Abdul Wahab Al-Bayati, Secret of the Fire

I present to you... my favorite poem. Read it and be reminded of a woman's innate glory. A woman's most seductive quality is her mystery.

Secret of Fire

On the last day

I kissed her hands,
Her eyes / her lips.
I said to her: you are now
Ripe like an apple
Half of you: a woman
The other half: impossible to describe.
The words
Escaped me
And I escaped them
Both of us collapsed.
Now I pray
For the childhood of this light face
And for this ripe, burning body
I bring my face closer
To this gushing spring,
Thirsty.
On the last day, I said to her:
You are the fire of the forests
The water of the river
The secret of the fire
Half of you cannot be described
The other half: a priestess in the temple of Ishtar.


Translation by Bassam Khalil Frangieh

Nicki Giovanni, Seduction

Seduction

one day
you gonna walk in this house
and i'm gonna have a long African
gown
you'll sit down and say "The Black..."
and i'm gonna take one arm out
then you-not noticing me at all- will say "What about this brother..."
and i'm going to be slipping it over my head
and you'll rap on about "The revolution..."
while i rest your hand against my stomach
you'll go on-as you always do- saying
"I just can't dig..."
while i'm moving your hand up and down
and i'll be taking your dashiki off
then you'll say "What we really need..."
and taking your shorts off
the you'll notice
your state of undress
and knowing you you'll just say
"Nikki/
isn't this counterrevolutionary..."

-Nicki Giovanni

Wedding Dress of the Week

This week I decided to post this Monique Lhuillier, Estee/Josephine, design because it seems like the perfect dress for a Valentines Day Wedding. The a-line and lace detail exudes timelse romance and the pink sash adds the perfect flirtatious touch. Cupid's so jealous.

TIP:Monique too pricey? Many skilled independent wedding dress makers can create Monique-inspired gowns. The first place you should visit is the Bridal District in NYC.

-flyness and funk,

Ike

SPOTLIGHT: Tina Turner and Beyonce Knowles, Grammy Awards 2008

Part I and II of Beyonce and Tina Turner's Grammy performance last night. It was incredible! Tina Turner is living proof that embracing passion, freedom, and love, and taking care of your mind, body and soul permits you to escape the confines of age. Just look at her. She doesn't miss a step. This is how a 68 year old woman ought to act.

Werq Miss Tina!

You betta live!!!!

Part I (Beyonce monologue, Tina Turner performance)

Part II (Beyonce and Tina do Proud Mary... and they make Mary proud!!!)

60 Love Songs to Set the Romantic Valentines Day Mood (Slow Jamz)

As we know, music is the soundtrack of life. So regardless if you and your Valentine will spend the night chatting over a glass of champagne or connecting on a deeper level, you'll want these cuts on the playlist to set the sultry, sexy, romantic mood. All of these are tried and true classics.

To break the ice...

1. Baby Come to me, Regina Belle

2. Cater To You, Destiny's Child

3. My, My, My, Johnny Gill

4. Tell me What You Want me To Do, Tevin Campbell

5. I Want You, Janet Jackson

6. Can We Talk, Tevin Campbell

7. Blowin' My Mind, Solo

8. By Your Side, Sade

9. Sweet Love, Anita Baker

10. Come and Talk To Me, Jodeci

11. Perfect Angel, Minnie Ripperton

12. Lovin' You, Toni Tony Tone

13. In the Mood, The Whispers

14. Sumthin' Sumthin', Maxwell

15. Can I Take You Out, Luther Vandross

For innocent romance...

1. I Only You Knew, Patti Labelle

2. My Funny Valentine, Chaka Khan

3. If I Had My Way, Chrisette Michelle

4. There You Go, Johnny Gill

5. Heaven, Solo

6. Tonight, Kem

7. If I Ever all in Love, Shai

8. Sweet Thing, Chaka Khan and Rufus

9. More than a Woman, Calvin Richardson (Deliver us From Eva Soundtrack)

10. Star For Life, Mary J. Blidge

11. Feel the Fire, Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills

12. Stay, The Temptations

13. Betcha By Golly Wow, Phyllis Hyman

14. I've Got Love on My Mind, Natalie Cole

15. Love Won't Let Me Wait, Luther Vandross

For lovers only....

1. Love Ballad, Ltd.

2. Always, Stevie Wonder

3. You, Jesse Powell

4. Living for the Love of You, Isley Brothers

5. Fire and Desire, Teena Marie and Rick James

6. Spend My Life with You, Eric Benet and Tamia

7. Everything I do, Brian McKnight

8. Every Time I Close My Eyes, Babyface

9. No One, Alicia Keys

10. Love, Keshia Cole

11. Love, Need and Want You, Patti Labelle

12. This Very Moment, K-Ci and Jojo

13. Welcome into my World, Whispers

14. Your Love is King, Sade

15. Moody's Mood for Love, Take6 Brian McKnight & Rachelle Ferrel

For the ultimate seduction...

1. Crown Royal, Jill Scott

2. Red Light Special, TLC

3. I'll Make Love To You, Boyz II Men

4. The Panties, Mos Def

5. You're Making Me High, Toni Braxton

6. So Anxious, Ginuwine

7. And I Gave My Love to You, Sonja Marie

8. Bump and Grind

9. Beauty in the Dark, Isley Brothers featuring Mos Def

10. Would You Mind, Janet Jackson

11. Silk, Lose Control

12. Wildest Dreams, Tina Turner and Barry White

13. The Suite Theme, Maxwell

14. Kissing You, Keith Washington

15. Inside My Love, Trina Broussard

-flyness, funk... and juicy valentines love,

Ike

Style Icon of the Month: Jurnee Smollett

Who is Jurnee Smollett? From New York City, and one of five siblings, 21 year old Jurnee Diana Smollett first captured our hearts as an adorable little girl in roles on sitcoms such as Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Martin, Cosby and Full House. In 1997, her critically acclaimed performance in Eve’s Bayou, for which she received a Broadcast Film Critics Award, and audiences took notice of her incredible skill. Her recent starring role in The Great Debaters has successfully established her as an adult actress and one of Young Hollywood’s most promising stars. Jurnee has also been an AIDS activist since the age of 12.

Why is she fly? All acting. No drama. Jurnee has emerged as a beautiful adult actress and proven her ability to be a positive role model for young Black women. I love that she has not embraced the “vixen” label that Hollywood frequently projects onto Black females. Rather she exudes dignity in the roles she chooses to pursue on and off-screen. Jurnee has risen to the top by the grace of some serious acting chops, not by the way of public romantic liasons or reckless behavior. In terms of her grown-up red carpet style, Jurnee is impeccable. She unites fifties and sixties vintage glamour with modern lines for a look that is always elegant, feminine, flirty and stunning. I’m excited to see what accomplishments this young lady has in store.