Vanderbilt’s Quest…Ronovan writes weekly haiku challenge.

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

Ron’s haiku prompt ‘rein/quest’ for this week gave me some pause. It wasn’t a swift ride like you would think, but I enjoyed the scribbling and tearing of paper that filled my waste basket 😉

Dragon, Bone, Fantasy, Sunset, Mystical

It was a quest for the brave.
Vanderbilt tugged his steed’s rein,
and set off for the dragon’s lair.

The quest’s trail was precarious and slippery
he guided his horse cautiously
gripping the wet reins with firm hands.

The quest is successful, dragon is defeated
a happy Princess is rescued,
Vanderbilt holds the reins to her heart.

P.S. You are invited to our monthly blog party this weekend. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

Me and my dirty thoughts…Streams of consciousness Saturday.

May 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

“Just put a brake on those thoughts my dear lady! Okay, simmer in them a little bit and get all dirty, then put a lid on the steam because you know how dirty it can get when you go down low.”

That phrase above was my sensible mind lecturing the roaming sad part of my mind that woke up this morning looking for all the sad things and dirty thoughts to latch onto so that she can get thoroughly miserable.

A lot of times, the state of mind that we go to bed with determines our waking thoughts and I’ve been teaching myself how to train my mind into serenity before retiring to sleep.

Sometimes, I fail to control the brakes of certain wheels of thoughts that start out innocently by wandering a dark path and before you know it, it snowballs into one ugly, berating predator.

It’s definitely good to think things through but in a sensible manner of mind over matter and not letting my emotional intelligence fall to pieces by allowing my renegade thoughts that can run at break-neck speed lead me into the temptation.

It’s a natural tendency for us to seek out ways of comfort when we are feeling some discomfort, physically or otherwise and my current feelings of discomfort were emanating from deep recesses.

The next pit-stop if I willingly followed that piper’s flute is to either look for food to eat to comfort myself, or get into a tiff with dear Himself – who did nothing to earn my quarrel, or growl at the children and leave them perplexed or watch a sappy chick flick so that I can have some reason to cry over what I don’t even fully understand.

Okay. Enough said. I’m glad I put a brake on the thoughts for now and haven’t done something silly so far. I’m just going to toddle off and give my mind a break. I’m going to do what I call my methodical solution thinking and get to the nitty-gritty of my rotten feeling.

That’s after some good breakfast at least 🙂

Now, I feel kind of better and more proactive. Thank you, Linda, for today’s breaking prompt.

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Expose my heart

that I may understand your words

through every conscious,

awakened pore of each moment.

*an excerpt from my poem*

Poisonous Obsession…Writers Quote Wednesday

May 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha24 Comments

Chains, Caught, Psyche, Woman, Patient, Cry, Suffering

For this week’s Writers Quote Wednesday challenge, we have an interesting prompt ‘obsession.’

There are times I’ve questioned my reason for writing. Why am I so subsumed with this demanding mistress of mine? Could it be defined as an obsession?

….and I realize that to stop writing would be fatal! It’s like asking me to stop living. How will I speak when my voice is dimmed?

I can live with my irresistible passion, even if you call it an obsession, though I’ve written a poem about fatal obsession below.

“To be the object of someone’s obsession is horrible.” Tippi Hedren

They said their love was written in the stars
she reveled in her attractive man from Mars
he made her feel coveted like a prized possession
even when it became a smothering obsession
she excused it as the ultimate profession
of love, that turned fatal in slow progression.

From obsession to repression,
to recession and aggression…
a total mind game bent on suppression
to bring about her complete subservience
he pummelled her into manic depression
with his consistent intelligent oppression

His love became the poisonous dangling apple
that choked anyone who cared to take a nibble.

The End!

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Magic abounds…Ronovan writes weekly haiku challenge

May 17, 2016May 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

I love the glitter ‘magic and glimmer’ that we are offered for this week’s Ronovan’s Haiku.

Twin, Sisters, Love, Girls, Blue Eyes, Beauty

The children’s laughter sounds magical
the glimmer of their glow sticks
twinkles in the bright rays of Sun

****

She watches them from the kitchen window
her eyes glimmer with tears
heart-filled with life’s wondrous magic that abounds

****

They were mere glimmers of yesterday’s hope
like dreams conjured from magic
gorgeous twins to love in a swoop.

***

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Life · Musings · Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

What if?…Streams of Consciousness Saturday.

May 14, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

What if?

An innocuous question that had held me bound to the strictures of stifling memories, until I cut it’s ugly strings.

What if I fail?
What if I had done things differently?
What if the past was not as it is?
What if I hadn’t walked that path that evening?
What if the man hadn’t run into the road?
What if the babies had lived?
What if x,y,z and so much more?

The shoulda, woulda and coulda’s dance before the eyes like taunting pendulum until I seized it’s swaying string and cut it off.

We live in what if’s as if we really could have stopped what has passed with time – which we can’t!

Our what if’s become a cage, the jury and a judge, holding us prey to its sway and except we take away our eyes on that outdated swinging ball, we will remain in the land of wishful thinking and regret where nothing happens.

These innocuous words ‘what if’ aren’t my favourite two words, because it holds probabilities that tend to border on negativity.

Therefore, except the ‘what if’ connotes positivism, I’d rather drop it from my vocabulary and get on with life as it is.

Our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: Start your post with a two-letter word. End it with a two-letter word for bonus points. I chose ‘what if.’

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Enchant me with your expressive eyes, that crinkles in laughter as you speak

that I may find myself ever caught between,

the reflections of your pupils and there shall I remain.

*an excerpt of my poem*

Family · The Great Book Of Lists

Those who influence my life…Personal

May 12, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

This week’s prompt for The great book of lists, La Duchesse wants us to talk about those who inspire us, so here goes:

At each juncture in my life, there are those who have inspired me and still inspire me. Their presence influences my past, present, and future.

My Dad: Without doubts, my father -God rest his soul- has remained the most influential man in my life.

He was a peaceful, loving, upright and hardworking soul whose views to life was very simple.

His integrity was impeccable and he would always tell us that once you don’t covet that which belonged to another, you would have a peaceful life.

There’s no day that passes that the echoing whisper of his words doesn’t reverberate in my mind. Especially when he would always tell you that anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

My quintessential mother: A gracious, generous, beautiful woman.

If half of the milk of human kindness that flows in this woman’s veins flows through mine, then I will consider myself a decent human.

She still remains my confidant, my prop, my source of inspiration and light.

My dear Himself: This husband of mine who drives me crazy, loves me and makes me know what love is. He’s a good man. A generous and loving dad to his children.

He pushes me to be better and to aspire for more.

He dreams big dreams and his intelligence never fails to impress me.

Now, if only I can get him to agree to everything I say….;-)

My children inspire me every day. I want to be a great parent because of them.

I want to leave a legacy that when they look back tomorrow, even when I’m gone, they will be happy that God chose me as their mother.

Others: I have a healthy dose of respect for people (famous or not) who wear the aura of positivity despite all the challenges that they might have faced or are facing. Such people inspire me.

My aggressors: Why would I choose such negative crowd?

This is a story that hasn’t been told.

Not because the words and the memories are gone, but because I’m not mentally ready and maybe some day, it will find it’s way into my memoir.

Yes, they inspired me not to curl up and die.

They inspired me to rise out of the burnt ashes from moments of insanity.

I will rest here. Blessed Be.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest

Broken visions melded and better than the first

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

**an excerpt of my poem**

Photographs · Poetry/Poems · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

Embracing Change….Writers Quote Wednesday Challenge

May 11, 2016May 12, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Saturday 7th May: a visit to the salon for locks after 4 months of respite

Today’s Writers quote Wednesday challenge prompt ‘change’ has me thinking of two different things.

My brief thought went to the quote from Coco Chanel which states that:

“a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life,” which I find to be true.

Since I had the big chop in January, it’s been a blissful time. I enjoy the cascade of water down my head without worrying about my braids, perms or weave. I don’t spend as much time at the hairdresser’s and in fact only visited a hairdresser last weekend to get some natural locks.

Now, I’ve done some locks with my hair to switch it up and believe me when I say it’s just fun.

Gosh! I can’t believe how much energy had gone into my hair maintenance.

Life is simply too short to be stuck in the salon!

I wrote a poem on change below following the quote from Benjamin Disraeli that:

“change is inevitable, change is constant.”

Though you choose not to be a participant
life’s changes happen even with your reluctance
it’s a cycle that’s constant
and has a way of changing your circumstance
It may grab you by happenstance
and toss you around with every chance

Some changes are a ghost of a dance
while some changes are worth taking the chance
that way you do have a slim chance
of not being led on a merry dance
when you embrace such change it just might enhance
and sometimes, it improves your finance.

I once knew a chap who chose to freelance
he soon gave up because of his finance
he didn’t enjoy taking such a stance
‘cos it wasn’t a sport that paid in advance
I still recall his askance
at how tough change was in his circumstance.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.

Haiku · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Poetry/Poems · Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Cosy up!…Ronovan writes weekly haiku challenge.

May 10, 2016February 12, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

I like rain, but not lightning. It still scares me especially when it crackles fiercely, though I wear my big mama panties, grit my teeth and pretend to my children that I ain’t scared. I prefer to be ensconced in my warm abode during such weather. Preferably, with a mug of warm cocoa or tea and some biscuits.

When possible, I always prefer to be ensconced in my warm abode during such weather. Preferably, with a mug of warm cocoa or tea and some biscuits.

Now Ronovan’s prompt makes me hungry and desirous of some gentle rainfall.

Huddling in bed under my cosy duvet

I enjoy a blissful read

forgetting the fierce lightning and heavy rain.

♣

Image credit: Pixabay

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Brand me whole as only you can

That the entire score of me

Knows nothing but the fullness of you.

Life · Parenting · Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

Not a piece of cake…Streams of consciousness Saturday.

May 8, 2016May 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

We all came from a parent and some people have foster, adoptive, and step -parents.

All the interactions that I have had with other parents lay emphasis on the fact that parenting is not a game or sport that comes with a one-size fit all manual.

Before I became a parent, I had absolutely no concrete idea what it would involve. Beyond imagining my cute babies in diapers, with ribbons in her hair or boys in baby blues, reading lots of motherhood literature, it’s been a case of trying, to the best of my ability and not losing my marbles while at it 🙂

As a matter of fact, it’s the hardest responsibility with far-reaching results that I have ever had to take on and you very well can’t resign from it. You are on duty 24/7 for the rest of your life even when they are old and have flown the coop and now it makes me appreciate my parents so much more.

I remember almost driving myself bonkers reading all The Dr. James Dobson Parenting Collection books that I could find until I realized that yes indeed, the books are very good guides and insights, but the books didn’t know me, my background, nor my child. So, a whole lot also had to be uniquely experienced.

A parents duty as a custodian of these young ones involves imparting the right values, a sense of well-being a wholesome identity, attitude and an endless list of scenarios to work with.

Leaving a legacy for generations after is no piece of cake. The wrong path can cause a whole lot of damage to a child and alienate them. We learn to balance love and discipline, to apply authority and gain their confidence without being oppressive.

In my opinion, the act of procreation is not sufficient to make one a parent. As a matter of fact, in some instances, procreation simply makes the person a biological vessel that brought the child to being because I’ve seen instances where I question how some humans treat the child/children who have been bestowed on to them.

My greatest fear as a mother is failing in my duty to raise upstanding, responsible children who will be a positive testimony to their generation.

Apparently, without over-stressing it, raising children requires lots of grace and wise counsel from above.

Apparently a parent, SoCS

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Dance to your heart’s delight my African child, until echoes of your stamping feet, beating heart; bright eyes, smiling lips; and waving hands, resonates over and over like thunder claps, reverberating throughout the Universe.

Just dance.

Personal · The Great Book Of Lists · This Is My Life

I am currently….personal TGBOL

May 6, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

For this week’s great book list, Duchess gave us something a little different. It’s a snap portraiture of who I am, what I do and what my current plans are.

She found the list idea on MAMBI website as a freebie for their Create 365 brand.

How does it work ? We should list items starting with I currently…. love, eat, drink, etc, so here goes…

a. Loving… Life and the state of my mind that keeps expanding with possibilities each day

b. Eating… Less even though I had one greasy Hardee’s burger after gamboling around the beach.

c. Drinking… Lots of water and blended fruits otherwise called smoothie these days.

d. Watching… Jumanji with the children and last night was Casino, with dear Himself.

e. Going…To start different things, a new blogging platform focusing on blogging, writing and speaking, searching more ardently for income opportunities and marketing my book.

f. Reading… A Prisoner of Birth, my bible, a host of blog posts and O’s Little Guide to Finding Your True Purpose (O’s Little Books/Guides)

g. Texting… Family and friends. Just finished having a chit-chat with one of my sisters and my roomie back in University.

h. Playing…. In the sand at the beach and watching the children ride their segway. I passed on their offer to teach their mother. I don’t want to break any bones or lose my dentition.

i. Working… On my second book. I decided to focus on one at a time instead of the different manuscripts I am working on.

j. Stressing… Over marketing methods, over an ill relative and the current state of my country, Nigeria.

k. Celebrating… My blog’s one year today and one of my boys will be celebrating his birthday in four days, so he’s making a long plan for me 😉

l. Listening… To Happy by Pharell Williams and my playlist, that uplifts my spirit.

m. Thanking… God every day for his grace and mercy and friends for their presence in my life.

n. Buying… Not much. Asides from our regular grocery and books to read each month, I have been on a spending hiatus.

o. Pinning… I honestly haven’t pinned much of anything, except darning my son’s shorts, I guess that passes for pinning something 😉

p. Planning… Summer slowly in my head and hoping to be done with my second book by then. Planning not to crowd my mind with so much and focus on the important things.

q. Visiting… Ajman. We went last weekend to the nearby Emirates and it was a lovely quiet time.

r. Wondering… Where to find the energy to do all my weekend cooking, writing and tidying. I am feeling lazy.

s. Feeling… A mix of emotions. More like melancholic.

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Dance to your heart’s delight my African child, until echoes of your stamping feet, beating heart; bright eyes, smiling lips; and waving hands, resonates over and over like thunder claps, reverberating throughout the Universe.

Just dance.