Those words,
I wrote that poem for you
Those tears,
I cried those nights for you
That day,
I stayed up late for you
Love songs,
I sang out loud to you
War torn,
A heart once ravaged by you
Far gone
Am saying good bye to you
Friday, October 17, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fi Le
I do, so u do
I see, so u see
I find my way out and jump
So u too u jump
When u fall u pull me down
We fight with words
Millions of miles apart
I don’t know u, u don’t know me
No approval requested
Yet your opinions flow so free
Who asked you?And to me, y must you speak?
Lift me up or step aside
Raise me up or stand down and die
Limited in our minds we remain still
I try and try,
I’m really trying to break free
In ma mind, my dreams reign supreme
Mentored by those before me
Inspired by those that follow
All in ma mind still
I hesitate to step out
By ridiculous standards you measure me
I’m failing cause I know u’ll neva really see me
Forgetting that ours is a really long road ahead
So please, don’t put their standards on my head
Educated and pleasant you are
But still you stand guard,
Ready and willing to stand me down
Just waiting…to let me know…I’m not enough!
If you don’t like it, swallow hard and f**k off!
We all want so desperately to be free
So if u cant lift me up,
Please, abeg, leave me!
I see, so u see
I find my way out and jump
So u too u jump
When u fall u pull me down
We fight with words
Millions of miles apart
I don’t know u, u don’t know me
No approval requested
Yet your opinions flow so free
Who asked you?And to me, y must you speak?
Lift me up or step aside
Raise me up or stand down and die
Limited in our minds we remain still
I try and try,
I’m really trying to break free
In ma mind, my dreams reign supreme
Mentored by those before me
Inspired by those that follow
All in ma mind still
I hesitate to step out
By ridiculous standards you measure me
I’m failing cause I know u’ll neva really see me
Forgetting that ours is a really long road ahead
So please, don’t put their standards on my head
Educated and pleasant you are
But still you stand guard,
Ready and willing to stand me down
Just waiting…to let me know…I’m not enough!
If you don’t like it, swallow hard and f**k off!
We all want so desperately to be free
So if u cant lift me up,
Please, abeg, leave me!
Hopeful
I believe in the magnificent
And in the impossible
I believe in the perfect
And in the unstoppable
The insurmountable, the undeniable
The earth shattering and the destiny changing
I believe in love
I know it is beautiful
That it means even in anger I count myself lucky
In the dysfunction that is the human spirit
In the name of all that which is self sabotaging
It heals
Irreplaceable, like raw diamonds, unbreakable
The one thing on earth that is immortal
Across the world and through the fields I can run
But without love, my heart simply mourns
I believe in the sweet caress of love’s early morning kiss
In mundane debates and daily rituals, I sit
Even in dreams of another life
Tales of adventures untold
Through whatever quest, and in my damndest
It lives
Knowing that fantastically and perfectly I’ve been made whole
Through self discovery and the agony of uncertainty
I arrive
The confusion of a million possibilities
Permutations of tiny insecurities
Combinations of facts and figures
Reality and dream,
The stretch, the fall and the flight
It is done
Finally sheltered in a space where I can really be
In love, unashamed and truly free
And in the impossible
I believe in the perfect
And in the unstoppable
The insurmountable, the undeniable
The earth shattering and the destiny changing
I believe in love
I know it is beautiful
That it means even in anger I count myself lucky
In the dysfunction that is the human spirit
In the name of all that which is self sabotaging
It heals
Irreplaceable, like raw diamonds, unbreakable
The one thing on earth that is immortal
Across the world and through the fields I can run
But without love, my heart simply mourns
I believe in the sweet caress of love’s early morning kiss
In mundane debates and daily rituals, I sit
Even in dreams of another life
Tales of adventures untold
Through whatever quest, and in my damndest
It lives
Knowing that fantastically and perfectly I’ve been made whole
Through self discovery and the agony of uncertainty
I arrive
The confusion of a million possibilities
Permutations of tiny insecurities
Combinations of facts and figures
Reality and dream,
The stretch, the fall and the flight
It is done
Finally sheltered in a space where I can really be
In love, unashamed and truly free
IF
If my hair was longer
If my eyes were larger
If my nose was straighter
And my smile was wider
If my teeth were whiter
And my stare deeper
if my breasts said “salute” and were fantastic speakers
if my arms were toner and my shoulders bolder
if my thighs were thicker and my tummy thinner
if my waist could break and beg men to take
if my bum was rounder and could bounce off a steak
if my calves defined geometry and my curves were of perfect symmetry
Would I still stop and look at the scenery?
Wondering why and how exactly he made me
Still wishing on a million If’s and maybe’s
Begging my body to behave when I have a baby
But sure the laws of gravity will take and drive me crazy
If everything is the way they were meant to be
Then whose definition of a body defines me?
Happier I would be if and if and if and if
but my honest smile reminds me "I no be thief"
from the lineage of queen beyonce i descend not
but in ma "hood" i'm still actively sought (lol)
Your views of me sway me not
So by all means, please keep your salad fork!
If my eyes were larger
If my nose was straighter
And my smile was wider
If my teeth were whiter
And my stare deeper
if my breasts said “salute” and were fantastic speakers
if my arms were toner and my shoulders bolder
if my thighs were thicker and my tummy thinner
if my waist could break and beg men to take
if my bum was rounder and could bounce off a steak
if my calves defined geometry and my curves were of perfect symmetry
Would I still stop and look at the scenery?
Wondering why and how exactly he made me
Still wishing on a million If’s and maybe’s
Begging my body to behave when I have a baby
But sure the laws of gravity will take and drive me crazy
If everything is the way they were meant to be
Then whose definition of a body defines me?
Happier I would be if and if and if and if
but my honest smile reminds me "I no be thief"
from the lineage of queen beyonce i descend not
but in ma "hood" i'm still actively sought (lol)
Your views of me sway me not
So by all means, please keep your salad fork!
To the T
The lights lay low
Lanterns hang heavy over the ceiling, Pregnant with energy, but shining very little light
The ambiance wraps its arm around the audience
As if to say hello
The room is small
Covered with paintings and art,
Talking drums stay tapered to the wall, quiet
A faint hue of white beckons through
Tall sculptured men of wood stand guard as the breasts of their companions hang free
Glass bookcases are laden with stories
Filled in books
Written by authors that tell tales of great men
Each tale, individual and idealistic
Reminiscent of many people and different views
All with one voice
The location is less than perfect
Tiny drops indeed lead into a mighty ocean, setting a trap in wait for those un-knowing
Okada men refuse to go any further
The trek becomes a slight bother as wet boots and slippery shoes stand in line
Pedicures ruined
Regardless, excitement builds heavy hearts and free minds alike tread the path
Tiny bricks hold firm as they connect two worlds
the road ahead winds and bends and narrows
teasing the impatient and tempting the uneasy to turn back
Then suddenly, light
a nook bursts forth into a space were dreams become reality
Distinct from everyday hustle and bustle
filled with people fleeing their troubles, a new generation gathers here
Taruwa
all friends, no foe, no ladders, no “ho’s”
class and stratification exist only in the minds of those that insist
each warm body in close proximity, no one seeking anonymity
From modern skirts and business casual
To asymmetric hair with an afro-centric flair
the energy in the room is deliberate and strategic Flowing through every object present,
Each connected by touch
the voice of consciousness booms loud over the speakers even in the midst of silence
The crowd lingers
Anticipation and expectation rising
spoken word is resurrected as tales of love and heartbreak fill the air
Fingers snap in response
Clenched fists fill with blood and pump with passion
“viva la revolucion”
Rhythm and rhyme seize the moment
Heads and buttocks sway
Laughter is limitless in this haven
For known and unknown alike
The stars rise and the sun falls
the freedom to simply be lingers long after
waiting for another day
For another brilliant gather
Taruwa
Lanterns hang heavy over the ceiling, Pregnant with energy, but shining very little light
The ambiance wraps its arm around the audience
As if to say hello
The room is small
Covered with paintings and art,
Talking drums stay tapered to the wall, quiet
A faint hue of white beckons through
Tall sculptured men of wood stand guard as the breasts of their companions hang free
Glass bookcases are laden with stories
Filled in books
Written by authors that tell tales of great men
Each tale, individual and idealistic
Reminiscent of many people and different views
All with one voice
The location is less than perfect
Tiny drops indeed lead into a mighty ocean, setting a trap in wait for those un-knowing
Okada men refuse to go any further
The trek becomes a slight bother as wet boots and slippery shoes stand in line
Pedicures ruined
Regardless, excitement builds heavy hearts and free minds alike tread the path
Tiny bricks hold firm as they connect two worlds
the road ahead winds and bends and narrows
teasing the impatient and tempting the uneasy to turn back
Then suddenly, light
a nook bursts forth into a space were dreams become reality
Distinct from everyday hustle and bustle
filled with people fleeing their troubles, a new generation gathers here
Taruwa
all friends, no foe, no ladders, no “ho’s”
class and stratification exist only in the minds of those that insist
each warm body in close proximity, no one seeking anonymity
From modern skirts and business casual
To asymmetric hair with an afro-centric flair
the energy in the room is deliberate and strategic Flowing through every object present,
Each connected by touch
the voice of consciousness booms loud over the speakers even in the midst of silence
The crowd lingers
Anticipation and expectation rising
spoken word is resurrected as tales of love and heartbreak fill the air
Fingers snap in response
Clenched fists fill with blood and pump with passion
“viva la revolucion”
Rhythm and rhyme seize the moment
Heads and buttocks sway
Laughter is limitless in this haven
For known and unknown alike
The stars rise and the sun falls
the freedom to simply be lingers long after
waiting for another day
For another brilliant gather
Taruwa
Gwa m
Tell me I am young
Tell me I am dreaming
That in Africa, one day, there will be bright lights gleaming
That our struggles of today would leave us without tears streaming
And from cheek to cheek, some day, they’ll see us beaming
Not the hungry smiles of the children as they walk for miles
Or the clenched fist of a “movement” filled with propaganda and lies
Not the bloated African belly surrounded by maggots and flies
Or the flat feet “happy” orphans chanting dreams to the skies
Tell me that the white I represent stands for peace
And the green, of grass and of luscious seas
That of the many wrongs I see, one day the media will truly speak
And for the activists, the death penalty no one will dare seek
Tell me it’s not too late to wash out the blood
That the cries of my brothers still reach out to God
That one day I can go home and not feel like a fraud Like I abandoned ship mid sail when I went abroad
Tell me the dreams of Fela still resound like that of the “king”
That one day, from my people, a hero’s welcome I’ll no longer need
That the spirits of kalacutta will rise above the seas
And the movement of the people, one day, will be redeemed
Tell me that even with all this, I’m not being obscene
That prostitution in my sister will no longer be seen
That my brothers’ thieving hands will one day be clean
And our symbol of national pride will not be “19”
Tell me that in this quest I am not the first
That other people like me are filled with thirst
Tired of drinking another man’s water and forced to impress
While our own people continue to struggle on their one man quest
Tell me I am sane when I say my full name
To stand by my country and not be filled with shame
That 150million people can indeed be tame
To sit down long enough and plan for more than a game
Tell me I am young and tomorrow I might sing a new song
But don’t tell me I am dreaming when I dream of my Africa going strong!
Tell me I am dreaming
That in Africa, one day, there will be bright lights gleaming
That our struggles of today would leave us without tears streaming
And from cheek to cheek, some day, they’ll see us beaming
Not the hungry smiles of the children as they walk for miles
Or the clenched fist of a “movement” filled with propaganda and lies
Not the bloated African belly surrounded by maggots and flies
Or the flat feet “happy” orphans chanting dreams to the skies
Tell me that the white I represent stands for peace
And the green, of grass and of luscious seas
That of the many wrongs I see, one day the media will truly speak
And for the activists, the death penalty no one will dare seek
Tell me it’s not too late to wash out the blood
That the cries of my brothers still reach out to God
That one day I can go home and not feel like a fraud Like I abandoned ship mid sail when I went abroad
Tell me the dreams of Fela still resound like that of the “king”
That one day, from my people, a hero’s welcome I’ll no longer need
That the spirits of kalacutta will rise above the seas
And the movement of the people, one day, will be redeemed
Tell me that even with all this, I’m not being obscene
That prostitution in my sister will no longer be seen
That my brothers’ thieving hands will one day be clean
And our symbol of national pride will not be “19”
Tell me that in this quest I am not the first
That other people like me are filled with thirst
Tired of drinking another man’s water and forced to impress
While our own people continue to struggle on their one man quest
Tell me I am sane when I say my full name
To stand by my country and not be filled with shame
That 150million people can indeed be tame
To sit down long enough and plan for more than a game
Tell me I am young and tomorrow I might sing a new song
But don’t tell me I am dreaming when I dream of my Africa going strong!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
2nd time's the charm!
So my initial lack of blog traffic discouraged me from blogging...i quit at a ripe young age of 6posts...lol! but then i realised i had turned ma facebook page into a pseudo blog and those 'notes' were getting way too long anyway. so...here's to my second try at this blogging thing....lol, am sure there's now a newer, younger, cooler way of doing this somewhere out there but mehn, i simply cant keep up with technology.
Cheers!
x
Cheers!
x
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