Introducing: Hakim Bellamy

Hakim Bellamy is a two-time National Champion in the Poetry Slam scene. He was a member of the 2005 National Poetry Slam Champs Team Albuquerque in his first year of poetry slam, 6 months after his first ever slam, which he also won. The following year he was a member of the 2006 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational Champs Team UNM. One Albuquerque City Championship (2005) and 3 consecutive University of New Mexico LOBOSLAM titles later.

Hakim respects the blessing, but could care less about winning poetry slams, as opposed to cultivating creativity. Hence, he is in the process of adding playwright and actor to a resume that already includes: freelance journalist, community organizer and social justice advocate. Hakim’s poetry and journalism have been published internationally as well as his radio journalism on KUNM 89.9FM out of Albuquerque, NM.

Currently, Hakim works for the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs and is a board member for Poetic Justice Institute and Black Cowgirl Productions as well. He is most proud of being the Poetry Club coach at South Valley Academy . His poetry has been published on Albuquerque inner-city buses as a winner of the RouteWords Competition (2005) as well as in the Harwood Anthology (2006), the Earthships Anthology (2007), Sin Fronteras Journal (2008) and A Bigger Boat (UNM Press 2008), about the Albuquerque Slam scene. In January, Bellamy was recognized as an honorable mention for the University of New Mexico Paul Bartlett Re Peace Prize for his work as a community organizer and journalist.

For more information, please visit:
www.myspace.com/hakimbellamyazhizelf
www.digiflowz.net scene. He was a member of the 2005 National Poetry Slam Champs Team Albuquerque in his first year of poetry slam, 6 months after his first ever slam, which he also won. The following year he was a member of the 2006

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With my own two hands...

Two hands do the most damage
When they are held in pockets

Impotent actions are less fertile than whimsical fucks
One night stand…

With keys on it
The other night stands alone
Formerly partner to a plane ticket and a passport

At least we can leave mistakes made
At least rough, rugged and raw sided mountains give leverage
Some footing to push off from into a sea of growth
At the very least we can learn how to kick our own asses
Learn the launch sequence to picking ourselves up

We learn more about our chemistry that way
Formulas that mix mistakes with whiskeys however sour
Confuse highs with balls
Mix tequilas and sunrises
Tequilas and sunrises
Tequilas after sunrise after sunrise after sunrise

That never lead to asking the future for her hand
That never lead to asking the future for a dance
Sunrise after sunrise of never making a pass at chance
Failures as seductive as successes ‘cause it is the suspension of foreplay
The erotica of being hung and pierced at the same time…that really makes you blow your wad

Puddle your seat
It’s the lifting that makes you feel something
The pull and pinch, the release of endorphins, YES YOU ARE ALIVE!
The rising you never have to do unless you fell
The rising you never know how to do unless you fall

So fall
With both arms extended, doing something
Realizing the gravity of our existence
We were put down here on earth to get up

Armed to break falls and build skyscrapers
Whether make miracles or mistakes
With open arms we can make something.

© Hakim Bellamy July 16, 2008

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More poems to come from Hakim ....