Tag: poem

Categories
Poetry Topic

Nestling Journeys

Journey Awaits
Journeys begin in my head
Far away destinations 
Some real some imagined instead
I pack my luggage no hesitation

I'm only going for 3 days
I need six pairs of shoes, 5 dresses
Shades and swimwear for the bays 
No need to worry about my tresses

Sleepwear and slippers a must
What about my gym clothes
Oh yeah, pack those too
Glad my hair is braided, no need to fuss

Next journey will be lighter
No need for so many cases
Serene waters so much brighter
Sunglasses will help cover my bases  

What's all the ruckus
I want to go where I don't need a car
Just hop on my bike and go
Cycle the scenic route 'til my heart is full


Nestling Journeys is written in response to Sadje's prompt. 

Thank you for reading! 🙌🌼

Image credit: Bernhard on Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic

Poem- Until That Day

Until That Day

The inspiration for this poem is my dear father, may he rest in peace.

Emptiness is creeping in
Knowing that missing piece is no longer there
Gone
Never to return

Until that day
Waiting to see
Waiting, waiting, just waiting

Time is passing
How can I fill the void
The void of the man who made me
Until that day
Still, I wait

When you look at me, what you don’t see
The depth
My soul
Aching
Begging for a glimpse of half of me

Nostalgic father

I am nostalgic

Until that day

The other half of me, where does it come from?
My slanted, crooked smile, my complexion
The Boricua in me, ¿dónde está Papi?
In heaven is where you be

Until that day, I wait

My mom instilled in me
Black, resilience, humility
Black, resilience, humility
She is the half of me
Empty inside? How can this be?

Nostalgic father

I am nostalgic

Two people came together as one
To create me
She is her and he is him
She is here and he is there

Forever encapsulated in my heart you will remain
Thoughts of you never bring feelings of disdain
Although my heart is heavy
Until that day, until that day
That we reunite
The anticipation, anticipation brings me pure delight

Until that day

Nostalgic father

Categories
Poetry Topic

Until That Day- Spoken Word

Sharing a personal experience of speaking in front of a crowd. I challenged myself to perform an original poem about my father. Although, I was not one of the finalists for the talent show. it was a great experience. I learned that you could do anything you put your mind to. Even when you do not take home the prize it is still rewarding just for trying.

Hope you enjoy and thank you for watching.

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Diverse and Beautifully Made

Diverse and Beautifully Made

Diverse and beautifully made with 
Blemishes that confirm your true existence
Extravagance with your style of dress
Authenticity in the way you deliver grace 
Unapologetic in your conviction for life 
Thoughtful when expressing strong opinions   
Intentional in your approach to love and kindness
Flawed only to those who do not understand you 
Unique in your lens to the world
Lavishly, loving life and doing it all with a smile
Diverse and beautifully made, that's you, with all 
These colorful qualities wrapped into one

Image credit: Tom Barrett on Unsplash

Diverse and Beautifully Made is written in response to the prompt by Sadje, What do you see #243

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Luminous Ones

Luminous ones
Flying high above
Breath escaping lungs
Beautiful, beautiful belove

Spreading light into the dark
Shards of lightness lend a spark
To an otherwise blind sky
Your brightness leading the eye

Helping to make things clear
Letting the night lift the fear
Accompanying the moon, you are near
When the sun goes down, luminous ones appear

The night no longer scary
Look up and you discover
Concerns of danger are nary
No longer lurking, no room to hover

Luminous ones, luminous ones
So dear to me, flying so light and free
Teaching many to see the bright side
It’s always there, use your cre a ti vi ty

Luminous Ones is written in response to Sadje’s picture prompt.

Image credit: Leon Contreras on Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic

Cracking the Concrete Stone

Image Credit: Marianna Smiley on Unsplash
Concrete outer shell
So hard and cold
Full of cracks
From head to toe

Break through
Will quickly reveal
The hardness is hollow
Not as solid as it seems

Beneath the facade 
Softer inner core
Unveiled and vulnerable
Out there for all to see

Hardness uncloaked
Softness appeared
With eyes closed
It's difficult to see

Widened pupils recognize
Duality unfolds
Revealing what's underneath
The crackling concrete stone

This writing is in response to the picture prompt by Sadje.

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Sisterhood in Mourning

Is Sisterhood a thing of the past? 
Judgements and criticism 
Are the reasons I ask 
Maybe it is due to stigmatism 

Why not encourage and support 
Things that can only uplift and empower 
Let's form a coalition and abort 
Foul behaviors of those who cower 

At the thought of us celebrating each other 
Knowing that love conquers all 
Lifting sister’s up one after another 
Silently they are hoping that we will brawl 

Congratulate your sister, do not frown 
Judge not your sister, hold your horses 
Let us not divide with in-fighting, settle down 
Already are we deemed unfit by outside sources 

Incapable of being amicable to our kin 
Women, sisters, confidant and friend 
I ask again, is sisterhood a thing of the past? 
Something so vital cannot come to an end

Categories
Poetry Topic

Overshadow

Overshadow


Optimistically
Viewing
Everyone
Rallying
Surely
Having
Absolute
Determination
Optimizing
Wisdom

Overshadow was written in response to Sadje’s prompt, what do you see?

Image credit: Tom Barrett on Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic

Come Into the Light

Come Into the Light

Come into the light
All is not lost
Life can be a conundrum
Which do you choose; fight or flight?

Come into the light
Flames are still smoldering
Calling for your attention
Release the pressures you are shouldering

Come into the light
Turn on the wick
Accept light and love
Fulfillment comes real quick

Come into the light
Whether you choose fight or flight
Flames are still smoldering
Accept light and love

Image credit: Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash

Come into the light was written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje, What do you see # 222- January 22, 2024.

Categories
Poetry Topic

Kind and Beautiful

Kind and Beautiful


Loving soul you were 
Always lending a smile 
If any drama was beginning to stir 
Never wavering, but keeping your style 

Kind and strong in your stance 
Always quick and willing to give 
Friend or foe, no matter the circumstance 
And with a whole heart, not divisive 

Mother, sister, friend and confidant
Face beaming with an inner glow
Blessed I am to call you aunt
Knowing you are gone is a big blow

Blow to the hearts of all that loved you
Kind, strong, beautiful are just a few
Words to inspire a smile to all who knew
The wonderful qualities found in you

Rest in love and peace

Image by 51581 from Pixabay

Categories
Poetry Topic

It’s Just You and Me, Teddy

Image credit; Greyerbaby @ Pixabay

Let’s go find someone to play Duck, duck goose or jump rope. Teddy, we are almost there. Just down the road we should be able to find someone to play Hide and Seek with. I guess we can’t play Hopscotch or Double Dutch, I don’t see any concrete. Oh, I know, let’s play Mother May I? Teddy, where is everyone? I guess they are all indoors sitting in front of their video games and on their cell phones. Who do we have to play with now? Oh well, I guess it’s just you and me Teddy.

It’s Just You and Me, Teddy was written in response to the picture prompt, What do you see by Sadje. http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/11/13/what-do-you-see-212-13-november-2023/

Categories
Poetry Topic

Urban Renewal on Display

Gentrification

Urban Renewal on Display

Urban renewal on display
Brick and Mortar decay
Shiny material erected
Up, up and away

Brick and mortar are sturdy
Capable of withstanding 
Winds, hurricanes and the dirty
All except, rebranding

Shiny material being built up
Adjacent to brick foundations
Once thriving now obscure
Real estate moguls on the come-up

Concrete jungles disappearing
New structures and engineering
Urban renewal on display
Scores of people and their lives astray

Working people, families now dispersed
Throughout the city, worries mount
On deaf ears their cries fall, unrehearsed
The times this has happened; too many to count

Real estate moguls, investors and the like
Padding their pockets and feeling delight
Meanwhile everyday people are being discarded
Like old shoes when they should be safeguarded

The same people running the ship
Keeping the business afloat
While you sit back on your yacht or big boat
So, who is displaying true stewardship?

Image credit: Joshua Kettle on Unsplash

Urban Renewal on Display was written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje for What Do You See?

http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/09/25/what-do-you-see-205-september-25-2023/

Categories
Poetry Topic

Before Spilling the Tea, Uplift Me

Before Spilling the Tea, Uplift Me

Spilling the tea requires no skill
It's just gossip at its best
Before you take me on this downward hill
Let me kick back and rest

The tea is a slippery slope
I can drink it black, herbal or with milk
After it goes down my throat, I'm able to cope
With the trolls and their ilk

Tea is supposed to relax and soothe
Use it to uplift the spirit and drown out the ugly
It's not meant to browbeat and bruise
Sip, sit back, kick up the heels and get snugly

Before spilling the tea, uplift me

---O'Nika McGill---

Image credit: Joni Ludlow on Unsplash

Before Spilling the Tea, Uplift Me is written in response to Sadje’s prompt.

http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/09/18/what-do-you-see-204-september-18-2023/: Before Spilling the Tea, Uplift Me
Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

The Door is Open. Why Don’t You Come?

The Door is Open. Why Don’t You Come?

Sunday; a day of rest
Come dressed in your Sunday best
The doors of the church are open
Walking through the door, appreciation of token

Monday, starts the work week
Get your body and mind in gear
Walk through the door smiling
Awaiting life lessons are near

Tuesday, one workday down
Come to yoga class or meditation
The exercise will release any trepidation
about the upcoming week ahead

Wednesday, mid-week is here
Unload your cares on me
Free your body and mind
Come and talk it out

Thursday, one day away from the weekend
Tidy up any closet clutter
Bag up those old clothes
Take them to the donation center

Friday, well what else is there to say
The weekend has arrived
Come over for cocktails
We can talk and just vibe

Saturday. Thought you would never show up
Come in, take a minute to reflect
Spiritual, work, body and mental health
Aspects of cleansing and socialization 

Just remember, the door is open.
Why don't you come?


The door is open. Why don't you come was first published on Inspire By O'Nika and written in response to Sadje's prompt.  https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/08/14/what-do-you-see-199-august-14-2023/

Image credit; Simon Berger @ Unsplash

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Compassion

Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay

COMPASSION

Compassion

outweighs

malice

plus

A

simple

smile

infuses

our

nation