Poetry

There are no boundaries, no barriers to stop this new lit fire from burning with all the passion and intensity of this gifted poet.

Ayin introduces us to her mother and grandmother through poems that celebrate them while exposing the hardships of their- and her- life. She tells us stories about other women "SPARE CHANGE,"FAT CHANCE", which further reveal her own strong and tender heart. "MOMMA CRIED..." the 1999 Award Winning Poem in memory of Pat Parker is destined to be a classic.

You will meet a proud black poet, philosopher, and lover of women whose sense of humor informs her sense of honor. Some poems, like "COOKING," are best read aloud.

While many of these poems are autobiographical, they have also the quality of universality. The demands Ayin puts upon herself in fulfilling her life's goals will lead you to an examination of your own intentions. Her words are a challenge as well as a gift. "I wanna know/ if you can/ stand by your/ heart/ and not/ abandon/ your guts/ to risk/ the truth/ of your being." Ayin will take you deeper into the bowels of your very self.

"SPARE CHANGE" was adapted to script and filmed by Ayin Adams on Maui and in San Francisco. It screened at the New York International Independent Video & Film Festival winning acclaim.

THE COLOR OF HER TEARS:
The Color Of Her Tears

Peeling Layers Of Onion

Products of Tragic
Mystification: Homophobia

They Never Grew Up

Cooking

FROM BROOKLYN TO MAUI:
1. A Storm For Me To Climb

2. Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry

3. Cat Caught Up In A Tree

4. Evening At Iao

5. From Brooklyn To Maui

Click on highlighted titles to hear Audio!

Passage Of Initiation
(from "Walking Through My Fire")
Descending...
Descending…
Descending the depths
to grasp and claim her soul
her wisdom as woman.
Descending into the deeper
nature of self
she does not hear
her own quiet voice
she derives no comfort
from self in solitude
until at last
she merges with her pain
coming full circle
to birth
to puberty
to young woman
to full woman
turning around
and growing
through her
passage of initiation.

Fat Chance
(from "Walking Through My Fire")
Carrying excessive burdens
her emotions desperately
seeks to escape
her appearance tells the story
of Bulima
and not the fat of the land
surrounding symbols
of windows and shutters
she stutters
she flutters
to see both sides.
Looking into bleak and sad eyes
of a depressed soul
Is she present?
Is she pregnant?
Fat Chance!
Needs mental understanding in the colors
the color of green, the color of growth
the color of healing, the color of regeneration
the color of meditation, as she faces herself
in the pools of reflective tears
in the pools of reflective tears.

Products of Tragic Mystification: Homophobia
(from "The Color of Her Tears")
Products of tragic mystification
Homophobia
Products of tragic mystification
Homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia rooted deep
deep within her sexuality
causes insecurity
insecurity and co-dependency
fosters
using me
to make up
for what she lacks
what she lacks!
Products of tragic mystification
Homophobia
Mystification
mystification
Mystified friendships!!!!

Cooking
(from "The Color of Her Tears")
Melting her candy on the radiator
she was playing "cooking"
she ironed her clothes at seven years old
straightened her hair as best she could
iron burns on her wrist and belly
scars, scars, scars of playing "Mother"
Scrubbing and washing Carolina rice
over the kitchen sink
stood in a chair to reach the stove
to cook the rice that they all ate
and then she sat down to read the Bible
and then to pray, "Please God, I wanna play like a child".

Two Drops Of Water, One Drop Of Tears
(from "Walking Through My Fire")
In this space I honor you
between the distance of our silence
vows spoken
dances we sing
you are a maiden
adorned in laces and pink ribbons
the gathering of spiritual tools
for this homage of soul
kinship
one to another
the love of a brother
for his mother
casting clay
two drops of water
one drop of tears
bricks and stones
our space is honored
in time and love
between the distance
lies eternity
finally
at last
rest for real
this moment
shall not be uttered
for three days.

A Woman of Substance
(from "Walking Through My Fire")
Refusing to make a life by living
she was content on living life
a prisoner of her past.
In the pools of her reflection
she lied
thougts of her past conjuring illusions
restlessness and discontent
existing solely outside her body
within her reach choices sat, and so
she waited, within her reach unpleasant
memories dogged her, chased by the four hideous horsemen
terror, bewilderment, frustration and fear
'round and 'round for another dance
'round and 'round for another chance
she failed to remember
she was a Goddess of the Now
a woman of substance
her soul unfolding in the moment.

Wondering
(from "Walking Through My Fire")
Across the naked sky
under the cold moon
of fleeing thoughts
and distant memories
heart filled with sorrow
heart filled with desires
wondering
will there be
a next tomorrow
wondering
will I hold her
once again
slowly turning eyes
cast in the streams
leaves falling gently
send drops of softness
from the clouds above
and dew
of the tiniest bit
urging me
to reach out and grasp
the beauty inside me
unfolding me
wondering
wondering.