Here’s to the Outliers

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

― Rob Siltanen

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberated others

-Marianne Williamson

 

Tavern

It’s been a long walk away from home

I’ve given smiles when you gave pain

You’ve paid love when I sold tears

But in the end, we find ourselves

Here.

Where fairytales don’t always have a happy ending

Here.

Where thrillers end with laughter

Here.

Where roller coasters are the only way to paradise

Here.

Away from home. Each person changed

One way for good another for bad

But all in all

A more formidable combination.

Cagedbird

For the first time, I was ashamed of me. Of what my hands have settled to do. Usually, I’m good with words; optimistic about life, but this time I just want it to end.

I know the journey is crucial. So much I must learn at every turn, but what’s sweeter than the destination? What’s more fulfilling than a finished project.

Father, open my eyes to see what you do. I lack whatever ability to see the diamond in the rough.

For the first time I’m ashamed. Because the truth dawns on me, there never has been free lunch in Freetown. There never will be.

Wake

Last week, he knocked on my door

Yesterday, on my heart

Today, he knocked on my head

Hard

Tomorrow, he won’t be around.

 

This war is good

Every day I wake up thinking this one will be different. There’s so much left unsaid, so much left unread, too much still undone yet I think: ‘This day will be different’

I go about doing what I always do. Maybe tweaking it with a little faith yet nothing’s changed.

I’ll be better. I’ll say better. I’ll think better. Certainly!  I’ll  do better. Yet I find myself right in the middle of the same battle.

I am a warrior. I’m vixen fighting shadows.  Nothing seems to interest me. And everything tickles my fancy.

We fight against tornadoes and hurricanes. They tug at our muscles and test our resilience.

Still, we keep on. Yes, we’d keep on. Till victory is won.

Incognito

We had dinner last night

Beneath the crescent moon and above all else

It’s beam gave the roses at our feet a silver kiss

The food was breathtaking; not even the soothing songs of the night’s breeze could shadow its aroma

This moment, though beautiful,  was nothing compared to him

My tall prince. Hair as ravens. Radiant olive skin that perfectly housed those caramel eyes. Heaven sent you to me with kisses on both cheeks. The jitters I get when you smile

He stretched his hand across the table placing them over mine.

Sneaky you. Don’t you know what you do to me? And for the love of God, say something!

But he just stared. Silent.

“I love you”

Sweet Lord, let it be your voice I heard. Love you too, Jesus. Hallelujah

“You heard me”

That baritone interruption! What on earth do I say now?!

“Hahahahaha… Love you too, best friend”

I stuffed such a big chunk of chicken in my mouth I know I should have choked.

Silence again.

“Just a friend, huh?” he said almost inaudible and continued eating.

Whatever you do do not look up! Don’t see his hurt.

The rest of the night we talked about matters of the heart. Especially how stable electricity had become

Now, I’m in my room.

Should I have said it?

Should I have said,

“I love you too desperately”

Picture credit: iStock

Roller Coaster

Beauty glows right through my broken shield and I respond desperately

I let her sweetned poison satisfy my famish. I am imprisoned by her lovely strides

Hips swaying. Heels defying. Words caressing.

Her gait leave for me a trail of diamonds. I drunkenly succumb

Rags overlaid with opulence, I refuse to smell the stench

How beautiful you are, my darling. How perfect are your garments

I yearn to pour all I am to you

Surely, I long for that which I must never have

Shall I never tell the difference?!

love thrives in my facade of neutrality

Despondency wrapped in my illusion of self-esteem

How does honey flow over bloodied Turkish orchards?!

Love

Love earnestly beckons me home…

Yet my heart is set on my darling. I am charmed in this phantasm I created.

I find I stirred up love before it pleases

And she leads me.

Away.

Till I am no more.

So, I tried it too!

Hello!

So, it’s been ages since I last wrote here.

Tonight, I decided I’d share some midnight thoughts with you.

You know how people say that they look in their mirror and say the sweetest, most encouraging things to themselves; well, I don’t. How do pretend I’m talking to someone else when I can see my own lips utter the words?! It’s completely unnatural. In fact, I’ve always thought it’s the weirdest thing to do… Not until tonight.

And here’s what came to me:

as important as it is to love and nurture others, I’m obligated to do the same to my own person. My person is waiting for guidance from me. And will only go exactly where I direct. Sometimes, I’ll need to step out of myself mentally to realise that I have a full grown human to lead 24 hours a day.

Our mind is all that we are. It’s our summary.  And we’ll exude what’s been growing inside of it. That mentality and mindset is what defines us. It’s evident not just in our words, but moreso in our actions.

Just as Chimamanda Adichie spoke about the single story the outside world has of Nigeria, everyone has a single story of you. But not one written by an external person who has no understanding of who you are, but written by your very self.

How does your mind portray you?

Spellbound

My eyes behold beauty in each man and life
As they observe the vanity in his acts

Since I was a girl
Knowing only beauty
I dreamed to be a painter
That I may capture every moment
With the stroke of my brush
That I may find that common ground
Between my imagination and creation

To paint the love affair
Between the sky and the sun
As they blush in each other’s presence
Beguiling man that it’s sunrise
But we know that this fusion
Is symbolic for their love

I wish to capture the pride of the sun
Shinning so bright because
She’s confident she rules the skies
And nothing can rise above her wings

I wish I could paint
The residence of the birds
Set on tree branches
Outside my window
Each morning the courteous fellows rise
And greet each other in friendly chirps

I wish I could paint
The sway of the trees
As they make music
Calm melody that soothes my being
They rustle their leaves against one another
Never minding we hear their tracks for free

I wish I could paint
The sturdy earth
A constant companion
Though he’s never loquacious
don’t excite him
Else he might open his gates to you
Inviting you for a no-return dinner

I wish I could paint
The stars
Glittering heights in faraway lands
They’d rival your glamour
Any day, any time
And have the moon as witness to their shine

to my Special Someone

Last night, we gazed upon the stars
Our backs found trust in the constancy of earth
We let our hearts
Beat in tune with nature’s evening songs

We, two lovers, beneath heaven’s bliss
Held hands in silence
As each finger kissed
I locked mine firmly in yours
Gosh! How they perfectly ‘twined

I was made for you and you for me
Cut from the same fabric of the love of Christ
In knowing him I learnt to know you
In serving him I learnt to serve you
In loving him I learnt to love you
Our backs rest in the trust of our love
Our hearts dance to the rhythm of nurtured love
Our fingers lock in the resilience of faithful love
Our quiddities reflect the essence of Jesus’ love

Hands locked under heaven’s dew
We let them speak forevers
Upon this love we groom…