2012, Here We Come!

The turkey has been carved, the gifts unwrapped, last carols have been sung and the silent night has given way to the joyous cacophony of New Year's Eve. True to form, I am coming to you at the last possible moment with my best wishes for the holidays ^^. 


End of year is a time when people usually make long lists of resolutions as they get ready to make a fresh start. I just want to say thank you to all of you who have been following this blog journey so far, those of you who visit sporadically, and those people out there who just happened to read an entry or two... may 2012 bring you strength and new growth in your lives. As you continue with your own personal journey, I hope that this year will add positive and powerful chapters to your life story!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY

Matisyahu: One Day

An absolutely beautiful video. The lyrics of this song capture what the holiday season is all about. It's message is one we would all do good to remember and to carry with us year round. Happy Holidays everybody!

Tortoise Wisdom

'Could you be any slower?'

Said the hare to Brother Tortoise,

'Why, I could run to the edge of the world

and back and you'd still be on your doorstep!'

'I don't mind all that Brother Hare,'

replied he in slow deliberate tone,

'As long as I reach my destination,

I don't mind at all how long it takes.'

The years wore on

and Brother Hare continued to run.

He zipped and zoomed

til he almost flew,

growing faster with each passing day.

Brother Tortoise kept on his steady gait,

never faltering in his discipline.

He watched the hare rush

madly toward the end of his days.

It was the same for the hare's son,

grandson and down the line-

Blowing through life

At the speed of sound,

Seeing but never understanding,

hearing but never listening.

The tortoise's life was not so;

He received the greatest prize of all:

For you see,

In taking the time to live,

Brother Tortoise really lived.

In Time

So much to say,

So much to much to try.

So many things unspoken,

Suspended in the mind.

So many battles lost,
So many left to fight.
So many chances untapped,

Rehashed in 20-20 hindsight.
So many lessons to be learnt

Before the final exam.
So many things to let go of
To make room for things to come.
So much washed away,
like water under a bridge.
So much to do, to see,
So many reasons to live.
So many people to meet:
Friends and foes, rivals and allies. 

So many courses to explore

While navigating the river of time.

The Talk

Come. 

Sit down.

Shut the door and leave the world outside.

You see, 

There are a few things

That have been on my mind;

I'm pretty sure they've been on yours as well.

So, 

Put down what you're doing.

Set your work aside,

Forget your duties for a while

And sit next to me.

Oh, 

And when you come,

Remember to close the door

And leave the world on the other side.

Downtime

With the seemingly endless madness of the daily rat race where we run from one obligation to the next, there comes a point when we all need to just stop for a moment and breathe. Just a few minutes where seriousness, responsibility and all the other not-so-fun things that come with being an adult can take a back seat to pure, unadulterated silliness can sometimes make all the difference between staying balanced and having a full-out meltdown.

One of the things I enjoy doing when I have a little downtime is cracking up while watching a good parody- anything from classic sketch shows like In Living Color, MADtv or Saturday Night Live to vloggers like Glozell Green. There's just nothing quite like a bit of comedy to remind you not to take life quite so seriously all the time. I recently came across the Key of Awesome series on Youtube that does some great spoofs so I figured I'd share the laughs. Here are a couple of my favourites (so far).

Adele ft. Angry Birds

Rihanna: We Found Love in a Homeless Place

Gentle Arousal

The first rays break through the dark

Dissolving the walls of solid black with hopeful light.

The air is fresh, unsullied as yet;

The silence, untainted with sound-

A blank canvas

Awaiting the first tender stroke

Of the Artist's humble brush.

As the radiance steals over land and river and sea,

Colours peep out from under blankets of grey 

And stretch their limbs over their surroundings,

Drawing the world out of drowse

And into a vigilent state,

Awakening sight and sound,

Arousing smell and taste.

Restoring feeling and thought.

And night gives way to day.

Sexual Healing Suite 4: Student Application

Take my hand

Be my guide

Light the path that leads inside
The space
Where I can find 
The key to understanding
The elusive contents of your mind.

With a little patience,

You'll see that I'll prove

A willing student,

A docile dove, 

Ready to learn 

The ways of love.

Sexual Healing Suite 3: Physical Geography

Mmm...

Damn! 

You sure put it down tonight.

Your hands,

Your hips,

Your thighs,

Your lips,

Your... mmm

You pulled some tricks out of...

I can't imagine where.

The way you felt,

The way you moved,

The way you smelt,

The way you touched me , 

The things you said...

I sure learned some things tonight.

You taught me how 

To take my time,

To explore, 

To savour,

To tease,

To coax... 

Mmm hmmm...

You brought out some things...

A passion that was new to me,

Ardour-filled discovery.

And together 

We romped,

We rolled,

We played,

We let each other's love unfold...

Ooh baby!

Tonight a whole 'notha world just opened up.

A world of fresh sights,

And tastes,

 And sounds,

A world where mountains,

Valleys and fountains abound.

You put it down last night!

When we connected,

The click was almost audible;

The electricity was palpable;

The emotion breathable;

The ecstasy edible.

Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Baby,

Stay a little while longer.

Let me lose myself in those eyes.

Bedazzle me with that smile.

Let me lie in the warmth of your touch.

Let me wander across the landscape of your body.

And explore the recesses of you

For just a little bit...

Sexual Healing Suite 2: One Night Ninja

Last night you touched me.

It felt like a dream.

So euphoric and surreal,

I just couldn't believe 

It could really be happening.

How funny it seems,

That I find myself questioning

If it was all real.

'Cause now in the daylight

With no body of truth,

The only evidence remaining -

 A vague semblance of proof - 

Is the crinkle in the sheets

On the side of the bed

Where my poor, befuddled head

Tells me you must have slept.

And I curse myself 

For not perceiving you in your stealth,

As silently you crept

Out of the room

And into the night,

Cautiously making your way 

Back to your life.

Sexual Healing Suite 1: Celibacy Black and Blues

This lady sang a song

Bemoaning her sad state,

The blues of a circumstantial celibacy 

That had come to be her fate.

I, for one, have never been bothered 

By lack of activity on that account,

And to me these matters seemed 

No great trial to surmount.

But lately there's this nagging feeling

Pulling at my mind.

And though I push it out the way,

It just won't stay on the side.

I've tried the homemade remedies,

The showers tinged with ice

But they just mock my efforts

And tighten up the vice.

See sometimes a body needs a body

To hold them through the night:

To kiss.

To hug.

To make sweet love

 Until embraced so tight,

Together you reach the height 

Of  lovers' bliss

On the wings of pure delight;

Then fall asleep, well content,

To the rhythm of their caresses,

And wake to see the golden dawn

Reflected in their tresses. 

So here I find myself a victim of this celibacy

And Jill, I feel you girl

'Cause this thing here, is really workin' on me...

Today

Today my soul just opened up.

I didn't know it could.

I'd heard it happened to other people

Never thought one day would be my turn.

Today I saw You

For the first time,

And it seems a little odd

That you'd be around someone for so much time,

And find you don't know them at all.

Today I chose to let you in

Where few have ever trod.

Today I decided to take a chance

On this "Person" we call God. 

Divestment

It's time...

For all the years spent trying:

Be stalwart, be calm,

Patient and kind,

Yet ever armed;

Be wise and subtle,

Be firm and yet humble;

Be genuine but know how to fake,

Bend like the green willow but never break;

Never let them see behind your game face... 

All the while knowingly lying

For the sake of conforming

To social grace.

The walls I built with reinforced steel

Turned into a prison that would not yield

Even to my hand, 

When, at last a man,

I came to understand

That in weakness there can be strength

In awkwardness, stealth

And underneath poverty, untold wealth.

When at last I opened my eyes

Finally beginning to realise

That I'd read the signs wrong

That I'd been brainwashed all along

Into thinking I needed to kill

All the while amassing debt in an unpayable bill,

Keeping me enslaved, effacing my will;

Leaving me numb, soulless and ill

But demanding more and even more still...

So I decided

It's time:

Time to let go

Time to strip off all the masks and pretense and ego

Time to look into the mirror and finally know

What's really there so I can undergo

The metamorphosis that must inevitably follow...

Time to put all I've learnt to the test.

Time to come face to face with my best.

Time to be strong and leave fear powerless.  

Time to be vulnerable, not time to hide.

And at the edge of this decision, I cried.

Shameless...

Flip It

I don't want to wave this

Like a banner

Because I don't see why I should.

And I don't want the word spreading

Like wildfire

Through the hood.

What we have

Is just for us two

Although you seem to feel

It'd be better if the whole world knew.

I'd much rather it remain

A hidden delicacy

Savoured secretly

In comfort and privacy;

Devoured greedily.

But the DL isn't made

For longevity

And people are beginning to get suspicious. 

Friends and family are poking around

Like packs of rabid sniffer hounds.

So perhaps it's time to make a move

And take this public;

Go on the offensive so the busybodies are routed

Rather than sit back and wait

Until we get outed.

Scandalous Epiphany

Hey,

Do I know you?

Your face looks kinda familiar...

I'm sure I've seen you before...

Just can't seem to remember where.

Hmm.

You say you don't know me from Adam

But I'm sure I've seen you around.

No honey!

Put that can of mace away

I ain't no stalker.

Gurl you a lil' cray-cray!

So anyway,

What was I about to say?

Oh yeah,

Didn't we go to school together?

College? Or maybe uni?

Ok,

So I don't know you from school.

Church?

Oh you Hindu?

Not church then.

OMG!

Now I know where I seen you!

You from that strip place on Bar Street...

Oh well,

Gosh look at the time.

I really must be off.

Nice running into you.

Oh and one more thing,

This never happened.

Happy Gaffe-Day

Walk into walls;

Slam doors

At the precise moment

When subtlety and a delicate hand are required.

Groan inwardly

And maybe cuss a little under your breath.

Feel the burning flush

As blood floods the face

In a volcanic rush.

Look for a place to hide:

A rock to crawl under

Or some hole to slither into,

Just to find yourself

Naked in front of a crowd,

In a wide open space

With nowhere to run

And no shelter to be found.

All eyes on you.

Yup, it's all for you.

That's right it is all about you baby!

Today is your day.

It's your time to shine:

A crimson flame

Against their cold, frigid stares.

So close your eyes and make a wish

But try not to trip over yourself in the process

And wind up in an even bigger mess

Or dig yourself in any deeper

Than ya already are.

Just roll over;

Play dead

And maybe things will die down on their own.

But in the meantime

Blow out your candles

While I raise my glass to you.

Happy gaffe-day boo!

Today's Find

It's no secret how much I enjoy good music and youtube is a source of all kinds of music- the good, the bad and the work in progress. A few minutes ago, I happened across a cover of Rihanna's Man Down by a duo of young women who have tremendous potential (in my humble opinion). When I heard Ivana and Jessica, I knew I just had to share. I'm also including a second video in which they do a medley in tribute to 90s R&B and let me say, they really brought it! 

If you like what you hear, go check out their channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/VanJess24. They have tonnes of stuff on there. Also, feel free to share your own musical gems. I'm always happy to discover new voices and styles ^_^.

When

When I first saw you,

I thought you were cool.

When you first spoke to me,

I felt we could be friends.

When we first hung out,

I figured this was worth further investigation

So I put in more time.

When you first got that gleam in your eye,

I told myself I had imagined it;

Sure, I knew you liked me,

But you couldn't possibly like me, like me.

When you first admitted your feelings,

I must confess, I was scared.

So I ran.

But you persisted and were rewarded.

When you first won me over,

It was the strangest thing.

I never thought I could give myself to someone like this.

When we first kissed it was electrifying, breathtaking, beautiful...

...And when you left me,

I lost my breath, for good I'd thought.

Yet still I clung to a fragile hope that you'd come back.

But you never did.

When I accepted truth,

My life returned

And with that life I breathed again.

When I began to live once more,

I knew that hope had not been false,

Only misplaced.

And when I hoped, I became strong.

I learned to trust,

To stand, to walk and then to run.

When I first ran again I knew for sure 

That love would not be far away.

Summer Jamz: Shani- One in a Million

When you think summer, you often think summer tunes. You know, there's always that one song that you remember clubbing out to every night with your BFFs, or the song you and your summer flame danced to on that magical evening, or the handful of heaven sent tracks that got you through the most excruciatingly boring eight weeks of your life. Well, in the spirit of estival giving, here's a little ditty to get your waistlines moving.

Out of the Blue

I see you from a distance

And almost turn away

As I get on board bus number eight

And try to find a place,

When suddenly I find myself arrested

In the spotlight of your gaze.

Damn child! Those eyes...

I shift my gaze away from yours

And try to pretend

That nothing really happened;

That I hadn't noticed anything.

But I know that you know

What I know I can't deny-

Damn it's all there

Written in those eyes.

I take a seat and stare out the window

Wordlessly and without second glance at you.

But the streets that snake past,

With the people and buildings and trees

That adorn them,

Barely leave an imprint.

Damn! Those eyes eyes are etched into mine.

You're somewhat older

And not really my type.

...But a rose by any other name

And all that...

Damn, those eyes!

You reach your destination

And for you the bus ride comes to an end.

You step off and out of my life.

Two very different trajectories

That happened to intersect

For a brief moment.

I return to the mundane and familiar

With a sigh.

If I were the smoking type,

I think I'd need a cigarette right about now.

Damn. What a pair of eyes. 

E-Flow Manifesto

Lethargy.

My effigy’s

Impressed on thee.

Put no stress on me.

I watch you strut your stuff so impressively

It’s like you’re testin’ me.

And I don’t know

What you think you see

But I’ma bring it;
Be all I can be.

You bring yours too.

Do it dutifully

But oh so beautifully,

So your performance ends tearfully

But also cheerfully.

Let me see you really care for me

Lemme know you’re there for me

So I don’t live fearfully

Though I may move carefully.

Just keep it clean and free from vanity.

Don’t need profanity

To speak expressively

I’m just collectively

Sharing my recipe;

It’s alright if you disagree.

You don’t have to follow me.

Share your affinities

And creativities

With like-minded brothers of fraternities

But there’s no recruiting me.

I’ll walk the path of destiny;

Live life in unity

With those in harmony

With God’s philosophy.

Speak words of prophecy .

No more  hypocrisy.

Drop all the mockery.

Forget what was wrongfully

And undeservedly

Tagged on your back

In scarlet lettery

Flee hopeless tyranny;

Let’s leave captivity

And seek out and pursue real liberty!

Ode to the Word

Put pen to paper;

Spell out words.

How lucky we are to be able to compose

Lyrics and verses

And stories and rhymes

And tales tall and fanciful that live on through time.

Yes pen and keyboard,

If small and quite discreet,

Like hammer and chisle  

Are tools mighty indeed

That carve out the great figures

Of which we now boast,

Who on the tides of history

Might have foundered and been lost

Had it not been for the word,

Written and transposed

Then passed on and revived

So their legacy could be kept alive.

Yes, how blessed we are

As inheritors who

Are privileged to receive and add to

A wealth of experiences:

Of victories and defeats,

Of loves lost and found,

Of highs and lows,

Of infamy and renown.

And so,

To your quills, your pads and computers,

If your hearts be so stirred,

As we celebrate the life and times

Of the written word.

Overweight

A jaunty saunter,

And saucy swagger

Up to the checkout desk

Belies nagging doubt

About what the scales will read

Under the weight of all my baggage.

It really wasn’t my fault.

You see,

What had happened was

I had so many important things to bring along:

My knowledge for starters,

Such wealth as I possess,

Then there was pride and self confidence

(Packed a little extra in my carry-on too),

Oh, and there are those residual hurts

Mementos from obscure episodes in my past,

Of course, I had to make space for complacency and doubt,

My talent, my ingenuity,

Self pity, helpless feelings and anxieties-

No way I could leave those behind!

So I bussed it,

Hoofed it,

Hobbled and taxied

All the way here

And now my bags are starting to tell:

There are some broken straps and handles,

Not to mention a couple of busted zippers

But dammit I made it!

But passing through

the million and one security checks along the way,

(Damn those bloody terrorists!)

I find I’m forced to sort through my affairs

And leave little odds and ends behind:

A mask here,

A worn out excuse there,

Old padding and protections,

Scarves and coats I’d taken as a precaution

But most likely won’t need at my destination.

Still,

Even after all these checks

My bags are still so loaded

I can barely drag them along.

I fear that between check-in

And the remaining security stations,

I’ll have no choice

But to cast more and more stuff aside,

So that by the time I reach the gate for boarding

They’ll have me stripped down to nothing

But the bare essentials

Cause this airline don’t give you no allowance for overweight.

Apologetica

With every choice,

There comes the consequence.

For every risk,

There is a cost

And even not to choose

Becomes itself a choice.

And not to risk,

Is to run a risk:

The risk of being wrong,

The risk of missing out,

The risk of stagnating,

The risk of failing to grow

And being left behind.

I’ve failed you I’m afraid.

I thought I did you justice

I thought I helped you learn,

I thought I nourished you

When in fact

I stifled your creativity,

Your free spirit.

My help, my correction,

Was abuse

And my brand of justice

The most atrocious of

Injustices

And now I’ve spoilt

What could have been

A beautiful painting;

I’ve thrown out of harmony

A melody that should have

Gone platinum

Many times over.

My selfishness, my fear, my ego

Have marred the tapestry of our lives…

This is my apologetica.

The weight of regret

That lies on my shoulders

Presses down on me

More and more

With each passing day.

I wish

I could turn back the clock

With the knowledge

I now have

And then just maybe…

But how to change?

How to make things right?

How can I rewrite the role

That I have created for

Myself?

How to break free

Of this image of perfection,

Of innocence, responsibility

And saintliness?

A role produced by others

Before I could yet

Understand

Its repercussions

But one which I accepted

And learned to play

With dexterity

And convincing

Improvisations

But this is my apologetica…

I just want you to understand…

…and maybe one day

We can forgive me.