Alfred Solis

Star At The Gate

2010-02-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

My Big Brother Brotha lightin' up the dark

With a Pearly Gate smile.

Soul Train lines form to greet him

Ancestry longer than the Nile.

Convention of Angels fill the sky above the crowds

To pose with the Father's Son.

Flashing Stars take pictures to capture memories

That could never be undone.

His Loving Heart has never stopped

We just can't hear it pumpin'.

Cuz if you're quiet, hear Heaven's Afterparty

Where Konji's Heart is BUMPIN'!

- aL 02/07/2010 RIP Konji Harrison

I Don't Know

2008-01-06T00:39:00.000-08:00

I don't like to see or hear others cry especially on my behalf.

I don't want to hear the laughter die for I fear the aftermath.

I'm saying I'm okay, but I know something's wrong.

I'm not hungry, I'm not sleepy, my sadness keeps me strong.

I feel right in the head, but wronged in my heart.

I want to purge the pain with loving tears, but I Don't Know how to start.

- aL 01/06/08

Every September 11th

2007-02-17T00:45:00.001-08:00

Every horror horrified
Every minute miniaturized

Every terror terrorized
Every reality realized

Every person personalized
Every family familiarized

Every peril paralyzed
Every memory memorized

But every remembrance reminds...

Every journey journeyed
Every flight flown
Every sail sailed
Every shine shown

Every run ran
Every road ridden
Every stand stood
Every drive driven

Every sight seen
Every smell smelt
Every taste tasted
Every feeling felt

...is TRULY a blessing to bless.

- aL 09/25/01

To Those

2007-02-17T00:44:00.002-08:00

Wind-milled giants beckon,
Ferry travellers reckon,
Hedonistic secrets of shory white inventions.

The loud mediterranean sun burns,
The whispering Meltemi wind churns,
Telling tales untold to those that turn.

Buzzing buzzers,
Cackling cacklers,
Herding herds,
Revealing unmarked paths to those that beset the long billed bird.

The stewing lamb,
The dry mouthing sea,
The scent of settling dust,
Giving hidden hints to those made mystery by midday musky musk.

The baking pebble sand,
The lukewarm liquid blue,
The feel of silvery showy show,
Entrusting experienced feelings felt to those and Me-To-Know.

- aL Mykonos, Greece 09/09/01

Clear Moment

2007-02-17T00:44:00.001-08:00

Oceans of Hope
Captured limits below a line

Mystifying dreams escaping across the divide
From mirrored sky to sky

Still white deliverers
Rolling towards peaks of peaks

To trickle teary promises
Through rocky passageways

Joining waterfalls of joy, rapids of happiness
And streams of laughter

To purified containment
Resting upon full lips of enjoyment

Quenching both our desires
With an eternal Sip in time.

- aL 1997

Mind, Body & Solace

2007-02-17T00:43:00.001-08:00

I strengthen my arms
to catch you when you're falling
and to lift you to new heights.

I strengthen my shoulders
to soak up all your tears
and for you to lean on late at night.

I strengthen my back
to relieve you of your burdens
and to give you solid ground.

I strengthen my chest
to control this love I have in my heart
that grows with every pound.

For the way you make me feel
when I have you on my mind

Gives me the ability and the confidence
that I once could never find.

- aL 1997

Swap Meet

2007-02-17T00:42:00.001-08:00

Collecting experiences to trade with my Regular.
She marvels at the junken treasures
eyeballing the secondhand goods to bargain the price.

"But the offers include special histories!" I cry.
She understands and pays plenty with smiles.

When she is gone, my business is gone.
So I rush to Her booth
to return cherished patronage with smiles of my own.

- aL 1996

In For Life

2007-02-17T00:37:00.001-08:00

How can I forget a moment of bliss
a moment of happiness

My senses make no sense.
The love I had, past tense.

Be deaf to the sounds...I regretfully hear.
Be blind to the signs...that are painfully clear.
Be numb to the feelings...my heart still holds dear.
Be dumb to a future...ever so so near.

I once was a temple built by the purest of thought.
My architecture strong, resisting weather and rot.

Then a Visitor of love went in and out of my door
and cursed my most sacred structure forever more.

My temple now a prison.
My drive no longer driven.

The quest for spiritual clarity
now a desperate search for sanity.

For my mind will be waiting for the One with my key
to unlock this lonely cell and set my soul free.

- aL 1996

Why It Hurt?

2007-02-17T00:36:00.001-08:00

Daddy git hert sum time lass year.
Win Crismas com round less reson to cheer.

Ownly one giff to gib to dadd'y two boys.
I sed let baby hab It, he nead a nu toy.

Papa is still hurt when Christmas came around.
Only One gift expected, I don't make a sound.

Papa gives it to Billy, just because was enough.
He knew I was stronger, he knew I was tough.

Dad finally has money to buy us both gifts.
But he only buys a good One for Bill, he forgets I exist.

That night before Christmas, I felt my heart ache.
I could have had something..but again, no reason to wake.

- aL 1996

Winning Losers

2007-02-17T00:34:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows the truest of truths
nice guys finish last and are destined to lose.

They run a calm race at their happy pace
not cutting of guys or starting a chase.

They continue to run for they know what's at stake.
All dreaming a dream of Glorious fate.

But they know with sincerity, they'll get there in time
for that Someone to greet them when they're crossing that line.

The final redemption after all the years they have trained
for Someone to hold them and block out the pain.

Not setting a record only One to impress
just finishing the race would be their personal best.

- aL 1996

Me, Myself & Eyes

2007-02-17T00:32:00.000-08:00

At times the world is too much to bear.
The looky looky eyes that dare to stare.

People thinking your thoughts, believing to know what's not.
Are they just jealous of something you've got?

Can't I just smile a smile and laugh a laugh
without someone wondering what I meant by that.

Can't I just scream a scream and cry a cry
without someone looking over their shoulder as they pass by.

Can't I just live a life and die a death
without someone judging me under their breath.

Oh God give me the strength to keep this fight.
The whispers are loud and are testing my might.

Strangers are watching and making up minds.
The rumors are harsh and are never kind.

At times the world is too much to bear
I pretend I'm not bothered, but really...I care.

- aL 1996

Free Cruise

2007-02-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

Bumper to bumper traffic
imprisoning the body, freeing the mind.

Time not to be so tragic
but a moment to unwind.

People honking people cursing
as I enjoy my imagination.

A headache they'll be nursing
till they reach their destination.

Once in motion never pleased
overlooking life's pleasantries.

So I kindly pull to the side
Life in the slow lane...what a ride!

- aL 1996

Untitled

2007-02-17T00:25:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature can you help me
I'm looking for a wave.

One of beauty and of excellence
a special one you've made.

This is not just any sign
for I've seen others' ups and downs.

I knew they weren't the ones for me
for certainly I'd drown.

Squinting into the distance
peaking over the Horizon's edge.

If only the Sun could tell me what it sees
before it went to bed.

Always ready, getting weary
a tear rolls down my cheek.

My droplet searches the ocean
to be with the Wave I seek.

I will be part of It
and It will be part of me.

So when my tear comes back again
truly happy I will be.

- aL 1996