The hunger in these environs broken and dismayed Is not for food... Day old bread stale or fresh won’t do The nagging appetite here calls for knowledge Hope for better days Days that bread and mixed rice cannot handle Poverty passing from hand to hand Mouths left salivating long after bread is gone
This dance that we dance It goes in varied circles around the truth Our present world so small Yet largely outsized by hate and gloom For all our advancement in science Communication and supposed intelligence Basic humanity, kindness, and love still eludes the best of us
This is a reblog, but rightly fitting for my mood tonight.
After 16 years of what I call paper silence…my fingers found their way to the laptop and without any plan or thoughts, I typed away…it was the day before my twin girls 1st birthday. I never stopped writing since then…and I started a tradition of writing notes, letter, poems, and such to them…more than that, days before their birthday…I sit at the computer like that cold night in December of 2010, and I write to them…no edits, no fancy words just my thoughts, and emotions expressed sincerely on screen, sometimes on paper.
My prayer is that someday, they will read them all and find meaning and good use in them. I write about my thoughts on motherhood over the year, my prayers for them, words of wisdom (if I have any at all), advice etc…the notes get so passionate I cry as I write them…they are from my beating heart to these ones who keep my heart thumping. Often times than not when I am overwhelmed or too tired, I visit those notes, reading them and asking God for help…
I just sent this year’s notes to family as is tradition…tonight; please allow me to share the 1st one with you….Appropriately titled “A Mother’s Reflections”
12/2/12 9:12pm
Write a poem With the power of your tongue Your fingers smooth & sleek Working harder than 9 to 5 My body paper flat and blank Ready to be scribbled on
Image courtesy of http://www.google.com
We must not overlook their humble beginnings….they are stepping stones to a life of fulfillment, passion, and purpose. We must therefore support our children however we can.
We must let them be who they are…giving them our blessings from their tender ages. Allow them to laugh heartily, play cheerfully…delight in life’s simple pleasures…the fluttering butterfly on a brightly sunny day…the falling leaf golden in its array on an autumn noon…the frost of winter in the dead of December…the brilliant rainbow carrying its pot of gold at the end of a rainy day…let their imaginations soar with wings like mighty eagles.
We must encourage, and inspire them….look also to them for inspiration, and motivation for children carry a spirit of innocence and persistence. We must show them the truth and help them along the way….be positive role models in our own homes…this very important job must not be left to TV, or any media outlet…too many people trying to get our children’s attention, we must help them see and know the truth.
Allow them to be children, expressing themselves however they see fit…let creativity rise in their loving hearts…colors in apple reds, sunny yellows, and ocean blues splashing across snowy white papers, as they make art and then some music with their tiny voices, squeaky echoes heard throughout the house…let them be children.
Celebrate every child, as each one carries potential, deserves praise, and support with heaping amounts of love…bless every child for they are our hope…boost their confidence…and let them know strength…truth…and moral character.
Let them read…seek…know…write…play…dance…sing…draw…paint…love…and express themselves however they see fit…more importantly let them be free…let them be kids…let them be…
For the business of being a child is an important one, you see…it is the foundation for a bright and hopeful future. It must never be manipulated or taken for granted.
*Specially dedicated to every wonderful child in my life…and the wonderful ones in yours*
Image courtesy of http://www.google.com
Glass pitcher
Brimming full with colors
A concoction of juices and citrus
Doused with love and
A splashing of booze
Salut!
* Chapman is a famous cocktail in Nigeria, it is often non alcoholic but you can add some alcohol if you like…the origin is not exactly known but the recipe is very much the same. It is often enjoyed with a club sandwich, and typically served in beer mugs* This is a common recipe for Chapman and one I have adopted myself…I know some friends add Lemon rinds to their recipe*
Ingredients
Ice cubes
1/2 liter of Fanta
1/2 liter of Sprite
1/4 cup of Black currant cordial or Ribena
A dash of Angostura bitters
Juice of Half Lemon, Lime and Orange
Cucumber slices
Orange slices
Lemon and Lime slices
A splash or more (if you prefer) of Campari
Recipe
Add icubes into a pitcher
Pour in the blackcurrant cordial
Add Spirte and Fanta at the same time
Stir and then add a dash of angostura bitters
Taste if necessary and add more bitters as needed
Pour in freshly sqeezed citrus juices
Add slices of cucumber and then citrus
Mix in the campari if using and stir all together
Allow to cool in the refrigerator
Chapman is best served chilled in beer mugs
Image courtesy of http://www.allnigerianrecipes.com
*
Image courtesy of http://www.radiolab.com
Thoughts brim
Inspiration comes
Ideas are formed
Words are scribbled
Magic is created
The spell is again broken
Words have returned
Lately, I have come across a bunch of posts and comments about liking and commenting on posts, I read a nice one yesterday by Randall Dean Scott, http://www.randalldeanscott.wordpress.com check it out if you can. I also read a comment last week about liking a post and not getting a like back. And these thoughts came to my mind and I decided to share.
I must say that I, like many other artists and writers seek support and validation. To have someone tell me “my work is amazing,” give me a nudge to keep up the good work. I think it is human nature, but does it really matter if I get that or not?
It’s great to get good support, feedback, constructive criticism and all that but should that be the deciding factor in our work or is it the reason why we write and post the things we do? Or better yet should we let it bother us as much as it does?
Some of my supposed “closest” friends have never been on my blog and does it suck? Yea!!! Do I care? Honestly NO, not anymore… For the small lot of them that hasn’t read or visited my blog, I have been blessed with thousands more that have.
And on the issue of “likes and comments;” if I like a blogger’s post and comment and he or she doesn’t do the same, is that reason to be bothered? Honestly, I don’t think so and I don’t see the big deal. I like or comment because I have a response, not because I want them to come over to mine. I choose to follow blogs because I choose to and offer my support as best as I can but I don’t do it to have them come over my blog or follow me. If they do great, if not; all is still very right with the world.
I come across new blogs while reading other people’s blogs and I click their links, read, like and/ or comment, even follow if I choose. I don’t do it for them to come over to my place, and often times they don’t. I still follow, read, and support. Would it be great to have them return the gesture, yes but that’s not my reason for following, and it’s not why I am on this forum.
As Randall said in his post we all write for different reasons and yes we are sensitive to our craft but we must find inspiration within ourselves to keep at it. Like, comment or not! Writers and artists in general can be too modest to the point of insecurity, a big example ME. But even I know there are times I am writing poems and stuff and I tell myself damn! this is good, then I post and the response is low, and my heart sinks but then I remember my sister’s words “you have to believe in yourself, and your work. It’s not a popularity contest.” And I get back to doing what I need to be doing.
We all write for different reasons, and must never lose sight of that. I know why I write and why I chose to put myself out here like this, and I can honestly say that I have achieved 75% of that reason. For me to be able to come to the point where I can write a post like this and actually mean it…yep indeed I am finding myself, and I like it.
So amazing bloggers of wordpress don’t let the “like button or comment box” deter you from the real deal. Remember the real reason you put your pen to the pad or type away at the keypad and let that be your motivation and validation. And if many likes and comments accompany that, then all well and good.
And with anything in life really- “forget the validation, keep at your craft.”
Best wishes…
Boomie Bol 