My First Poetry Book: Amour Rising

I am putting the final touches on my first poetry book, Amour Rising!! 

I hope to have everything completed by next week so my book can be available to YOU!!

I cover many topics in this book, including love, sex, regret, and my unique experiences as a Black woman.

I thank you in advance for your support!!

-T. Amour...better known as Tai Gooden

New Home, New Name: Upcoming Changes to Love Poetry. Love Music. Love LIFE!!

Things can, and usually do, change!

After two years and many blog posts, I have made a decision to completely revamp my blog.

Love Poetry, Love Music, Love LIFE will go through a myriad of changes this weekend. I will have a new URL, new name, and lots of new and engaging content coming up in the near future.

Why am I making these changes?

Because it is time to take my writing career to the next level! I want a better look, better content, and a more interactive experience with you. So, I thank you for each and every view, like, RT, and comment and I look forward to the future!

-T. Amour...better know as Tai Gooden :)

National Poetry Month - How to Write Poetry!

The first week of National Poetry Month has flown by! If you were like me, you may have gotten behind on reading, writing, and posting poetry of the course of the weekend.

I have had a couple of people ask me what process I use to write my poetry and if there is truly a way to learn how to write poetry.

I have an answer for both of those questions!

When I write a poem, I usually have a random title pop up in my head. For instance, I recently wrote a poem for the popular website For Harriet and the title, "Soul Cord", was a thought in my mind. The poem is about my newborn daughter and the strong bond I am forging with her. To me, my bond is like the umbilical cord we once shared, but instead of sharing my body with her, I now share my soul with her.

After that, I just let my feelings flow. I typically don't write poems that rhyme because I don't think in rhymes in my head. I guess I wouldn't have much of a career as a rapper! I just write from the heart, even if I feel like I am the only person who would understand my words.

And that leads me to the second question. NO, there is no way to learn how to write poetry because there is no correct way to do it. That is the beauty of poetry! You can capitalize the words you want to capitalize and write whatever you are feeling inside. You don't have to rhyme, you don't have to use complicated language, and your poem can be as long or short as you want it to be. 

Life has a lot of rules, but poetry is not bound to any rules. Be free to write what you want!!

-T. Amour 

National Poetry Month: Day 3 & 4 - Langston Hughes

We are already 4 days into National Poetry Month!! It looks like April is going to fly by us!

Since I didn't post yesterday, I wanted to share two more poems with you. Both poems were written by the late, great Langston Hughes, a Harlem-Renaissance era poet and one of my favorite poets of all time.

Enjoy "I, Too" and "Catch"
**All rights reserved to the respective writer and publisher of this material**

"I, Too"

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

"Catch"

Big boy came 
Carrying a mermaid
On his shoulders
And the mermaid
Had her tail
Curved
Beneath his arm.

Being a fisher boy,
He'd found a fish 
To carry-
Half fish,
Half girl
To marry.

National Poetry Month - Day 2 - Erykah Badu "Out of My Mind, Just in Time"

Today, I wanted to share lyrics from one of my favorite songs. Yes, lyrics do count as poetry!

Enjoy my favorite lyrics from Erykah Badu's "Out of My Mind, Just in Time"

"I'm a recovering undercover over-lover, 
Recovering from a love I can't get over.
recovering undercover over-lover
And now my common law lover thinks he wants another..."

"And I'd lie for you
I'd cry for you
And pop for you
And break for you
And I'll hate for you
And hate you too 
if you want me to...."

Will I share my own poetry tomorrow?? We will see :)

-T. Amour 

National Poetry Month: Day 1 - Maya Angelou

National Poetry Month is back again!!

I will be posting thought-provoking poetry each day during the month of April. I also intend to write a poem a day and I hope you will too!

Today's poem is by one of the most well known poets in the world: Maya Angelou.

Enjoy "Alone" and Happy Writing!

-T. Amour 

**From Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well By Maya Angelou. Copyright © 1975 by Maya Angelou. 

Lying, thinking 
Last night 
How to find my soul a home 
Where water is not thirsty 
And bread loaf is not stone 
I came up with one thing 
And I don't believe I'm wrong 
That nobody, 
But nobody 
Can make it out here alone. 

Alone, all alone 
Nobody, but nobody 
Can make it out here alone. 

There are some millionaires 
With money they can't use 
Their wives run round like banshees 
Their children sing the blues 
They've got expensive doctors 
To cure their hearts of stone. 

But nobody 
No, nobody 
Can make it out here alone. 

Alone, all alone 
Nobody, but nobody 
Can make it out here alone. 

Now if you listen closely 
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering 
The wind is gonna blow 
The race of man is suffering 
And I can hear the moan, 
'Cause nobody, But nobody 
Can make it out here alone. 

Alone, all alone 
Nobody, but nobody 
Can make it out here alone.