A POEM FIT FOR A QUEEN ~ Queen Latifah

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 ____________

A POEM FIT FOR A QUEEN
A Tribute to Queen Latifah
By Gary Lloyd James

I take my hat off to you, Queen, for all that you have accomplished
For years you have been a pioneer in the arts, now,
you are well established

To say you are a role model would be an understatement
This poem was not written only as a compliment
But to pay homage to your success and achievements
When I think of the road you have traveled it has inspired me to write
About what makes you tick, your passion, and your keen insight

Looking at your life’s story from behind the music
Has given me the chance to write on this interesting topic
I see in your lyrics that you are conscious about today’s youth
And there is no doubt that in your songs they can always find truth
You often spoke of family and how close you were to your brother

While I am on the subject, I would like to give honor to your mother 
For molding a mind that creates so many uplifting musical messages
 No one can say that you did not make a way, or create a passage
Where young men and women can achieve success
If they are willing to put the work in, and do their best   

Thanks to you, many possibilities are there for whosoever will take them
I am trying to encourage young people to make better use of their time
Before it ends

With you breaking new ground and doing it with style and grace
No matter what your critics say, in the minds of today’s youth,
you will always be in first place
Every generation has their favorite pioneer,
Queen, you are ours in this era

When we look throughout history, we found there never was,
and never will be,
another Queen Latifah.

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