Our love displayed artistry, with the world as a canvas..."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Losing What You Stand to Gain - 6/8/11

"I know you have to get over your ex on your own, but that doesn't mean your next can't be there to support you & keep you from feeling alone. Arriving before he's truly gone increases my chances of being a rebound, but I think those residual feelings are weaker than what we've found. He left imprints of love, but he left far more stains of pain. Don't dwell on what was lost; you might lose what you stand to gain.."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: My Polaroid Picture - 6/8/11

"Could she flicker any quicker? I miss her...my Polaroid picture. In a flash she developed into someone I cared about, enveloping my attention's whereabouts. Unlike the rest, she possessed specialness in rare amounts. However, it became clear that without a doubt the film would run out. As the snapshots fade and the memories are played, it all appears like a movie blinking profusely. Could she flicker any quicker?"

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Dreams Money Can Buy - 6/8/11

"It seems we all have dreams that money can buy, but no matter how honest the dreams, money can lie. Dreams require attention, & money can vie; nothing material brings happiness, but money can try. The joy is in the purchase, not the possession. Victims of avarice have to go broke to learn this lesson. Happiness is priceless, & so is a vision. Even if the dream is as shallow as a stream, fulfillment takes precision."

-A. Lewis

A Brief Philosophy: Intuition - 6/8/11

"When our spirits sense a change in the current of life's flow, they will tell us to adjust. We know it as intuition, a 'funny feeling,' our 'gut instinct,' and by many other names. What's most interesting is that we take it at random moments, rather than trying to hone it. Once we become in tune with our souls, they become much more intuitive, allowing us to adjust to life more commonly and proficiently."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: The Good Women Are Mistaken - 6/8/11

"Many of the good women are taken, but more of them are mistaken; their hearts have been forsaken and are out there for the taking. It's making them believe in the men that choose to deceive; she thinks his presence gives her value, but all it does is bereave her of any independence she can conceive, so she rarely wants to stay but never wants to leave. Why expect to receive value from guys that thieve..."

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Just Another Hot One About Someone - 6/8/11

"Lingering like the evocative reminder that is the scent left after a well-cooked meal, thoughts of her pervade my mind at all levels, wafting through ideas & notions to cause commotions with unresolved emotions. The lack of closure lends itself to a distinct lack of composure when the memories & their energies offer consolation to my peace only to become enemies. Uncertainty is the purgatory of emotional entities.."

-A. Lewis

A Brief Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Box - 6/8/11

"Think outside the box." Anyone know what the "box" is? Ah, that's where it gets interesting. The box is formed by double standards, stereotypical practices, religious condemnations, social norms, and social mores. Those things all form an invisible set of parameters. Most Americans operate within them and adhere to them so strongly that they will attack anyone who doesn't; the media tells them how far to think.

-A. Lewis

A Freestyle Piece: Spitting "Game" - 6/8/11

"Do you really believe that what's between your thighs trumps what's behind your eyes? What if my penis should cease to rise and your love's ocean dries? Would our love then meet its demise? The lies that you've been fed digested into the path down which you've been led. Your insecurities didn't develop; they've been bred. Before you write me off, can you listen? Only the truth can begin your mind's manumission."

-A. Lewis

A Poem: The Marionette Query - 6/4/11

"Fun becomes a bargaining chip; reciprocity, an obligation. Feelings are subject to obfuscation. Patience yields to expectations, conclusions dominate conversations, and sparks are ignored if they aren't conflagrations. Phone calls seem graded, texts become jaded, attention is only given in different concentrations. It's difficult to fall for someone intending to trip you...instead of enjoying the journey, they're focused on where they can get to. Intentions and inhibitions typically battle one another covertly; however, intentions can intimidate inhibitions when mentioned so overtly. The greatest barrier to the right direction is the wrong correction, which is why the election to declare someone as your selection puts any progress in jeopardy; it's impossible to get on the same page when both sides are operating separately. Tailoring oneself to the desires of anyone else can change that relationship's destiny. Neither person may envision the same destination or the same route; even if they agree, they may not have the same doubts. Confusion and inconsistencies arise from trying to solve the mysteries, ultimately deviating the path from intimacy to misery. Upon separation, the certainty of what would've been dilapidates into the knowledge of what should've been, which splinters into the thoughts of what could've been. 'I wonder' and 'if only' linger in cloudy notions, serving to drown out loud emotions. Out of the fog, one singular question rings: do strings serve only to complicate things?"

-A. Lewis