I see them everyday…stroll gracefully and make that call…my friends told me to try and do the same thing, but I feel shy! I am a lady…there more appropriate ways to inform your customers of your ware…besides, I dey school na!
I know there is the internet, but in this trade, that will get you nowhere. So I decided I will follow the crowd. I see Simi gallantly announce her presence without shame and customers flock her. I asked Simi how she does it, and she told me the secret: “Remember what you are doing this for”.
So, I propped myself early in the morning while having a bath. I recited my script all over and over again.
It was rush hour. Just like everywhere in Lagos, the cars moved swiftly, shifting from lanes to lanes during traffic. Something about walking on the road looking like me is the feeling of stage fright; and it did hit me. I couldn’t help having that feeling that everyone was looking at me. Tunde could be sitting in one of those cars. And what is most scary is- I might not get to see him when he sees me.
With the thought of Tunde, the words could not come out of my mouth. I thought about the social stigma. What about my friends laughing at me?
An hour passed: And the words did not come.
I tried again after two hours …I still couldn’t say those words.
After 4 hours, I had barely made any money. So I stopped moving to rest, watching as the city’s hustle and bustle and my ‘competitors’ beat me to it.
The traffic was heavy…this is Ojuelegba. Just then a bus conductor highlighted from a bus looking strikingly like my brother Abiodun, speaking with harsh voice and swearing profanely, with words I cannot even repeat….and I thought about my brother.
I thought about him not making it to school…because daddy decided he doesn’t want us anymore after he started seeing Aunty Carol.
I thought about mummy….all she has done to get me this far, final year in secondary school.
I imagined my brother being this bus conductor and the disappointment on my mother’s face and in an instance, the words came flowing out from me, as it did with Simi and everyone on the street with me in the same trade struggling for the next meal…….
“♫♫ BUY BUTTER BREAD ♬♫”…
My name is Fatima. I hawk bread.
Showing posts with label Musing_Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musing_Poetry. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Do things fall apart when they leave?
Think of a
life & think of a poem,
Where
everyone is a word.
A poem
where a word is the thought that we bring,
The thought
behind our work,
as we till
the earth for substance,
It is the
thought found in our essence,
the idea
transmitted during interactions.
That word
is who we are,
All look
similar,
Yet perfect
in our own ways,
And unique
in our own expressions.
All part of
that poem,
That poem
that has been weaved up since creation,
Capturing
the misery of the human experience,
An experience filled with love, hate, ambition, the quest to protect personal
possession and a halfhearted desire to provide for the next generation.
Though
every word released destines out to accomplish a personal purpose,
It is not
aware that it's ways are being orchestrated by a Divine Being to flow in
harmony with the rhythm of the times.
With this Icon passing, the tempo changes,
The poem
has lost an essence,and even when replaced, the new never flows like the old.
With these
departures,
the new
words that are born ushers in a new era which is a new verse,
Changing
the tempo of the poem, in the rhyme of life.
Dedicated
to Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Jitters
January 20, 2009
Minutes before his madien address, no one observed that he was lost in thought....
Source:goo.gl/4zGUR
“Is
this really all I have worked hard to achieve? Am I prepared for this? Is this
all there is to it? So every minute I will be in the spotlight!! Naa.. this
isn't really what I want… Stay
focused. This is your moment to shine…Just repeat this to yourself “I cannot
fail. I cannot fail ”. Besides, you have a lot to offer... A lot
to offer? Everyone knows this is all there is to me. I am all mouth.. ok I am
lanky with big ears and I have a smoking problem.
Talk about an exciting life… You
forgot to mention " and I adore my wife" Oh yeah
that too. But seriously, how does that count? If we go by my father's origin
alone, I am not fit for this because..... Is this
what you choose to believe? Things have changed and you better get used to it.
Every minute of the last 47 years has been spent preparing for this moment.
This goes beyond your ego; this is destiny boy… Destiny…hmm..so
am I destined. I might be the 1st, but what does that count for? Being the 1st,
I might stammer and make a fool of myself. Somebody might ask a question I am
not prepared for. Or they might throw eggs at me with the whole world watching. Did you
rehearse for this speech? Well…yeah.
I have done that over 20 times, every day for the past three weeks… Then
why are you worried? Remember it was the same you that brought the Jeremiah
incident under control...... This is
a lot more complex than that… We all
know that. But that was preparation for the type of challenges you will
encounter. Really, there is nothing to be jittery about ..... I can't
help but be afraid. This is major. Does that mean I can no longer do something
as simple and regular as work on a blackberry? I can’t even wish Genevieve a
happy birthday without causing a stir. What if I become like Bill and find my
secretary attractive? That will be a disaster for my ladies... Calm
down. Here they come…You are about to speak. stay in character. OK. I
cannot fail. I cannot fail”
His
heartbeat raced faster as he was introduced……..
“To
give his inaugural speech, I will like to introduce the President Elect of the
United State of America. Mr Barack Obama.....”
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Moments
Something about moment is they are units of times that when combined, create an impression,
They are like sparks, like ideas, capable of gathering and evolving into a formidable entity,
Specific moments of joys, laugher, the mundane and hostilities may never be remembered,
But their sum total create strongholds within our minds, shaping our versions of one another
Concerns: will it be strongholds that unite father and son?
Or will it just be fleeting moments with no significance?
In recent times you began to throw tantrums,
“My boy is beginning to assert his authority and understand his choices” are my thoughts,
You want me to know you are not just my bundle of joy,
but you have a soul, and you wants to be heard,
Your crying when demanding to be carried or to roam about freely….
Are moments…..
As you place your fingers on everything that catches your attention,
And put it all in your mouth,
As you make attempts to say “mumma” and “dada”,
And use your rich vocabulary of words and cues that sometimes mean nothing to no one but you,
You are creating moments…..
As you stroll around with anything thing that looks like a phone glued to your ear,
Mimicking a real telephone conversation,
[I marvel with at the accuracy of your intermittent pauses,
Even though all you repeat are series of “da da” and “ta ta”]
As you create gestures to convince me there is someone at the other end of the line,
You are creating moments…….
Very soon all will change,
8 years from now, it will be bicycles and the outdoors,
Trees and sports will dominate your world.
You will grow to the teenage years, the age of rebellions,
you will develop a desire in the opposite sex as your mind wonders what lies between those hips and why the sight of a female’s under garment makes you quiver,
Your body will begin to change and the image of the man you are will become visible,
You will get your first car; earn your first kiss,
Get your 1st heartbreak and think the world will end,
When, it is only beginning.
These formative years of yours will be the moment through which our similarities and differences will be revealed,
It will also present opportunities for both of us to fully appreciate not just one another, but also, our individual selves,
Our battles will be temporary and a reflection of how our different, generation fared amidst the challenges of our time.
We will condemn each other peers citing inability to rise up to expectation.
As I watch you grow from a boy to a man,
And share defining moments together,
My mind will still drift to current memory of my boy banging my room-door to play with his father.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
They still matter....
to the early departed...
To all men and women who truly cherish their lives
Some single, some husbands, some wives
Some never made centre stage
They were cut off in the prime of their age
In last moments some faced the worse of all they feared
An empty gathering or one lacking of friends that cared
Even though your stories may never be told
know one thing; your life has left message that will duly unfold.
To all men and women who truly cherish their lives
Some single, some husbands, some wives
Some never made centre stage
They were cut off in the prime of their age
In last moments some faced the worse of all they feared
An empty gathering or one lacking of friends that cared
Even though your stories may never be told
know one thing; your life has left message that will duly unfold.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Let's Remain Strangers
…So he walks
up to where she sits,
He smiles and
request he sits with her,
She wonders
his motives, as she eats her meal,
She is
sitting on a table by the wall,
She agrees and wriggles inward towards the wall,
He looks
like a nice guy-She thinks
He wriggles
in, and sits by the edge.
He asks for
her name and she replies,
He makes a
joke about her fingers,
She thinks
the joke is funny,
She couldn’t
resist,
She smiles in
response to his comment,
She lets go
of her guard and encourages him to speak
more,
They speak
for hours and explore topics of mutual interest,
Her smile was
captivating,
His sense of
humour was intoxicating.
Their
conversation dig deep into personal issues,
She feels she
is letting go,
She feels she is
opening up too much,
She feels they
are getting too comfortable,
She looks at
his face and wonders if she would see this
face forever.
Her mind goes
to work …
They talk about forever and ever..is that really possible?
How would you look at me when all is said and done?
When you figure the formula behind me?
Would I need to constantly re-invent myself to get your attention?
Your eyes are blank,
He said something profound, justifying the walk,
About how the human body is 70% water,
About how we need to synchronize our internal waters with the rhythm of the rain,
Because that’s what makes us truly one.
“White gowns and religious houses were coined up by men.
What unites is rhythm; Rhythm of our waters”.
Nkechi thought I was mad when I showed up at her door dripping wet and smiling,
But there is only so much words can express.
“There is more to this than your eyes can decipher” was his reason.
“I always had words and expressions bottled in; the problem was expressing it” he continued.
“But what about our rhythm; but James, I still feel that rhythm?”
“Water, flows darling and my water flowed away...”
He left my life, no reasons given, never to return.
I bind such evil thoughts from my mind,
This guy seems different,
Maybe he is the ONE.
“ (But he sounds so sweet and I want to tell him more)”.
“Hold up girl, you have to play it safe. Lets follow the Cosmopolitan 12 step guide to falling in love”.
“(But what if the guide is wrong?)”.
“It can’t be. It was written by Cosmopolitan”.
“(So does it mean I cannot take care of myself, does it mean I require the advice of some writers miles away to know what to do?)”
“What about your experience with James?”
“(James was a one-off. Let me let this guy into my life. I can take care of myself).
“If you can take care of yourself, would you be having a conversation with yourself?”
“(hmmmmm.....)”.
They talk about forever and ever..is that really possible?
How would you look at me when all is said and done?
When you figure the formula behind me?
Would I need to constantly re-invent myself to get your attention?
Your eyes are blank,
Without words,
Nothing.
I am looking deep in and wondering, what could you be trying to say?
Would you appreciate my deepest needs?
Would you understand I need encouragement?
I really don’t want to get hurt,
Nothing.
I am looking deep in and wondering, what could you be trying to say?
Would you appreciate my deepest needs?
Would you understand I need encouragement?
I really don’t want to get hurt,
One encounter of James is enough for a
lifetime,
And this blank stare takes me back to that moment,
He told me he loved me (but I don’t remember: did he say he would stay?)
I remember our last days together,
I would desire he stared at me the way he once did, like I moved his world,
I would hope he would hold my hands in public,
Or write me love letters; you know that mushy stuff.
And this blank stare takes me back to that moment,
He told me he loved me (but I don’t remember: did he say he would stay?)
I remember our last days together,
I would desire he stared at me the way he once did, like I moved his world,
I would hope he would hold my hands in public,
Or write me love letters; you know that mushy stuff.
He said something profound, justifying the walk,
About how the human body is 70% water,
About how we need to synchronize our internal waters with the rhythm of the rain,
Because that’s what makes us truly one.
“White gowns and religious houses were coined up by men.
What unites is rhythm; Rhythm of our waters”.
Nkechi thought I was mad when I showed up at her door dripping wet and smiling,
But there is only so much words can express.
“There is more to this than your eyes can decipher” was his reason.
“I always had words and expressions bottled in; the problem was expressing it” he continued.
“But what about our rhythm; but James, I still feel that rhythm?”
“Water, flows darling and my water flowed away...”
He left my life, no reasons given, never to return.
I bind such evil thoughts from my mind,
This guy seems different,
Maybe he is the ONE.
“ (But he sounds so sweet and I want to tell him more)”.
“Hold up girl, you have to play it safe. Lets follow the Cosmopolitan 12 step guide to falling in love”.
“(But what if the guide is wrong?)”.
“It can’t be. It was written by Cosmopolitan”.
“(So does it mean I cannot take care of myself, does it mean I require the advice of some writers miles away to know what to do?)”
“What about your experience with James?”
“(James was a one-off. Let me let this guy into my life. I can take care of myself).
“If you can take care of yourself, would you be having a conversation with yourself?”
“(hmmmmm.....)”.
The
waiter brings the bill and puts it on the table,
He
rises to let her out and looks at her,
She
looks at him and smiles,
As
she moves to the toilet, her body brushes past his and he wonders if
he would feel her this close every night, forever.
If I give in to you, can
you handle my history?
Would you stay knowing I have baggage like, memories of my ex?
I still remember how she used her index finger to trace lines across my face…
I still remember her black underwear…
I still remember how she sleepwalks to the fridge…
I still remember her eyes...
Mariam, we had secrets, and defined the world based on it.
These secrets have evolved into strongholds buried deep within me,
Shaping my world view and how I interact with all around me.
Sometimes they show up at awkward moment;
Like when you spoke about your desire to learn music, I had a flashback:
My mind drifted to when I met her little sister who loved Mariah Carey and
“what are the similarities between you and my Mariam?
What are the differences?”
That is me.
It will take you a lifetime to discover all that lies underneath,
to appreciate all the experiences of mine and those of my peers,
all the various permutations & synthesizing of thoughts and how they shaped my version of reality…
I am young man with a young heart who has met and loved,
Many don’t understand my motives,
As a man, it is about the experience and the thrills of the journey.
I have no desires for hurt- to hurt others or be hurt,
But my greatest clamour is for a moment in time when I would share ALL with her,
That bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,
That one with whom I totally connect.
And I thought it would be Mariam,
I told her all and she swallowed my words,
I shared my deepest fear,
And in moments of strife, she used my words as weapons,
Exposing me and letting all know I am weak.
Let us remain strangers…
Let us draw from what we already know and from experiences we have had in life to build our assumptions of one another,
It will save us the stress of real discovery,
A process that requires deep emotional haggle;
One that requires the personal touch, exposing habits,
In that process we might encounter our greatest fear,
I might hurt you or you might hurt me.
We could satisfy our lustful desire,
And we could even stay together for years,
We could go on to see the world together,
We could establish a connection but it would be superficial,
There would be territories we would not explore,
Our relationship would have boundaries, invisible to all our physical senses,
We would fully open up and reveal all except that one thing that truly makes us who we are.
Would you stay knowing I have baggage like, memories of my ex?
I still remember how she used her index finger to trace lines across my face…
I still remember her black underwear…
I still remember how she sleepwalks to the fridge…
I still remember her eyes...
Mariam, we had secrets, and defined the world based on it.
These secrets have evolved into strongholds buried deep within me,
Shaping my world view and how I interact with all around me.
Sometimes they show up at awkward moment;
Like when you spoke about your desire to learn music, I had a flashback:
My mind drifted to when I met her little sister who loved Mariah Carey and
“what are the similarities between you and my Mariam?
What are the differences?”
That is me.
It will take you a lifetime to discover all that lies underneath,
to appreciate all the experiences of mine and those of my peers,
all the various permutations & synthesizing of thoughts and how they shaped my version of reality…
I am young man with a young heart who has met and loved,
Many don’t understand my motives,
As a man, it is about the experience and the thrills of the journey.
I have no desires for hurt- to hurt others or be hurt,
But my greatest clamour is for a moment in time when I would share ALL with her,
That bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,
That one with whom I totally connect.
And I thought it would be Mariam,
I told her all and she swallowed my words,
I shared my deepest fear,
And in moments of strife, she used my words as weapons,
Exposing me and letting all know I am weak.
Let us remain strangers…
Let us draw from what we already know and from experiences we have had in life to build our assumptions of one another,
It will save us the stress of real discovery,
A process that requires deep emotional haggle;
One that requires the personal touch, exposing habits,
In that process we might encounter our greatest fear,
I might hurt you or you might hurt me.
We could satisfy our lustful desire,
And we could even stay together for years,
We could go on to see the world together,
We could establish a connection but it would be superficial,
There would be territories we would not explore,
Our relationship would have boundaries, invisible to all our physical senses,
We would fully open up and reveal all except that one thing that truly makes us who we are.
She strolls back to her seat and he stands up to leave.
“I had a nice evening” He says as he pays the waiter off.
‘Me too” was
her response.
“We should do
this another time” He says.
“Yes, we
should".
“What about...tonight?”
“What about...tonight?”
They both
smile.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
I named him Ini..
Wiggling your arms and legs
Grinning with ur toothless smile
Touching with your tiny fingers
Boy,it feels divine
I hold you close
With hope to always be there
To guard your steps,
Against life's trials and despair
The bone from my bone
The flesh from my flesh
The fruit from my body
The carrier of my crest
Your actions are innocent
Laddened with love
All new and refreshing,
With energy from above
Your eyes are clear
Sparkling white and bright
Your stares are intense
With hope, joy and light
The possibilities are endless
The roles you would hold
Be still and patient with God
By doing what you're told
Saturday, June 4, 2011
In love for the 10th time
It is always fascinating to watch a movie depicting the romantic relationship between two people. Contemporary media has a very grabbing way of describing how this feeling evolves.
- It starts out with two seemingly unlikely individuals meeting
- A mix of stories is brought into play conjuring up circumstances that creates a “spark” or some form of connection
- Both later share moments that nurtures that spark; it could be an accidental kiss or a discussion in which certain emotions are revealed, or it could be just time spent together
- To spice things up, we spin in a twist in which one of the individuals (usually the female) is made to question the love of the other
- The other person (usually the male) then comes to the rescue, delivering an intense statement about the moments spent together and how he/she realized that they are standing face to face with the ONE. Their spark is revived with that special kiss (can you hear that soulful and electrifying music in the background?)
After watching for an hour thirty minutes, we are “educated” on new ways in which two people can meet the ONE they dream of, fall in “love”, get married and live happily ever after. Most romantic movies, (with little variation here and there), follow this template; though delivering a story that can make the pattern seem non-existent.
Don’t get me wrong I love romantic movies.
- I loved when Tristan danced with Yvaine aboard the thunder capturing ship (in the movie “Star dust”) and she (being a star) glows and giggles. It was magical how she glowed when she asked him if he was tempted by lure of eternal life.
- Giselle song “How do you know” to Robert, and her last glance at him after the beautiful dance to Jon McLaughlin’s “So close” was, just as the name of the movie goes, “Enchanted”.
But is there a possibility that more and more of these movies re-wire us to think of love in terms of youthfulness and sparks? Let us face it; very few people in this world possess their own original opinion on issues. Opinion leaders recycle/synthesize other opinions till they arrive at a conclusion that seems to resonate with what they think reality should be. The rest of the world just follows what the main stream says. And when the main stream says we run, we ask how far?
So when the media gives a suggestion about what relationship is all about, people act based on their interpretation of what they heard. If the world continually uses the lens of contemporary media for its definition of what love is, it might affect some relationships in areas of longevity as people interpret the lack of a “spark” for incompatibility.
On a personal note, it has been 3 years since I met her. It was exciting as we explored each other’s routines and developed our combined motions. Then the thrills of a 1st kiss and holding hands and just getting to understand someone who thought the world about you (maybe because she didn’t know better.lol). Marriage, which was a year ago, led to uncharted territory. If I look forward to that thrills of a 1st kiss again, I could be destroying the foundation of a wonderful home and even the mental stability of a role model in the next generation.
Instead our desires should be towards a deeper bond; one that provides the other, the required support for dealing with the pressures of everyday life while maintaining an inner balance. It should be towards understanding each other’s visions and working out ways in which we can accomplish all we hope to achieve. We should be conceptualizing methods towards opening up the pathways to each other’s souls. In this process entangling our minds to a point where they are no longer separable.
And that should be the desire and mark of fulfillment in all relationships. The world should celebrate couples who are able to hold on through thick and thin, because the solid foundation of the histories we treasured were build on people who endured and developed characters under harsh conditions.
I think that should be the renewed focus of contemporary media; reminding people of the joy of falling in love again, even for the 10th time.
Friday, February 11, 2011
In the Spirit of a Revolution
One day our thoughts will count.
They will echo along the corridors of kings
Dictating the general orders
and revolting against the establishment that trods upon our will
We will speak of our burdens and all would listen
They will hear our thoughts and would align their actions regardless of tribe or ethnic background
and we will speak in one voice
Our voices will act like symbols,
motivating all to move in patterns they are most conversant with
taking action when they should,
making art if they can
and standing against oppression if they must
It will be the alure of freedom that will motivate
to make men understand that their destiny lies in the hands of whom they give it to
And they are capable of having a belief and sticking to it
Till the right thoughts are formed
I will prepare
Prepare for the day we would change our world!!!
They will echo along the corridors of kings
Dictating the general orders
and revolting against the establishment that trods upon our will
We will speak of our burdens and all would listen
They will hear our thoughts and would align their actions regardless of tribe or ethnic background
and we will speak in one voice
Our voices will act like symbols,
motivating all to move in patterns they are most conversant with
taking action when they should,
making art if they can
and standing against oppression if they must
It will be the alure of freedom that will motivate
to make men understand that their destiny lies in the hands of whom they give it to
And they are capable of having a belief and sticking to it
Till the right thoughts are formed
I will prepare
Prepare for the day we would change our world!!!
Anti-Mubarak protesters in Tahrir Square standing for what he believed.
11-02-2011-he was finally removed after 30 years in power!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sound in Music
If you listen to a song deep enough you can almost here the sound of its origins.
The beats echoing the ramblings of souls
Within it, the words of the ancestors are felt
Along with their observations of the world around them
Their passion, their values, and even their essence
Capturing aspects of the human experience that our physical senses are not robust enough to articulate
The listeners are unknowingly responding to codes that unlock natures within their depth
The rhythm of a song is capable of changing a man into a movement within in a dance,
into the alphabet in the words,
And the silence interval in the melody
Music re-invents men and aligns their spirits with the souls of the composer
This knowledge makes one fact clear:
Man is capable of listening only to himself; who he is or is becoming
The beats echoing the ramblings of souls
Within it, the words of the ancestors are felt
Along with their observations of the world around them
Their passion, their values, and even their essence
Capturing aspects of the human experience that our physical senses are not robust enough to articulate
The listeners are unknowingly responding to codes that unlock natures within their depth
The rhythm of a song is capable of changing a man into a movement within in a dance,
into the alphabet in the words,
And the silence interval in the melody
Music re-invents men and aligns their spirits with the souls of the composer
This knowledge makes one fact clear:
Man is capable of listening only to himself; who he is or is becoming
Friday, October 8, 2010
...in 90 words
Enjoy what you eat
Experience harsh realities;
they are only around to expose hidden truths
Find a family and stick to them;
they always provide bearing and help to reminder us our stance in the grand scheme of things
Treat all strangers with respect even in their folly,
as by such you might capture the only wisdom they possess
Always seek for the road less traveled,
for it is by this quest that mankind has advanced
Overall, be the best you can be.
You might only live to be 90
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Avatar
Within your depth, I am led to an experience
An experience both strange and familiar to me
Strange in daily manifestation; familiar in it usual rituals
But filled with interactions that renew my soul
It is from this interaction that your words emerged within me taking a personality of its own in my sub-conscious,
A personality I am in constant conversation with even during your absence
It is this personality that stays with me, as I go about in daily chores
It is this personality that provide words to help me understand the times and how to navigate my way towards a preferred future, or rise about circumstances that stand against me
It is with these words I am able in hold on to the unseen with hope, believing that in life’s daily routines, I am enriched with the strength I need to actualize the tomorrow I crave
Our continual conversation has forged a union ordained by the Divine
A union that provides the conviction that you will always be there
Cos during physical encounters I become aware of one truth,
We are one spirit expressing one idea, in our different forms
Expressions of Care
I believe the foundation of a marriage rest on a life that you share
The strength of that life is holding to God,
He along gives us with the challenges we can bear
From these challenge emerge pleasures of one another,
perfected when both partners stay near
When they are willing to hear
And still remain sincere.
It is important to accept that your responsibilities are to shield one another from individual fears
And build homes that are sanctuaries, with each member being there
But all this happens when your home is love,
and love becomes possible with expressions of care
The strength of that life is holding to God,
He along gives us with the challenges we can bear
From these challenge emerge pleasures of one another,
perfected when both partners stay near
When they are willing to hear
And still remain sincere.
It is important to accept that your responsibilities are to shield one another from individual fears
And build homes that are sanctuaries, with each member being there
But all this happens when your home is love,
and love becomes possible with expressions of care
Monday, August 10, 2009
Junkies
It gets windy at night
And when it does he goes to his favourite spot, somewhere along Jalingo Street,
He squats behind the abandoned blue sedan with his legs resting on the wall
He lights up the joint,
Opening the entrance to his Junkie Heaven
During the day, he encounters stares as he strolls in his only apparel, that torn brown sagging combat trousers that exposes his pubic to the view of all willing to see,
His collection of scrap, gathered during these strolls, are exchanged for money,
Money that is later used to buy dope and food
In the evening, he returns back to Jalingo Street,
For that spark that leads to Junkie Heaven.
And to begin his journey again…
But Tuesday was different,
Nobody could hear that sob, that sound of a tormented soul hovering back and forth experiencing ecstatic pleasures known only to those that indulge,
There wasn’t the usual clattering of cans and discarded mental as Hamad drags his most precious items in preparation of tomorrow’s supply
In two days, we all began to get worried on what befell dear Hamad
There are too many possibilities we could conceptualize
But as human, there are limits to the scenarios we can construct
Remember, rationality has boundaries
Boundaries that are further limited in the absence of our Hamad,
A reminder of the worse that can happen to a man
He puts in the minds of our offspring the idea of that thin line between humanity and the beast, forcing them to act in their best
Visualizing the lower limits of human evolution gets us up in the morning
It is with this knowledge that we developed mean to diligent manage our lives and construct our community
Hamad weakness, ignites us to aspire
In his desires to rise above his demons, he frequents the abode of the reformers with that cry for help
Their remedy to him is just enough to return back in a state, worse off that he started
At every attempt to break free, he is remind of the shackles on his wrist and disastrous covenants made during his years of innocence
They tell him of unattainable goals and targets he can’t achieve
And this forces him back to Jalingo street
A feat that keeps the reformer employed
Our search party went into action to find him lying by the riverside, overdosed
We gathered together and attended to his wounds
Against his will, he was treated and restored,
Restored to return back to his hopelessness
Which was our desire because:
- in it we find hope
-in it we find our desire to rise
- in his hopelessness we sparks our joint,
And opens the gate to our junkie heaven.
And when it does he goes to his favourite spot, somewhere along Jalingo Street,
He squats behind the abandoned blue sedan with his legs resting on the wall
He lights up the joint,
Opening the entrance to his Junkie Heaven
During the day, he encounters stares as he strolls in his only apparel, that torn brown sagging combat trousers that exposes his pubic to the view of all willing to see,
His collection of scrap, gathered during these strolls, are exchanged for money,
Money that is later used to buy dope and food
In the evening, he returns back to Jalingo Street,
For that spark that leads to Junkie Heaven.
And to begin his journey again…
But Tuesday was different,
Nobody could hear that sob, that sound of a tormented soul hovering back and forth experiencing ecstatic pleasures known only to those that indulge,
There wasn’t the usual clattering of cans and discarded mental as Hamad drags his most precious items in preparation of tomorrow’s supply
In two days, we all began to get worried on what befell dear Hamad
There are too many possibilities we could conceptualize
But as human, there are limits to the scenarios we can construct
Remember, rationality has boundaries
Boundaries that are further limited in the absence of our Hamad,
A reminder of the worse that can happen to a man
He puts in the minds of our offspring the idea of that thin line between humanity and the beast, forcing them to act in their best
Visualizing the lower limits of human evolution gets us up in the morning
It is with this knowledge that we developed mean to diligent manage our lives and construct our community
Hamad weakness, ignites us to aspire
In his desires to rise above his demons, he frequents the abode of the reformers with that cry for help
Their remedy to him is just enough to return back in a state, worse off that he started
At every attempt to break free, he is remind of the shackles on his wrist and disastrous covenants made during his years of innocence
They tell him of unattainable goals and targets he can’t achieve
And this forces him back to Jalingo street
A feat that keeps the reformer employed
Our search party went into action to find him lying by the riverside, overdosed
We gathered together and attended to his wounds
Against his will, he was treated and restored,
Restored to return back to his hopelessness
Which was our desire because:
- in it we find hope
-in it we find our desire to rise
- in his hopelessness we sparks our joint,
And opens the gate to our junkie heaven.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Coming New World Order
Thou, oh king sawest and behold a great image. Whose brightness was excellent and stood before thee; and the form was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, and his breast and arms of sliver, his belly and his thighs of brass…….
Thou sawest till a stone that was cut without hands which smote the image upon his feet and were the iron and clay and brake them to pieces………….
……………….and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain that filled the earth.
----------Daniel 2: 31-35
The desire to meet the needs and requirements is what makes men organize.
Understanding that needs and requirement are not static, is what makes the style of governance evolves.
I feel capitalism is dying
I feel a new generation craves a new world order.
The flaw that crippled the initial empires (ruled by kings and the heirs) was the inability to transfer understanding through generation.
Such led to moral decadence and inability of the heir in upholding the basic principles that positioned and made their ancestors.
Receiving power too early also created distance between the heirs and the people they rule as they couldn't tap into their heartbeats;
It made their souls clamour for something new.
The desired to be functional and to be integrated into the main stream;
Their scope of thinking felt that was all was required to have a fruitful existence.
Equality was on the lips;
The desire for socialism was born.
Socialism leads to the creation of massive infrastructures and large institutions.
But it lacked that human element; it opened room for complacency.
Citizens felt entitled to what they received; they had no vision because they had no hunger.
Mass welfare provided just enough.
Again the soul knew it needed more.
It needed people to take initiative.
People would no longer be products of what society dictates but what they desire to achieve and will be rewarded for it.
Capitalism was born in this dilemma.
Survival of the fittest became a quest to live, by any means.
The creative torch was revived and peaked but lost as individuals tried to monetize all they saw.
Stock market crashed, global economic meltdown, and credit crunch became the result of people trying monetizing everything around them.
The message that has been sent down the tunnels of time is one that has been delayed for a long time; it is a message people knew must be said but no one had the courage to say it;
CAPITALISM CANNOT SUSTAIN!
I believe that the divine has a reason why systems of governance had to evolve like this.
I believe it is essential that before the coming of a new order, society must be convinced that certain methods of organizing people cannot be maintained.
It must be understood that the only way a society can be led is when the enlightened are positioned in areas of their strength to make decision.
Between transiting from one style,
The poets would be burdened with poems,
Singer willl sing,
Artist must paints,
All in an effort express that inner conviction that is something wrong.
All sort of artistic expression would ignite people to act to collaboratively change the world around them.
The new world I see is one where passion would determine who does what.
Everyone would realize that they are entitled to only the value they contribute.
People would work in their area of strength with no rivalry.
The Government & religious bodies would work in unity to put meaning into where the society is going,
to and put life into the objective people set for themselves
They would receive voluntary contributions from the functional units within the society.
This fund would be used for welfare, crime management and social integration programs.
Companies will be setup to focus on implementing the vision their founders passionately sought to achieve.
They would voluntarily invest in infrastructure and education of the young (the potential leaders and future employees).
Because their visions are fueled with passion, services they provided would not be spurred out of response to competitive action, but out of a desire to actualize something within.
Employees would see their jobs as a learning ground; places where they can get hold of their passion, set up their own businesses and create new opportunities for the next generation.
The new world order would achieve all that the ancestors aimed to achieve:
• Legacy,
• General literacy
• And creativity
But it would do something different, position the right people in the right place at the right time. I see that as the future.
I see that as our peak, in the evolution of man.
Thou sawest till a stone that was cut without hands which smote the image upon his feet and were the iron and clay and brake them to pieces………….
……………….and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain that filled the earth.
----------Daniel 2: 31-35
The desire to meet the needs and requirements is what makes men organize.
Understanding that needs and requirement are not static, is what makes the style of governance evolves.
I feel capitalism is dying
I feel a new generation craves a new world order.
The flaw that crippled the initial empires (ruled by kings and the heirs) was the inability to transfer understanding through generation.
Such led to moral decadence and inability of the heir in upholding the basic principles that positioned and made their ancestors.
Receiving power too early also created distance between the heirs and the people they rule as they couldn't tap into their heartbeats;
It made their souls clamour for something new.
The desired to be functional and to be integrated into the main stream;
Their scope of thinking felt that was all was required to have a fruitful existence.
Equality was on the lips;
The desire for socialism was born.
Socialism leads to the creation of massive infrastructures and large institutions.
But it lacked that human element; it opened room for complacency.
Citizens felt entitled to what they received; they had no vision because they had no hunger.
Mass welfare provided just enough.
Again the soul knew it needed more.
It needed people to take initiative.
People would no longer be products of what society dictates but what they desire to achieve and will be rewarded for it.
Capitalism was born in this dilemma.
Survival of the fittest became a quest to live, by any means.
The creative torch was revived and peaked but lost as individuals tried to monetize all they saw.
Stock market crashed, global economic meltdown, and credit crunch became the result of people trying monetizing everything around them.
The message that has been sent down the tunnels of time is one that has been delayed for a long time; it is a message people knew must be said but no one had the courage to say it;
CAPITALISM CANNOT SUSTAIN!
I believe that the divine has a reason why systems of governance had to evolve like this.
I believe it is essential that before the coming of a new order, society must be convinced that certain methods of organizing people cannot be maintained.
It must be understood that the only way a society can be led is when the enlightened are positioned in areas of their strength to make decision.
Between transiting from one style,
The poets would be burdened with poems,
Singer willl sing,
Artist must paints,
All in an effort express that inner conviction that is something wrong.
All sort of artistic expression would ignite people to act to collaboratively change the world around them.
The new world I see is one where passion would determine who does what.
Everyone would realize that they are entitled to only the value they contribute.
People would work in their area of strength with no rivalry.
The Government & religious bodies would work in unity to put meaning into where the society is going,
to and put life into the objective people set for themselves
They would receive voluntary contributions from the functional units within the society.
This fund would be used for welfare, crime management and social integration programs.
Companies will be setup to focus on implementing the vision their founders passionately sought to achieve.
They would voluntarily invest in infrastructure and education of the young (the potential leaders and future employees).
Because their visions are fueled with passion, services they provided would not be spurred out of response to competitive action, but out of a desire to actualize something within.
Employees would see their jobs as a learning ground; places where they can get hold of their passion, set up their own businesses and create new opportunities for the next generation.
The new world order would achieve all that the ancestors aimed to achieve:
• Legacy,
• General literacy
• And creativity
But it would do something different, position the right people in the right place at the right time. I see that as the future.
I see that as our peak, in the evolution of man.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Never ending Rhythm
Think of a life & think of a melody
everyone is a Beat
A Beat is the sound that we bring
It is the sound of our work
as we till the earth for substance
It is the sound of our essence
the sound we make during interactions
Each Beat is who we are
An appearance of similarity
embodied in perfection
Yet unique in expression
All part of a song
A song that has been weaved up since creation
with every action resulting in a different flavour to the eventual sound
Though every Note made destines out to accomplish a personal purpose,
There is no awareness that it's ways are being orchestrated by the divine to sound in harmony with the times of the song
With every death, the tune changes
The melody loses a Beat
Even when replaced,
The New never sounds like the Old
With these departures,
the new Beats that are born ushers in a new era,
a new melody,
a new sound, in the melody of life.
(Dedicated to Micheal Joseph Jackson, August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Becoming
Who am I?
I ask myself that question,
‘Cos who I am is not static,
It is an evolving experience,
I know who I was,
I know who I have been,
But I am not sure who I am.
It is not written what I am yet to experience
And how my reaction would affect my version of reality
How it would open a new part of me
Revealing hidden strengths and weakness
And with that transformation,
The manifestation of a new me
So when I tell you this is who I am,
Be sure to know that I am referring to who I was,
Cause I don’t know what I am becoming
I ask myself that question,
‘Cos who I am is not static,
It is an evolving experience,
I know who I was,
I know who I have been,
But I am not sure who I am.
It is not written what I am yet to experience
And how my reaction would affect my version of reality
How it would open a new part of me
Revealing hidden strengths and weakness
And with that transformation,
The manifestation of a new me
So when I tell you this is who I am,
Be sure to know that I am referring to who I was,
Cause I don’t know what I am becoming
Monday, April 20, 2009
Second Discovery of Fire
Someday after we have mastered the wind, the waves and gravity, we shall harness for God, the energies of love. And then for the second time, man would have discovered fire.
Pierre Tiehard de Chardin
I still remember the 29th of Feb 2008, when you asked that profound question:
"What would you rather do?"
I was always lost in thoughts pondering about my current state, comparing current realities and the ideas I have of an ideal.
I would love to explore the world. A rolling stone, no strings, no attachment, and all memories of fantasies the average man never saw.
I imagined myself as the modern Viking, conquering territories in search for the golden flees.
The thought being an astronaut would have been great. The vastness of outer space provides exploration with no boundaries.
In all my desires, I find one thing common;
© that desire to be seen;
© that basic human need to feel accepted by humanity
But as always, that question kept lurking in the dark corners of my mind.
Little did I know destiny was beaconing on me.
Not until I stumbled in my life walk and received enlightenment.
That understanding that:
© Experiences are meaningless unless shared and used to shape a version of hope
© Whatever hope held is vanity unless it helps in establishing sustainable future
© The sustainability of a future is based on how much of it the visionary can create
© Creative ability depends on how much of it is unleashed.
And to unleash would mean a freedom of being, soul, and mind. That tri-team is anchored on the simple heartfelt desire to make the world a better place for two (me & you).
So what would I rather do?
I would rather
© explore all possibilities in space reachable by within the depth of your soul
© The look in your eye would reveal to me the beauty of the earth
© Engaging in your internal conversations would quench that thirst for fables & tales of mysteries
© The warmth of your smile would appease more than the approval of all strangers
The answer to your question is clear.
There are many different experiences possible in life. But of all, I think the most fulfilling is that choice with that one capable of unleashing the abilities in the heart; that one capable of enabling the second discovery of fire.
What I would rather do, is take that life walk with you.
Pierre Tiehard de Chardin
I still remember the 29th of Feb 2008, when you asked that profound question:
"What would you rather do?"
I was always lost in thoughts pondering about my current state, comparing current realities and the ideas I have of an ideal.
I would love to explore the world. A rolling stone, no strings, no attachment, and all memories of fantasies the average man never saw.
I imagined myself as the modern Viking, conquering territories in search for the golden flees.
The thought being an astronaut would have been great. The vastness of outer space provides exploration with no boundaries.
In all my desires, I find one thing common;
© that desire to be seen;
© that basic human need to feel accepted by humanity
But as always, that question kept lurking in the dark corners of my mind.
Little did I know destiny was beaconing on me.
Not until I stumbled in my life walk and received enlightenment.
That understanding that:
© Experiences are meaningless unless shared and used to shape a version of hope
© Whatever hope held is vanity unless it helps in establishing sustainable future
© The sustainability of a future is based on how much of it the visionary can create
© Creative ability depends on how much of it is unleashed.
And to unleash would mean a freedom of being, soul, and mind. That tri-team is anchored on the simple heartfelt desire to make the world a better place for two (me & you).
So what would I rather do?
I would rather
© explore all possibilities in space reachable by within the depth of your soul
© The look in your eye would reveal to me the beauty of the earth
© Engaging in your internal conversations would quench that thirst for fables & tales of mysteries
© The warmth of your smile would appease more than the approval of all strangers
The answer to your question is clear.
There are many different experiences possible in life. But of all, I think the most fulfilling is that choice with that one capable of unleashing the abilities in the heart; that one capable of enabling the second discovery of fire.
What I would rather do, is take that life walk with you.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Intimate Strangers
Always together, forever apart
Who am I, Who are you?
We sit six desks away in the office,
We live in the same neighborhood,
We are even friends on facebook,
But there is not a Hi, even in our stares
Cos no one is sure how to break the ice
We both get to work at about 6:00am
You work in marketing and I, in operations
Your day usually starts with the manager’s request for your report
Your always have bread and akara in the mornings
Fried rice and chicken with Dansa Orange in the afternoon
Every time you come, the phone is glued to your ear, and eyes to the ground
The sales man in you is trying to convince him using your most frequent line “like I said”
As you walk by, time seems to freeze giving me that moment to say these words:
Tobi,
you would be leaving us tomorrow,
What do you need a British Masters in for?
I really think you will do great without one
I admire your charisma and wish I could be that way one day
Though we are not even acquaintances, I feel we would always be connected
I try to imagine the content of your profile on facebook,
Most of your pictures would be in parties, raves and bar
Chidi and Toun will commented on most of your pictures insinuating an understanding beyond what the picture appears to be telling
But all of you won’t be hidden
Behind all the glitz & glamour ,
Your eyes, even in the pictures, would expose your soul
That worry would still be there
That desire for satisfaction in relationships that you feel the pressures of life robbed you of
The hope for a future that protects your offspring and those close to your heart
All that drives you to look for solitude in excitement and adventures
You try to hide it all with that “no surrender” swagger
But I understand
I look at the pictures and want to make a comment
But this digitization has made life too fast for my mind;
Knowing what to say would be hard
I want to say I understand all your are going through and notice things you feel are overlooked
I understand that desire to survive against all odd even when your environment stands against you,
I notice that your shirt wasn’t ironed this morning;
revealing your efforts to battle erratic power supply & a demanding job
I really do understand
If the world had been different we would have been platonic friends
We would have shared stories while I drive to work
We would have attended family functions ,
I would have commented on your pictures with that deeper understanding I feel I have
I would be one of the voices in your heads,
a part of your conscience that speaks my unique opinion
I would be one of those saying jokes that will make you laugh when you're alone
Back to reality,
our eyes lock in another stare and we both turn away when it becomes uncomfortable
I watch you disappear into the gathering of other marketers,
Your contagious laughter fills the room as you disappear till we meet again
Something in me feels I would miss you, but I know we would always be in touch,
Our circle of friends and the internet would make our stories flow,
Fueling that unclear intimate relationship,
Even as we live completely separate lives
Who am I, Who are you?
We sit six desks away in the office,
We live in the same neighborhood,
We are even friends on facebook,
But there is not a Hi, even in our stares
Cos no one is sure how to break the ice
We both get to work at about 6:00am
You work in marketing and I, in operations
Your day usually starts with the manager’s request for your report
Your always have bread and akara in the mornings
Fried rice and chicken with Dansa Orange in the afternoon
Every time you come, the phone is glued to your ear, and eyes to the ground
The sales man in you is trying to convince him using your most frequent line “like I said”
As you walk by, time seems to freeze giving me that moment to say these words:
Tobi,
you would be leaving us tomorrow,
What do you need a British Masters in for?
I really think you will do great without one
I admire your charisma and wish I could be that way one day
Though we are not even acquaintances, I feel we would always be connected
I try to imagine the content of your profile on facebook,
Most of your pictures would be in parties, raves and bar
Chidi and Toun will commented on most of your pictures insinuating an understanding beyond what the picture appears to be telling
But all of you won’t be hidden
Behind all the glitz & glamour ,
Your eyes, even in the pictures, would expose your soul
That worry would still be there
That desire for satisfaction in relationships that you feel the pressures of life robbed you of
The hope for a future that protects your offspring and those close to your heart
All that drives you to look for solitude in excitement and adventures
You try to hide it all with that “no surrender” swagger
But I understand
I look at the pictures and want to make a comment
But this digitization has made life too fast for my mind;
Knowing what to say would be hard
I want to say I understand all your are going through and notice things you feel are overlooked
I understand that desire to survive against all odd even when your environment stands against you,
I notice that your shirt wasn’t ironed this morning;
revealing your efforts to battle erratic power supply & a demanding job
I really do understand
If the world had been different we would have been platonic friends
We would have shared stories while I drive to work
We would have attended family functions ,
I would have commented on your pictures with that deeper understanding I feel I have
I would be one of the voices in your heads,
a part of your conscience that speaks my unique opinion
I would be one of those saying jokes that will make you laugh when you're alone
Back to reality,
our eyes lock in another stare and we both turn away when it becomes uncomfortable
I watch you disappear into the gathering of other marketers,
Your contagious laughter fills the room as you disappear till we meet again
Something in me feels I would miss you, but I know we would always be in touch,
Our circle of friends and the internet would make our stories flow,
Fueling that unclear intimate relationship,
Even as we live completely separate lives
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)