Just A Soilder Passing Through

I saw the battlefield, I engaged in the battle
I was a valiant warrior; I fought a many campaigns
Life gets weary for a solider, all alone on the battlefield
Sometimes you jus want to walk away, but the battle must go on
 
I've seen life and I've seen death
One is not complete without the other
What is war all about, why do we fight
Is it because of honor, or to gains ones independence
Whatever the cause war should not be the answer
But still yet we fight, because we can't talk
Or we must take by force
 
Ah but what do I know of these things
I'm just a solider passing through
My job is to shoot, and to kill
Let others worry about the reasons
Seasons come, then they go
But war has no seasons, no days or nights
Everyday is the same in war
 
As long as there is no peace
I will be here just passing through
My gun in hand, waiting till the next campaign
 
 
Chris Brown
November 3, 1997
©

Tribute To The Pain

I would like to pay a tribute to the pain
To the brave and dedicated in heart that were slain
Their lights extinguished so that freedom for all could rain

When I read in history that it was not so long ago died they our brothers 
There was Martin, Malcolm, Kennedy, and countless others
I wonder sometimes does it really matter, does anyone really care
So much blood was shed for freedom we could share

Everywhere I look those freedoms are being challenged
Did things really change, or is this a new generation of malice
The freedoms gained they tell us are no longer needed
Lessons learned from history still go unheeded

If those who oppose our freedoms, would take a ride to our neighborhoods
Notice the different scenery, the streets, and the parks, houses that don’t look so good
America remember the blood that flowed, remember those that suffered the pain
For my country ‘tis a be, from every mountainside let freedom rain

Chris Brown
November 26, 1997

For The Sake of Love

 

                                                        "For You I Will" by Johnny Myers

For the sake of love, one will almost do anything
It can make you act silly, or love song make you sing
It can take you up, or to your knees it can bring
For the sake of love, one will do most anything

Love has a way of taking a strong grip
It can be gentle, or your heart it can rip
It can build you up, or your dignity it can strip
For the sake of love no journey is too long a trip

For the sake of love you will deny even yourself
To only think of the one you love, and no one else
Love can make you feel important, or empty after it has left

Why is this thing we call love so strong
Why for the sake of love, so many things go wrong
It can be felt in the soul, even deep, deep down in the bones
It can make one feel so complete, or even all alone
What is it’s power, where is it’s home

For the sake of love, a king will leave his throne
A mother will leave her children all alone
for the sake of love A husband might stop coming home

For the sake of love, the sun may only set for you
Your horizons may be bright, for you love might know what to do
But for another, because of love, their heart is blue
For the sake of love, you, and only you must decide what to do

Chris Brown©
3-28-99

Flowers For A Mother

 

The old folks use to say you should present flowers, while one is still living This is my way of giving you your flowers for all that motherly giving I know you don’t think I remember, all the hard days you went through  But I do, and for all of that, I very much love you   I remember the days you wondered, worried, and prayed how to make a way I remember the long walks to the store, on a cold windy day I remember the time when we had no money, but you believed God would come around I remember the day walking, along comes a wind, and on the ground money was found   These things and much more stay in my mind, for eternity’s time  I know sometimes we don’t see eye to eye, but the love you had makes me kind   I am always reminded of how you raised me, not to let others provoke me Because of you my childhood was happy, and full of glee   Money we had little of, but a mother full of care and love This made all the difference in the world, protected in your motherly glove A lot of times I didn’t understand, why your standards were so high  But now that I am grown, on my own, I see why   Everywhere I go, when told how well I have become I tell them it was you, daddy, and God from whence the goodness comes from God blessed me with the best raising I could have had For you being my mother I am very glad   With Love, Your Son: Chris 5-13-00

I Miss You Daddy

 

                                                            I miss you daddy now that you are gone
I feel that in this world I'm all a lone
When you were here so bright your light shone
 
So many times I took you for granted
Only thinking I needed you for the things I wanted
My days without you are lonely my heart feels haunted
If only I could tell you I love you, and know it counted
 
So much from you I learned, but never told you
You were so full of love and wisdom too
I remember when I was young the things we use to do
But when I got older no time had I for you
 
I thought you were there only to fulfil my needs
Little did I know I would have to pay for my awful deeds
Now that you are gone I have to take heed
But I'm glad in me you planted a good seed
 
All that I am, and all that I can be
I owe to thee
 
I can't remember if I told you how much I love you
I guess it’s a bit too late for any good it might do I hate the last years of your life were all so blue
But now in heaven I know your spirit is anew
 
I still remember the piggyback rides along the railroad track
I remember playing with your eyes, while you were asleep on your back
To me you were the best dad, nothing did you lack
 
Now that I'm all big, and grown
Now I'm a father, children all my own
You I wish I could clone
 
I wish I could be as good a dad as you were
Daddy how much I wish you were still here
There are so many things I wish I had told you when you were near
 
I'm so glad I had you as a dad
Even though you couldn't read and write
Your life, and heart was so full of light
The things I learned from you, in school can't be taught
A wealth of gentleness, wisdom, and patience that couldn't be brought
 
I miss you daddy, I hope you can hear me from heaven up above
To you I wish I had been a better son, shown you much more love
 
I know you had a good heart, a gentle spirit, in you was no hate
I'm telling you now, even though it’s a little late To me daddy you were all so great
 
With love in memory of William Lawrence Brown:
Chris Brown ©
October 30, 1997

I miss you daddy now that you are gone
I feel that in this world I'm all a lone
When you were here so bright your light shone
 
So many times I took you for granted
Only thinking I needed you for the things I wanted
My days without you are lonely my heart feels haunted
If only I could tell you I love you, and know it counted
 
So much from you I learned, but never told you
You were so full of love and wisdom too
I remember when I was young the things we use to do
But when I got older no time had I for you
 
I thought you were there only to fulfil my needs
Little did I know I would have to pay for my awful deeds
Now that you are gone I have to take heed
But I'm glad in me you planted a good seed
 
All that I am, and all that I can be
I owe to thee
 
I can't remember if I told you how much I love you
I guess it’s a bit too late for any good it might do I hate the last years of your life were all so blue
But now in heaven I know your spirit is anew
 
I still remember the piggyback rides along the railroad track
I remember playing with your eyes, while you were asleep on your back
To me you were the best dad, nothing did you lack
 
Now that I'm all big, and grown
Now I'm a father, children all my own
You I wish I could clone
 
I wish I could be as good a dad as you were
Daddy how much I wish you were still here
There are so many things I wish I had told you when you were near
 
I'm so glad I had you as a dad
Even though you couldn't read and write
Your life, and heart was so full of light
The things I learned from you, in school can't be taught
A wealth of gentleness, wisdom, and patience that couldn't be brought
 
I miss you daddy, I hope you can hear me from heaven up above
To you I wish I had been a better son, shown you much more love
 
I know you had a good heart, a gentle spirit, in you was no hate
I'm telling you now, even though it’s a little late To me daddy you were all so great
 
With love in memory of William Lawrence Brown:
Chris Brown ©
October 30, 1997

GOD’S HEART

 I feel the sweetness of his presence all around my heart
I feel the closeness of his love and spirit all around my soul
God’s heart who can know it, how deep and how wide is it
The bible lets me know that God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son
How deep a love is that, so deep for us that even the angels don’t understand
God’s heart, oh that I would be close to it, to be adored of God is my desire

God’s heart to be in the midst of it, what must it feel like
To be loved by God, what a wonderful thing, but he must love us all
For the bible says while we were still yet in sin he sent Jesus
God’s heart what must it be like, so warm, so loving, so kind
A world in sin, and he still has us in his heart
What a loving God, I want to be in the center of his heart

God’s heart, what must it be like, how it must beat for mankind
For him to let his only son die on the cross, to take on the sins of the world
What a heart that must be, that he would do such a thing for us
While we were not worthy, while we still yet didn’t know him what kind of love
What kind of love was being bestowed upon us
God’s heart, what it must be like, what a loving heart it must be
A heart full of compassion, such compassion for a heartless world
A world that would kill the only gift that could bring us back into the heart of God

God’s heart what a heart of knowledge, wisdom, and concern
Concern for his children, the creation that had turned against the creator
God’s heart, what a heart for mankind, a gentle heart that welcomes us again and again

God’s heart married to the backslider, dedicated to his children
A father that beckons his wayward children to come home
A father that forgives without reservation, or malice
God’s heart is always open always accepting us back
What great love, what a great father

God’s heart only a heart like God could reconcile man back to himself
How blessed are we his creation to be created by such a creator
Glory be his name forever and always unto the uttermost part of heaven and earth
Let all creation allow God’s heart to bless them and beckon them unto him
For no heart is greater than Gods and no heart is more forgiving
Glory be to the God of heaven and Earth
Let all praise his name forever and forever amen

Chris Brown
Dec 11, 2006

Sanctuary

 Somewhere in the stillness of time, I would that there was a place I could find
A place when the walls of worry, and stress were closing in on me I could hide
Hide from all the problems of this life, from all those tugging at me
A sanctuary to run to, a safe haven, free of stress, free of pain
 
Sometimes this life is more than I can bear, but where can I run
Where can I go where the cares of this life don’t exist On every hand I am plagued, there is no relief to my pain, none to the worries of this life
I run to the rocks, and the rocks cry out, we can not hide you
I run to the mountains, and they refuse me sanctuary
Where will I go, where will I hide, who will protect me
 
When my worries over take me is there not a safe haven
Is there not somewhere one can take refuge
Is life that desolate, is life that foreboding
Is this not why some have lost their minds
Did the pressure of no escape overtake them
Did their minds simple chose to release them
To free them from the problems of this present life
Is their plight better than mine is
 
In life there are many complexities, many stresses
Some are small, while others are great
Some have solutions, still others don’t Where is the gentle place to rest one’s head To lay down, and forget the complexities, forget the worries
Where is the sanctuary, where is that safe place
Can any answer, can any tell me where this place is found
 
I shall spend my days searching for this place
Somewhere in this desolate place we call earth
Somewhere in this vast expanse, there has to be a sanctuary
From whence one can take the problems, the worries, and the stresses of life
 
 
Chris Brown
September 19, 1997 ©  

Bring Back The Good Ole Days

 

                                          Gathering of Old Friends by Tom McKinney

 

There was a time when it was safe to live on the North Side, no drive-byes, and no gangs. Drugs weren't sold openly out in the streets, with the police standing by. You didn't have to be afraid to let your children play in the streets.

Housing projects were places people lived, not a hangout for gangs, or drug dealers. People knew their neighbors, and neighbor's neighbor. People looked out for, and helped one another.

Your child couldn't do something wrong in the neighborhood in the presence of another adult, and you not know about it. There was a sense of community, a sense of family, and a sense of pride about the neighborhood you lived in.

The worse thing that kids did to one another was fight. Respect really meant respect; it wasn't a gang term that could cost you your life. Grown folk had dignity, wisdom, and morals. Adults acted like adults, and kids like kids. Family pride was a strong make up of the community.

People worked their differences out over picking greens or splitting peas. But those were the good OLE days, how I wish we could bring them back. Bring back the times when 13-year-old kids didn't carry guns, and knew nothing about drugs, sex, and gangs. 

I wonder does any one know what happen to the good OLE days, does anyone remember. Where did we go wrong, where did we get off. North Tulsa use to have outdoor cook-outs at churches, carnivals, and just plain old fun. Neighborhoods use to be communities, where everyone got along, and a dispute wouldn't cost you your life.

Life was valuable it meant something. People stood up for right, and they tried to practice what was preached in their church. They taught their kids to obey the law not break it. You had bad people, and bad things, but it wasn't acceptable, or tolerated. 

My brothers and sisters we talk about change, about fixing the problem. I hear things about finding the solution to the problem facing our community. I say bring back the good OLE days, the days when we had pride in ourselves, and our side of town. We realized we lived there, and where you live is home. We wanted our home to be safe, clean, and respectable.

Take the kids back to the old way, the bible says find the old path and walk there in. There lies the solution, it's not difficult to find, just bring back the good OLE days. Bring back the days when young people got to live long enough to grow up.

Bring back the days when parents talked to their kids, and made sure they acted right. Bring back the days when people cared about one another. Where church was a community place, where the pastor knew and cared about your well being, not just the offering. 

Bring back the days when we celebrated life, where death only came after you got old. Being young wasn't a bad or dangerous thing. Where our neighborhoods were places where we lived together, not died together.

Bring back the days when the street was were we played, and not sold drugs. Bring back the days, when the only gangs we had were bicycle, horse, and motorcycle. To belong to these you didn't have to sell drugs, or kill anybody, just have fun.

Does anyone remember when kids had fun just playing; killing wasn't even in their vocabulary. Hey Yall please bring back the good OLE days, let's live together, and not die peace out.
 
Chris Brown

Beautiful Butterfly

In a time long, long ago, in a land now forgotten; there was a hidden forest. In this forest was one pretty butterfly, this butterfly was the only butterfly in the forest. It was twice as big as most other butterflies. It was a pretty bright yellow, with black spots on its wings. When it would fly around the forest, all the animals would stop whatever they were doing and take notice; that was just how beautiful this butterfly was. When it would fly it looked so graceful. All the other animals in the forest would marvel at the butterfly, and wonder why it was so unique, yet they were so plan. Now this was a simple and peaceful forest, nothing unusual ever happened.

 All the animals were friendly, and never bothered each other. There was always plenty of food, along with plenty of water. All the animals in this forest seemed so content, and happy. All the animals wanted to be as beautiful as the butterfly, and the butterfly wanted to be like them. You see the other animals all had more than one of a kind, but there was only one beautiful butterfly. He had no one that was like him. All the other animals thought he was special, since he was the only butterfly in the forest. Beside that he was so beautiful flying through the forest. All the animals just loved their forest; they loved the pretty green grass, that grew all year round, and the sweet water brook, which flowed through the middle of the forest. It never got too cold or too hot. The animals just thought this was the best forest that could be. 

One day all the animals were around the brook, taking their midday drink. All of a sudden there was this sound, like a crackle in the forest. Then this strange looking animal entered their peaceful forest. All the animals stopped drinking, and stared at the strange animal. The animal was big, very big, hairy, and just gruesome looking. Just at that moment, the beautiful butterfly came flying along, it flew right over the head of the big ugly animal. Right then the beast reached up and grabbed the butterfly, and closed it's big gruesome paws. All the animals just gasped, their eyes got real big. The butterfly was so pretty; all the animals just admired the butterfly so much. Now this ugly hairy beast had smashed the pretty butterfly, and it was the only butterfly in the forest. They thought how they wouldn't see the pretty butterfly fly around the forest anymore, how sad the forest would be now. 

As the animals stared at the beast it turned and walked away. Seemed like the whole forest changed, the grass didn't look as green anymore, the water in the brook didn't taste as sweet as it once did. The animals just weren't happy anymore, without the pretty butterfly. The forest just wasn't the same. It seemed like the butterfly was so special to their forest, with its pretty yellow wings , covered by black spots. The butterfly would fly in such pretty circles for the animals' everyday. The animals kept wondering, why did this ugly animal come to their  pleasant forest. How could something so ugly be in their beautiful forest? Days and days went by; the animals tried to cheer themselves backup. They tried to forget about the terrible animal that had come into their forest. How he made everything so unpleasant for them, and took their pretty butterfly. Everyday they would watch the sky, and then they would remember that they would never see the pretty butterfly again. They started trying to think of ways to forget. They would dance around the brook, or sing happy gleeful songs; but nothing could make them forget. They thought how could you forget something so beautiful, something so unique. 

Then one day the animals thought, why be sad everyday, that wouldn't change anything. So what they decided to do is remember the beauty that the butterfly use to bring to the forest. They made up in their minds to go on with life, and enjoy the beauty that was left in the forest. The beautiful green grass was still beautiful, if they looked at it right. They still had the sweet brook to drink from, and they still had a wonderful forest to live in. One of the animals even remembered how the butterfly thought that they were special, because it was more than just one of them. So when they thought about all these things they were happy once again. One day all the animals were playing, when they noticed something flying around. They all looked in the air, and much to their surprise, there was the pretty big yellow butterfly, with black spots on its wings. It looked happier than ever before. 

Then they seen something really unexpected, not only did their pretty butterfly come back, but he brought a whole lot of smaller pretty butterflies with him. It was said that the ugly animal took the butterfly back to his forest, which was really a ugly forest. In this ugly forest was nothing but ugly animals, like the one that took the beautiful butterfly. There was one pretty sight though in this ugly forest. It was filled with all kinds of pretty butterflies. You see the ugly animals' forest was so bad looking, that they would go to a pretty forest, and take all the pretty butterflies. When the big beautiful butterfly told the other butterflies about his forest, they wanted to be there so bad. 

They all got together and spoke to the gruesome animals, and told them if they wouldn't look so sad all the time, that maybe their forest would be happy, and it would be beautiful. So they taught the ugly animals how to be happy. When they did this their forest started to cheer up. All the grass started to turn green, the water sweeten up. Even some birds came to the forest to sing for them. As a reward the ugly animals, which were so very happy now, let all the butterflies that wanted to leave. Since the beautiful butterfly talked so much about his pretty forest a lot of the butterflies wanted to go there. Now all the animals were happier than ever before. Now the big beautiful butterfly had plenty of butterfly company, and the forest was always happy.

  Chris Brown ©

Are You Part of A Village

 We as blacks in America have a long way to go, but we do have more going for ourselves than our parents, or forefathers. It has been said it takes a village, to raise a child. But do you see yourself as part of the village, or just your own little island? We have better education opportunities, a higher standard of living, and access to more information. My question to my brothers and sisters what are you doing with all the things you have. Do you keep it all for yourself or do you share it. Some of us have learned how to work the stock market, do you share that ability with other brothers and sisters that do not have a clue about stocks. Now others of us have moved up the corporate ladder. Do you see this as opportunity to pull others brothers and sister up. Maybe you have Clarence Thomas Syndrome about this; I have arrived and be damned about my brothers and sister. It is a memory lapse disease, for which the only cure is a hard cold slap of reality probably by God himself.
 
We as a people need to take a look at the Jewish community, Arab community, and the oriental community. All these communities really have the village concept. They stick together, in almost everything. Not just in talk, but action. The band together and form business, not only that but they are their own distributors. They will mostly buy their goods to sell from one another. In our black stores, and business it cost us a lot more to buy product from each other. The main reason my brothers tell me this is so, is because the high cost it cost them to stock their places of business. Well my question to that is humbug. If you form a consortium, and buy together you can buy more at one time and drive the cost down. Not only, that but it gives you power and advantage in the market place. I have a background in purchasing; I know this to be very true. The more you buy at one time, and the bigger your buying block, the more respect, and better pricing you will get.
 
We must begin to understand the power of money, and what it can afford. We as a people are one of the biggest spenders in America, but we get very little respect, and power for that. Now if we could put that money back into our villages, what do you think would happen? We could have better communities, better schools, and safer communities. Our neighborhoods are not unsafe because blacks live there, but because property lives there. We can make our own selves rich, if we look within our village, and use the resources we have. Let us not rob the village, but build it.
 
By: Chris Brown
Copyright ©March 03, 2001

ALL SOULS BELONG TO GOD

 

This soul I knew as Tony my nephew has been called home
It was a heavy blow to my spirit and I questioned God
My understanding was not clear as to how and why this could be
Anger swelled up in my heart thinking God had been unfair
This was a feeling I had never experienced, never had I been angry with God
It wasn’t really anger but hurt, hurt of the loss of another young soul in my family

But I thought about the vastness of the universe, and breath of God’s wisdom
He knew all things and I only the smallness of my world
Had the course he set before Tony been ran, I know not
I know that I nor those that loved him, were not ready for him to depart this earth
But are we ever ready for one that we love to depart, I think not

Death has an appointed time for all of us, each and everyone
For there is trump in heaven that one day will blow for us all
I just wish the time for Tony could have been longer

But I thought about this world, and the world beyond this
Eternity awaits us all, and this world is but a vapor in time
Here on earth there is never everlasting peace or happiness
We are born young full of life and strength, then we get old and weak

But in the world that God has prepared there is joy and peace for all eternity
This is the world I hope to see Tony in Again
For I sometime think God takes some of us early because of the pain of this world
For I know God has a reason for all that he does, even if we don’t comprehend it.

I can see God looking down on Tony that day, and saying son it is alright
Where there is sorrow I will give you joy
Where there is pain I will give you comfort
Where this is poverty I will give you wealth
Cry no more my son; I God will wipe all your tears away

For my heart is heavy, but in my soul I know God has Tony in a perfect place
For the God that made the heavens and earth is righteous and a just creator
He cares for the down trodden, and desolate
The poor he remembers always
Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil
For thy rod, and staff comfort me, and I will dwell in the house of the lord for ever
And let all God’s children say amen

In memory of my nephew Tony Crawford; whom God called home April 9th, 2004 Good Friday.

By:Chris Brown

Let Us Become One

Today let us become one in his sight
To honor and cherish each other with all our might
To always pray and look above
What God has put together let no man tear asunder
Allowing God to always lead us with his love

To promise to treat one another with mutual respect
To be on guard, our family to protect
Let us become one in love and devotion
Respecting one another's feelings and emotions

Today is the beginning of the rest of our life
Let us be determined to start it without strife
Let our quarrels be few, let our love flow right
We will be strong together, loving with all our might
Together we stand, divided we fall, of this never lose sight

Let us be one in all that we do, in the good times and bad
We will always have one another, in this let us be glad
I will bathe in your care and you in mine
If we are one, our love will stand the test of time

This day we make a vow to one another 
A pledge that should be stronger than any other
Today we become husband and wife
To become one, to share each others life

Chris Brown©