Greetings.

My name is Frankie Ghee.

I'm a singer, songwriter, uh, poet and teaching artist here in Spokane.

And I'm fortunate to be able to share some of my poems with you today.

The first one is called “The Music of My Heart.” The music of my heart is rock music Loud and angry joyful and reckless It's got a great beat, and you can dance to it The music of my heart is jazz It's cool and complicated You just want to chill with it So, you chill with it The music of my heart is folk It's earthy and real Warm comfort food A long walk in a shady wood The music of my heart is a symphony Of my own creation It is tragic comedy Bold statement and apology The music of my heart Is stillness Quiet contemplation Gratitude and meditation The music of my soul Is the song the universe sings to me In the voice this moment requires Although, it may never sell The next one I'm going to share with you is called, “I Don't Hate the Rain.” Don't get me wrong I don't hate the rain I have nothing against A dark, menacing sky Storm clouds on the horizon Splashy puddles Soggy leaves Or muddy paw prints on the sidewalk But I am in awe today Of the clear, blue sunny The bright whites And dark tree silhouettes Against the perfect canvas The crisp and crunchy Days of midwinter Here Where we live!

The next poem is called “Because I Get to Live Here.” Because I get to live here I will celebrate all of this In still appreciation I will not try to claim it as mine It has never been mine Because I get to live here I will not battle or rage To keep this majestic wonder Only for my own eyes I will seek to live a better life In honor of my great fortune Because I get to live here I will soften my gaze Seek in others a common love Joy and Gratitude because we get to live here.

Love has a name, and it is old and wise like wintertime It holds the ancient spirits of water, of earth and of fire Honor At the dawn of time, souls were bonded As was yours to mine We are forever Love has a name, and it floats young and free on a summer breeze It holds the hope of youth and the joy of unending spring Honor Each time I look on you, I start a new life You give your heart to me, and I breathe with you Love has a name, and it is constant, steadfast, ever changing and right It holds the exhilaration of morning and calmness of night Honor As the tie that binds souls together The universe designs we are forever Love has a name Honor Honor The name of this next poem is “I See Myself In You.” I see myself in you We are the same I see that we are complicated Judgmental and kind I am proud of you Because we are of the same universe We are on the same team If you win even if by sacrificing My chances for victory We win I see myself in you We are the same I see that we are vain and childish We are full of life and we are joyful We are vengeful and clever, Forgiving and naive We are not cut from the same cloth We are each but threads in that fabric Which cannot be torn I see myself in you Because I am you The last point I'm going to share with you today is called, “The Dance.” There is a light I see it only when wrapped in utter darkness A music I hear only when closed off from sound This is the artwork of my spirit This is the music of my soul These are the sights and sounds I will hear in death This is the me that is not my thoughts Not my memories Not my shell This is the driver The poet The me that existed before any of this Just the light The music And possibly a dance Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to some of my music and poetry.

And I just love to share music with you so hopefully, Youll hear more.

Thank you so much!