Mary Seymour

 

The WORD [ Iforcolor.org ]

 

Choose|Chose by Mary Seymour

i chose to believe whatever i chose to believe

I choose not to care what you think about this poem interesting. For feelings are me. This totally unique member of humankind

chosen to be on this planet for one second at this time don’t want to rhyme i choose to choose to use this time as wisely as wise

i chose not to blame my parents, husband, children, or grandchild for what I will or will not achieve in life.

i choose to see the beauty in everything that is determined by my standards and not others

not others

i choose to get excited and smile when music takes over for one moment I choose to be proud of Black Skin and Kinky Hair

I choose to embrace the history of my ancestors with love and respect

I choose to liberate what I choose from the layers of conditioning that have been imposed on choosing.

i choose to be the educated Black woman understanding the complexity of my blackness.

when I choose I choose not to impress just write what’s right for me.

i choose to love the energy of honest love

i choose to write and write until I write the chosen truths in my soul

maybe the first step I choose to believe. 

~ * ~

 

Mary and Her Cello


By MARY SEYMOUR 

 

Amanti Allure
SALAAM MUHAMMAD – (Artist)

When Mary played the cello, a warm, strange, yet sensitive feeling would slowly move through her body. She didn’t understand this different and sometimes intense feeling that started below her belly button and traveled straight down her stomach towards both legs. Sometimes, the sensation began in the center of her chest where her training bra sat between her stomach and these new things called breasts. She loved to play the cello, especially at school, since she sat the first seat first stand, and sometimes the music teacher allowed her to play the A chord so the entire orchestra could tune up their instruments.
On Wednesday, Mary would go to the rehearsal room to practice instead of eating lunch. She would slowly take her cello from the case and gently place the instrument on its side. Then she would take the Rosen in her left hand and run the bow up and down, making sure the bow was perfect for touching her cello’s strings. Mary would then pick up the cello and carefully place the cello’s body on her right breast and thigh, pick up the bow, and begin to play. The warm, comfortable vibrations from the cello caress the air. Mary and her cello were one; she would sway back and forth, and her left hand would move up and down the cello’s neck.
Until yesterday, all of Mary’s thoughts have focused on her beautiful cello and the mysterious feeling she feels every time she plays the instrument. But yesterday afternoon, Peter asked if he would walk her home. He even asked to carry her cello. Mary said yes to both questions; when they arrived at her door, Peter slowly leaned the cello on the side of Mary’s house, grabbed her, and wrapped his arms around her waist in one slow, quick move. Peter planted a very sloppy, wet kiss directly on her lips. Mary fell back, stunned by this warm sensation; she started to feel again the feeling went from her belly down and through both her legs and then up from her belly button to these things called breasts. Mary experienced her first passionate kiss. Now, the two most important things in 7th grade are her cello and maybe, Peter
Amanti Allure
SALAAM MUHAMMAD (Artist)

 

~ * ~

Freedom in me
by MARY SEYMOUR 

Sefira Lightstone (Artist)

Sefira Lightstone (Artist)

behind the self-inflected visions of who I am 
Visual images flood my mind every day of who I’m supposed to be
Look and Feel from the color of my skin to the thoughts in my mind
To the music I hear in my head
Living life and experiencing the layers of conditioning that have been imposed exposed to every living, breathing part of my existence  Hiding
Today, I freed myself and took out the weave to experience another self-imposed.

https://medium.com/swlh/work-is-freedom-is-opportunity-2d6b24c706bf

Looking in the mirror, trying to see the beauty in me, the me that is always with me
The me that is the internal part of the collective universe
Yes, I am Black with hair exactly in the image of Gabby and Angela Davis
Today, it’s called Afrocentric. Yesterday, it was called militant
I am a part of yesterday’s struggle and a part of today’s challenge

COPYRIGHT © Mary Seymour /
Iforcolor.org – DRS / © 2024

~ * ~

GUITAR PLAY ME FINE

by MARY SEYMOUR

Movement impulse feeling in the hands.    

old|young|tired|hands music guitar talks

don’t need to play just close my eyes and

fingers fly close my eyes play this play

that see I don’t’ play guitar

guitar plays

me fine! Fine. 

Guitar play me fine music just come don’t know how.

Music just come just close my eyes and fingers fly just close my eyes and fingers fly smilin’, rocin’ and clapp’n in time see fingers fly starts to sings a new song close my eyes singing this time.

words just come don’t know how words just come don’t care how guitar say slow, guitar say go guitar plays me Fine! Fine!

guitar plays me Fine! Fine! Fine!

MARY SEYMOUR  All rights reserved (c) Mary Seymour – [Iforcolor.org] NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

~ * ~

 

 

ME – MYSELF and I…

 

Black History is ongoing every 247 zeptoseconds, our contributions to the community and world are a powerful narrative that continues to defy the complex World prejudices. We people of color must always honor our profound legacy and limitless possibilities for tomorrow! So Everyday We Celebrate Black History

– conceptualized by Carter G. Woodson

 

Dear Family and Friends, I rejoice in your Love and Support, for you are my strength and joy. “I have Come this Far by Faith.” On May 17th, 2024, I received my Master of Arts in Africana Studies from Stony Brook University.

“Thoughts on graduating with a Master of Arts in Africana Studies from Stony Brook University.
The sleepless nights of trying to complete a section of your thesis chapter. To wondering if you have what it takes to complete your research. To reaching out to your brilliant Graduate advisor to family and friends for suggestions and edits. To the many voices of life attempting to dictate the outcome. I have come this Far by Faith! To respect my Ancestors for their foundation is why I stand and why our future will thrive!
We are We!“

 

 

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ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is a 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award, 2020, 2021, and 2022 ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund and winner of the 2022.

Recently, he won the 2022 Legend Award from his alma mater Ohio University.

He is the 2021 winner of the Paul Robeson Award, presented (jointly) by the Actors Equity Association and the Actors Equity Foundation.

Research Accomplishments:
His extensive professional credits as a Director, Stage manager, and Actor (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and Regional) As an actor he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Cosby Show, and the ITV television series "Special Needs" and commercials and film.

Professor Shields is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Musical Artists performance unions and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

He began his artistic academic career in New York City at Playwrights Horizon, The South Bronx Action Theatre, and Mind Builders, and then was invited to join the teaching staff at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival). He represented the United States for Theatre Young Audiences at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England.

He has been a Professor and Visiting Artist at Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Randolph- Macon College, Susquehanna University, and SUNY Potsdam.

He holds B.F.A and M.F.A, Degrees from Ohio University.

Website(s)

Iforcolor.org [Research]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Ricardo_Shields [Career]