I Thought That I Knew…

December 15, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

I heaved and panted.

With all my might,

I pushed.

Till I thought that,

Every vein within,

Would burst with pressure.

And I hated every moment,

Of such horrendous pain.

Wondering what was the gain?

Until I beheld the squalling bundles,

And their curious little eyes.

I felt their fist snatch tight,

And held my heart very fast.

The pain flew out of the window,

The light of the gain shone bright.

As I tumbled completely in love,

Without hindrance, I fell.

Realizing that I had no idea whatsoever

I thought I knew it before.

♥

There’s always room for more poetry about love — and @vijayasundaram2015‘s prompt, Beloved, invites you to take a fresh stab at a timeless topic.

”Thank you Vijaya” 🙂

Creative Writing · Fiction · Hope · Love · Short Stories

The Place…

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha35 Comments

He wiped his glasses again in an attempt to steady his nerves. The ring in his pocket was burning a hole through the lining.

Every passing moment, his pulse increased a notch.

”Would she say yes?” he pondered.

This is where he met Lily the first time. He was a busboy and she, the daughter of a rich squire.

His love had grown from afar but, he had said nothing, until it was too late and she got married to Arnold.

A lot had changed over the years. Her husband Arnold died and so did his wife. From a busboy, he is now the owner of the restaurant.

Lily came back to settle her late father’s estate and seeing her transported him back to 25 years ago, to his huge crush which had blossomed into love that had never stopped and he knew that he wouldn’t let her walk away once again.

The glimpse of her swinging blond hair and smiling face, caused his heart to trip as she walked over to join him.

Inlinkz code

In response to the FFfAW photo prompt above. Thank you Louise for the photo and Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

Creative Writing · Hope · Life · Poetry/Poems · Social Issues · Writing · Writing 101

May I Share With You?…

December 11, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha41 Comments

LIVING FREE…

May I live
Unafraid to breathe
Free from a choke-hold
That becomes a stronghold
May I live
Unafraid to live
Clinging to my expectations
With feral desperation

SHARING FREELY…

May I share space
Unafraid of being encased
Free from condemnation of race
That becomes a strong base
Purple, White, Olive, Black and every hue within
May I share space
Knowing that we are first a human race
…And all blood are red in this place.

BELIEVE FREELY…

May I speak of belief
Unafraid and in relief
Free from contentious eyes of disbelief
That becomes thresholds of grief
May I wear my mask of belief
Understanding that to achieve
Peace would be a welcome reprieve
…Which we must seek to retrieve.

LOVING FREELY…

May I love you
Unafraid to be bound to you
Free from censors of broken whispers
That becomes harbingers of cold shivers
May I love freely my love
Unafraid to expose my naked bust
Knowing that in you lies my trust
Encased in the warm embrace of your love.

Writing 101, Day 5 Freedom

Love · Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Social Issues

The Feast…

December 3, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

With hungry eyes and gnarled knuckles,

He begged!

Please could you spare me something?

But they hurried along!

No one cared to look,

They were in a rush and too busy!

In abject poverty and clad in rags,

She groveled!

Hunger had punctured holes in her innards,

She cried out for help!

But no one cared to hear.

They were too ashamed to cast her a glance!

Flea bitten worn blankets,

Torn cartons for bed,

Under the stormy weather,

It’s bitterly cold!

Looking in at the warm and shiny windows,

Where laughter and food overflowed,

Into plates, leftovers to the trash,

Thrown away to go to waste!

He scurries over,

Digging for leftovers,

And a feast did he find.

With tears in his eyes,

As he gobbles grungy droppings,

That were several days over!

He is thankful for the offerings,

Shared with his stray companions,

A lame dog that no one wanted again,

And a one-eyed cat,

His companions at the garbage table!

Sir? Could you spare me a piece of bread? Please?

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Please don’t throw away food, someone out there is dying from hunger.

”If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”- Mother Theresa

”No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

”A heart that gives, gathers.” – Tao Te Ching

DAY 3

Jennifer at INK and QUILL has invited me to participate in 5 day photo story challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:

Post a picture each day, for five consecutive days. Attach a story to your image.

*can be fiction / non-fiction
*poem / short paragraph
*each day nominates another blogger

I invite Kay Morris, my fabulous blogger friend , to join the photo story challenge. I look forward to reading from you if you choose to participate. Enjoy 🙂

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short Stories · Short Stories Series

The First Date…Bridegroom Wanted Urgently!

November 29, 2015November 29, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha43 Comments

Tess took another quick peek at the mirror of her compact powder.

No, there’s no dodgy piece of green stuff stuck on any dentition.

Yes, her lip gloss still shimmered.

Her hair still looked healthy and soft; every strand was in the right place.

A bit of powdering to stop any shiny nose, a second look at the slender wrist watch and it was time to go into the restaurant.

It hadn’t been easy sitting out the past fifteen minutes in her car waiting for the appropriate time to step in. She had tortured herself with all manners of imagined dating debacles.

Any respectable young lady shouldn’t turn up for a first date ahead of the time agreed with the guy, she remembered Kate’s advise. It would make her appear too desperate.

Striking a balance is just the right thing. Ten or Fifteen minutes after the scheduled time, then you stroll in leisurely, in controlled steps with just the right amount of swagger to the hips.

Thistle Bar, just the right kind of place for a first time online hook-up. It was her first time in there and it was quite decent.

It was a high street casual bar which was not too high end pricey and not too drive thru junk-food kind of place. Just a balance of both.

He had said he would be wearing a coffee coloured shirt and she told him that she would be wearing fushia. He hadn’t known what fushia looked like precisely, so she had sent a picture of the dress.

It was one of her best colours and lovely dress hugged her curves in the right places.

That must be him, as a pair of eager eyes lit up in her direction. The face looked recognizable and the shirt was dark coffee coloured.

She picked her way past a few rows of seated customers, a tentative smile plastered on her face.

As she approached him, he stood up like a gentleman and Tess’s heart sank to the bottom of her peep toe heeled sandals.

He was not tall by any standard whatsoever! As a matter of fact, in her opinion, he was hugely short.

She quickly ran through her mind, checking to determine if she had seen an indication of height on his bio.

Was height not important? Was it mentioned or not mentioned? She couldn’t remember but her hopes had just received it’s first dashing.

She liked her men tall and had never dated a guy shorter than herself before.

Patrick was fairly an okay character. He even made her smile a couple of times, but there was absolutely no spark – at least on her own side.

The meet-up was not a bad one at all, though she could not afford to eat out often, but hey, if you want to eat omelet, you have to crack some eggs.

She doubted very much if there would be a repeat date. He didn’t ask and she didn’t suggest.

To be continued. Part 1 Part 2

As you know, I like to excavate other neighbours treasures and I offer some to you today 🙂

Would you be interested by Karuna

1 deadly sin for writers by Thomas M. Watt

When random acts find you by izzyasabee

Grammar time from Meg Sorick gave a chuckle or two.

What are we afraid of? From Jennifer Calvert

These 71 tips to awesome blogging that I found in Danny’s patch is awesome.

4 things to avoid doing in your relationships by Wellnessworx

Help from my friends by anonymous outsider.

Feeling confident as a woman from Femininematerz

This visit by Kelly made me smile 🙂 dancers1

Have a beautiful day today my peeps.

Now, lets take a moment and dance.

Devotions · Love · Poetry/Poems

Naked and Not Ashamed!…

November 5, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

Empty my thoughts,

that I may feel the wondrous touch of your love,

In deep recesses that no light has seen;

♥

Expose my heart,

that I may understand your words,

through every conscious awakened pore of each moment;

♥

Unveil my inner eyes,

that its lifted sheen may behold,

the brilliant raw beauty exposed in its true nakedness;

♥

Unfold my wavelengths,

that my naked ears may become

attuned to the mysterious calls stirring from the deep;

♥

Pour me out,

that my uncovered lips may enthrall

with language only made known through exquisite expressions;

♥

Lay me bare,

that I may be denuded,

unmasked before your eyes,

naked, unafraid and not ashamed,

when you call me by name.

Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Poetry/Poems

Have You Met Lady Grace?….

October 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

Let me tell you about Lady Grace.
Fine one that arrives wearing filigree lace,
Everything done with Grace always changes the race,
When she comes, she must surely leave a trace,
For your outward expression will certainly change pace,
Reflecting inward harmony of soul around your space.

♦♦
Wields a lot of power, she does; our Lady Grace,
Her power consumes, you wish not to be a disgrace,
She can shape-shift just in case,
You ponder how she will fit into your space.

♦♦
Grace is not blind even if she keeps a straight face,
As she watches your scramble from low grass to trophy case.
She is clothed in dignity with warm human face,
Encouraging arms she extends to thee embrace.

♦♦
Should you ever seek to replace a false face
A bone deep desire to erase can take place
For there is always a meeting place
To invite the mighty Lady Grace
And she will touch base
In your living space.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Tips for the day · Weave that Dream

What Are You Doing?…

October 27, 2015October 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

The quote above is my third quote in the 3 quote series and it speaks for itself.

In my quest for positive transformation, I try to base a lot of my actions and reactions on this guiding principle which also applies to everyone else.

This quote is simply not a biblical tenet or any religious balderdash!

It relates to everything that pertains to our lives, even this blogging exercise that we are engaged in. For instance, when you stretch out a hand of fellowship and engage others, 99% of the time, it is reciprocated and vice-versa! Keep your circle as positive as possible.

Our actions revolve around us as surely as the Earth revolves around the Sun.

When we are in search of happiness, the first question we should ask ourselves, is what seeds we are sowing?

Happiness is not something that we get from other people. The happiness we feel is in direct proportion to the love that we are able to give.

Take a peek at those embittered people who expend so much energy pulling others down; they forever remain miserable.

They fail to realize that in the attempt to keep someone else down, they hinder themselves from rising to their optimum potentials.

Be loving to yourself and others and you see that love reciprocated.

It is the law of Karma which works every time, whether we are aware of it or not. It occurs in the small things and in the big things that surround us.

It is also wise to remember that treating others right does not imply being blind to their shortcomings or giving them permission to treat you poorly.

Leannenz, I sincerely thank you for inviting me to participate in this quote series. It is a good opportunity to reflect on those things that matter and I think I am going to continue the quote beyond this stage 🙂

I would like to invite 5 awesome bloggers to share their favorite quotes in the series of 3.

A Reading Writer

The positive black woman

Ladies who lunch reviews

My mama – Lynz Real Cooking

Edwina Episodes

Warm regards to you all. Be happy.

PLEASE Feel Free To Share. IT’S ALL PART OF LOVING ♥ 🙂

Fiction · Short story

Her Tiger Butterfly… a short story

October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

Intense look from his eyes caused Brigitte to peek over her shoulders. No one there, except the wall.

“The gentleman from the symposium.” “Of course, it couldn’t be me that he is admiring.” “No one notices wallflowers or do they?”

Mama despairs that she would be left on the shelf.

”Don’t slouch Brigitte!” ”Wear a smile, you shouldn’t scowl so much!”

Auntie Agatha tut-tutted at her bumbling attempts at playing the piano, violin or knitting.

”Don’t frighten off possibilities with too much knowledge of tomes, ruins, horses and butterflies.”
”Men do not appreciate too much intelligence her sage counsel.”

Tired of no dance, a breath of fresh air is required. A flitting moth of unusual colour catches her eyes and she ventures to discover; new addition to my glossary she thinks.

Over voluminous skirts she trips into the Rose bush.

Strong arms encircle to help her up as she mouths her thanks into intense gray eyes.

Unwittingly, she has captured her own Tiger butterfly.

Inlinkz code

In response to the FFfAW photo prompt above. Thank you TJParis for the photo and Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Weave that Dream

Let it go and your wings will soar to flight….

October 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

The weight of unforgiveness lodged in the heart,
Is an albatross that hinders enjoyment of peace!

Its weight drags you down and keeps you low,
Making every other thing go so slow!

Forgiveness is not an easy feat,
When we revel in the bitterness of it all!

But do remember that holding on to that bitter vile,
Is simply holding on to dead waste and pile!

Holding on to that heavy weight,
Is giving heavy rent-free space in your head,
To business that has no business being there!

Even the weight of not forgiving yourself,
Bears hindrance to your future!

Never equate seeking justice to a crime,
and bearing the blunt weight of unforgiveness.

They are not the same!
Neither are you Lady Justice!

Unforgiveness takes a prisoner!
And that prisoner is you!

Do not equate trust and forgiveness,
For they are both not the same!

Trust lost by an erring party, may be regained if they work for it.
You can choose not to trust, or to trust with a pinch of salt.
It is called being cautious, wary, sensible or careful.

You cannot choose not to forgive,
Because this applies to you!

The act of unforgiveness is like poisonous lead!
In the spirit of your life, whose effects soils your waters!

This is a gift that you must give yourself!
It may not change your past but,
It will define your future!

Set your heart free!
Let that grudge go!

Set your heart free!
Let that hurt and pain go!

Set your heart free!
Let the healing begin!

Set yourself free!
Unlock that door!

I never said its easy!
But take a step, spread your wings and fly!