Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate, Track 6: "In Pieces"

Another spoken word from the EP performed by Soda, one of my great friends and the vocalist in Deaf By Arms. He is an inspiring wordsmith, as well as one of the most subtly strong and overtly kind people ever conceived. As a man who has known and overcome struggle, strife, and the often convoluted opinions of the people who "know best", his style of living is an exercise in real, palpable freedom.

6.) 2^nd Reading: In Pieces

As I crumble, I know that I’m stronger than what I’ve become: a shell of a man, not much more than an atom. As I walk and I curse in the night as I search I can taste the remnants of what I’m no longer able to: victory, sweet victory. If only I had not stepped back. But there is always one more game to build my name or bring me shame, the latter not an option. I must rise above through my love and my passion like a dove. I can soar once more to the victory that is my freedom. The time is come, no not to run, but to piece myself back together.

"Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate" is Dropping Very Soon!!!!

Not that I actually think that anyone reads anything I put on here, but if you do, you probably know a thing or two about me. I'm in a couple of bands here in Cleveland, both of which are about to release albums. I play solo under the name Soapbox Prophet, and my debut solo EP, entitled "Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate" will be available at the beginning of August. It will feature 6 songs, a few a' cappella tracks, and some poetry/spoken words that I have written that some of my best friends (Soda and Sleazy C from Deaf By Arms, and independent hip-hopper The Revisitor) performed on the album for me.

For anyone paying attention to that project, I am going to begin posting the lyrics/poems up here for people to read if they happen to want to sing along. I'll be doing it in reverse order from 12 to 1 and I should have them all up here before I leave for the small mini-tour I'm doing between August 7 and August 15 with my good friends Presque Vu, Mush Mouth, and MC Homeless & Jinx. Keep your eyes open for them and leave me some love somewhere in the comments if you care to do so. And if you're actually reading any of this stuff, thanks for contributing to my therapy. The arts seem to be all I care about, and I'll argue with anyone that they're all that should ever be cared about. Peace, love, and liberation from the societal chains that bind us!

~Ray