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Work

Work

Poetry: Carlos Contreras

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on September 19, 2018 Respond

Hustle Hard by Carlos Contreras

Hi,
I’m Carlos and I’m a workaholic
that’s right, I got time to find time to
figure out just how to work more
before I clock out and the sun goes down…

When I get up, I hustle
was taught to not figure yourself out of the
fight until the final bell sounds – and right now
I am fighting for my life.

I,
am happy to have your workload if you can’t
handle it – I will get it done on my lunch hour
how’s that for food for thought?

I thought,
we were all put here to hustle?
no?

Yes,
I rest, when my eyes are closed
and one day, that will be infinitely
so – so, when I am extinct…
no longer a creature of creativity

and callused hands, no longer a man
but dust to dust – and so I shall return.

until then, I burn,
the wick at both ends
until it scorches between the tips of my
digits – and look back at the product
post putting in work and observe the
fruits of this labor.

It tastes like:
sweat
like blood
like tears
like pride –
I swallow it proudly.

Hi,
My name is Carlos
and I’m a workaholic –

I choose not to recover,
but rather to announce the fact
that I am proud of just how much
I can get done
while there’s still sun, and or
by the light of the moon –

*****

Find Carlos and Hakim Bellamy’s latest collection of poetry, Onna Tuesday by clicking here.

Poetry

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PoetCarlos Contreras has been recognized as a national champion performance poet.  He got his start in the area of competitive spoken word, or Slam Poetry. He is currently the Marketing Director for the City of Albuquerque, a community organizer and Programming Manager at Tractor Brewery Wells Park. He is the Founder of Imma Star Productions which is dedicated to promoting Poetry, Journalism, Activism, and Humanism. He grew up and resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  READ MORE

Community Publishing brings local artists of all mediums together in creative collaborations for distribution as multimedia books while promoting literacy in our communities. #JoinOurCommunity at http://communitypublishing.org
We are proud to be From the Community For the Community! 

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Guest Poet: Sara Roman

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on June 17, 2015 Respond

What I Do by Sara Roman

Honestly,
this working 9 to 5,
putting in 40 hours just to stay alive
and fed
with roof over head
is driving me lazy.

Head in a daze
mouse in a maze
running out of time
and by the time that it’s time,

I have to give myself pep talks just to cook dinner.
and still,

I stay up too late
playing with words and paint
and biting my lip
with sexy thoughts unattained.
longing
like a good lil sinner.

Mama’s almost winner.

I swear one day
I’m gonna get it all right!

For now,
I reap the stitches
of Manuel’s Mama
and make it so.

All that’s left
is all I need
to get right.

All that’s left
is to remember how to be whole.

And I know just the right
place to go.

Made a room for myself the other day
and dedicated it to all that is sacred.

You were there.

And I go there at least twice a day.
The acoustics are great.
And I say whatever I want to that room.

I pray to the four white walls
like the four directions,

look at myself new
in each reflection
and recognize my soul.

I go in that room and day dream
excitement and happiness for the world.

Those four walls have heard me try to be rapper a time or two.

Those four walls have felt me sing the blues

Those four walls and I sweat and stretch with each other.

Fingers tap keys
voice hits them sometimes

Everything’s a rhyme
when the realm is the reason.

I go here to be free.

Photo by Maria Meister
*****
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Snow White ChicanaSara Romelia Roman was born in Alamagordo, NM. She is the co-owner of Two Stoned Betties art studio. She currently lives in Albuquerque, NM. Read more about Sara

Community Publishing brings local artists of all mediums together in creative collaborations for distribution as Multimedia Books while promoting literacy in our communities. #JoinOurCommunity at http://communitypublishing.org
Community Publishing is a proud partner at the Rail Yards Market.

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Blog Bomb: Game Plan

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on February 6, 2015 Respond

Game Plan by Nick Furious Meyers

Blog bomb is all about the hustle which is why every few weeks we update you with some suggestive aspects of being a modern (hu)man. This edition focuses on strategies to plan our professional day and to stay productive while staying happy and healthy.

MAKE A PLAN

For me, I have so many varying aspects to my professional and private life and everyday can get a bit overwhelming if I don’t organize and plan out my approach. That is why each day I rise with a purpose and take a look at my scheduled events for the day. Then I map out a plan. To best be effective and NOT get lost in a mountain of tasks. It is too easy to get lost and off take if you do not make a conscious and sweeping effort to be organized and professional.  Heck, even in non-professional affairs it pays to always take the professional approach.

Time to Reflect

Game Plan by Nick Furious MeyersOnce each beautiful day has reached the end it is good to take a restful moment of zen and look back over the day you just had. Embrace all you have accomplished and simply point out the things that you did not get to. This helps us to personally acknowledge our progress and to guide the plan for the next day to come. Daily reflection and meditation are imperative for us all.

Make Time for Yourself

Yeah you may have a ton of stuff to do but you must always make time for your own health and well being. Start off the day with a few minutes of meditation and breathing if you can. Give yourself time periodically throughout the day for brief moments of YOU time.  I’m a big proponent of exercise as a part of daily routine. It is important to make time for movement whether it’s stretching, yoga, organized sport, weight training, even a walk with your dog. This will make your body happy and your mind stimulated ergo a more effective day.

Game Plan by Nick MeyersDon’t get lost in the things you have to do and let them define your day. Do what feels good and define your day on your own terms.  This means make time for proper nutrition and water and even a break every hour or so to ground yourself.  What good are you to your own needs if you are maxed out and over worked.

If you wish to be successful in your daily approach then follow these simple suggestions. Thanks for listening.

Nick “Furious” Meyers
505-515-4458
CEO FuriousStylz Entertainment
And BNN Music
http://www.bandwidthnoname.com
*****
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Musicians Blog

Nick “Furious” Meyers

Nick “Furious” Meyers is a longtime veteran of the New Mexico Music scene. Nick has worked with Community Publishing in the past, having served as the Audio Engineer on the multimedia children’s book, Fiona the Funkadelic Freckile Fairy. Nick is currently working working as the Audio Engineer on the Animated multimedia book, Bella the Caterpillar (written by 7yr old Marisol Paramo) to be published in the late Fall by Community Publishing: From the Community For the Community!

Community Publishing brings local artists of all mediums together in creative collaborations for distribution as multimedia eBooks while promoting literacy in our communities.
We are proud to be a community partner and digital marketer at the Rail Yards Market.
#JoinOurCommunity at http://communitypublishing.org

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Celebrating Labor Day at the Rail Yards Market

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on August 29, 2014 Respond

By Alex Paramo

Alex Paramo Community Publishing

Alex Paramo

As most of us know, Labor Day is a Federal Holiday but what does it stand for or represent? If you were to go by ads on TV, print and online, you might think it is a holiday celebrating consumerism. For example neither Lowes Home Improvement stores nor Home Depot have any mention of their workers, let alone a thank you to them! It is a holiday to celebrate the work-force, the laborers who form the backbone of our society and make our machines that keep us on the go.

Labor Day

Blacksmith Shop – 1940’s

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” The first national celebration of Labor Day was held in 1909 in New York City. The holiday itself was the impetus of labor unions scattered around the country. 

Celebrating Workers at the Rail Yards Market

Labor DayAt the Rail Yards Market (RYM) we are all laborers, workers for a common cause. The RYM is a space for working folks to display their arts, crafts, talents, efforts, energy and intellectual property to contribute to a larger societal benefit. Some of the talented laborers we are showcasing this week are:

Labor DayAt the Pop-Up Arts Zone we will be featuring,Alana Swartz who specializes in Wood sculpture & Relief. The Live Arts Zone will feature Serigraphy Master Rein Whitt-Pritchette. The Sustainability Zone will feature Larry ‘Pax’ Garcia. Mr. Garcia is the owner of Tortuga Gallery and he will present the makings and merits of Up-cycled Art. The Children’s Zone is featuring students from the Southwest University of Visual Arts (SUVA)

The Main and Community Stages bring you Albuquerque’s best in Music, Movement, Poetry and Dancing with (please click here for complete listing):

Labor Day

The Right Livelihood

Why do we work? For a paycheck? For a greater sense of self? For self-identification? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh posited, “To practice Right Livelihood (samyag ajiva), you have to find a way to earn your living without transgressing your ideals of love and compassion.” At the RYM we celebrate all of our community of workers, laborers of all kinds engaged in creating a better local environment. No matter how big or small the task, all jobs are equally important when the goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive and equitable society. See You Sunday!

Alex Paramo is an Author and Co-Founder of Community Publishing. Community Publishing brings local artists of all mediums together in creative collaborations for distribution as multimedia eBooks while promoting literacy in our communities.

We are proud to be a community partner and digital marketer at the Rail Yards Market.#JoinOurCommunity at http://communitypublishing.org

 

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