Dreams Are Not Concerned

By Brandelyn N. Castine

Today

Today i am immune to negativity

immune to the concept that laughter is a foreign language

And joy can only be shaken forward through a forbidden tongue

Today i embrace the wind

The fragrance captured in the leaves

The orange tanginess of lemon drops

The moments smoky with soft kisses and stolen glances

Today i embrace the questions

And challenge the doubts

My head aches from over thinking the lines and rhythms and confines of this poem

Keeping me tucked away from the issues and shades of gray

Today over thinking is a mystery

And my hips are exactly the shape and size they should be

Because today, finally, i am walking in the fullness and liberty of joy

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462015917

Brandelyn N. Castine

Brandelyn N. Castine currently lives in the Bay Area and is the author of Everybody Plays the Fool, a novel; Spoken Silence: Life in four parts, a volume of poetry; and U.G.L.Y., a novel. She is also a contributing author to the Gumbo for the Soul Anthology, When I Was There, Life at Berkeley 1960- 2010 anthology project. dreams are not concerned is her second volume of poetry.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Dedication:

From the Author:

Acknowledgements:

A Thought

Confidence

Always Be True

Identity

Clap For Me

Space

Today

Remarkable

Sparkling Emerald Green

Motion

Drifting

Questions/Searching

Lavender Raindrops

List #3: In Search of Sanity

Emotional Asthma

Her

Cabin Fever Rantings

Ramblings (I miss me)

Sometimes

Weight

Just Listen (for iNDeeJay)

Hello…is it me you’re looking for?

Onion Peels

Angst

[This too Shall Pass]

Stolen Moments

Sense

Leaves

Hopes

Strands

List #7 High Highs and Low Lows

Bricks

Living in the land of Haikus

Haiku #20

Haiku#21

Haiku #22

Haiku #23

Haiku #24

Haiku #27

Strings

Let it Be [emotional transition.]

Most Days

A List: Totally inspired by an exchange with Mr. Washington

List #5

List #2 (I’m addicted to my truth)

Stream of consciousness… Random rainy day coffee shop thoughts…

Pathways

Lessons

Dear Rahsaan

My apologies

I think: A few random thoughts

List #10 Emotional Hangover

Love

What do you Love?

Butter

I want to write

Sunshiny Rain

We

Tiny Bits of Happiness

Butterfly Messages

Hide Behind the Smoke with You

3 AM Reflections

Loving you…. A Thought…

Share my world

But if

Bedtime ramblings…

Summertime

The Way I am

Your words

Untitled: Just needed to get this off my chest…

Repetition

Come, Go With Me

Dedication:

To My Brothers: Cass, Christopher, Noah, Daniel, David, and Joshua. Because you inspire me.

From the Author:

Exposed. Naked. Raw. I feel these things with everything I write, but I feel this the most with my poetry. [Honesty].

Here I am, for all to see. Each word in this book, each line, each rhythm, each rhyme is me. These are my tears, my giggles, my dreams, wishes, desires, fears, and hopes. These are my eyes closed, wind blowing through my hair, deep breath, I believe anything is possible moments. I am a little bit older, a little bit wiser, and a lot more in tune with my truth. This is me, all of me, for whatever that’s worth. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Peace and Joy,

Brandelyn

Acknowledgements:

Mr. Joshua Washington. The debt of gratitude that I owe can never be repaid. Thank you for your friendship [love], support [trust], jokes [side eyes, jigs and whatever other forms of foolery], kicks in the butt, artistic introductions and inspiration. I truly admire, respect and look up to you. You are amazing and I’m grateful that you are a part of my world.

Mr. Nican Robinson. Cousin. Please know how much I believe in you and admire your talent. Your photography and creative eye inspires me beyond words. Thank you for sharing your gifts with me. *rubs hands* and soon, we will take over the world. Love you!!!

Miss Amy Stine. You are the cherry lifesaver that makes everything better. Thank you for your blood sweat and tears. The cover is the cover of my dreams and I know it will get bigger and better from here. Your talent is truly a gift from God. To the stars we go.

Mrs. Tonesha Russell. Thank you for your eagle eyes, for combing through this book and for taking this journey with me. I value you more than I can say.

Ms. Beth Gillis. I cannot thank you enough for your support and encouragement. Your words lifted me out of my doubts and I am grateful to you. For you. Thank you for taking the time to read through my thoughts. For being the calm I needed and for reminding me to breathe.

A Thought

Walking along the city streets, lips curled in a soft smile, eyes glazed, staring at everything and nothing at the same time, breezes blowing her hair in any direction it wants to move. Her eyes staring at her future, promises moving into reality, music blowing peace into the dusty corners of her soul. She hears the whisper that her time has come. Lips slipping into a smile…because she can and because she knows that no matter what…she wins….

Confidence

I cannot explain it, I cannot contain it, My soul flies free…

Jill Scott

Be Ready

Always Be True

"I know who I am and I am always me, although I can be really intense at times …Sometimes I’m a sullen girl, disillusioned with the world’s backwardness, angry at the wrongs, can’t get pen and paper in my hands quick enough. Sometimes I’m thoughtful, calling my loved ones to pour out why I appreciate them, singing my thanks. Sometimes I’m shy, painfully transparent, sharp at times, at others silly. I am one intense adjective at a time, and while I’m there, I don’t resist those feelings. I rest in those moments. I try to taste them, wrap myself in them as hard as I can. I call it freedom, and I suppose if I wasn’t the way I am, I wouldn’t have the careers I do. Maybe I’m nuts (probably), but I notice that when I fight myself, suck myself in, I lose all the stuff, the fruit, the core of me that I enjoy the most."

~Jill Scott

Sometimes I am complicated, unable to accurately articulate the reason for the tears, the laughter, the attitude, the quiet. Sometimes I want to be silent in my feelings. Acknowledging each emotion as it comes, allowing each one to pass by as slowly as a rolling cloud, giving them a perfect space to breathe. Sometimes I get emotional over moments that most allow to pass by without thought; the sight of my brother dancing in my living room; the perfect moment of sitting down in the quiet of a genuine conversation; the crisp crackle of the cover opening on a brand new book. I live for these moments, sometimes.

I am a giant contradiction: Loving attention while fearing it. Traveling on a constant quest for human contact all the while thirsting for solitude. Choosing books over movies, live shows over iPods, thrift stores over major chains, I live for originality.

I am classic, yet evolving; comfortable, yet unsettled in my intensity. I choose love. Always. I tried, fell, slipped, tripped, landed into my own arms, melted into my own embrace, resting safely in the first place I could find that was simply enough to carry the weight of all that I am, all that is me; finally I understand how important it is and what it truly means to fall in love, all over again.

I choose to enjoy the days that bring life, the light moments, the bright moments. The truth that lies in between the dark moments, I can breathe there. Be there, observe who I choose to believe there and right here, I am liberated in the comfort of my own skin. Complete. Comfortable. Aware. I choose to grow here, constantly show, improve and believe here, respecting the contradictions, remembering that I need to believe in who I am and who I