honea byrne

Way back in the Summer of 2009, when the heat index was around a hundred and ten degrees, I would jog seven miles, from Clarksdale to Hopson Plantation.  I kept in mind, that if I was to pass out from heat exhaustion, or suffer a heat stroke, people probably would not find me for days. There were countless times, when I had to dig for the endurance and determination to make it.  There was a time, with aid of #TonyRobbins #GetTheEdge Course, when  I had come to the point where I had to take an action to immediately to do what I wanted to do. I chose to be a musician. Yet there was one problem I had little guitar skills. I was frightened to go up on that Ground Zero stage and perform. Even worse I had really negative thoughts plaguing me. It made the stage fright that had not even happened worse. I would think to myself such self-destructive things like, "What would they say? They would criticize me. I could never go out again with the horrible criticism. People are going t...

My piece "Haunted River" that I performed at the online openmic (#ShelterNplay in  Eureka  California) is very interesting and foreshadowing. The lyrics were inspired  from April 2009,  I would sit on the banks of the Sunflower River, in Clarksdale Mississippi, with papers in hand. Written on these papers were some awful thoughts. Dreadful things that hold one back from enjoying life. The subject matter was from ways people had done me wrong, the way I would feel in certain situations, and things that happened to me. Then  I would burn these papers to cleanse myself.  On Saturday, April 23, 2016, I returned to visit friends in Clarksdale. I made sure to go to the Sunflowe River banks. That night, I had an openmic, at #SynergyNights in Jackson Mississippi.  I began to write the lines, of a spoken word piece I called "Haunted River."  On a Friday July 17, 2020, I decided to revisit  "Haunted River".  The host gives a challenge to...

...then there are some songs that are created by trying to learn cover songs. One day around three years ago, I decided I wanted to learn Poison's "Every Rose has its Thorn." After all, that's a great crowd pleaser. I wasn't at patient enough to learn it on guitar.. I laugh, as I write this, thinking about how it's one of those cheesy heart break songs. One of those songs you listen to over and over again. thus carrying the angst longer than you should. I remember twenty years ago, when I'd think I was playing it on a kids keyboard that one of my friend's gave me. I drank a lot. An in the meantime, the days go on and you find yourself. Find yourself able to want to live life again to the fullest. Yet,unable to because you have a fear of being hurt again. I looked into the audience and wondered how many more were out there trying to fill that part they think is missing. Then the hook verse came, "I been watching all these crazy things you say and...

...an I revisit songs that  I wanted to learn to play, but I wasn't at that guitar playing skill level. Well, more truthfully, I didn't take time to learn some songs because I didn't want to face the emotions associated.  Years ago, I had the Neil Young cassette in my car tape deck playing the song "Out of the Blue Into the Black" while my friend, Ed, and I were getting breakfast from Burger King. Hours later, we would be on a bus going to the pentagon (911). We were in the US Army,  the 54th Quartermaster company. Our job was to care for the dead. I slowly practice strums going to the c chord to the e, to the a, end on the f chord as  I sing the verse to the Neil Young song, "...and once you're gone you can't come." Eighteen years ago, most of us had never done our military jobs in a real life. The Pentagon clean up effort, known as 'Operation Noble Eagle.' Many of us have ptsd from that experience, and also from the wars that foll...

...I can't remember many of the times I asked God to show me a sign. I also can't remember many of the times I asked God for help. Of course, I wanted instant guidance that was on my own terms. Just because I can't remember doesn't mean God didn't forget. Good thing that I didn't get what i thought I wanted. I may have not been ready. or maybe if I would have gotten what I wanted it would have damaged me. Or maybe God's time wasn't the same as my time.  This whole human will thing can be quite a fickle matter. It can be interesting to guess at what were signs and answers from God. It can be emotionally exhausting and exhilarating when searching, and putting meaning into events of our lives. What if events aren't meant to have meanings? Not having a meaning can be a meaning within itself. the other day when I received a message that was a scam. It was an invitation to join 'The Illuminati Brotherhood.' They were offering things like sp...

"I'll pay you back when it happens," that was supposed to be the hook to convince his father to give him money. "You still looking for a job?" His father asked, already knowing that his son hadn't been looking. He had spoken to his son's mother, his second wife. "Oh yea I been looking for jobs. I have an interview with Anderson Law firm." Then the son continued with another lie. "I'm going to need some money to get some nice clothes." A few seconds later the father asked him, "Well, how much do you need?" "Two hundred dollars." "I'll give you fifty. Here you go, son." "Thanks, dad."  The son then quickly left the office, hearing the secretary and a client, "And there he goes." "Is that really his son?" "I'll show them all when it happens. I'll throw hundreds on the ground just to watch them grovel!" The son said out-loud. It was as if saying...

Driving on that road. This road doesn’t seem to end. Been driving for hours now. I have a few more hours to go. Atlanta’s traffic sucks. Has twelve lanes that seem more like twenty lanes. Have to get a rhyme done. My next performance is a couple days from now. My cd’s are always with me when I drive. Listening to my cds helps me to pass the time. Many times, I’ll write down what ones I’ll listen to. I’m listening to Poison’s greatest hits. In seconds, there I am. It’s the 1980’s and the joys of driving a car. Me and my best friend are in the mall. I remember when he bought Poison’s first album. I remember the album Look What The Cat Dragged In. They were really beautiful looking women. And Now I find myself singing along with to the songs. I keep my sights peripheral. Thus comes a damning thought, “What will they think of me?” Then comes that classic song, “Was it something I said or something I did…” Damn the clouds are looking dark. Did I hear thunder? Or was it just the big truc...