a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
Sometimes,
when I stretch my mind’s eye
to see my future
it looks foggy and far-fetched
into tomorrow,
but I hold on to the compass
of my dreams.
©
Jacqueline
I wrote this poem for my work-in-progress third poetry book, then I saw the Daily post prompt ‘foggy’ and I couldn’t resist pulling it out and sharing it here.
Mundane Monday Challenge is created to find beauty in almost everything.
The challenge is simple : find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.
![Sports_car_1[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/sports_car_11.jpg)
![sports_car[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/sports_car1.jpg)
The two exhibits are not mundane objects in the least. Possibly, they are objects of fantasy for some people, but what drew my attention is the fact that they are electrically charged, therefore they are supposed to be eco-friendly.
I can’t very well say that I understand the technology, but having been inside one of the eco-friendly taxis in Dubai, I asked the driver how it is compared to the fuel driven car, he was full of accolades.
If this will reduce the fossil fuel burning, excavation, pollution and corrupt practices that has been associated with crude oil and gas, then this might just be the way to go in the near future.
I hope that they actually become ordinary.
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.
She is amazing at describing love and life in her poems. She creates such beautiful images with her words. Truly, she is a talented writer and I’m so excited to have her poetry book and to continue reading through it.
The photo of the man carrying his baby in his own style simply made me smile. It’s much easier to build a character and to mould strong babies when they are still young than to change a broken man.
Let’s use our God-given opportunities as parents to raise these children right. They are our future and the bridge to better tomorrow for humanity.
![Daddy_carrying_baby[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/daddy_carrying_baby1.jpg)
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.
I absolutely love this book of poems. My favorites are “Love Rations” (for those who love to give the silent treatment) and “Beggars Supper” (which definitely pulls at the heart strings). Two thumbs up!!
For several weeks, I’ve felt listless and dissatisfied and recent incidents in the World emphasizes the sense of futility that I feel about life. My morale justs dips and I practically have to hang on with tenacious tentacles to all the positive mantras and pick-me-ups that I can think of.
My plate is heaped full of things to do and sometimes, taking a mere glimpse at them makes me want to go and lie down and sleep and hopefully, they will get themselves sorted out without much of my help and mental exertion.
I woke up this morning with a message tucked into my head that kept telling me to be appreciative of the privilege to be alive and the opportunity of having interesting things to tackle.
The message kept reverberating in my head that the gift of each day which is given, should never be taken for granted irrespective of our struggles because the death knell is a final and last call on this side of the divide.
As long as there’s life, hope lies within and today I’m grateful for my full plate of busy-ness and the opportunity to feel the Sun’s shine on my face.
I hope that are you grateful or thankful for something today. We have a lot of privileges surrounding us.
© 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.
From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.
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.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
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.
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*
The hope of mankind’s future
Lies in the step of the young one’s
We are simply custodians
Meant to help them find their footing
How and what we teach them
Will mould the way they choose to walk
Let’s be wise in our teachings.
Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Future, The Daily Post Photo Prompt
Tomorrow is really not guaranteed any of us and that which we can do today no matter how little it is, is better done and when the following day comes, we do a bit more.
Experience has personally taught me lessons on how we rob ourselves through over-planning, procrastination and assumptions.
The future belongs only to those who live fully in their moments and take charge of each day as it comes.
We all know that the building blocks of a huge monument start with laying its base foundational stones.
So when you don’t put today’s stones in place, how exactly do you plan to get to the tip of that pinnacle?
Like my people would say back home ‘it’s the firewood that you gather during the dry season, that you will use during the rainy season.‘
When you take care of today’s plans, tomorrow’s plan will take care of itself.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
For obvious reasons, there are so many biblical quotes that I hold very dear to heart and return to almost on a daily basis. They give me assurance, comfort, courage and strength. Some of them are: ![1453908944212[1]](https://acookingpotandtwistedtales.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/14539089442121.jpg)
‘ Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.’ Isaiah 43:1
‘All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose’ Rom 8:28
‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.’ Proverbs 16:3
‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him I will trust.’ Psalm 91.2
When I am in doubt, worried, going through some rough patches and all that, I turn to my Bible and Psalms. I hum the words to myself until I feel calmness in my Spirit.
I honestly can’t begin to interpret what these words hold and mean to me.
All I can say is that in the sea of life’s turbulence, The Lord is my Hiding Place, for I know that the plans he has for me are for my good and not harm. To give me hope and a future.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
The Daily Post Quote me.
Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Out of Reach.”
Frankly speaking, as the days go by; which by the way is turning out to be one of my favourite statements, I have no regrets about Ex’s that have been left behind!
They came into my life at the point in time that they should have and we moved on at the juncture when the show was over and their time was up to move on. Not all relationships are meant to last forever even when they were absolutely delicious. Nothing in life has permanence!
In my opinion, no place is out of reach to travel to if you want to and set your mind to. It is all in one’s perspective! One place that I visited and stayed for a while and wanted to stay longer than I was entitled to was Geneva – Switzerland. I fell in love with that city; its mix of ancient and modern. No Swiss gentleman was forthcoming to sweep me off my feet and other things in life were beckoning to me, so I had to journey forth 🙂
I don’t believe in dwelling on a past that is out of reach and done with. Thus, I don’t bother looking back at things that are not in my ability to resolve. Minor skirmishes with loved ones, where I need to apologize and make amends, I do that as swiftly as possible and try to mend fences.
I would rather continue my transformation by expending positive energy in creating better moments in the NOW. Moments that would translate to a better tomorrow when it arrives!
Yesterday is gone!
Today is now!
Tomorrow does not lie in my hands and will take care of itself!
Live within the moment and live it in full!
Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
a cooking pot and twisted tales 