A TRIBUTE TO ROSA PARKS

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS ____________ _________________  SHOWS ~ Guests ~ Information 2006-2008 ___________ LINDA  TOBOROWSKY Radio Host Freelance Writer _______________ ROY M. STEINBERG~ Artist/ Gallery _____________ KATHRYN JOHNSON GLASER~ Educator ~ Docent ~ Co-Host _____________ KENNETH HARI ~ International Portraitist _____________ DR. HADASSAH GUTTMANN Pianist ~ Educator ___________ Junior Announcer DANIEL BURBANK _________________ Photos Page 1 - 2006 -2007 ___________________ Photos Page 2 - 2006 -2007 _____________ NINA HAND - Performer - Executive Director _____________ BOB YUROCHKO~ Musician ~ Author ~ Artist ______________ DR. THEODORE K. SCHLOSBERG ~ NJ Workshop on the Arts ______________ DR. ANITA O. SOLOMON Clinical Psychologist ~ Musician _____________ ANGELO ORLANDO, Jr. Edison Art Society ______________ LINDA VONDERSCHMIDT-LaSTELLA _____________ BARBARA GOOD - Pianist~ Soloist MyLifeTime Book ____________ RUSS McCUBBIN ACTOR - STUNTMAN ______________ NOELLE COMPINSKY TINTURIN~ Pianist ____________ A TRIBUTE to the BEATLES _____________  MARK TRAUTMAN Conductor ~ NBCO _____________ REBECCA SCOTT - Conductor- Cantabile Chamber Chorale ______________ EVA ETZIONI-HALEVY, Ph.D. Biblical Novelist _____________ The VILLAGER'S THEATRE _____________ ZITA GEOFFROY HEINZ ~ Actor _____________ HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY _____________ DR. BERNARD ROSE ` Musician - Educator _____________ MARVIN CHEITEN, Ph.D Playwright ~ Director _____________ THE REDDING BROTHERS ~ Musicians ~ Composers _____________ BARRON ARTS CENTER --CYNTHIA KNIGHT Director ______________ LIKE-MINDED ENTERTAINMENT~ Film Makers ______________ LARRY McCULLOUGH, Ph.D. Playwright ` Musician ~ Educator ______________ ROIA RAFIEYAN~ Singer ~ Musician ~ Composer ~ Music Therapist ______________ A Tribute to MARCEL MARCEAU _____________ STEPHEN H. FOREMAN - Screenwriter- Author ___________ THORNEY LIEBERMAN~ Photographer ___________ DEBBIE HILL - Photojournalist ____________ JULIA SADD Journalist - Lyricist - Author ____________ CINDY BOGGS- Author - Instructor - Speaker ____________ BRUCE K. HALEY, Jr --Photographer _______________ AILA ACCAD Speaker ~ Author _____________ Bobby Gonzalez Storyteller ____________ Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission ___________ LEO KRAFT Composer ~ Theorist ~ Pedagogue ____________ GARY JAMES Poet - Author - Speaker ___________ Dr. MARTIN HALPERN Playwright ~ Poet ~ Composer ~ Educator ___________ BLENKO GLASS COMPANY ___________ RUTH KIRK - Author Childrens' Books ____________ POETS WEDNESDAY Edie Eustice ~ Deborah LaVeglia ____________ GRANT COOPER ~ Conductor - WVa Symphony ___________ Katelyn Dawn - Composer - Singer - Musician ___________ Gary Cohen Producing Director MIDDLESEX COUNTY'S Plays-In-The-Park ______________ PHIL PEPE Sports Writer ~ Author _____________ ROBERT CUCCIOLI Actor ` Singer ` Director Stage & Television ___________ LARRY GROCE - Singer ~ Composer ~ Executive Director of FESTIVALL~ 'When A City Becomes A Work of Art' ____________ EAST BRUNSWICK LIBRARY - A 21st Century Community Center ____________ Andy Rothstein Guitarist ~ Songwriter ~ Composer ____________

FROM WHERE I SAT
A Tribute to Rosa Parks 
By Gary Lloyd James

The request was made for me to give up my seat
I said to myself, they must be crazy, after standing in this heat?
The statement was made with a condescending voice
For me to give up my seat, and that it wasn't my choice 
They were stunned when I made my reply
That I wasn't moving, and that's no lie
I could see their faces changing color
As the bus driver got up and walked over 
Suddenly there was this still eerie hush
That moved so quickly throughout the entire bus
It looked like there was this great storm coming
So I adjust my demeanor, because to them,
I was no longer charming I could hear people holding their breaths
Because it looks like trouble was about to set
I sat quietly refusing to speak
Being cooped up in this bus, with sweat running down my cheeks 
Ignoring the pleas to give in, and obey
Even the suggestion to leave now, and fight another day
It got to the point where everyoneknew I was going to jail
And they took the time to remind me of all those who tried and failed 
The cops came first with a warning for me to keep the peace
As if I wasn't the one, being forced to leave my seat
So there I was, with my finger pressed in ink
With all that has taken place, I must now go to my cell, and think 
About what I have done whether it be small or great
I did all that was in my power, and took all that I could take
Somehow I think I have done the right thing
Now, it’s up to my people, to break this negative ring 
I do not know what tomorrow will bring
Whether I have made matters worse,
or be blamed for the circumstance I am in
Something tells me this could turn into a full-scale attack
At least that was the view, from where I sat.
                                                                             
www.Garyjamespoetry.com