It’s been a while….

Anyway, in the spirit of Black History Month, I thought I’d highlight one of my favorite poems, written by activist, poet, and author, Nikki Giovanni. Giovanni is a favorite of mine because of her passion for life. Her writing is simplistically charming and vivid, and captures the often overlooked joys of existence.

Resignation is an excerpt from Giovanni’s 1997 Love Poems, a book of melodic poetry written in memory of rapper/actor/poet Tupac Shakur. At an authors’ gathering at Barnes & Noble, Giovanni said of the late Shakur, “I would rather be with the thugs than the people who are complaining about them.”

RESIGNATION

I love you
because the earth turns round the sun
because the North wind blows north
sometimes
because the Pope is Catholic
and most Rabbis Jewish
because winters flow into springs
and the air clears after a storm
because only my love for you
despite the charms of gravity
keeps me from falling off this Earth
into another dimension
I love you
because it is the natural order of things
I love you
like the habit I picked up in college
of sleeping through lectures
or saying I'm sorry
when I get stopped for speeding
because I drink a glass of water
in the morning
and chain-smoke cigarettes
all through the day
because I take my coffee Black
and my milk with chocolate
because you keep my feet warm
though my life a mess
I love you
because I don't want it
any other way.
I am helpless
in my love for you
It makes me so happy
to hear you call my name
I am amazed you can resist
locking me in an echo chamber
where your voice reverberates
through the four walls
sending me into spasmatic ecstasy
I love you
because it's been so good
for so long
that if I didn't love you
I'd have to be born again
and that is not a theological statement
I am pitiful in my love for you
The Dells tell me Love
is so simple
the thought though of you
sends indescribably delicious multitudinous
thrills throughout and through-in my body
I love you
because no two snowflakes are alike
and it is possible
if you stand tippy-toe
to walk between the raindrops
I love you
because I am afraid of the dark
and can't sleep in the light
because I rub my eyes
when I wake up in the morning
and find you there
because you with all your magic powers were
determined that
I should love you
because there was nothing for you but that
I would love you
I love you
because you made me
want to love you
more than I love my privacy
my freedom my commitments
and responsibilities
I love you 'cause I changed my life
to love you
because you saw me one friday
afternoon and decided that I would
love you
I love you I love you I love you
--

Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni was born June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee and grew in Lincold Hieghts, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 2004 Giovanni was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards for her album "The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection." She also tours nationwide and frequently speaks out against hate-motivated violence. Giovanni is a Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech, where she has taught writing and literature since 1987.

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The UK government have announced plans to provide free laptops complete with a Broadband connection to low income families in the UK which means that just over a quarter of a million households can expect to benefit from the move.

“We want every family to become a broadband family, and we want every home linked to a school. For those finding it difficult to afford this, today I can announce the nationwide rollout of our home access programme to get laptops and broadband at home for 270,000 families” Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister said at a meeting of education ministers and professionals in London.

“It will mean all families can come together, learn together and reap the rewards together” he said.

There’s no doubt that in recent years there have been an ever increasing number of public services and facilities accessible online so it’s pretty obvious that families who don’t have access to the Internet are going to be severely disadvantaged.

Starting from this year for example, the UK government also plans to have all school reports available online which would have excluded some families but now low income families can apply for a grant to purchase a laptop and broadband from an approved supplier.

“We realise that for parents to influence and engage in the education of their children they need rich, varied and easily accessible information on the progress, behaviour and attendance of their children” Gordon Brown said.

“That is why we have said that from 2010 all secondary schools – and from 2012 all primary schools – will guarantee reporting online to parents.

“So the mother who’s worried about her son struggling with his reading can find out more about how she can help, or the dad who works long hours and can’t make a parents’ evening can keep in touch with his daughter’s progress, at whatever time of the day or night that he’s free.”

According to Ed Balls the UK Schools Secretary, computers are now as essential as having books and I couldn’t agree more.

“Families who are most in need cannot be left behind in the digital revolution we’re seeing in education.

“Computers are no longer a luxury for the few, but are as essential a part of education as books, pens and paper” he said.

It’s true. Personally I don’t see how anyone can get by these days without a laptop and access to the Net.

Nice one Gordon.