The Intro to My Act.

People ask if slamming is rap

I answer two-thirds

See the backbone to my rhymes

Is the meaning behind the words.

The words touch your heart

Feel the rhythm in your feet.

A linguistic gun in one hand

I don't need a beat.

I'll run circles around you.

But I'm no jock.

In the band for six years

I made the schoolhouse rock.

From the classroom to the stage

From my paper to your ears.

Love, Hate, Happiness,

Relationships, and Fears.

I'm that poetic aesthetic

I'll paint you a scene

Make the world seem less pathetic

Sad, as it may seem.

Everything you know about poetry, forget.

This is a different type of reading.

This is something you'll get.

I'm not here to change you,

Or blow your mind.

I want you to question yourself

And the answers you find.

I stand before you

With what time I got

To share with you some things

And to fill a time slot.

Poetry 101

It started off just a habit,

Something to pass the time.

A pen and some paper,

And some words that rhymed.

First family and friends

Lent a supportive ear.

Then over 300 people

Gathered to hear.

Slam is the poetry

I choose to speak

Real life is the material

I use to teach.

Drugs, Depression,

Alcohol, and Sex

With a little religion

Who knows what I'll use next.

I don't need a degree

To teach this passion.

All I need is a mic

And a touch of conviction.

So throw out your pencils,

Take a seat, and listen.

Welcome to Poetry 101.

Class is in session.

Emily Martin

September 6, 2010

Sex Sells

Kids are growing up faster than ever.

Every generation's just another younger mother.

It's on the TV, in the music, in the way we dress.

Is it really what we want? It's time to confess.

Because the only thing that sells anymore is sex.

When the shock factor's gone

What will they use next?

When kids start using words that make you blush,

Or when the prom queen is pregnant, and childhood is rushed,

Maybe when it's your kid who didn't use protection,

"But mom, it's ok, they made it on television."

What will it take

To make you see

That the reality that sells

Is on reality TV?

No one's entertained by the Honor Roll,

Working 9-5, or moral birth control.

It's when people mess up, or someone gets screwed,

But we're the entertainers, we're the ones who choose.

They can't Top the Charts, or Rock the Box Office

If the material they're selling doesn't entertain us.

Want the world to slow down? Then stop giving checks

To billion dollar companies who keep selling us sex.

July 23, 2010

I'm a Believer <>< (Extended Edition)

I'm searching for a word
Looking through the songs
Maybe a rhyme
Just to right the wrongs

A message in the sky
Maybe a sign from above
Noah had it right
Where's my branch and my dove?

Ask the non-believers
They're havin' a fit.
They look at my people
One word: hypocrite.

Saturday night;
"Hey they're playing my song!"
All seven deadly sins
Playing all night long.

Sunday morning
and it's a different story
Wake up just in time
To sing to His Glory.

Sit in the pews
Bow your head
Ask for forgiveness
...And do it all again.

Monday comes
You're back at work
Talk about the new girl
And how your boss is a jerk.

Chrome fish on your car
A Bible on your shelf
Grace before dinner
Yet you ask yourself:

Who am I really?
Why am I here?
If you'd crack open that Bible,
You'd find it's clear.

You're here to Live for Him
Because He died you you,
You're here to show people
Just what His love can do.

"Let your light so shine..."
See your way through the dark
Know that you're His
He lives in your heart.

To the non-believers;
I pray for you
Because I know that
My God loves you too.
(-June 14, 2010)

To all of you
It starts today.
I'm looking at the future,
And for this I pray:


That you stand for what's right,
Not afraid to take the lead.
Your life may be the only Bible
That some people read.


That no matter what happens
You remember Him.
Lord in your name I pray,
and play,
Amen.
(-July 12, 2010)

The Landscape(s) of My Mind.

In the last couple of years, I've had some of the darkest times of my life. I have felt so alone, alienated, betrayed, and sad that quite literally nothing seemed to matter. I could stare into dark space for hours. Words running through my mind, names of people who had wronged me, messages of self loathing, and yes, even some thoughts of self-harm. The first time I experienced this, it lasted for about 3 months, the last time; it only lasted for a couple of weeks. I've come to the conscious decision: I am never going back to that place again. The only way I feel I can get people to understand, is to describe to them the difference in the "landscape" of my mind.

Let me set the scene for you.

Most days, it's what I consider the perfect day. Around 55-60 degrees (just chilly enough for a hoodie), and it's breezy. I'm on a path, often one that's man-made after years of wondering. There are trees on both sides, and the sun hits them in such a way that the dying leaves of autumn are a rich golden hue. As I walk down the path, I do nothing but soak in the awe-striking beauty of nature. The most beautiful shades of green, yellow, blue, and red. Colors so crisp that only God could have created them. There's music; there's always music. Often times though, the music has no lyrics. Sometimes I find myself stopping and listening for the lyrics, just knowing that the hidden words are the answers to my questions, my predicaments, even my problems.

However.

There were days when it was dreary out. The temperature was about the same, but with no wind. No movement of any kind really. It looked like the very end of autumn. There were no leaves on the trees, yet there wasn't any evidence that they had fallen either. The grass was a pale shade of green, there was hardly sign of life at all. There was barely any color. But the worst part was; the music was gone. I would wonder around, but I didn't get anywhere. More than sad, it was frustrating.

Not Normal... or the New Normal?

Usually when it comes to my feelings, whether it be sadness, joy, depression, or alienation, I wait to share them. I wait till a muse hits me; the right string of words, in a slightly sing-song manner, in four lined verses, in my attempt at a slightly amateur version of poetry. Well, as you can tell if you read my last post, my life has changed a little once again :) Where there was once bleakness, alienation, betrayal, and distress, there's now genuine joy, laughter, anticipation, and life!

Those of you who know me; I know what you're thinking: Emily must be with a new guy. (rolling eyes). Ok, yes, that's true. And, yes, he does add to this new jubilation. However, he isn't the sole cause.

Over the past couple of months, I've dealt with shitty relationship situations. From friends, to "interests," to rejection, to betrayal, to pain, and everything in between. I was slipping back into this place of sadness, where frankly, I never want to be again. But like the like the lucky few of us who are put in that situation, I had someone throw me a line.

I had a friend who, from the beginning of this mess, in July 2009, told me that I had to create my own happiness. I took it as, Ok, I have to go out and make friends. That wasn't it, not really. She repeated; "You have to create your own happiness." Ok, happiness isn't something that's going to fall into my lap, I have to work for it. And I did, but that just left me exhausted, not to mention trying way too hard. She repeated the lesson a third time. And as much as I hate to say it (because the dregree of cliche is obnoxious) the third time was the charm! I finally realized that what I was relying on, was the exact thing that was hurting me the entire time. I felt like such a fool, that I hadn't seen it before.

I had to create my own happiness. A happiness that was for me, created by me, dependent upon myself only. I had to decide that I was going to be happy, and that I was going to have to rely solely on myself, because, like I had learned, sometimes you don't have anyone else.

More coming soon, but I need sleep. Slepp right now, will make me happy :)

Good night everyone :)

Always,

Emily.

Sometimes Life Can be so Kind

There’s a name that’s on my mind,
A smile on my face.
One of life’s surprises,
A fantastic touch of Grace.

A beautiful coincidence.
A lovely twist of fate
Not one moment too soon
Not a second too late.

I was happy by myself
Then he came waltzing in.
Now I’m happy with myself
While I’m standing next to him.

Clasped together hands
A subtle exchanged glance,
I couldn’t have asked
For a better circumstance.

No one saw it coming
I still think, sometimes; Surreal.
But then I see his smile
And I know, I'm sure, it's real.

April 28, 2010