A Treasure Chest of Verse from the Cutting Edge

By Ralph Reynaud

This Book of Poetic Verse spans some thirty (30) odd years of writing which is presented here as excepts from two (2) as yet unpublished works by this writer Unleash a CeaseFire Peace and Abiding within the Oneness of the One along with additional sections of verse.

This Volume portrays the heartache and heartbreak of gun violence, pinpoints and analyzes the causative factors involved and proposes possible solutions.

It challenges America to make word and deed one in reference to equality and equal justice under the law with all deliberate speed its Creed to heed. It gives an African-American perspective or world view of events across the years.

It looks within the Spirit-Soul and Heart Beat of life for lifes existential vital answers about itself-for lifes sake!

This Book of Verse is a treatise confronting the agony and challenge of gun violence in America specifically in the Black Community; the realities of inequality and injustice in racial America; and life as a spiritual journey with its existential ponderings and quest which is in its raw essence-a dare to be and a wonder unfolding to do and to see.

The reader is invited to experience, to feel, to understand and to know through this poetic verse the vitality of Being, the value of the unfolding of Ones True-Self, the Unity of Community and the price of equality & justice in a truly egalitarian and democratic America!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532017186

Ralph Reynaud

Ralph Reynaud is a retired youth parole officer and correctional treatment specialist. Today he keeps busy as a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, as a shop steward with his local Teamsters-IBT, and as a passionate advocate for youth. He and his wife have three children and reside in Washington, D.C. This is his first book.

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Copyright © 2017 Ralph Reynaud.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-1717-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-1718-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017902439

iUniverse rev. date: 05/23/2017

CONTENTS

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Preface

*Excepts from- Unleash A Ceasefire Peace

Greetings

Bullets With or Without Names Kill Just The Same

Just Be Will’n…

An Atomistic Society

Oh, What the Heck?

Where ?

Slayers & Betrayers

Hell To Pay

Is The Risk To Great Or The Cost To High?

A Reservation To Die

Today’s false gods

Through Whose Eyes

Courageous Black Man & Woman

Guns

Ballistic

No Justifiable Reasons

Anomie or Confusion of Values

For Life’s Sake

Listen-Our Children Are Chanting

Heavy Dues Blues

A Socio-pathology of Criminology

OPPRESSION

O’ Africa

Education Is The Key

Jah Praise

Tragically True

Just Be Will’n To Stop The Kill’n

That Gangstra Lifestyle

Short Fuse

Juvenile Crime Is Off The Hook

So They Think-They Know It All

Raging

By The Best Ways Necessary

Violence in America-From An Afrocentric Perspective

A Progressive Offense-An Avoidance Defense

Abiding Within the Oneness of the One

The Oneness of The One

Intertwined

The Kaleidoscope of Being

The Existential Moment

Be-ing/Making Today’s History

The Theological Moment

Existential Dimensions

Courageous Will Enables A Way

Thy Healing Presence

While Journeying

Sowing

KEEP THE FAITH

One’s Best

Together I & I

WellSprings

Surfing Life’s Billowy Sea

No More Than One Can Bear

A Golden Pathway

This Tomb

The Spirit of Relationships

Insurance

OM

Savor

A Lighthouse

Lighthouse-On

Signature

Peace

PILGRIMAGE

Ebb & Flow

There Is

A Quintessential Existential Question

Being In Step With One’s Own Time

Touchstones

Times Like These

Only One Breath Away

Just Such A Faith

Courage

Jah Is

Jah Praise

Communion

Dawn Is Breaking

It May Just Be

Life’s Preciousness

Faith-Vision

Sounds of Truth

Two Sides of the Same Coin

SomeHow

Paths

Sleeping Walking in Fields of Dreams

Mission

A Fighting Chance

Meeting While Passing on Life’s Road

Presence

Cracked Vessels & Empty Vessels

The Scope and Power of Love

Inner Space

Abiding

Love Supreme

That Inner Voice

In The Garden of Love Supreme

The Spirit In The Garden

The Eternal Now

A Seminarian Meets Siddhartha

The Serenity of Tranquility

Black or African-American History

…With Liberty and Justice For All

A Confluence of Opposites at the Crossroads of Democracy

A Contrary Revolutionary

Brothers and Sisters

A Warrior and A Legend

Step by Step

Avoidance

BARACK OBAMA

Black America Rising

Black History 2013

Black History in February, 2012

Black History Month 2011

Washington, D.C. 2010

~The USA’s Renaissance Man~

Cassius Clay Became Muhammad Ali

Go Mac Go

Hear The Ancestral Call

Human History

A Man for the People

It Takes Courage to Accept a Worthwhile Challenge

Lifestyles

Listen to the Voices of the Ages

Malcolm X Became El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

MLK Today

Selma at Fifty

The African-American Male Remains-An Endangered Species

Tough Love

The Montford Point Marines

The Tuskegee Airmen - A Force to be Reckoned with

What Price Life?

So the People Say

The Charleston Nine

Within the Afrocentric

America’s Eagle is Scream’n

Lagniappe-Something Extra

A Better Way Today

A Prayer Call Within the Oneness of the One

Nice. France

Paris, France

Unmotivated?

An Anatomy of Racial Hatred-How to Grow Hate & Racism

Atlantic Ocean Landscape

At High Tide!

Awesome Vibe 105

Break the Chains-Free the Mind-Liberation to Find

Common Sense

Values & Priorities

Courageous

Finding That Better Way

Freedom’s Torch

A Buddhist Meditation-Plus

Graduation and Commencement

Inspiration-Aspiration-Dedication

Liberation is on the Move

Mediocrity is the Same–Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Peace Be Still Within Divine Will

Relationships Alive

Seafood Gumbo

SIMPLE GENUINE

Smiles

Soul Trane

Autumn

A Winter Wonder Land

Winter into Spring"

Spring

Summer

Addendum - Taking the Neighborhood Pledge

The Spirit of Life

The Union of Communion

Unfolding

Unfoldment

We the People

CHOICES

Addendum - Taking the Neighborhood Pledge

Comfort’s Serenade

Trump –T-Trump

Which Way Mr. Trump?

Some Say…

Which Trump Card

America is Moving Forward

Lives Matter

Within Our Souls

Elegant Simplicity

At Christmas Tide

Childhood Memories

Meeting at the Well

Jesus-The Christ Child

Rainbow’s Edge

Into The Joy of Their Music

Ever the King of Pop

They All Said It

Which Way America

MLK, Jr. Day

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

People in America are thoughtlessly and senselessly dying from needless gun violence. We must stop the violence in the streets through the declaring and living of A Ceasefire Peace which is section one of this book. The living of a sense of community includes the sociology and spirituality of human unity. We are thinking to stay alive-no one’s life to compromise!

One is invited here to feel these word heart beats and to give wings to One’s courageous faith-vision and decisions through a liberating and redeeming Love Supreme from the Universal Consciousness of the Oneness of the One! On this spiritual journey along life’s road with its up’s and down’s, there is the challenge of One’s True-Self to discover and One’s destiny to fulfill within the strength of purpose and Divine Will. Celebrate the journey and enjoy this Life-Verse as enshrined within the great Human-Divine intertwine while Abiding Within the Oneness of the One in section two of the book. Life is a liberating spiritual journey of discovering and being that which is the truth of BEING in, of and through Ones’ celebration of life-One’s True-Self to be-to do-to see! The integrity of Ones’ True-Self and peace to the mind is a sacred shrine.

African-American History is presented from an afrocentric perspective in section three of the book. Racism, classism and sexism are viewed in the context of America’s proclamation of life and liberty, freedom and justice for all.

Lagniappe or Something Extra is provided for the reader in this last section of this book. Check out Which Way Mr. Trump and the many other Extra’s.

Enjoy this book of verse as hopefully and intentionally from the fount of life and the Oneness of Being it does flow energized with life’s radiate glow! From the cutting edge to the bottom line, this volume of verse seeks to illuminate The Truth of Being Through the creative synergy of Universal Energy!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This Book of Verse is in Living Memory of their Eternal Flames as Beacons of Light and Shooting Stars in the Galaxy of Our Lives:

            *Austin Moore

            *Warrena Russell

            *Kesi Gilford Reynaud

            *Martha R. White

            *Exie White Faison

They are ever alive on the positive vibes of an eternal peace released riding on the wings of a liberating & redeeming Love Supreme!

We stand on shoulders-many sets of shoulders-

Generation Unto Generation Unto Generation

-while riding on the Wings of the Wind of the Universal Consciousness of BEING

-while encompassed & sustained by The Everlasting Arms of the Eternal Flame of Life–generating Divine Energy within our Being–Ever Anew-Ever True!

* There is a Living Legacy of the Prof. R.C. & Lora White Reynaud and of the Jesse E. & Blanche Howard White Families of Louisiana including four (4) generations of Jesse White’s {Isaiah 11:1-10} and of the

* Dr. R. W. Moore & Ouida{Simon Branch} Bynes Moore Families of Georgia!

* In the fall of 2016, opening to the public on the National Mall in Washington, D. C., is The National Museum of African American History and Culture which is a part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Acknowledgments

A Special Thanks to These Persons Who are Lighthouses on Our Rocky Shores

and Channels of Grace Filled-Redeeming, Fulfilling & Triumphant-

Love Supreme:

*Mr. Edward Faison, Jr.-Owusu-Clearer of the Way

Civil-Human Rights Defender & Liberator

* Dr. Pamela W. Coleman-A Compassionate Physician-Healer

and Civil-Human Rights Advocate

*Dr. Chauncey Fortt-Psychologist, Nurturer & Healer of

Mind-Spirit, Body-Soul and Liberator

*St. Stephen & The Incarnation Episcopal Church-Washington. D.C.

with its Priesthood of All Believers and its

Radical Commitment to Progressive Systemic Change

* Rev./Dr. Kortright Davis-Episcopal Minister

Rector Emeritus-Holy Comforter Epis. Church-Washington, D.C.

Professor-Howard University

Saver of Souls and Liberator

*Dr. Nuha Abudabbeh-Psychologist, Visionary,

Human Rights Advocate and Liberator

*Rev. Stephen White-Pastor

From the Heart Ministries-Houston, Texas

Saver of Souls and Liberator

*Rev. William H. Lamar IV-Pastor

Metropolitan AME Church-Washington, D.C.

Civil-Human Rights Defender, Saver of Souls and Liberator

*Ms. Karyn Powell

Friend Extraordinaire

©Ralph Reynaud-Bro. Opio

Cutting Edge Poet of RASJAH{Wayfarer}

Acknowledgments

          Special Thanks To: Saxophonist & Producer David J. White for helpful and useful ideas & suggestions to this writer;

        M.C. and Rap Artists: Bomani Armah and

Chris Bacon-Christylez

        from Arts Under The Stars at the Sankofa Book

Store and John Williams Director of The American

Poetry Museum and its presentation-

Intersections: Downtown with Poet/Artist Fred Joiner

        as M. C. and Moderator. These persons are committed

to poetic/ artistic presentation in Washington, D.C.

and to the encouragement of aspiring and established

poets/artists; and Ouida Reynaud for her sustained

inspirational commentary to this writer.

PREFACE

This volume of poetry is primarily blank verse or free verse which endeavors to capture

The drama of the moment in going to the heart of the matter, releasing its message-essence

To fly unencumbered and unfettered in its own unique orbit

Within the human-divine intertwine of the universal order.

Rhyme is sometimes utilized to enhance while the hook is used extensively through this Verse for emphasis.

The concept of Love Supreme is intentionally overstated throughout this poetic verse because this Oil of Life is under utilized in the overall scheme of things in this world. When love reigns supreme Humankind is fulfilled and redeemed! The pursuit and implementation of life’s worthy values requires the fortitude of persistence.

It is the intent here that truth be extracted from its shell or shackles

to fly free and its essence to powerfully be for One to rewardingly see!

As One delves into this Treasure Chest of Verse the purpose here is to

Inform and inspire and that subtle enlightenment will permeate

One’s consciousness through a listening ear, an accepting soul,

a loving & kind heart inflamed with the Life-Spirit in an engaging celebration of life.

The drama of life is presented within the sections of this book:

Unleash a Ceasefire Peace; Abiding Within the Oneness of the One;

Black History and the final book section entitled Lagniappe (Something Extra).

The challenge here is to realize and accept that gun violence & homicide, intolerance & racism are epidemic in American society and that this is spiritually linked to the source of Being & peace of mind.

Young folk, many of the concepts presented here are the enduring

Generations old Values of black folk… We are here for you.

We are caring & sharing, hoping that you will realize, accept, be and do.

Among the aims of this body of work is to promote throughout our communities the Neighborhood Pledge as cited in this volume.

The community call goes out for the community to declare and proclaim that needed Ceasefire Peace!

*We are thinking to stay alive-no one’s life to compromise!

The Spirit of Life through this Poetic Verse is a Story Unfolding like a Scroll:

Head to Head

Heart to Heart                                    Soul to Soul

Forth Right & Bold!

* Philosophically, who is in line as the sidewalk Socrates’ of our lifetime?

* Spiritually, seeking peace to the mind.

* Politically, economically. Culturally and socially, how and when will a courageous American Society

Declare a Ceasefire Peace through community and put an end to gun violence and gun misuse

Through the exercise of common sense, with a progressive offense and an avoidance defense.

* When will tolerance and civility replace intolerance and egoism in American racial & ethnic relations as in

Which Way Mr. Trump?

*Priority One

Prioritize the agenda to make our #1 priority-the stopping of gun misuse and the violence which is taking the lives of our youth, to stop the misapplied police procedures and to eliminate the confusion of values so that our children will survive to thrive and to enjoy the youth of their lives!

* Please be a part of the readership and enjoy this spoken word verse while being involved with the solutions to those forces which are creating and causing the social challenges and problems as cited in this work. Being a part of the solution requires a resolve to discover and to be One/Our True-Selves within the Truth of Being-to see!

Taking the Neighborhood Pledge

*We Are Thinking to Stay