Under the Table

Posted on June 22, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Under the Table*

Didn’t you know?

You have to have a D Cup to Pour Drinks,
or at least be
Too Hot to Handle.
Yeah…
And if you wanna sell merchandise, then
You better have the Goods,
and you can’t just tell about the offer, you
Gotta
Show ‘Em What You Got…
Seems if you’re not Working with Something then you’ll probably
be
Working for next to Nothing.

I’m just informing you about the ways of business:
They don’t think they’ll make a Fraction: Without a Main Attraction.
But now that can’t be, can it?
We wouldn’t drink less just because her top shows less,
We’d still get Tanked even if her face looked Pranked…
And I came in just for the Wings!
Not cuz I wanna add Breasts.

Now I’m not Sayin’ I won’t look —
Just That Food was all it took.

Wish I could say this was just for overnight sensations
With misguided hopes of undercover relations,
But it seems the same applies to every field of taxations —
Sometimes even more than gigs without Taxation…
A degree might not be enough if you want to be on top,
Sometimes it takes being on bottom to be directed to the top…
Seems I can’t find a woman in a suit that I don’t want to tear out of —
You should be able to be a little overweight and still Wait,
Still expect a lot of tips without being granted tits…
And be a little full and still have some pull…
Excuse Me. Can I please get a casual face?
Or see someone get hired without an ass like a vase?
Well all the “real” women now are probably sitting behind desks:
If she’s only taking calls then we can pretend it’s Jessica Hall.
And right when they find their sanctuary —
They’re bumped for a hot new secretary.

I tell you if Jill Scott and Kelly Price can sell as modeled,
Then you gotta figure if they had a slimmer figure
They’d be making over Eight Figures.
They may be lucky they even got in, because someone surely said to them,
“You’re too big to Fit In.”
Every day a deserving Executive is turned into a Fry Lady,
If you got a Hatchet-Face then they make you a Crybaby.
The Fairer Sex has been treated Way too Wrong,
Debarred from Equal Opportunity against
Their Own too Long,
It’s gonna take a Strong Man
To come and
Right this Wrong,
Or a Natural Woman like Aretha
To sing a Shaping Song…
Until then I’ll take my service to whoever fills my needs,
That doesn’t change if she’s a Sprig or she has Double-Ds…
And I don’t tip for the cleavage — I’ll tip for the Deeds —
You shouldn’t have to hit your knees to hear a simple, “Yes, Please.”

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Imagine

Posted on June 22, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Imagine*

I see an Iris Blossom,
Instead of a
Venus Flytrap.
I capture a Meteoric Rise,
Instead of
Hanging on a falling star.
I already feel Sunbursts,
Instead of
Solar Winds.
I notice a New Moon,
Instead of
Paralyzing Gravity.
I marvel at a Green Ray,
Instead of Running from
A Thundercloud.
I refresh at First Light,
Instead of remaining with Twilight.
I imagine the South Pacific —
Instead of a
Frozen Lagoon.
I imagine Fair View Mountain,
Instead of another
Continental Slope.
I imagine parachuting Snow Mist,
Instead of a
Tumbling Avalanche.
I imagine casing a Sapphire,
Instead of
Pawning a Pinchbeck Pearl.

Now Imagine how I’d feel if it became a reality.

Don’t listen to the cynics and pessimists,
I’d change quite a bit for you…
I’d get on up off this bed,
And earn a king’s ransom to lay our heads.
I don’t know what the future holds,
I doubt you’ll even know my full thoughts,
I’m just saying that if you did have me —
You’d change quite a few of my faults.
These cynics say that women make the mistake —
Of thinking they can change a man…
I’ve made enough mistakes for us both,
So trust me when I say that you can.

If they are referring to thugs and criminals,
And I should ever convert to that type:
I’d soon match your white — and quickly shed old stripes.

They keep on giving that advice,
But think again before you
Take it as true…
These people — they don’t know me,
And they sure as hell must not know You.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Letting Go

Posted on June 22, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Letting Go*

Whenever I hugged my mother as a child,
The hardest part was
Letting Go.

And when 10-year reunions are formed
or a spouse returns home from a long day,
or a child, not unlike me, hugs his mother,
They Too must eventually let go.
It’s that “Let-Go Moment” when the amount of seconds add up to a magic moment, and once it is felt, it’s ok: you can let go. Even if you want to hold on forever, you force yourself to let go…and sometimes after a few short seconds, the magic returns, and you hug again.

They hold one another by the sleeve,
They stare, and my word,
They Smile.
They may hug over and over again, but sooner or later, they must
Let Go.

I always hated to let go.

Mothers, most of all, fear letting go.

As I unloaded our van into my dorm room,
I noticed a proud, yet sorrowful mother…

She held her daughter for 18 years…

And as a tear fell,
She waved
&
Let Go.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Give Up, Dude

Posted on June 21, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Give Up, Dude*

“Don’t Give Up.”
“Don’t Ever Back Out.”
Let’s just be honest:
You need to
Tap The Fuck Out.
Don’t stay in a battle
That you can never win,
It takes giving up
To live to fight again.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Closure

Posted on June 21, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Closure*

A friend of mine once told me that
There is no such thing as closure.
When they’re done, they’re done,
That’s It.
It’s Over.
It’d sure be nice if it was more like the Soap Operas.
I don’t mean the yelling and the drama and the throwing stuff…
It’d be nice to know that you’d see that face again and that whatever is meant to be —
Will Be,
And whatever happens — there will be closure.
It’d be nice to saunter aimlessly about town and end up on a pier at the same time the woman on your mind is just standing there, looking out into the water…all by herself…
With Absolutely No One Else Around.
That’d sure be nice.
To have that kind of timing, and for it to be out of our hands.
Only in real life this never happens, instead the weeks go by as we await a phone call from the one who has to deep down recognize the error of their ways…or at least have the courtesy to discuss their
Conclusion.
But the phone never rings.
I’d like to just take a walk through the park in an empty town designed only to unscramble empty pieces and puzzling endings and find the same woman a week or so later. Once again. All by herself.
And not even be like,
“Oh my God. You again!? What are the odds!?”
But just simply state,
“Hi. How are you?”
All…Matter-of-Fact-Like.
Then we’d pick up where we left off at the pier.
And if it must keep happening at the park, or the same pier over and over again, or best yet — an empty bar, that’s my favorite…then so be it. It will continue to happen because in this world, our guardian angels refuse to let us go out like that. They will see to it that we get that closure we so richly deserve.
And after everything is finally out and settled…suddenly, that park, the pier, and the only local bar in town suddenly become even emptier…or much more crowded.
And the face is gone as it should be.
Like a relationship purgatory that didn’t know where to go, but is now finally wherever it belongs, and out your life.
It may be awkward at times, but it’d sure be nice to have a little closure. To find out what went wrong without always being the one to pick up the phone.
Or better yet, to say an amicable goodbye and sincerely reflect on memories one last time.
Yeah, that would be nice.
Almost as if thinking about the other person wills it into happening.
If it were like that down here, then
I would’ve seen her Every Single Day…
Until there was closure.

I don’t think I’d be the only one.
Those parks would be as packed as Wrigley, those piers as crowded as Navy, and those bars would have Capacity Met
Yes, yes, yes, it’d be Nice to have just a little closure.
But that’s why it’s a Soap Opera.
Because here in this lonesome town:
The Phone Never Rings.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Blank Stare

Posted on June 20, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Blank Stare*

Her eyes rise.
She gives a seductive glare.
But until she knows what she’s eying—
This is just a blank stare.

The physical scope is far too limited,
Her lens can’t expose what really matters.

I know what she doesn’t know about herself —
Which is that she knows nothing at all.

Her eyes are dancing and her lips are curling.
Very inviting, not very exciting.
Because I know until she gets to know me,
Our slate is clear and will likely remain unwritten.
I’m an outsider, different, perhaps even unusual,
I’m willing to bet this type isn’t her usual.

I wish I could say I don’t judge by covers,
but she seems easy to read.
I’m nearly certain I know what she goes for,
and I have the good sense to know it ain’t me.

So her smiling and staring is empty —
Since it means Absolutely Nothing.
If I am wrong, by all means
sit with me:

And let’s get to work —
Filling in these blanks.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Me Against The World

Posted on June 20, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Me Against the World*

Never take your eyes off the opponent…
Any great will tell you that.
Even before the bell,
Tyson was the best at that.
I’m alone in the corner.
Eyes on opponent.
Always on opponent.
I pace, loosen, stretch, waggle.
They may remain steady
or step violently in an attempt to intimidate.
My eyes shift with them.
Where they go, my eyes follow. Every movement is countered by my head.
My focus is undaunted, unflinching.
Finally, we meet in the center.
Human rulebooks stand in between…
Telling me what I can and can’t do.
I pay no attention.
I stay focused on my opponent.
I make no faces—
No menacing gestures.
I just stare.
One of Tyson’s victims swayed during the staredown,
trying to stay active and keep his energy.
Tyson’s head remained firm as Iron,
But his eyes swayed with the opponent.
Left to the right. Right to left. His eyes followed.

I go back to my small corner
where no one can touch me.
My opponent has already been announced.
The match already set.
It’s Me Against the World.
Bell rings.
I leave my corner in pursuit of a partner.
A Formidable Tag Team Duo.
Together let’s win the title; Change the title:
*Us Against the World*

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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A Salesman’s Omission

Posted on June 20, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

“Go out and Live!”
Exclaims the world!
They sell the notion of
Living Every Day
Like it’s the last
and to not let a single minute
Be lost.
With a drowsy eye
and a wavering head—
I sit up in my bed,
and respond,

“How much does that cost?”

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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Hours in Volumes

Posted on June 19, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*Hours in Volumes*

Days shouldn’t feel this empty.
Sealing capsules without substance lowers already knocked off pedals of will,
halting locomotive chains that were
barely moving anyway.
I’m still expected to approve the dross and waste of a full 24-hour rotation,
and send it out as if completed, and as if ready to begin anew the following day.
How can I? How can one be satisfied with a malfunctioning vacuum of winnowed pieces
that cannot be outplaced?
A Day’s Quality has managed to evaporate once more,
so I must now settle for a quantitative mass-producing of
Hours in Volumes.
Deep-Sixed Ticks rise from a deserted grave
and I succumb to its strangle, Until my body Slumbers,
but No —
I Will Not Rest.


From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

Posted in Uncategorized

For Those Who Can’t Find the Words

Posted on June 19, 2024 by clydeaidoo — Leave a comment

*For Those Who Can’t Find the Words*

Not everyone can afford to
go on a shopping spree of assorted degrees―
Education isn’t always earned— sometimes it’s simply paid for.
Some may not be legibly gifted,
or Do have a say, but just can’t lift it…
Some shout ideals and make passionate appeals,
but no one hears them:
Because they have no voice.
Even I may be among the latter, so this
is for those who have felt what I felt and feel what I felt — and may feel again.
My pain was no stronger or more poignant,
Only theirs may never be heard—
Just because they can’t find the words.

From Art of Mind II: All In
Copyright © 2012 Clyde Aidoo

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