Dream Maker, Dedicated With Love to Janet Jackson - NaPoWriMo Day 6
Longtime readers are well aware that I've been a dedicated Jackson family fan for my entire life, with heavy emphasis on Michael and Janet, as well as the entire second generation now, who I truly believe hold the talent and wisdom to bring much-needed change to this hurting world. (Shoutout to the eigbo project, still grateful for the love Genevieve Jackson showed me on Instagram and that I was somehow blessed to be able to return some of the electric inspiring energy that this family has given to me since I was a baby!)
On that second generation note, today I woke up to this announcement video from Miss Janet herself, saying that she will be postponing or canceling her remaining tour dates to begin planning her family with her husband, Wissam Al Mana (photo above, credit to E! Online).
I have waited 20+ years to hear those words! It has nothing to do with me, I am just a fan, just the audience... but I am SO excited. Any fan will understand how I'm feeling today.
I'm not the type of person to believe that anyone and everyone should have children, but I always felt Janet would be such a sensitive, intuitive, and intelligent parent because of so many things in her past and how she has worked to peel through those layers to get to the truth and the value of it all.
I do not know what the outcome of this will be, whether she is already pregnant or just beginning fertility treatments, etc., and none of that is any of my damn business anyway. But if her doctors are advising bed rest, it's clearly a delicate situation in any case. So my prayers and thoughts will certainly be with her for her own health and that of a baby or babies.
I'm not sure that this poem is exactly my best work.... I went a little gimmicky with it and decided to include as many references to her song titles as I could reasonably fit in, even going back to her first two albums which most folks aren't even familiar with. I just wanted this to be more about her and her baby than about my interpretation of the situation, if that makes sense. Just a totally shameless fan tribute, not meant to be the crowning glory of my poetic body of work, but something special that any true Janet fan would appreciate. And I hope that you do.
I'll leave the first instance of the poem as-is, so the true Janet fans can seek out those references without having them pointed out to you, and below that you'll find an image copy that clearly illustrates each reference. Though really, if you don't know the references, would you care? Hmm. Either way, it's there. ✌️
Blessings to you, Jan, and to your husband and future child or children. Should your eyes ever grace this page (stranger things have happened, I did see her eyes physically scan each line of my "BRING THIS GIRL UP FOR WOULD U MIND" sign during the All for You tour when I had *gasp* second row seats from the fan club!)... should your eyes ever grace this page, I hope you absorb every bit of love from these words. Love U 4 Life, and thank you for everything that you have taught me along this long and winding road. MYM! ❤️
Dream Maker -
Dedicated with Love to Janet Jackson
Good morning, Miss Janet.
Young love said what will be will be—
today you say you do want this to be reality.
If that wistful, wishful magic
is working its way through
your now stronger broken heart,
then let me be one of many to say
this will be your greatest work
and most divine work of art.
Two times the power
down that street of 2,300 dreams
where you waited a good long while
for time to fly and love to sing—
where your heart is not empty—
where it now is so full
that the knowledge
of the state of this lonely world
doesn't scare you away
from bringing fresh new life
into a world they didn't make.
Someday is, in fact, tonight.
If the audience beyond the curtains
is so euphoric, so excited,
then you and your LUV must be spinnin' tonight.
If this time, this era,
throbs with a new agenda,
then boldly ask for more
simply because of love—
simply to continue that flawless line
of talented dreamers
who can change stubborn minds.
Or keep them safe behind that rope of velvet,
tucked tightly to your breast in a hug that never ends.
Better yet, give them the control
that you once had to fight for.
Let them be who they are
in a free xone of clouds and truth.
So come on, get up, and love scene till it rains—
until the theory is the truth—
until a magic hour leads to daybreak—
until a '90s love groove becomes a '10s black eagle—
until the great forever never lets you go
and you leave behind another deep mind
to lead our steps and change the times.
Dream maker, go rhythmically into that night
and know without question it's gon' B all right.
Come back to me with living diamonds
gleaming with discipline and meaning,
glowing from an island life.
Enjoy and bask in the glow of family,
whether blood, blended, or extended.
Inshallah and sweet dreams, Mama Janet,
and to the promise of you,
your baby.
...and Now for the Breakdown
This image breaks down all of the references in the poem for those folks who aren't quite as hardcore Janet fans and who didn't catch all of them. You can click on each image to open it up more clearly in a lightbox for easy reading.
Breakdown Part 1
Breakdown Part 2
Breakdown Part 3
This definitely reveals the depth of my obsession. Let's call it passion. That sounds better. Ha! Anyone who actually took the time to read all that should be thanked profusely, so thank you!
