Torch :: Renee Breeden

Renee Breeden

Renée Michele (Mother Metaphor) was born in 1974 Harlem and has been writing for years. She is also a writer of vignettes, short stories and novels. Renée is a student of the Cave Canem Regional Workshop Series, having participated in workshops spear-headed by Kate Rushin, Patricia Smith and Thomas Sayers-Ellis. She has hosted and co-hosted various shows, which include, but are not limited to: 1^st Fridays at the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, Dinner & a Poem at Brooklyn’s NY Perks on Smith Street and Liquid Language at Brooklyn’s 7^th Avenue branch of Barnes & Nobles. September 2007 saw two dreams realized for this quintessential poet. She became the owner of PoeTea Publishing, a publishing house that is dedicated to 3 of her favorite things, poems, tea and books as well as the release of her 1^st book of poetry entitled “Lock, Stock & Smoking Metaphors”. Renée’s book is now available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles.com for purchase. She is the host of "Write it, Work It, Talk It, Tell It! an internet radio talk show that assist grassroots artist find contest and grants in their respective fields. Future aspirations include: PoeTea Café & Bookstore and having one her books featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Blues On A Broken Tongue

dees blues too heavy. dey gon’ break my tongue

try’na carry this saxophone alone

cause can’t be no two players

on this blues machine…

found out what words could mean try’na love ya

rain clouds

i sing out loud hopin’ da sound will

move ya from in front’a da sun

but blues won’t play on no broke down tongue

dey too heavy

and I dunno us no mo’

yo’ spirit lay on me like you dead or sumthin’

takin’ up da space in my head…ridin’ on the edge ‘a me

like da bass be ridin' the rhythm…low…unda neef me…but DERE

we a pair…my broken tongue and me

she be cutting up da sound of dis heart break

pulling blues from da bottom of me

on top'a my broken tongue

dees blues too heavy

for me ta bare

piercin’ my heart with dis

blade called my tongue

undone, dis lady get real tired of singing da blues

abusin’ myself for da right to dees words

so it be evident in my song

strong blues

home blues

blues that come ta stay blues on a broken tongue...blues

be too heavy ta ride da melody...blues

memories trip like da percussion, da high hat… snare

tryin’ ta get where dis pain be at ta clean you out…blues

broke my tongue tryin’ to lift ‘em…blues

Tryin to gift ‘em ta otha womens, So dey tongues don’t get broke…blues

But da notes get loss ‘tween da cracks in my mouf