Green Party leaders: US negotiators at the Copenhagen summit helped kill necessary measures against global warming, replacing them with vague vows on greenhouse gas emissions

http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=276

What a little Billie Holiday can do

What a little Billie Holiday can do

i put my headphones on and listen to Billie
singing of foggy london, april in paris,
stormy blues and love that keeps you warm
it's lyrical, insightful, it is clarity within tones
she's a genius
something i strive towards
somewhere to aim myself in my art.

The horns playing along side her voice
remind me of my dad
he was passionate about jazz
he played me so many records
with so many amazing artists
i found it comforting
listening to billie and the other blues and jazz greats
time seemed to stand still
there was only the music
and my father's gentle smile.

Billie comes through my headphones
clear as a drop of rain in the spring
bright as the stars in the dark sky
her love of the music, the lyrics,
the art form itself, is unmistakable.

i emersed myself into the sounds
my teenage life was chaotic
and playing, singing, writing, performing
it gave me a focus, an outlet
a place to put my frustrations
clueless but fairly happy
i galloped along, creating my own path.

Billie is my american idol
tender, passionate, sensual
my mentor in music
my soulful sister in life

Would i have made it through?
my younger self struggled with
purpose, identity, sexuality
would I have made it through
without billie?
without dad who introduced us?

i did make it through
the bumpy road of life
finding self-freedom
experiencing cultural liberation
creating music
making love
honoring billie

nope, they can't take that away from me!

written by Starlene
December 20, 2008