"KING POET ~ STORY OF AZARYE LANGSTON KING"
"KING POET ~ STORY OF AZARYE LANGSTON KING"
As a young child, the recorded musical sounds of the congos and drums played throughout the apartment as the spoken words of "THE LAST POETS" exploded through the speakers. It was this young child's writing expressionist mother who encouraged her "baby black king" from God to become a writer/poet. As a pianist & poetess herself, who also taught at ZEKIGH LARONZ MIDDLE SCHOOL, she was sure to educate her only son with the rich heritage of African-American history. Even before Azarye was born and still in the womb, she would sit at the piano and sing songs about her unborn child who shall be a KING. And it was also during those "bonding moments" before bed that she would read poetry by Langston Hughes to her unborn child. After one such reading of a poem called, "Dreams", it suddenly dawned on her to name him after the legendary Harlem Renaissance poet/writer Langston Hughes. She already had a strong first name - which was Azarye - but now she needed a middle name to describe the forthcoming destiny of her son. It was at that moment that she put his whole name together - AZARYE LANGSTON KING. For within 24 hours later, she went into labor before giving birth to this "phenomenon of a boy child" appropriately named to be a king.
Even as she was baby rocking him in his baby chair, she continued immersing him with the sounds of musical recordings by classic soul singers from the past. And then at night she would hold him in her arms, read and sing poetical lullabies until he fell asleep. Even though he couldn't speak, she knew this was the beginning of his education to becoming the great man he was "born" to be. It is truly amazing how a "mother's seed" can flourish into the beginning of a harvest because starting at the age of 3, young Azarye began to write "tidbits" of poetry. By the age of 5 years young, Azarye began reciting poetry as he started expanding his writing talents. In astutely recognizing this God-given talent, his mother began entering him in writing contests and spoken word recitals. Just as she prophesized, he became an instant hit within the community. People of the neighborhood was intellectually drawn to the historical "poetical stylings" of a kid so young in age. His mother instinctively knew that children are like a sponges, able to "soak up" things from their little world perspective. It was her pre-natal and after birth "black history" education that was strongly reflective in the amazing things he wrote and recited in a style known as "spoken word".
It was also at this pivotal time that she decided to send him to private school, even if it meant staying in the projects for much longer than she originally anticipated. More importantly, she was wise enough to understand that as a loving parent, it was very critical to nourish her child's "natural gift" - while at the same time, keeping him focused and encouraged. By her best means possible, it was also vital for her to follow through on her "prophetic vision", because she knew this could be the difference in her son's destiny. As an educator in the Public School System, she was convinced that her "gifted son" wouldn't receive the type of education that was warranted for him. However, on the other hand, her other "costly option" was to move out into another district and send him to a different public school altogether, due to the fact she wasn't financially able to afford private school. By the grace of God, with her low paying rent (section 8) in the projects - at least she figured - she could struggle to pay for his private education until he got that "scholarship". But then again, she was also heavily concerned about the "darkness" of the project's concrete jungle that was too quick to snatch away a child's youthful innocence.
It felt was like she was caught up in a "catch 22" situation where she could either move out of the hood into a more expensive neighborhood and send Azarye to the next public school, that's hopefully better. Or she could stay in the project paying section 8 and struggle to send her "gifted" son to private school. Financially and emotionally, she was left at the cross-roads of making a major life-changing decision for the both of them, respectively. After weighing all the pros and cons, she decided to take her chances by staying in the hood of LIVE or DIE Red-SKY and sending Azarye to the best school she could afford. As a woman of faith, she decided to put it all in God's hand and pray for His blessings everyday. Her "game plan" was to stay "prayed up", while keeping Azarye focused, plus warn him about all the dangerous "traps" of living in the ghetto of the LARONZMURRAY HOUSES.
FAST-FORWARD TO FIVE YEARS LATER...
Behind a world famous mic in the land of Harlem, stands 10 year old Azarye Langston King spittin' poetical lyrics to the amazement of a notorious crowd mentally digesting his spoken words of "ghetto reality". The standing room audience is mesmerized at the intellectually capacity of his "seasoned" poem delivered with the showmanship of a veteran stage performer. As his proud mother stands in the wings of the theater watching her son manifest the prophesy of her vision. One lady standing in the front row yells, "I know that's right", in direct response to the thought-provoking phrase just vocally delivered by this child protege. Blessed with an "electrifying stage" presence beyond his youthful years, dramatized with the powerful acting chops he's been trained with - Azarye finishes his poem with a flurry of rapid fired lyrics that punctuates the concluding gravity of his epic poem. BOOM!! A theatrical sea of a standing ovation applause ERUPTS LIKE A VOLCANO...thunderously flowing from one end of the APOLLO to the other.
As a charismatic Azarye takes a one-handed bow to the further delight of the crowd. Decision time arrives and within moments later Azarye is standing alongside last week's champion as the host is addressing the crowd. Listening for the loudest crowd reaction to determine the over-all winner ~ the host first places his hand over the head of Azarye's challenger, Anaiyah Patterson. The auditorium instantly fills up with pulsating screams and cheers for the two-time running champion before slowly dying out. And then the host moves closer over to Azarye to place his hand over his head to gauge the audience final reaction.
We see Azarye proudly standing tall with the posture of a ROYAL KING, looking "picture perfect cool", confidently waiting for the audience response. He quickly glances over to his left shoulder to see his supportive mother holding her "praying hands" together with the fingertips near her mouth (as if she's praying). She immediately "winks" back at him while extending a "victorious smile", knowing in her heart & soul that he is tonight's WINNER. One moment later...with the host's right hand placed high above Azarye's head, he say's "Apollo, let's hear it for Azarye Langston King". Everyone in the audience jumps up to their feet to give the loudest cheer of all that seems to last for over five earth-shattering minutes. People are screaming at the top of their lungs in victorious approval that Azarye is tonight's APOLLO WINNER.
Seconds later, the host turns directly back in front of the audience and announces, "And the winner is...Azarye Langston King!!" The crowd still standing, erupts back into a volcano eruption of ear deafening cheers as Azarye smoothly stands there taking it all in like a presidential champion. "Is there anyone you want to thank", the smiling host asks Azarye as he holds the mic to his mouth. "Yes, I want to thank GOD, my mother, all my friends and teachers at JAYDEN-MYLES PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL and the APOLLO". Then as the host begins to take the microphone away from his mouth, Azarye quickly grabs back the mic and say's, "And I can't forget about my projects, the LARONZMURRAY HOUSES. I love you, Apollo". Then just as quickly as "CAME, SAW & CONQURED", Azarye was backstage hugging his joyous, tearful mother who was just so over joyed that he won. Expressing the smiling face of a proud mother, she looks directly in Azarye's eyes and say's, "When you was in my belly, I use to read you Langston Hughes poems. And now look at you. You are a winner at the World Famous Apollo Theater. Azarye, I am so very proud of you". She kisses him once more on the forehead, followed by congratulatory motherly hug. THE END.
- LaRonz Murray
copyright 2020 laronz murray
visit art & poetry site at laronzmurrayartist.com
