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 youRest in love and peace
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.
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?
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.
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/
Look at me with this bag on my hip
This is some kind of a trip
What kind of dog has to wear such a thing
This kind of attention is not what I want to bring
The bag has the nerve to read, grin
Wearing this is much to my chagrin
My human likes to play tricks
Meanwhile, all I want is to throw bricks
When they come my way with something weird
Their wayward thoughts I try to steer
Away from the clothes and people gear
I’m a dog, rules to which you must adhere
No fanny packs, no tutus, I just want to play fetch
Instead, they take my picture, makes me just retch
No more pictures please, no more pictures
Written in response to Sadje's prompt, What Do You See #187
http://What do you see # 187- May 22, 2023
Show your hand, raise it high
Shyness has no place, let your aura shine
Block the naysayers, they will try to deny
The gold band protection, just like an alibi
Show your hand, raise it high
Let your positivity glow
Inspire people and make them smile
Where it comes from, they will never know
Show your hand, raise it high
When people feel like they can't
They look to you, see that it is possible
Doubt in their minds, start to recant
If the gold band gives you courage to muster
Your inner thoughts that make you fluster
Show your hand, raise it high
Gold band speaks for itself, no need to specify--O'Nika McGill--
Written in response to Sadje’s prompt, What Do You See #179
Image by Beate from PixabayListen to Grow Your Mental Recital
Growing your mental
Opens minds; developmental
Love and consciousness are life’s syllabus
The syllabus which teaches us
Leading with eyes only
Robs the soul and results to lonely
Lonely, pretentious and superficial
Love and meaning are most beneficial
Ask yourself when you look in the mirror
Do I manifest what I am seeking?
Searching hard for the answer brings you nearer
Realizing that arrogance, pride and conceit are what you are reeking
Maturity and mental growth
Brings us closer to an oath
That tells us life is about much more
Fulfillment, gratification and enrichment are in store
Exit the false prophecy
Visualize the hypocrisy
Newfound treasures appear before your eyes
Things unseen before suddenly materialize
Wow, what a surprise!
Grow Your Mental first appeared on Inspire By O'Nika, March 22, 2023
You know you have it good
When you are in the neighborhood
Being toted around town
Puppy pads not touching down
Taking in the sights
With much joy and delight
Watching everyone on their feet
Walking to the tune of life's beat
From a place of comfort, I watch
Relishing in this life
Letting the bunions breathe
I can take a reprieve
Sitting in my carrying tote
Feeling the breeze on my furry coat
Enjoying the beautiful scenery
The lush trees, flowers and greenery
This is the life, this is the life
Unity is peace, Unity is the umbrella
Being united means coming together
Together for whatever comes our way
Differences, views and opinions
The issues will come our way almost every day
Unity will be the saving grace
Grace keeps our sanity together in every way
Grace begets compassion and understanding
Compassion for what is different than us
Understanding for things we don’t know
In our hearts grace and unity will overflow
Equality, acceptance, hope and love
Is what a sense of unity does
For communities both below and above
We may look different on the outside
But we all have blood running through our veins
Let not those things make us collide
When we have grace, love remains
Unity not division, lets love take over
What we thought we knew about one another
Take the time to speak
Speak to that sister or brother
Resist the urge that breeds
Hatred, violence and racial bias
We may not always agree
Unity is what frees
Black history month and year long
Promote unity not the same sad song
Songs of brutality, racism and wrongs
Unity pushes everyone along
---O'Nika McGill---
Unity was first published on Inspire By O'Nika
Feb 5, 2023
Excuse me, may I interject
Let me put things into retrospect
I am a human, animate
Between two sculptures, laminate
Laminate, sculptures void of life
Stone-faced, emotionless
Let me inject some feelings
Sadness, indifference, or joy will suffice
Sadness has its place of reflection
The level of sadness depends on the inflection
Inflection in the voice of the owner
The owner who claims it
Indifference can go either way
You either care or you don't
Feelings have a way to sway
Even the most stone-faced and emotionless
Joy is what turns it all around
What makes a smile out of a frown
Let your joy astound
Inject joy and peace will abound
--O'Nika McGill--
Open me, open me
What is inside
The suspense is killing me
Taking me on a wild ride
A new pair of shoes
A new dress
My mind is wandering
Let me take a guess
Open me, open me
But please don't shake
The sound may give it away
What has taken a long time to make
A photo album
put together nicely
Fond memories of yesteryear
Nothing too pricey
Open me, open me
If you get lonely or sad
Just look at the pictures
You will be glad you had
Memories of yesteryear
what a joy to see
lost in the back of my mind
What a delight to finally find
Where's my sugar?
Are you going to kiss me or what?
These circles are starting to make me dizzy
Besides, I don't have all day, she says.
He replies, Alright, don't get in a tizzy
She adds, we don't have to touch
Just put your lips on mine
Pucker up and lay it on me
Really, is that too much?
Shyly, he says, It's just that...I'm in a daze
The circles put me in a trance
Your eyes are so beautiful
I'm locked in a gaze
Impatiently, she replies, the circle of life is not infinite
Maybe we'll meet again but I have to go now
When we next see, I'll lay a kiss on you so good
You can't help but to take a bow
Written in response to Sadje's prompt #165, what do you see?
Where's My Sugar was first published on Inspirebyonika.com on December 21, 2022
