A-Maze-Ing

Opening your horizons to new events and experiences is one of the most interesting things a person can do with their life. We all know what to expect when we frequent the same place with the same people. On Thursday, June 17, 2010 I attended Love Jones Thursday at Boston’s House of Jazz. The crowd was small and sparse as it was game seven of the NBA finals. The show began with an introduction by the Princess of Poetry. Dressed in all black she caressed the microphone with grace conveying the message, “I am Poetry”, accompanied by a beautiful ten member live band called SoultrII. The melding of poetry with the smooth melodic background of the accapella vocals was a welcoming breath of fresh air. Lester Howard, host, poet, author, and event producer graced the stage to introduce the feature performer for the evening. He advised that the feature was an unassuming character that was able to grasp his attention like no other.


After the introduction, a slender man with beautiful spaghetti thin dreds approaches the stage, ironically shouting, that he is not that, “Love Jones” poet. CP Maze, creator of The Concrete Generation, Houston, TX native, and Marine for the United States of America immediately informed the audience, that this is not your every day poet. His voice is explosive as he lets you get a glimpse of the atrocities that he has seen abroad and her on American soil.


He compares the war of Middle Eastern countries to the war that we place upon ourselves through poverty, mis-education, and lack luster desire to achieve more. Pyrotechno was performed with a solemn introspective look at himself in the mirror. He exclaimed “Dear Diary, I have a habit for building beautiful relationships, Dear Lover, at the first sign of a cold shower; I will burn what we built down, Dear Rock Bottom, thank you for everything that you taught me.” Reflecting on this poem allows one to see the mistakes they have made and make attempts to improve their relationships, empowered with the knowledge that there is hope no matter what the circumstance.


Mania is another member of the Concrete Generation team who performed with CP Maze. His approach to poetry was very methodical and informative. “Medically acclaimed clergy preach against defect and affliction testifying from the new aged bible of prescriptions. Dope dealers in lab coats; carry pens and plastic bottles where thugs once wore their guns.” Mania depicted the medical profession in an inspiring way that challenged my senses and forced me to think about the profiteering that happens every day with insurance companies and the big business of the medical field.


The night ended with a heartfelt emotion of prose and an inspiration that I needed to continue on with my work of influencing the education of our people. Words mean so much and can be so A-Maze-Ing.