I’ve learned to savor the good times in day to day tragedy
And each step is a start to a never ending story
Each day is a page, chaptered by age
Time is mission
Each tick is a decision
Every tock is sign that yes, I’m still living
On a watch where experience is a notch
In a cipher on the block
And my heart is the beat
And it don’t stop and it don’t quit
And like The Roots use to say “We Are The Ultimate”
So I’ma get my 40 Acres and a Mule
And if I was a graffiti artist
It’ll be my 40 trains and a Muse
Either way
This written writer is riding
Life’s roller coaster screaming to go higher
And you and I know, every goal has a fuse
And action is the fire
And it was that active intellect
That got me out the projects
Of South Jamaica Queens with not one regret
So, I’ll be back to collect my Moms from Linden & Merrick
Even though
I’d rather Do It
Than Say It
Rather
Conceive It,
Plan It,
Execute It
And then Convey It
But sometimes life is a shot in the dark
So I’ma shoot a flare
And when opportunity shows it face
I’ll Be Standing Right There

By Amon Focus 2004

Flashlight and I

I burned a candle in light of some light
Then broke out the flashlight
To write in spite the darkness surrounding my sight
This is not too deep, it’s just about me and no light
Thanks to another hurricane that dropped by at the height of night

It was the lack of light that inspired me to write
My spirit was calm no urge to fuss or fight
Then my silence was interrupted by my imagination preparing for flight
Like a sugar ant in search of something to bite
I was back at my tablet searching for something to write
For something to rhyme
Like
I wish I may
I wish I might
Utter another cliche tonight
Like the glowing moon
So round and so bright

I searched for one vision that might have taken place that night
And for no reason
I thought about a kite
Yes
With colors that just so happen to be
Red, blue, and white

I wrote to the point where my length equaled my height
This ant with no bite
Created a square picture
About a night with no light
With a candle half burning bright
With thoughts about a kite
Sitting with a tablet writing with a flashlight
True Story

Amon Focus

South Side Summer In the City (Pt.1 of Many)

She and I rocked the South Side
Right up there
On that Project Roof
She and I being silly
Danced to the music coming the ice cream truck
Like it was the truth
Never thinking twice about a cone or a cup
Could care less about rainbow sprinkles or chocolate syrup
Cause up there
On that Project Roof
We Laughed!
Laughed like growing old was not an option
Laughed like when it came time
We would dodge stress like the draft
And throw our poverty cards in that fire
That was in that can
That was in that alley
That our single parents told us to keep the hell out of
And of course we never listened
Instead, we threw dice with the junkies for no money
Just cause we were there and so were they
Yeah, they dropped jewels like
“Stay in school,
Don’t be no old fool
Cause young blood that ain’t cool”
And just like that
Shots rang out
And just like that
She and I ran to the front
To see where the Pop, Pop, Pop was coming from
Illiterate to safety, we had more fear
For the junkie’s crusty grey lips than we did for a stray
But she and I knew
Common gunplay would not put a damper on our day
And before the junkies could scream out wait
She and I hopped the gate
Got a running start
And grabbed the ladder to fire escape
We climbed six stories embracing our youth
And found ourselves out of breath laughing
Back Up There,
On That Project Roof

By Amon Focus

September 12, 2004

Last night I was digging through old hard drives for a video codec folder and I came across a speech I gave when I graduated from Full Sail Real World Eduction back in ‘03. My personal experience at the school was incredible. I enjoyed all the challenges, the students, and my instructors ( most of which I still keep in touch with). I walked out of there with an array of Digital Media skills and hands on experiences. On graduation day I received three of their highest accolades which were valedictorian, perfect attendance, and the advanced achievement award. The special thing about the advanced achievement award was that you had to be chosen by your peers and the faculty to receive it plus as an added bonus you were given the opportunity to speak to your peers on graduation day.

The Speech