BROKEN RECORD

Shut up!!! The voices in my head say

I hear it loud and clear, every hour, every minute and every second.

You just can’t do it. Don’t bother trying

Leave it for those who can. You are just busy body.

Hush!!! The people around me say.

My family, friends and familiar strangers too

Why? Is it your business as well?

Talent? Leave it the agents to sort that out

You sound like a broken record

My sassy voice tells them

Yes. A broken record.

A twisted white tape that is tired of being played over and over again

A cracked CD plate that is scratched to the T

I’m not listening ‘cos I can’t hear you.

You are breaking up.

What did you say again?

The cackling sound of a cock sounds louder than you...

Yes. You sound like a broken record.

- By Ijeoma U.

Photo by Patrickjoust

How was your day?

Thanks a billion for visiting this page :) Hugs!!!

Broken Wings

Yesterday, I saw a set of blue wings

It was spotted with yellow dusts and a little bit of grey and white here and there

It was perched on the shrubs, sitting and staring away in the sky

I inched closer to it, waiting for this earthly flower to go reach for its dream, the fluttering mirage it’s been staring at in the sky

But it just sat there, unaware of my presence and wishes.

It just sat there.

 I inched closer to it, hoping it would acknowledge my presence.

This time it did, going against nature and obeying gravity.

Then I realized, it’s got a broken wing…

Like the butterfly, have you ever felt broken? I mean- mentally, emotionally, and even physically?

It’s like the broken wings we've got have us stunted and it’s dampened our progress…

Have you ever felt like you are part of some ‘cold war’ and even the losing side loathes you?

Hmm, they say I’ve got a broken wing and for the first time, I would say yes. Maybe, if I agree, I would rest and regain the strength for flight.

Or

Maybe not…

Timon Boodz

The July Republic

I know a great city that houses lots of strong people. It’s a city that has broken multicultural dimension and serve as a home to all important nations. 

Africans, Americans, Asians, Europeans and even the Australians call her mom.

Her people are oh-so-ever excited about coming home to her. They bask in the thoughts of belonging to her. 

She’s populated they say. But isn’t that a good thing? I ask. Look what’s she’s produced; writers, leaders, artistes, people from all genres of life. She’s blessed.

She’s summer in some city and rainy in some others. This shows her diversity and impartiality.

She’s birth several world powers. Why wouldn’t she? She’s number 7, she’s perfect. She’s complete.

This is for the city I love. The one I adore and proud to be from.

This is for the 7^th republic, the July republic.

Already missing my favorite month and hope to see her in 2013. Meanwhile, here's me wishing all my 'July babies' a happy birthday...

Thanks a billion for reading. Do you like today's note? 

Have a great day and warm regards.

Living the vida...

Ekaro Everyone,

I was opportuned to write another article for BG's newsletter in the corporate naija column (Yayyy) 

What do you think about it?

I was watching TV when Bella called. I was really surprised to receive her call. My ‘once in a while’ friend, I thought to myself. We hung out, less and less, since the days of our youth service and her calls were less frequent as the days went by: but she was my friend. ‘Hi El, how you dey?’ I asked her. She was sobbing on the phone. I panicked this time, my heart racing.  I just heard about the Crash at Agege. Oh God. Please!!! ‘Jay, Victor is dead’ she said.

My heart melted as she said that.  Victor was Bella boyfriend. Though we didn’t talk so much, I felt sad. Losing a loved one is not the best feeling in the world.

Like Bella, a lot of us lost people in that crash. Maybe, not directly, but at least we knew someone, who knew someone, that knew someone, in the crash. Or maybe, we narrowly missed that flight. It could have happened to anyone. It’s insane. A lot of shining lights were burnt out in just one moment. Whenever I see the picture of ‘a dear one’ that died in that unfortunate incident, I weep. Like Miranda Lambert said: “They said it will be Ok. But I can’t get over you”.

As ‘Corporate Naija’, we are sent on a lot of official assignments whether by road or by air. ‘We have to get this ‘confidential document’ delivered, our boss tells us. ‘You need to represent the company at this meeting’, the MD would say. ‘I need you in Escravos for a presentation’, the Chairman might say. We are always on the move. We say good bye to our family and hope, yes, hope, to kiss them one last time. That’s the choice we made - to be in the corporate world. The point I’m trying to make is: is my safety guaranteed? Of course, I can’t tell my boss I can’t travel ‘cos of the current state of our transport system (I can imagine the look on his face if I say that) but I’m just thinking out loud...Is my safety guaranteed?

Bus no dey safe (Remember, Lagos-Ibadan wahala); pirates dey disturb for sea; even plane, wey be sharp sharp, dey fall from heaven. Oga, abeg, if I say I no go, shey you go understand?

Well, man must chop. No choice for this matter. So, I’ve decided to live right. Trust in God more. Love more. Hopefully, our government will learn from this experience, make things better and listen to me when I say ‘Na people you dey rule, no use us play dice’.

I love the lyrics of Jeremy Camp’s song:  ‘There will be a day’. Yes, a day with no more tears. A day when friends like ‘Bella’ will not weep. Till that ‘day’ comes. Please be safe.

And if Oga send you go Abuja...?

Please, permit me to stop here.  

 I had fun writing this piece. Is it a good read? 

   Really love my Naija. It's not perfect but We 'good'. 

Do we even have a perfect country in the world? Naija neva tire me reach this little boy in this funny picture...

One step at a time...

Thanks a lot for reading :).... Bear hugs... 

HAVE YOU EVER???

Have you ever felt,
the cold and lifeless hand of an infant,
gazed into their unblinking eyes,
and observed the face of death,
when masked in bittersweet innocence?

Have you ever touched your dreams,
and felt the simplistic joy,
of feeling them become reality,
only to abandon them,
for reasons you cannot explain?

Have you ever watched your family,
who once shared the greatest of loves,
suffer an unforgettable and unforgivable tragedy,
that will slowly, painfully, and inevitably,
tear them all apart?

Do you know, firsthand,
the evil that resides deep within the heart of every man,
every woman, and every child?
Have you seen its face as it randomly seeks,
a soul to torment and destroy?

Do you know the darker side of life,
the one that awakens you,
in the still of the night,
crying to the unknowable God's,
Save me from myself. '?

Does your heart constantly question,
whether humanity is obtainable,
in a world corrupted with suffering,
and where war,
is the favoured solution for peace?

If you really want to know me,
and understand the forces that compel me to move on,
then take these questions,
and take this pain,
for this who I am.

-By RED

This poem speaks to the inner me...Deep scary questions...And painfully truthful...

So, have you ever...???

Please enjoy the lyrics to Distance written by one of the greatest lyricist ever...

Distance- Christina Perri and Jason Mraz

What do you think about 'Reds Poem'?

Thanks a lot for visiting :) Hugs...

YOUR UNIQUE WAR

Good Morning Dear,
I read this somewhere and I thought I'd share.

"The boy you punched in the hall today committed suicide few minutes ago.
The guy you dumped today, loved you with his life.
That girl you called a slut today in class, she's a virgin.
That boy you called lame, has to work every night to support his family.
That girl you pushed down today, she's already being abused at home.
That girl you call fat, she's starving herself.
That old man you made fun of because of his ugly scars, he fought for our country.
That boy you made fun of for crying, his mom is dying.
The 15 years old girl you see carrying her baby, she was raped at 13.
You think you know them? Well, you don't. You never know what people are going through, so pause before you start judging, criticising or mocking others.
Everybody is fighting their own unique wars."
- Anonymous
Jason Mraz- I won't give up

My boss said something yesterday, "it's easy for us to judge our corrupt leaders, We say 'they collect and give bribes'. Maybe, they do. Maybe, they are the least accountable people in the world. However, are you like them in your own little way? Remember, the only difference between 50,000 and 50 is the number of Zeros they have."

Before you judge, ask yourself: Am I better? Remember,we all have our unique wars, concentrate on yours!!!

Have an awesome day and thank you for the time out to read :)

MUSINGs

I spend my lunch time reading, listening to music, writing, watching something or 

just thinking...thinking about anything...

Lunch today was scheduled for 12. I had it planned in my head. I would have rice and watch ‘Common dreams’ on CNN freedom project. And, it happened the way I wanted it to except I kept on watching the freedom project and wept for the human race.

I can relate to Nicki Minaj’s word in her song- Moment for life ‘I’m not lucky, I’m blessed’. I’m truly blessed. But what about my ‘family’ on the other side of the Atlantic? What’s going on in Bosnia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Syria, Egypt, Haiti, etc? Even at home, in Nigeria, there’s chaos in the North.

I feel the loss of the child in Syria who never got the chance to grow-up; the tears of the Bosnian Women who is recovering from war; the beautiful Haitian land and its people that aches for its lost glory; didn't believe in Modern day slavery till I heard the cries of people all over the world comforting the Mauritian women with the words-‘Nahana Maakum’ meaning ‘We are with you’.

I’m tired of too much ‘Talking’. I’m tired of ‘ Hearsay's’. I’ve been clinging on to the endless rope of hope, waiting to be pulled up. My arms ache and my heart is contrite...

What can I do? What can we do? My Sensei always says ‘Lean on the last item of the Pandora box. Hope. It works’.

Hopefully, hope will never disappoint those hoping in it and just like in the story of the phoenix, we will see the rebirth of a better world.

This is as far as I go...I am lucky. I know you are too. But, what about the others?

I can only say that, no matter what, 'NAHANA MAAKUM'- WE ARE WITH YOU and we love you.

 Message of Hope for Mauritanian Victims- CNN

Thanks a lot for reading J