30 Nov How to Make Each Moment Count by Brandon Williamson
-An appreciation for life
-The willingness to step outside of your comfort zone
-Moments to transform into memories
-The ability to look back at your life and know that you’ve made the
most of each moment you had
When I reach the end of this life,
let my body serve as evidence
that I have given everything.
I’ve left it all in this court.
That I have not allowed life
to course through my veins
stinging with the icy chill
of regrets and good intentions
while trying to pay my life support.
I want life to leave me a mess.
one that my family
doesn’t feel responsible for,
so they discover me
covered in mold.
I’ll convince you
that there is beauty
the greenery of growing old.
When my bones ache,
Let them.
They sing arias
in languages they’ve never called their own.
They’ll carve my legend like Excalibur
in each Rosetta stone.
When my mind is lost,
let me go,
let me sail away
into the lines of a poem,
wherever my mind goes,
know that I’ll consider it home.
If my lungs fail,
it will not be the first time.
I’ve lost count of breathless moments
full of love and punch lines,
thrills and red wine,
each lost breath is reflective
of the mountains I’ve climbed.
When mountains form
across the desert of my skin.
Do not consider them wrinkles.
They are simply lifelines
walking a bit too close to deadlines
protecting the liquid fire
that still burns within my eyes
When my eyes revoke me of my vision,
know that they have cried
in the presence of a beautiful sunrise,
and sunset.
they have witnessed the majesty of you
in this moment.
And I’m proud to have been a part of that.
When you see,
my hands,
brittle, broken branches
of a lifeless tree.
know that they have planted seeds,
constructed bridges to build communities,
I hope that is the legacy I leave.
When my heart stops,
know that with its last beat
it kept our rhythm.
Our same two step American slow dance,
the African romance
drumming through our blood.
They now stand still for us,
like a candlelight vigil
haunting the memories of those we love.
When the sound of silence is deafening in my ears,
it’s because they’ve heard enough.
And if I should die,
know that I have lived.
Know that I’ve given this body
all that I have to give.
When I reach the end of this life,
I don’t want enough energy
to feel like I have another life in me left to live.
That I’ve spent it all on this one.
And to me,
that would be an honorable death.
So until then,
until my very last breath,
you can expect me to give it absolutely everything.
Until I have nothing left.
About the Poet
Brandon Williamson is a poet, spoken word artist, actor and performer with Ujima Theater Company, and the organizer and coordinator of poetry slams across the United States and internationally.
Williamson, who was born, raised, and continues to live in Buffalo, has performed on stages across North America and Europe. He graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2007 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Theatre. Brandon began his career as a high school theater teacher. A few years later, he changed directions and returned to SUNY Fredonia to become an Admissions Counselor to not only fulfill his joy of working with students, but also to give back to the community. During his nine years as an Admissions Counselor, Brandon also founded Pure Ink Poetry and wrote and published two books of poetry.
Brandon describes himself as a “Storyteller, creativity consultant, innovation specialist, and founder of the internationally recognized Pure Ink Poetry organization in Buffalo, NY and with experience serving as a school administrator, college admissions counselor, high school teacher, college advisor, minister, poet, actor, musician, author, athlete, producer, community activist, professional wrestler, and innovator.”
He is the recipient of an Excellence in Education nomination as a Buffalo Schools Administrator and a recipient of the Buffalo Business First’s 40 under 40 award. Williamson is the founder and Director of the Pure Ink Poetry Slam Series, and the author of the poetry collections Critical Lens (2015) and A ‘How to’ Guide (2020) in which this poem appears.
Related Events
- Later today, Sunday, November 30th, at 3:30 p.m. Brandon Williamson will host the November Pure Ink Poetry Slam, a monthly, two-round spoken word and poetry slam competition series at the Em Tea Coffeecup Café, 80 Oakgrove Ave., Buffalo, NY 14208. Pure Ink Poetry Slam is always an open slam without specific themes or requirements other than the general rules of slam. Sign up is from 3 p.m. Open mic and slam starts at 3:30 Visit the website pureinkpoetry.com for more information.
- The Literary Café Series at the CFI will feature poets Brandon Williamson and Tim Raymond reading from their work on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:30 p.m. at The Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd. in Amherst, NY. Ryki Zuckerman is the curator and host of the series. The event is free and open to the public.
The Poem of the Week feature is curated by literary legacy awardee R.D. Pohl.