I Can’t Breathe

We let politics take the lead,

As the voices of science we failed to heed.

I can’t breathe

Good solid leadership failed to step up and relax our minds,

As the sands ran from the hour glass & were precariously out of time.

I can’t breathe.

The wisdom of solid leadership Is missing as we continue to bleed,

As the continued endangerment of life we don’t need,

I can’t breathe.

We’ve failed to plan for the explosion of covid19,

As life as we know it has stolen so many dreams,

I can’t breathe.

As we literally watched the covid19 germinate,

We stoically watched as it began to terminate,

I can’t breathe.

This disease we sat and watched it come overnight,

Racism has been with us through as we fought for our right,

I can’t breathe.

Before it’s too late and you let your life unravel,

Decide the best path for you and yours to travel.

I can’t breathe.

We have to continue to fight the foot on our neck,

From the seen and the unseen without fear or regret,

I can’t breathe.

But each one,

Has to reach one,

To care enough to teach one,

To be there to help one – with what they need.

So each one …. can finally breathe.

by Mickey Clayton (www.mickeyclaytonfl.com) retired Head Basketball Coach at Florida A&M University, owner and CEO of MAC 4 Enterprises, LLC

Council of Dads

 

 

 

 

 

The First requirement of the Council of Dads,

Is to be the best friend your son ever had.

Next, you were the one who taught him to be a man,

the one who gently led your son by the strength of your hand.

 

When all others failed him you were never too far apart,

for you led him with love through a strong fatherly heart.

There is nothing, nothing live a mother’s love,

but a son needs the sizing of the dad’s glove.

It is from there he learns the winds of the world,

As before his childhood eyes, the problems of life unfurl.

 

It is where our fathers sit at the Council of Dads table,

Because the way they have lived through us, has made them enabled.

It is at the Council of Dads table where our dads all sit together strong,

bonded as one as they protect us from steps we take wrong.

It is an honor they take very seriously,

as they knew of each other before I knew of you or you knew of me.

 

They sit there reclined in their comfortable chair,

as they reunite with their dads who are already there.

Never ever forget when a problem does arise,

They are quickly summoned together for that protective fatherly ride.

They will support us in numbers with a strength unseen by man,

as they forever hold us up, with those fatherly hands.

 

Now they will have to have special sessions with the man named James,

Because he will have to learn on the Council there are things he can’t change.

He’s a leader and in his mind things have to go a certain way,

But in his world now, he won’t have the final say.

He has left a quiet confidence deep within you,

Know in your heart you, will be able to do all that you need to.

For he has left you marked with far more than his name,

as your creed to help others is your life’s flame.

The Dads smiled at James as he adjusted his Council of Dads chair,

As they told him, that was his last journey as his spirit would now ……. be everywhere.

 

<the inspiration for this comes from the great photo of the Tookes Family of four generations of men, it has always moved me. I hope I my did my brother justice>

The writer, Mickey Clayton (@MickeyClaytonFL) has served for over 40 years at Florida A&M University. He currently owns and operates an on-line sports talk show at www.INSiiGHTS.com (@INSiiGHTS).

 

 

 

 

 

Labor of Love

 

INSiDE Story

This morning I was awakened with a message in my heart that my spirit wanted me to craft. It is odd that the thoughts that wafted through my mind evolved into a slightly different mosaic as iI started to write …….

 

One on the things I have learned from my fellow alums and there have been many, is that … “we always need a voice to tell our story.”

 

The story I’m going to tell is from one of those voices … mine.

 

There are many voices of displeasure about many things that a people or organization does and if you let the white noise of discontent infiltrate your hearing acumen you will lose your balance and fall off your life’s path. Most of us were raised to follow your own heart and mind …. and to allow your journey to be your own ……

 

Working at my alma mater has been been trying and strengthening at the same time. I have had the input of sound words of encouragement and support from countless entities from places I never would have imagined. I have continually had obstacles removed from my path, and a door opened or window cracked when I absolutely did not expect to see it coming. I have learned that even from despair there would be a flicker of light that would show me the path to take. Sometimes it was from someone I knew, other times it would be from an unknown source, that was naked to the eye. 

 

I used to think it was just a coincidence but I realize now it was more than that ….. I used to say, “too much of a coincidence, isn’t a coincidence..”  I did not know that the maturing of that thought was a part of my beginning to accept who I am …. and … my purpose.

 

I am the recipient of many “blessings of love” …. Those blessings are sent by many and have always guided my existence. I was not always consciously aware of those guiding hands, soothing whispers and occasional stern shovings … nor …was I always a willing listener but I was always appreciative. My life’s journey became considerably smoother when I allowed my heart to become more intuned with life’s spiritual messages. Things began to become clearer to me and the path of my journey became more enlightened, as I became more conscious of the subtle calming of my spirit.

 

I am forever appreciative for those entities for putting the people in my path to allow my journey to be smoother … for seeing further down the road than I could see …. and for being the hands that give me the strength to travel the path in life I chose to travel.

 

I have always asked “to be shown who my enemies were. To allow me to see those who mean me no good. It does not mean they do not believe in you Lord, just that they do not like me ….. Please allow me to see them so I will govern myself accordingly.” He has always grants that to me, even though I still often times put trust in those that have hurt me previously. He whispers to me that “ i have allowed you to see their colors, why do you do trust them, yet again?”

 

I told him, “you have forgiven me countless times. Shouldn’t I forgive them?” 

 

 

more thoughts to come later ……

The writer, Mickey Clayton (follow him on twitter @MickeyClaytonFL) has served for over forty years in athletics at Florida A&M University. He currently owns and operates an on-line sports talk show at www.INSiiGHTS.com (Twitter @INSiiGHTS) 

Two Hundred One and Four

It is the dawning of a new day,

     Last year’s problems and mistakes have melted away.

So, as we take the time to celebrate the New Year,

     Embrace the new day and shed your fear.

Enjoy the brightness of today’s new sun,

     Realize the work of the Lord has only begun.

Realize it is a new year – the year of two hundred one and four,

     IT will bring to you pleasures and happiness you have never seen before.

 

 

By Mickey Clayton

INSiiGHTS

As you seek to accomplish your dreams….

Be aware of all that it means.

 

For hands will come from out of the dark…..

To pull at the strength of your giving heart.

 

But through it all you must remain true …

For the battle to achieve is never new.

 

Just believe that what is placed within your soul ….

Can protect you and be your control.

 

For success is a part of your planned destiny ….

That will release your challenges and set you free.

Just follow the path that leads to the right ….

For your heart will ultimately provide for you … your insiight …….

 

By Mickey

Why the Tears ….

Why is it you sit there with tears in your eyes,

            It is you who filled our present with your past lies.

All I needed from you was truth to come from your mouth,

            But you hid from me what it was all about.

You had your own reasons for lying to me,

            Those falsehoods keep tripping us from the past thru eternity.

 

Those tears don’t move me any more,

            For you keep going back to how you were before.

The past just seems to be a part of who you are,

            The past clings to you never seeming to be too far.

It is there always being a part of us,

            Always touching and damaging the trust.

 

So why is it you sit there with tears in your eyes,

            When it is you who filled our present with your lies?

 

Mickey