Did you get your copy of "Open Your Eyes?" If not, send $10.00 to jujuseeds publishing, P. O. Box 2612, Baltimore, MD 21215.

For a sample of what's inside, check below, and also the archives.

Book #2 is coming soon.

NEW BOOK IN THE WORKS!

we are working on a new book as we speak. keep your eyes and ears open for it. here is a preview of what's inside:

there is life under the small mound of the anthill
vibrant life hidden beneath earth and effort
beyond what is witnessed at first glance.
so it is with the vast blue oceans, dark and
sprawling and limitless.
beneath the chop of the deserted waves
lies an earthen world alive and true.
look at me and tell me what you see
tell me what you see at first glance
and I will show you what’s beneath

Read Me

Read me-
and you will know my heart-
read me, and you will know who i am-
i've forgotten, but my heart hasn't-
it speaks empty words full of love, and life and desire-
it speaks of a soul battered by itself - and lost in the battle of the years-
a soul that can blame nothing but itself-
its demise a product of stolen youth, misplaced life-
i am the culprit-
but my heart knows better-
i speak malignant evil-
but my heart perseveres-
i open up the gates to death-
and my heart shields me from it-
it is a hard life-
being accountable-
being honest while cowering under a vivid facade-
it's hard and often foolish to live inside and never out-
i find gentle comfort in my knowing heart-
when all else fails and shuts down-
i can count on it to breathe, to walk, and carry on-
read me and you will know my heart-
read me and you will know who i am---
i've forgotten-
but my heart hasn't.

by gary j. j. boston

Gary (center) with brothers

Gary (in center) with family

Transformation

None of us are strangers to death. Throughout our lives we encounter it, as old selves inevitably die and new selves invariably awaken. Gary J. J. Boston

"Freedom For All"

The following are a few quotes (sent out weekly to a host of family, associates, friends, and friends of friends, written by Gary J. J. Boston, author of "Open Your Eyes," A Collection of Poems (see below), and one by Khalid Boston (I'm trying to get him to free up more of his work). I called them "Freedom For All" because the message, if and when applied to your personal being, can bring about a measure of understanding of life's bigger picture, which can result in a feeling of personal freedom that we all deserve to experience! Hopefully a new book of poetry and quotes, and a fiction novel (which is in the works) will follow soon, as his writing book (and random pieces of paper) are bursting with new material. Feel free to share what you are thinking, how the ideas may be freeing for you, or send quotes of your own.

"It will never be as easy as you want it, but it will always be as hard as you make it."
Khalid

. . . and some from Gary,

"Money isn't everything. The happiest moments of my life were not purchased."

"Problems are like clay - what comes out of them is often a great masterpiece."

"If you don't ask a stupid question, you might make a stupid mistake."

"I can't remember the last time I heard someone say, 'I'm proud of myself.' How can we really know the full meaning of confidence if we can't first acknowledge it for ourselves?"

"The word 'selfish' is underrated and perhaps misinterpreted. It's not at all wrong to think of yourself and give yourself credit when it's due. So be selfish today, and give yourself a pat on the back about something."

"I'm better prepared to cope with the darkness. This time it's as if I've brought along a map and a flashlight."

What do you think?

Discussion of poem, "Liberation", from "Open Your Eyes"

An uninhibited spirit
floating down uninhibited paths
untouched and uninterrupted
and altogether incomplete,
like an unfinished castle.
He waits in the wind,
foundations compressed and strong,
yet not enough for the burden
crunching under the weight of ill-placed stones.

Gary's Interpretation

Mom's interpretation is fantastically detailed and researched, and I realize that mine will be rather concise. With that said, refer to hers for a more depth driven response. First, you the reader need to associate yourself with the uninhibited spirit, or rather an unhindered personality or way of mind. Imagine yourself as that uninhibited spirit, freely floating when and where you please, "untouched and interrupted, and altogether incomplete". But as the writer, I likened myself to an "unfinished castle", remaining stoic and standing erect and tall in the face of the coming wind, my foundation compressed and strong, but due to insecurities, not yet strong enough. The "ill placed stones" bit refers to those past mistakes and wrongs that seem to persist throughout our years, and those stones incidentally hold me back to some degree. In short, the poem describes one whose mind roams free and unhindered, but one not without fault, as past mistakes are like ill placed stones in a seeming staunch fortification. What do you think??

Jumoke's Interpretation

For me, the first 5 lines of the poem expresses or identifies our divine or spiritual selves. The Oxford dictionary defines "divine" as: "of, from, or like God or a god. Excellent, beautiful."
I would further elaborate on Oxford's definitions to include these adjectives (which just happen to be in the poem): uninhibited, untouched, uninterrupted, incomplete (incomplete, for me, meaning continuously learning and growing, ever-changing, renewing, etc.). I believe that each and every soul (spiritual being) came into this physical ("unfinished castles") existence with an incredible capacity to give and receive love, the tremendous potential to express our greatest good, and, as we mature through life, unlimited opportunities to reconnect with that greatness when/if the connection has been interrupted. And the divine connection does eventually get interrupted when we become bombarded, overcome, "burdened, crunched under the weight" of negative experiences ("ill placed stones") which leave us imprisoned in our castles by doubt, worry, fear, mistrust, etc. But take heart! We can achieve "Liberation" whenever we're ready though the re-cognition of our "divine" (beautiful, excellent, God-like) energy, our strong, god-like beginnings ("foundations compressed" into each unique individual) that remain within, waiting to be summoned to assist us in overcoming any obstacle, to free us again to express that uniqueness! Unfortunately, we rarely experience it, as our attention is all-consumed by wars, prejudice, politics, gossip, illness, poverty, the 5:00 news, the rest of the media, and other sources that leave us feeling like we're not good enough, and on and on and on, crunching us under their weight.

How would YOU interpret this poem? What does it mean to you? Do you feel the "weight" and want liberation? Have you felt the weight and found solutions to relieve the burden? Feel "free" to click on "comments" to leave your thoughts, experiences, or - comments. Also visit the September Archives to read more poetry and view some of Gary's art.

Jumoke

"Life unfolds best for those not afraid to live it."
by Gary J. J. Boston