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.

Personal · The Daily Post · Writing

My Writing and me…Personal

May 8, 2016May 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Like most humans, I’m multi-layered like an onion and beneath each layer is a different facet of me, but the thing is that every part of me is held by one thing and that’s my writing.

My restless spirit finds peace and rest through my fingers. My thoughts are better articulated, processed and understood and my pain is dealt with through the words that pour into my soul.

Writing fuels my creativity. Writing is a stabilizer for me and is a compulsion that I am drawn to on a daily basis. As melodramatic as this might sound, writing surpasses a desire but becomes a self-expressing way of being.

You can very well say that writing is my raison d’être and that’s the truth.

I am a better human, a kinder person due to writing. It takes stress off me. Nothing else under the surface of Earth brings me the cathartic satisfaction that writing gives to me. Nothing!

I am a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, lover, thinker, neighbour, teacher…. all due to writing. It took a while to correlate my periodical crankiness and my writing. When my spoken expression is at sudden loss, my fingers don’t fail me and I always feel out of sorts as if something is seriously wrong when I don’t write. It gives me pause to appreciate the beauty of life and all that surrounds me.

I have oscillated from different things over time, but my scribbles remain a constant which goes way back to as long as my conscious mind can remember. I fell in love with words at a very early age and that love keeps going strong and I daresay that if you are a writer, you need no one to tell you.

Encapsulating it, writing is a love of my life that no one can take away from me. A sacred place that gives me enough reason to hope, a sense of purpose and the audacity to dream vividly.

Raison d’être, The Daily Post Prompt

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

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.

Blog · Personal · Writing

365 Terrific Blogging Days Later…Hurrah!!

May 6, 2016November 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha67 Comments

Blogging was an unknown concept. I had no concrete idea what it meant or where to start from. All I had was the desire to write beyond journalling in my diary. FaceBook had been my medium of sharing bits of my thoughts, which was a lot, but something about FaceBook just never settled well with me, so I didn’t share as much.

Backtrack to May 5th, 2015 after a friend encouraged me yet again to start blogging, I googled the word ‘blog’ and WordPress came up. I researched further and before I could say Hey! Presto my first post was published.

I started it afraid. My doubting part told me that since I wasn’t technically on-point I probably suck at it. I didn’t know what a good or bad blog was meant to look like. I didn’t know what ‘spam bots’ were. I had never bothered my life about SEO’s, didn’t know what it was and still don’t know exactly what that Greek word ‘search engine optimization,’ means in real terms. All I had and still have is the burning desire to write and to learn.

I wondered who in their right mind would bother to read what I wrote but after my initial trepidations and decision to leave the excuses, I decided to plod along knowing that I am writing for me.

Why am I back-tracking a bit, because, sincerely speaking, it truly amazes me to think that I started this blog from zero, knowing nothing, with no idea how to blog and what it would be like, to this point where I wonder why I took forever to get started?

Am I glad that I am here? Absolutely, yes.

I have made wonderful friends on this journey. My thoughts have grown exponentially. I’ve pushed myself beyond my comfort zone over and over again and without trying to sound too smart, I look back and say to myself ‘well done, you’ve not done badly, babe.‘

Just a quick view of my present circumstance as they also serve as a measure of growth online…

a. Published my first poetry book.

b. Published 1,178 posts

c. I gained a partner and looking for more 🙂

d. Joined several challenges.

e. I started two blogging challenges that you can join.

f. Attended a number of BU classes.

g. Did my first Nablopomo last November.

h. Hostess to an exciting, monthly blog party 😉

i. Started earning some cents in WordAds 😉

j. Many positive offline strides that my online presence brought about.

Stats: 92,807 views, Visitors: 22,842, Friends: 7,980, Likes: 53,277, Comments: 28,706

Well, there you have the bare bones. These days, this may not seem like much to some, but in my eyes, these are giant strides for me. To another 365 days, I say, let’s go!

Thank you all for choosing to stay with me. For your supportive hands of fellowship, I remain humbled in appreciation. Have a drink and a cupcake on my behalf 🙂

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.

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.

Creative Writing · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

I like nonsense…Writers Quote Wednesday Challenge

May 4, 2016May 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.” Dr. Seuss

If I could build a fantasy world

It would unfurl

out of the pages of my dream world

of fairies and Peter Pan

of gold dust and timeless plan

where Dragons can become house pets

with beautiful things all without debts

human existence not riddled with regrets

as we make merry and dance to melodious duets

a life of living without threats

would be a fantasy, I bet.

Fantasy, Writer’s quote Wednesday challenge prompt

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

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.

Author · Book · Poetry/Poems · Writing

Finally!! Here it is! My First Published Book and I am bawling out my eyes and smiling at the same time.

April 29, 2016May 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha228 Comments

I feel a deep sense of release. I don’t know how to express my thoughts. It’s been a climb and sometimes a dip, but I knew that one day, I will arrive at this juncture.

Except I sit with you over a cup of tea, maybe only then will you really understand my journey – one day, I shall speak of these things.

To all those who have supported me to this point, I remain ever grateful. You have no idea what your friendship means to me and how far it’s taken me.

I present to you – even though some of you had a sneak cover peek, it was tweaked a bit – my poetry book. I laughed writing some, I bled writing some, I sighed writing some and I cried writing some.

It’s all Glory to Him. He made it possible.

It’s available on Amazon-Kindle and Smashwords and it will be an utmost delight if even only one person buys it.

I have also set it up at both ends of my sidebar as a source of motivation.

Now let me go and finish working on a compilation of the short stories that I hope to publish in June.

My thanks and utmost regards.

Remain blessed.

Poetry/Poems · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

Writing chameleon… Writers quote Wednesday challenge

April 27, 2016August 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

This week’s writers quote challenge gives us the word artist as prompt.

Sometimes, I find it amusing when people question if writers are artists and it simply defines how myopic the stretch of their mind can be.

To all such people, I say ‘but of course, writers are artists, we simply paint our creation in words. A castle in the mist can be built in the mind.

I find this quote from Steve Martin interesting and I wrote a poem that came to me.

“Through the years, I have learned there is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration.”
― Steve Martin, Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life

Unperceived, imperceptible,
I scan with beady eyes
appreciating and critiquing
a second nature
whipping thoughts together
my truest pleasure

I am blazing hot and chilling cold
pencil tucked inside my unruly hair
occasionally interferes with the hoops in ears
my lips wet in dribbling anticipation
eyes dim and shine in secret reflections.
displeased with any interruptions.

In retro jeans and slack red T’s
with tinted hair in shades of wine
a pinch of blue is tossed inside
an enhancement of some rebellious side
now this is my bohemian side

I am chatty and I am snobbish
I wear heels with lots of flourish
engrossed in my beat
churning thoughts on spit
as ink is tossed with a relentless streak

My soul screams within
as voices chatter and cackle
my heart knows uncanny quietness
as I bash out the tempestuous battle

I am not a freak but an artist
a human writing chameleon of non-ebbing talent
emboldened by the beats of the mind
I dance like a puppet on my muse’s string.

I am making something out of nothing.

Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

That Mysterious Spirit Of Deja Vu…Writers Quote Wednesday

April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Have you ever met someone for the first time, but in your heart you feel as if you’ve met them before? JoAnne Kenrick, When A Mullo Loves A Woman

The prompt for this week’s writers quote is ‘mystery.’ We can write a piece of fiction, poetry etc, incorporating the word mystery.

I chose to write on incident’s that I have experienced severally in my life, especially because I had one just over the weekend and I daresay that you’ve probably had several yourself. I’ve had instances where I run into total strangers and I am totally convinced that our paths have crossed at some point in time. I have this certain feeling of knowing and familiarity which I found to be a bit eerie especially when I was much younger.

This also includes overhead conversations, that would have me questioning myself, trying to recollect where I had that conversation.

For days, I would mull over such episodes, but over time, I no longer bother with it. Now when I run into a seemingly familiar person, if I am close enough, I engage them in a conversation, laugh over the matter and move on.

I wrote the poem below in respect of that.

Our paths crossed each others
and a frisson of familiarity
raced through me.
The drone of your voice
curled inside my eardrums
pulling at memories
that are stored within.

Yet we’ve never met…

A pull to draw closer and eavesdrop
made me pause and stand in clear sight
perplexed thought crossing my mind
as I shamelessly eavesdropped on your conversation
I was sure that sometime, somewhere,
we had the same conversation, you and I.

Yet we’ve never met…

I tried to unravel the mystery in my mind
woolly cobwebs of memories buried
couldn’t cough up the answers that I sought
I dug deeper into dark recesses
seeking the unknown.
Who knew where what time and in what life
our paths had crossed

Yet we’ve never met…

I cease my attempt to decipher
I seek no longer to solve
mysteries of déjà vu
that my mind wouldn’t unravel
But, I’ve come to understand in acceptance
that somewhere, somehow and in some life
You and I are kindred spirits.

Uncategorized · Writing

Are You Laughing Yet?…Writers Quote Wednesday.

April 14, 2016November 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine. George Gordon Byron

The writers quote Wednesday’s prompt for this week is laughter and I looked up that lovely quote above.

I love laughing. In my opinion, robust laughter is like a song to the ears that the soul dances to. I like being around people who have a good sense of humour and can make me laugh and who equally laugh at themselves. They don’t nitpick and take offence easily. Staying around grouches can be bone wearing and grey. At some point, we would all die, but while we are alive let’s live it with laughter on our lips.

Sometimes, especially during the weekends, I deliberately go on YouTube to look up comedians and enjoy a good half hour of silliness 🙂

When we moved here, I was initially taken aback by the number of serious, stoic faces that dotted the horizon. I even wrote a poem about it which languished in my draft. Some looked outrightly like people who had sucked on sour lemons as if it would hurt them to smile while some wore a grimace like they had a bad case of gas.

Over time, I started distinguishing them by their nationalities and realised that some of the tightness of the faces are due to upbringing and religion. Of robbing the minds of reasons to be joyful and to see a fellow human in suspicion or disdain.

Some reminded me of the staunch hard-nosed Church deaconesses whose lips are perpetually pursed in criticism. Some religious tenets sap some humans of the joy of living. Their belief that your hard faced stoic stance shows you as a serious Muslim or Christain or whatever, is so wrong. Laughter or smiling is beautiful.

No one expects anyone to go around looking like a clown, but life can be taken seriously without looking morbid about it.

Since we are all going to die anyway, I think I would look better with a smile on my face as I sign off on the last day in mirth.

Writing

Ah Ha! Now we are talking my language…Streams of consciousness Saturday.

April 9, 2016April 9, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Ha! When I saw Linda’s prompt for today’s streams of consciousness, I burst into laughter. I wondered how she picked such a random exclamation.

Most of you who have read my blog would have seen this exclamation littering the horizon of my words from time to time like in these posts:I must have been born exclaiming, Nothing to be tricked about, Fruits of a hustle, Mama Put. I can assure you that there are several more 😉

I actually try to tame my usage of the ha’s and o’s on the tip of my tongue even though it does get the better of me sometimes.

It’s the Nigerianness in me. Even if I live to be 120 years and maybe a resident in Nunavut, I am sure that ha, o and hey, will feature in my writing as well as speech.

Back home, we exclaim a lot especially when we speak in pidgin language. Our sentences are emphasized with o, a, ha and hey! It’s literally impossible for us to do without our high-pitched punctuated exclamations. Haba! That simply takes away the flavour in the expression.

How can I tell you the depth of my askance or surprise if I don’t say ha? 😉

For instance, we use ha to express things such as:

Ha! Indeed, Really?

Ha! You don’t say.

Ha! Wonderful

Ha ba! What is it?

Now I am speaking pidgin in my head as I write and in conclusion, ‘make I finish quick, quick waka comot for hia. E get place wey I won go buy market – let me finish quickly and go out. I need to go shopping somewhere.’

Quotes For You · Writer's Quote Wednesday · Writing

Growing Muscles…Writers Quote Wednesday.

April 7, 2016August 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

Imagination is like a muscle. I found out that the more I wrote, the bigger it got. Philip José Farmer

Inside me, when I write, I stand tall. I feel a certain clench and release that I don’t experience from anything else. That’s what writing does to me. I feel an expansion of my spirit, my soul, and my mind.

As is commonly said, the art of practice brings about a perfection and though there are times that I question myself, my sanity and conviction, personal experience with scriggling and drabbling has shown me how true it is.

I find that my vivid imagination keeps getting sharper as each day goes by and it’s veering towards seeing things in 3D perspectives from the mundane details and beauty in the ordinary to the complex structure and questions that pop up inside my head. It only means that it can get better as the muscle gets fine-tuned.

Writing is certainly not an easy exercise even when we think that we have the gift of the garb and have all the structures well put together. As a matter of opinion, I find that writers are most times less assured of their writing than those who don’t write, but the passion and the loud voices that nags in one’s head won’t let you be until you’ve had your say.

Like the quote has said, and I reiterate, keep pushing the boundaries of your imaginative muscles. Explore by pushing the strictures of your boundaries and comfort. I am trying to venture outside my zone of cruise control, to a bumpy side. I bet the knowledge gained from trying new reading material and writing aspect won’t be a wasted venture.

I would rather keep pushing it, writing and shooting crabs than stopping. In the midst of the written rubbish, there’s bound to be a couple of useful material and by the time I am done with my muscle development, I might actually stand a chance of knocking Mayweather flat on his hard backside in a boxing ring with the feathered tip of my pen.

Image credit: Pixabay