Charles Banks, Jr. on Wordpress.com

©2009 photo by Carolyn A. Scott

Good afternoon all!!!! Check out Poet Charles Banks, Jr. on Wordpress.com now as he posts poems writing as his two alter egos, CURIOSITY and BLACK ANGEL!!!

ALSO, check him out on facebook.com "Charles Author Banks Jr."

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001119248973

http://charlesbanksjr.wordpress.com/

SAMPLE POEM:

HOMECOMING

I sure do love it here—my childhood home.

I love the comforting, dusty confines of my twenty-year-old asylum.

Everyone I know and love are accounted for tonight!

Uncle Repent sits at the kitchen table with his thermos cup of rum.

He thinks he has everyone fooled, but we all know better.

Grandpa Regret laughs at his sinful past.

He used to tell me stories when I was little about the crazy life he’d led on.

And now, in his older age, he might as well set up residence at the nearest confessional.

Meanwhile, my dad, Shame, stares out the kitchen window.

He is fixated on our next door neighbor, Mrs. Unsatisfied.

And a dishonorable glimpse at his band of commitment ensues.

My mother, Irretrievable, marvels in at her latest shopping exploits.

She always had a liking to covert attire and opaque shades.

My twin aunts, Disguise and Deception, rummage through my mom’s closet.

They always wore the sneakiest of smiles whenever they came around.

For the first time ever, all my siblings were gathered in the same room.

Modest, Destitute, and Seclusion, share a hot meal at the dining room table.

All my cousins were in attendance, too!

I heart Smart-Ass pull up in his new 7-Series BMW.

Despite my advice over the phone, he went ahead and bought a foreign vehicle.

I also heart about the latest exploits of Ticking-Time-Bomb.

He’d thrown a classroom chair at his 7^th grade English teacher.

I guess he must have hated the Great Gatsby’s ending.

And Mr. Know-It-All got married while I was away.

I guess I’ll refer to his wife as Mrs. Smarty Pants!

My whole family is here for my homecoming tonight.

I guess I should unpack my bags and mingle with the crowd.

I love you guys!

Always and forever,

-        Charles

© 2011 by Charles Banks, Jr.

Writing as BLACK ANGEL

EXCERPT FROM THE UPCOMING BOOK OF POEMS "OPEN WINDOW"

A Few Words From Charles Banks, Jr.

      Greetings to all readers my name is Charles and I would like to cordially welcome each of you to my pet project, Caution Tape Poetry. When the initial thought of creating Caution Tape came to me, I wanted to create not only a forum for aspiring poets, published poets, and those who merely write for fun, to come together and celebrate in what makes poetry so special, so intriguing to all of us poetry lovers. A little background on myself: I have been writing poetry since the age of twelve. My early work was inspired by my first dwellings in love. I admit my early work can be classified as cliché, immature, and naïve. But as time went on, I developed an attraction for poems that dealt with the wandering man, and poems about philosophy.

    Also, I have published three collections of poetry, A Rose in the Name of Love, Angel’s Passion, and The Flower That Wasn’t Meant to Blossom. My first book was self-published at Lulu.com which is a self-publishing site that aids in editing, cover design, marketing, and publication of books of poems, cook books, picture books, and many more. My second and third book of poems were published with PublishAmerica which is a self-publishing agency in Baltimore, Maryland that also aids in publication of short stories, novels, collections of poems, and more!

     I welcome everyone to step beyond the caution tape and to indulge in the crime scene that is Caution Tape Poetry! Just remember, step beyond the yellow tape at your own peril!

            Sincerely, Charles Banks, Jr.