Poetry Readings

The spoken word for this song was generated using Speechify Free Text to Speech (TTS) Online (https://speechify.com/voiceover/). The background music is Holy Moly by Tom Meira Armony obtained from Artlist (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music). The dancing girl images were generated by Pika (https://pika.art/home). The jeans denim zipper animation came from POND5 (https://www.pond5.com/). The urine sample bottle image was obtained from Walmart.com (https://www.walmart.com/) The video was created using Wondershare Filmora and Microsoft PowerPoint. I wrote this in 1976 while stationed in Frankfurt-Hoechst, Federal Republic of Germany with the United States Army. One of my soldier friends who read the poem, based on the seventh verse, asked how this applied to a single person. In response I wrote the eighth verse, so it is a postscript to the poem proper. The Woman of the Night A Poem by Howard Alan Parsons Based on The Living Bible Proverbs 4-7 She leads you down to death and hell; She does not know the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail; She is the woman of the night. Hearken! Young man listen to me; Don't forget the words I say; Run from her or else you'll soon be With your body forced to pay. She'll hold you close, and then she'll kiss you; With a saucy look she'll say, "Since you've been gone, I've sorely missed you; Come upon my bed we'll lay. My bed is spread with lovely linen, Colored sheets perfumed with myrrh; Your happiness is just beginin'." Oh, the lies you'll hear from her. Son, don't let her charms seduce you; If you do, you'll surely pay. Son, don't let her lies confuse you; If you do, someday you'll say. "Oh, if I had only listened! Why would I not take advice? Why did I not pay attention? Now disease has claimed my life!" With this girl don't be undressing; Shun this woman of the night. Let your manhood be a blessing; With your wife in love delight. And in case there is a question If you're single, zip it up! But to ease your bladder's tension Or to catch some in a cup. Copyright © Howard Alan Parsons

The spoken word for this song was generated using Speechify Free Text to Speech (TTS) Online (https://speechify.com/voiceover/). The background music is An Immense World by Marco Martini obtained from Artlist (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music). The storm video is Lightning, Storm, Weather, Voltage Clip by Cinema Ninja from Artlist (https://artlist.io/stock-footage). The cloud image is Bad weather sky image by death_rip from Adobe Stock (https://stock.adobe.com/). The video was created using Wondershare Filmora and Microsoft PowerPoint. The Storm If I asked you to marry me, what would you say? "Yes!" "No!" "Are you crazy?" "I don’t know what to say." I wonder if our love could out live the years; Could our love survive all the heartaches and tears Of a lifetime together; How well would we weather The storm? The storm is raging everyday "Stay warm with me", the lovers say But they don't realize the cost The storm is strong Their warmth is gone Their love is lost. The storm is raging through the night The lovers' love is growing slight Their higher hopes, now faded dreams I heard them cry "All love must die, Or so it seems". The storm still rages in the morn From lovers lovers' love is torn And borne into the storm to die And though we would It does no good To wonder why. The storm doth rage throughout the earth And it doth show mankind love's dearth The mirth of lovers rarefied Their joy gives in To all their sin Their love has died. If I ask you to marry me, answer me true; I know I am crazy, but still, I love you. I know if we try that our love will survive; With God as our union, I know we can thrive On a lifetime together; I know we can weather The storm. Copyright © Howard Alan Parsons

The spoken word for this song was generated using Speechify Free Text to Speech (TTS) Online (https://speechify.com/voiceover/). The background music is Murder on the Artlist Express by idokay obtained from Artlist (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music). The video was created using Wondershare Filmora and Microsoft PowerPoint. Beat Me Baby I told myself I'd be fair And try not to swear But you didn't care I told myself I'd be nice Yeah, sugar and spice But you said no dice And that's when I got mean It was a violent scene We had a bloody fray But I was shocked to hear you say... "Beat me baby I love it when you're angry Beat me baby Don't be afraid to hurt me Beat me baby The pain is so exciting." I said, "Listen baby, your attitude is frightening." I told myself I'd be quiet And try not to riot But you wouldn't buy it I told myself I'd act right And try not to fight But just out of spite You punched me in the eye My cool was blown sky high I grabbed you 'round the throat But I was shocked to hear you croak... "Beat me baby I love it when you're angry Beat me baby Don't be afraid to hurt me Beat me baby The pain is so exciting." I said, "Listen baby, your attitude is frightening." Copyright © Howard Alan Parsons

The spoken word for this song was generated using Speechify Free Text to Speech (TTS) Online (https://speechify.com/voiceover/). The background music is Waiting and Hoping by Lance Conrad obtained from Artlist (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music). The video was created using Wondershare Filmora and Microsoft PowerPoint. Matthew 15:17-18 - Holman Christian Standard Bible “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. John 14:6 - Holman Christian Standard Bible Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. While I Was Sitting in the Park (Matthew 15:17-18; John 14:6) While I was sitting in the park In deepest dark despair An old man passing by asked “Why are you sitting there?" I told him that I couldn't bear To see the world so evil But he said, "It's not the world Young man, it is the people." He told me that when he was young He thought the world was no good But he had to change his tune When he discovered Soul Food. Now, I was wond'ring how hog jowls Could gain the world his favor For soon it passes through the bowels And loses all its savor. He knew my thoughts and said, “My child I meant not what you're thinking I know that what goes in up top Comes out the bottom stinking. But wisdom is the subject of These words I speak to you And if you understand these words These words will see you through. 'Good and Bad on either side And you stand in the middle And it's your choice to live or die' I leave you with this riddle." His words I did not understand And told him so quite plainly I said, "Please stay! Explain to me!" He said, "Your problem's mainly You've tried all things from food to sex To find the thing that pleases But your hunger can't be met By anyone but Jesus." He left me then, and I considered All that he had spoken His words weighed heavy on my heart I cried, "O Lord, I'm broken!" And then, I can't explain it, but I felt a peace within me And though I didn't know, He knew What He was doing when He Sent that man to me While I was sitting in the park And now I am no longer Walking in the dark. Copyright © Howard Alan Parsons