One, Two (poem)

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http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11443838&q=hi&newref=1

I spit lethal, exciting the people

1 movie, 1 take 1 shot no sequel

You see, the Master of the universe gave me 1 chance

To put my stamp on this earth and make everyone dance

It’s sorta like 1 nation under a groove

It’s 2 bad this whole earth can’t do the same thing 2

And spread 1 love all across 1 planet

Now that’s true peace but can anyone understand it?

Or are we 2 caught up in individual needs

Cuz 2 can never eat if 1 is filled with greed

And if 1 can’t see past his own selfish ambition

Its 2 late 2 come together, 1 is only left wishing

But if everyone can teach 1 then everyone can reach 1

But if none are qualified to teach then in the end we reach none

It’s like, you could give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day

Teach that same man how to fish and he’ll feed his fam along the way

Can you dig it?! Mic check 1, 2

As long as life is in my veins I realize I can’t lose

Cause you see, 1, 2 many times I’ve quit

Now I’m 2 close for comfort got me feeling this is it

Cause what if this is my 1 chance to shine

If you know like I know, opportunity knocks but 1 time

And if that 1 time she knocks and you don’t answer

She ain’t coming back, you can call but she won’t answer

I guess it’s that whole, once bitten twice shy

And 1 is guaranteed to fall if 1 is 2 afraid 2 fly

It’s 2 soon, it’s 2 hard, it’s 2 tough, it’s 2 late

It’s 2 cold, I’m 2 tired, the task is 2 great

There’s 2 many excuses, 2 many chances lost

But for me not 2 try, that is 2 great a cost

You see, I can’t go down 2 my grave

Knowing I played it 2 safe with the 1 chance that God gave

I mean, look at music, look at anything under the sun

Even James Brown knew you got to play it on the 1

It’s 1 journey, 1 life, 1 love, 1 people

1 movie, 1 take, 1 shot no sequel

1, 2

One of the Greatest

So, as the world has heard and witnessed, we lost another great artist this past weekend. Whitney Houston. Wow, what a talent! I still remember that first album and how she 'shook up the world' with that huge beautiful voice. One of the things I enjoyed about her and her work, was the fantastic balance of creativity and simplicity. Her performances were based more on the song than on the elaborate stage settings and array of dancers. When she sang a song on stage, you were focused mainly on her singing the song as opposed to being distracted or just entertained by everything happening around her. Simplicity. But then when you consider the choices she made vocally within a song and the bold chances she took within a song, my God! Her creativity shone through.

She definitely gave birth to a generation of singers who allowed their vocal talents to be a dominating trait as opposed to just an image leading the way. There's nothing like listening to a song and being moved to goose bumps or tears or whatever, but just to feel something from that song. She did that continually. Within the past month I had actually went back and checked out her performance of the Star Spangled Banner that she did at the Superbowl. Again, her simplicity and creativity finding a perfect balance to create one of the greatest vocal performances of that song.

People will speculate about how she handled her later years in and out of the spotlight, but the fact remains that she was first and foremost a human being. Who knows how any of us would handle fame and fortune. And really, does it matter? She handled it the best way that she knew how. At the end of the day, she inspired many, entertained many and was able to touch the world with the talent that God blessed her with. I can only say that it was a job well done. Way to go Whitney!