Road to Zion

Artwork by Corey Pane

InI been troddin’ on this road to Zion
Amidst the Babylonians cold as iron
Geared up pretty with a suit and tie on
Satellite images to keep an eye on
The righteous individuals they creep and spy on
Offer a shoulder cold as ice to cry on
They pick pocket everything you spent some time on
InI been troddin’ on this road to Zion

InI been troddin’ tryin find a haven
Try to stay brave clean cut and shaven
Try to stay safe keep from misbehavin’
Keep it real quiet meditate keep praying
Avoid all distractions creeps and cravings
On these streets no delayin keep it straight no straying
The night in Babylon dark as raven
InI been troddin’ trying find a haven

InI been troddin’ till I rest in the distance
Reach my destination place with persistence
This life keep flashing by my eye in an instance
Learn from the Most High, life and my instincts,
Amidst all this pressure pain and resistance
I come to find the meaning in this life and existence
In every little breath wish to make a difference
InI trod till I rest in the distance

**Piece inspired from the above artwork for the

Graduate Institute Holistic Thinking Cohort 10-2

Culminating Project/Master's Thesis

JS
3.2.10

Lion Sketch

Lion Sketch

An assignment was given to our cohort to bring in something

that represents us, our change over the last year,

a certain something, a tangible something to share our growth

to those individuals who have seen us grow,

and weep, and struggle laugh and pray,

meditate, communitcate, chant, and elevate.

This was a sketch to display the Lion in me,

but also to show that we are always changing, shifting, growing

as InI am far different than this morning,

having walked in the cool breeze of the day

and conversed in a way unplanned.

InI dedication to the Most High through all of the

learning, the yearning, the breaking of lenses

that have been created within me

through my experiences and trod.

What still remains is the desire for

overstanding and a consciousness

that allows me to be present in the present,

and in the Presence of HIM

"We must look into ourselves, into the depths of our souls.

We must now become something we have never been before.

For our education, experience, and environment have ill prepared us."

King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah,

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile I Selassie I,

Jah Rastafari

Ever Living, Ever Faithful, Ever True

The Strength Starts at the Roots

A Writing from Booklet

The two sides of the book begin to awaken
and come together and join images in the middle,
greeting each other having never met,
yet undeniably having a connection.
As I viewed my finished booklet I read it,
as if the depth of War and Peace, yet no more than 15 words.
It spoke to me and showed a journey from beginning to end,
from the roots, the foundation to the roots, to the foundation.

I see a spiritual journey that lifts me up from the earth
and from the sweet smell of the flowers.
I journey and make connections along the way,
find love and friendship
and receive the most beautiful gift of father hood.
There is a message to be positive until the next venture
and until home, where it is like nothing I have seen before.
I journey through the glowing green of the Maple,
the fields of grass and rise up as I go and love the earth as I do.
Awaken to see the strength that starts at the roots
and they sing a lifelong song of imagery and acceptance
of all that was and will be.
The fog covered maple in middle where the front meets the back
can be interpreted with fright or beauty.
Draped in a blanket of haze and sodden
I move past the towering figure as it reaches out in every direction.
It talks to me in a composition of wind and rustling branches “live your best life,”
it states…and I am clear of every word.
I see the longest and most defined extremity of the tree
reaching and lifting up to the bird,
who sits peacefully looking towards the future, towards the lifeline.
It meets the clock ticking on towards the next breakthrough.
Up and up and up away from the little village at the base.
From this summit I can see the savior and I feel at home here as it is like nothing on earth.