Mama - What she said

I'm growing old and you're growing strong,

for a statement, that's bold but you know I'm not wrong..
& to be clear, dear son, this is not one,
of those 'lecture' sessions, the ones I answer your questions with questions.
These are my thoughts, & I hope when I'm done you'll link up the dots. . . .
As a mum, I'm proud. Very, very, very proud.
So proud in my cloud that, if I was allowed to stand in a crowd I'd,
to the peak of my voice., shout out and, let the whole world know aloud that,
I'm proud that, I am proud. Yes. Proud to have you and your siblings.
Children I'd never trade for no amount of shillings.
No dollars on this earth could replace the worth of your birth(s).
I insist, if I was to re-do motherhood, I'd get the four of you still,
perfectly imperfect, and do things a little bit different.
Make things better. Make the future brighter.,
but trust me, this is the best. We are blessed, son..
it could have been worse.
You now know well, your father has been gone, not by his choice,

and not with his voice, of course, that's why I speak in his place..

trying to make you embrace advice he would have given,

for you seem, like him, ambitious and quite self-driven,

that the wrongs you've done in the past are forgiven.
Oh how I know it breaks his heart, (RIP), that he left me fighting alone,

breaking my bones, collecting stones,

thrown my way, to build a place,

even if not sufficient, then maybe just for a day,

get us a place to stay, a place to place our beds,

and to lay our heads.. He left.

He left a hole,

a hole in our pockets, a hole in my heart,

a hole in my soul, in our lives and it hurt,

a whole lot of reasons to give up but we did not.

a whole lot of hope.

& I'll admit, to the least, it wasn't as comfortable,

just affordable, it wasn't as you wished,

the food you dished, not as pleasant as the fish,

the neighbours cooked, not even as sweet as the adverts looked,

(funny) but we were content enough..

paying off loans, when all we owned,

in a distant place away from home,

was love.

and faith.
and patience.
Love, faith and patience., love, faith and patience,
love, faith and patience., love, faith and patience, Nothing!
We struggled our part and fought our battles,
we paid allegiance to the High Deity, where it was due,
and as dew on the morning grass,
He always showed up, ever faithful.
I'll cut it short son and say this again,
it could have been worse.
& now the world's ahead for you,
and your brother and sisters,
I smile when I think of the times I felt like quitting,
no kidding. Winners never quit and quitters never win, I guess
that makes me a winner and it's all I ever want for all of you,
to win. To stand tall in oppression, to rise high in depression.
I'll live long to see you succeed, love long enough to love more,
and when that day comes, let it be least of my concerns,
to hear you say these words; "That's what she said"

I will not forget

I will not forget, why the birds chirped,

flying away, the clouds gathered, and the rain drops dropped.

I will not forget the past that has been, the present as it is and the future as it seems.

I will not forget. I choose to remember.

I choose to remind my within that I am a member,

A tourist, a sailor and a traveler of my own; an athlete on a marathon, of,

Memories and dreams; of, flashbacks and fast forwards.

I will not forget.

I will not forget that everyone is someone,

everyone has something and that everyone completes my world.

I will not forget that the harshness of this world,

is the beauty of its products. Trials & temptations,

maybe pain and suffering, regrets and heartbreaks,

are the fire that, the gold I am, is to be purified through.

Thus, I will not forget that, the harder it gets,

The more competent I become, moreover, the less limited I become.

They said it plainly; No pain, No gain.

I took it playingly and made it my game.

I did not forget, however, nor for granted did I take,

The miles I walked in, and the smiles I forced in.

I will not forget that I chose never to forget,

that the stones the world’s been throwing my way,

each and every single day, is a mansion of dreams,

still under construction. I will not forget.

Time killed my vibe

You see, time killed my vibe, son.

Time and again, I'd been tied in a game,

sheer hide and seek, tried to gain where I can,

Plough while it drained, weed where it came,

sprouting through the ground, harvested for the pound,

and sold them to the hounds, 

and now I'm bound., to a cycle,

turned to a psycho, slaved but free,

independent, but just like a tree,

I'll move where and when the wind blows.

Like a seedling floating on top, I'll go where the stream flows,

and it grows., on and on. Joining other streams to form a river,

I'd cry you one but the biled emotion in my liver,

is big a hindrance, but clear a guidance,

and the puzzle fixes itself as time continues.. killing my vibe.

The maze unwinds and the river is vast,

flowing so fast, and into the ocean.,

my portion you ask? not so much.

yet.

Because, you see, I'm growing.

The seedling I was, is getting the edges of immaturity cut from it's tug line..

but then again, the tree I'm becoming needs to rest at the coast line..

so I have to tackle the waves and battle the storms,

I have to rise to the occasion and dismantle the norms..

I have to sip on every mineral and salts I find.

I have to filter out every discouragement from my mind.

I have to grow. I have to keep on my toes.
I have to keep my head high before the leaves come out.
I have to hold on, for the ocean I swim in, is huge.. before I flower.,

before the hour of power is mine to devour.

And time has killed my vibe.

Because now I don't have time to chant and chat, whisper and whistle with my fellow growing trees. We are all headed there but when their wind blows, water flows through my young growing branches. When they call my name out, the waves splashing on me keep my ears deaf. But I'll strive for the cause, I'll struggle for the course. I'll karma time and kill it's vibe, when sarcastically, the time is right. 

when the happy sounds of laughter from little children eating our fruits beneath us, 

getting shade from the sun under our leaves, will be enough mockery.

Time, I'm coming for you bro, I will kill your vibe.

Sometimes

Sometimes we get introduced to something new,

a whole different empire of thought, a different view,

and we are lost at first, blinded so fast,

and it's a love and/or hate sight,

We plunge into the waters, dive into the depths,

meet confusions, create solutions, 

set a pace or break without a trace.

We make mistakes, or we are too careful but overlook the things that are at stake.

Whether we know how to swim when we dive,

whether we will know what speed to rise to when we drive,

or whether we accept the situations when and where we arrive,

if we will become the masters of our fate and thrive,

or if we are too susceptible to the conditions against our will to survive,

will we;

Let the light be cast in our direction?

will we;

Let the truth project our reflections?

will we;

Let the life in us, provide a chance, to overcome and outride our imperfections?

I ask.

& I'm sorry that on Twitter I'm all over your mentions., with questions.

& I'm sorry that, on my stalking trips, I followed you., to the booth and overheard your confessions.

I wasn't the priest on duty but I could tell you were pissed by the beauty,

of your sins and transgressions,

the scenes of your indiscretions,

the pain of the burden on your shoulders,

the bravery forgotten so soon of a soldier,

who dared to go out of his way, taking all the risks he could afford, in the brevity of time he could not.

Skipping Ropes

Skipping ropes, sleeping hopes.,
Linking ropes, slinking hopes.
As I jumped they awoke, we connected, moved upslope.
Now, I grope in the darkness as I reach for the top.,
Widen the scope and fasten the hops. Won't stop.
Won't drop. Never look down, won't flop.
I have the within to develop and the without to envelope.,
with success under self-driven ambition.
My mission? Well, I'll focus my vision and plunge into motion.
Going wild, without permission.
Maybe mild, for the chase... and gild,  for the race..
Maybe I'll set the pace and create space for the steps,
that come behind me. That skip the ropes of hopes just after me.,
Just after me, are my dreams chasing me.
The faster I skip, the faster the ropes,
the stronger I speak, the stronger the hopes,
and I'm amazed and dazed by the state I'm in. Fazed a bit, as I gaze at the future.
I won't laze around, I won't blaze my ground.
I'll set base for the ground and a foundation for the mount that I'll climb as I build..
That., I'll build as I climb.
Strength. Dreams.

I skip my rope, you skip your rope,
she skips her rope, he skips his rope.
We all skip our ropes, because we hope.
Faith. Work. Hope. 

The Cave

The cave, where we dine and dwell,
Sleep well and tell, of folktales unheard,
Travel and journey through roads and back,
When times are good and times are bad,
hard. Where we've dreamt past, the future present,
presenting gifts expecting consent, gratitude,
grateful hearts from they that we cherish, we love.

They who we would give our all to be with,
always praying they never get to perish,
die. But live eternally in our hearts..
beyond the hurts and cuts, the bruises.
Because they've walked in our shoes,
a mile or two, as they happened to choose,
to make us happy; even when we smiled but cried..
Those tears of joy but grief, anguish.
Mixed to no taste over time but we want…
We desire: To overcome and live life positive..
We admire: The heroes of age who overcame with a motive.,
the distinguished architects of success.
They inspired, we aspire..
albeit, higher.
For the road less travelled,
we climb, the steepest of hills., mountains.
Where we surmount our pains and turn them into joy, gladness.
Motivated and obligated, to maintain happiness..

The time has ticked and the Math is done.
Done to its best because; It’s the thought that counts.
The thought that is the air we breathe inside our cave, the cave…
The cave, that is our mind.

Life as you know it

Life, as you know it, as I know it, as we know it.,
Not what it seems like, and definitely not what it feels like.
We smile and we laugh, we sob and we cry,
we fly way above, we dream when we fly,
or we fly when we dream.. your pick, your choice.
How do you live it?
Why do you live it?
Fundamental. Questions I ask, just to question your mental,
state. State how you do it, and what you believe in.
Why you wake up in the morning,
what keeps your engines roaring..
Parable? But it's plausible.
Life is what you make it but how you make it,
is more important. Making the effort ever constant.
While others start from the bottom,
Others start where others left,
others left where others felt,
they couldn't take it any more,
any longer...and fled. Where their hearts bled,
of distress and pain and it led to a mess,
that they couldn't clean nor place,
not being mean.. You were left in that place,
with no choice nor chance,
to replace the misplaced.. you know what I mean?
Darkness. But there is a light that shines bright right ahead,
so why we give up when we can,
is a mystery that I came,
across as a game, of,
Survival for the fittest, revival for the fastest,
where arrival at the Finish Line,
whether the first or the last,
the fast or the passed,
the best or the worst,
is an archival of the sweetest,
victory in a lifetime. Where we will say you tried,
you fought to the last. You battled to the end,
you fought the good fight and kept the faith.,
mostly, you never gave up. You put the icing on the cake.
You shamed defeat. You famed motivation,
you embraced success and kissed failure goodbye.

LIFE-RICA

L.I.F.E ; I remove the E and add the word RICA.

LIFRICA, because I'm going to talk about, life in Africa.

the life of an African, the perception of unAfricans,

the love from non-Africans., as a reflection and

as motivation; the far the dream has lived,

the firm we have believed, just like an invention,

with undevoured devout conviction, redrawn omissions, 

abhorred emissions, with our own priced possessions...

.. which are the eyes. The eyes that see,

beyond the lies, overseas.. But to be or not to be,

is the question that oversees, the drive that supersedes,

the spirit that intercedes, the hunger that antecedes, before us,

as we proceed and we battle, we fight our fears,

that has culminated over the years, subdued by superiors,

who made us inferiors.. the tears, we cried.. the tears, we tore.

I call them inglorious. A movie adds "bastards" to the name,

but who am I to judge them? They judged us. 

They chewed on us, perhaps because the skin, chocolaty,

they FUDGEd us. I'm bitter with no pain and the taste is sour.

I fear my tears like them because they trickle, when shower

is what.. I want them to. The acres of land, education and pride,

I want them too. They took us for a ride but the single things they snatched from us,

I want them, two. It's ridiculous we know it. Made fools, then tools, then taken

for granted. When just when they saw you, all that's yours they took it for 

wanted. 

But then I now live in the present.. and as of present as it claims,

the past is passed, in precise Italiano, we are pasta.. We might forget but I'll preach it,

(I know I should have said Pastor) though the thought is, we're past that.

A gift of present does not dwell in the past.. it's apart. A whole new part.

A gift of reason, swells in my heart. Pride. That we have indeed overcome..

The dust is settling, the coughing subsiding.

The best feet are being put forward.

The past is being erased, not in memory but in its bitterness,

as she progresses. She moves on. Bruised and wounded but strong with grace,

like a tigress in the woods, in pursuit of happiness.

The will to succeed like a smith on his metals, moulding the best.

She yields and invests.. A little help from the rest, the rest which was pest,
has pulled her up, back to her feet.

And I officially deem her fit, to fight for survival, 
to experience her own revival,

and above all.. 
keep the pace, keep the peace, 
win the race and be the *reece. 

Part of a poem I did spoken word on.. Most of it has been edited.

*as from the Urban Dictionary, meaning: best, superior, ideal or perfect.

iBetter

iBetter recall, re-visualise then relive,

Troublesome mind with thoughts meant to leave,

No. This is my home where I'm supposed to live,

I shred the thoughts to pieces *phew* relief.

.

iBetter be that person I dream in my dream,

Wholesome enough; nothing less, nothing trimmed,

A package;not baggage; crème de la crème,

No sadness ; smiley face and a grin.

.

iBetter work smart like the ants in a hill,

doesn't look manageable, big bucks on the bill,

Good rest & sleep ; No smoke,drink and pill,

Sober minds staggering ; daggering might kill.

.

iBetter be better ; better than the rest,

Better live better ; better than the best,

Anywhere that's better ; either east and or the west,

that's why iBetter ; laid it off from my chest.,

All I Wrote

The syllables right, my will to write.,
the world is a fright, am I afraid of this rite?
The light at the end of the tunnel is bright, but
the pipe at the end of the funnel is tight.
All I said is all I wrote,
All I wanted is all I wrought.
Whatever I dreamt of is what I sought,
Whatever I craved for is what I got.
Laugh love but love laugh.
It's a bluff, I graph time against love,
the X- Axis versus why? Ask this.
Then I contemplate, if there was food on my plate.,
The early bird I am, eats the worm before late.
If it was a bet, go home to your bed (I won)
If it was a bade, I fare thee well.
After all is done and all is said,
After all the big spoons are called a spade,
All I've written is all I wrote,
And all I wrote is more than I thought.

The Battlefield

The battle's in my mind, the struggles that I grind.,
I am at the frontline not behind, hoping victory's what I'll find.
The truth I'm seeing is bound to make you blind, rallying & fighting with the best of all mankind.,
Is it the war we fight or the peace that binds, Or the pleasure I salvage within that finds?
I ponder. When am I to get over yonder?
As much as distance makes the heart grow fonder..,
this dance makes the fight get colder.
The armour is on & the banner is flying ;
the attack is on & the enemy is dying.
Will I access this sweet success?
Will I possess that which am obsessed?
I juggle through the jungle of puzzles and mazes,
and untangle the chord of thoughts that amazes,
me,
as it turns and knots itself in a haze,
obscuring clarity leaving me in a daze.
Just like diapers I might need change,
will you buy my thoughts & say "keep change"?
Change ammunition and pull the trigger,
No retribution and the pay 6-figure,
No condemnation I thus increase the vigour.

The art of the battle & am at the heart of the war,
Am holding the mantle & am defeating them all.
The field is my mind & am dancing to the music,
The field is mine, am at it & am amusing.