The Subway Cynic (Original Poem)

by Hassan Beyah

Under the bright lights that inspired

below the bridges which you so admire
I saw faces in the fire
and watched the children burn like Paris
and fall like Rome

Extinguish these words with your bright eyed
newly arrived optimism
but I've got native New York nuances
Call me a subway cynic
I ride through boroughs
on borrowed time and broken dreams

telling myself and anyone who will listen,

"Your tears mean nothing here.
This city is a vampire out for blood!"

LITTLE BLACK BOY PHOTOGRAPHY

"You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one." - John Lennon

IMAGINE TV

GLEE - IMAGINE
(the GLEE kids perform the John Lennon classic "Imagine" with a group of deaf performers.)

"Because there is nothing more powerful than imagination and the ability to dream." --Hassan Beyah

I rarely have any interest or time to "watch" television these days, but on the rare occurrence that I actually I do, sometimes I see and hear something quite amazing.



(I am sure the suits over at FOX will pull this video off of YouTube shortly.)

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO NOW

STRANGE FRUIT - COMMON F. JOHN LEGEND AND NINA SIMONE




STRANGE FRUIT - NINA SIMONE
(THIS VERSION IS SO HAUNTING MY SOUL SHAKES EVERY TIME I HEAR IT. ITS MY FAVORITE VERSION!)

STRANGE FRUIT - DIANA ROSS (FROM LADY SINGS THE BLUES)

(This was my first introduction to this song almost three decades ago and it still resonates.)

STRANGE FRUIT - INDIA.ARIE


(I love India.Arie but although she gives a technically beautiful performance, something feels missing...)


STRANGE FRUIT - BILLIE HOLIDAY
(This version continues to be the definitive and most well known version. Oh, how high you set the standard Ms. Holiday.)

LITTLE BLACK BOY PHOTOGRAPHY

INTRODUCING CHRISTOFER HEADBRANDH

Photographer: Hassan Beyah

Graphic Designer: Hassan Beyah

Stylist: Hassan Beyah

Hair: Hassan Beyah

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO NOW

PERFECTLY LONELY -John Mayer

John Mayer, remains one of my favorite singer/songwriters, right up there with Lauryn Hill, Tracy Chapman, James Taylor and India.Arie. His latest studio album, the recently released and perfectly titled "Battle Studies" is on heavy rotation on my "ieverything."

AMAZING GRACE

In a world filled with mass produced assembly line pop divas, Grace Jones has always inspired me because of her unabashed acceptance of her own uniqueness and the fact that her artistry and genuis is unparalleled.

She is one of the few "divas" who actually deserves to be called such. She is and will always be the incomprobable and amazing Grace!

Nightclubbing is the fifth studio album by Grace Jones, released in 1981. The cover is, in my opinion, one of the most iconic record covers ever shot and as part of my icon series I decided to paint it.

25x25 Oil on canvas