Tag: Personal

Short Stories

Don’t wake me up…Friday fiction in five sentences.

jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

 

As the feverish rigors shook her body, she mumbled to him; “If the baby dies, don’t wake me up!”

She was sedated to calm her down and stabilize her blood pressure.

Too many pregnancies she had lost and had much hope that this one would survive, yet it looked like a futile dream.

It was a battle against fate and time as the doctors raced to try and save the neo-natal.

He sat by her bedside, torn apart inside as tears silently dripped down his cheeks and he prayed like he had never prayed before.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Footnote: I had a double mind about writing this short story, but this is a piece of my story. A piece of my journey and I daresay many other women have walked down this torturous path and to those who are in the Lord’s waiting room for fruits of the womb, I say “Hold on.”

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.

 

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Magical Time – Ronovan writers weekly haiku challenge.

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Once I saw the prompt for Ronovan’s weekly haiku challenge ‘time and grow,’ my thought went to my children who are galloping up so fast before my eye’s that sometimes it gives me mixed feelings to watch them become more independent each day, knowing that soon they will be full-fledged adults and fly my coop.

Ah! I love these blessings of mine with every breath that I have.

Ikenna[1]

Indeed time does create magic,

each day I watch you grow up,

my heart fills with gratitude.

∼

© 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.

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Uncategorized

My Name Is Jacqueline.

jacquelineobyikocha40 Comments

template_big_saved

Black, Brown and White…
these are simply colours

I am a Living Soul
and my skin colour is black

I am not merchandise
to be labelled and put in a carton

I am a Human
and a beautiful woman

Red blood flows in my veins
just the same as yours

My name is Jacqueline
and I belong to Human Race

So tell me,
who are you?

© 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.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Wonderful, evocative poetry by a talented writer. Left me hungry for more. Jacqueline can write! Linda Bethea

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Gratitude

Balance in the midst of chaos – my thoughts and thanks.

jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

Do I have all the answers? No, I don’t and I guess no one else does. Each week we wake up to stuff that sends us on a tailspin of holding our breaths, pensive thoughts etc, but I’ve learnt and learning each day to hold on to the still peace within me even when the sails of my ship are battered in the wind and my candid advice to anyone would be to hold on to their sanity in the midst of chaos and be thankful for life.Harmony, Relax, Rock, Moqui, Stone

I woke up yesterday with a hot, scratchy throat, heavy head and stuffy nose and I knew that finally the cold that I had tried to outrun had caught up with me. I went in briefly to work, did two miserly posts for my blog and shut down all gadgets to take a long nap and I woke up later still croaky and groggy but thankful for the rest.

It’s been some tedious weeks of school activities, work, writing a book, blogging, networking and living life in a hyper-stressful World. However, I realize that fretting over these things serves no purpose other than to make one feel more stressed about them so I always try to break my thoughts and to-do’s into bits and pieces to get them balanced and done. I achieve far more when I do that and I’m also able to eliminate chaff that doesn’t fit in anywhere.

The hours spent yesterday shutting off all negative noise from TV and internet allowed my brain to rest and wake up rejuvenated. I am totally thankful that the kids will vacate tomorrow for 2 solid months of Summer holidays…bliss 🙂

I may not have all the answers to today’s troubles in our present World, but I have my thanks and gratitude to a simple life and a loving family.

Be thankful

Jacqueline

P.S: You can join our online party this weekend. It’s always a good time 🙂

InLinkz Bernadette is running a 52 week of thankfulness challenge and you might want to join in.

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.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

‘A Richly Layered and Passionate Read.’ Jan Cliff

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works, you can fuel my creativity with a cup of coffee or a slice of cake😉

The Daily Post · This Is My Life

Living in the diaspora…

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Sunset_and_Clouds[1]

Having lived in several cities
from Africa to Europe,
North America to UAE
 each city has left pieces of itself
embedded in my heart.

I embrace wherever I go with enthusiasm
and allow the people and culture of the city
to engrave themselves on my soul
that leaving them behind
always leaves me wistful.

To migrate from one city to another
is to have different fragments of you
diversely divided till the framework of who you are
becomes as colourful
as the United colours of Nations

City

© 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.

 

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.

 

Out of the silent breath

Gratitude

My full plate…

jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

Crowded, Nest, Egg, Full, Overflowing, Overcrowded

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.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

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.

Out of the silent breath

Lifestyle · The Great Book Of Lists

Embracing My Quirkiness….The great book of lists.

jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

Dolls[1]

La Duchesse gave us a prompt ’embracing my quirkiness,’ that not only made me laugh but also made me spend a little time looking at those itty-bitty sides of me that though they may not be original, are part of me, like dusting of freckles or the little mole that occupies a part of your body.

I’m showing you my clay feet and it’s possible that the list is longer than this, but I’ll keep it short so that you don’t run away into the bush to get away from me 😉

  1. I am a touchy feely person, especially with those who I feel close to (but it’s not uncommon for me to hug a new found friend).
  2. I nibble my husband’s food when he’s eating. This used to drive him nutty, but 16 years has made him soften, that he now feeds me himself 😉
  3. I doodle while thinking or listening intently. I have no idea why, but I hear clearly this way.
  4. I carry a notepad everywhere. Everywhere!
  5. I could go for eons without remembering to watch TV. Just leave me with sufficient books, a thick notepad, and music, please 🙂
  6. I watch people’s feet and mentally try to build a fictitious life about them. Please don’t ask me why.
  7. I make up nonsensical songs about anything and sing when cooking. I think I borrowed the singing when cooking from my mother. She did it all through my growing up years and she’s been in the choir like forever.
  8. I always start a conversation with a total stranger; in a safe vicinity of course.
  9. I write to deal with issues on my mind. I pick it apart on a piece of paper.
  10. Okay, I am a die-hard romantic and still enjoy my Harlequin romances et al… feel free to wiggle your eyebrows 😉
  11. I collect itty-bitty silly dolls and give them names.
  12. I am always barefoot at home; pregnant or not. I just like the coolness of the floor under my feet and only put them into my cozy froggy footwear just before bedtime. I’m still trying to understand that.

Thank you for bearing with me and not running off by now. I’ll be watching your feet 😉

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.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

I have to say I’m in awe and spellbound by her poetry. 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.

Out of the silent breath

The Daily Post · Writing

My sister, my sister…

jacquelineobyikocha40 Comments

Sister[1]

This

is who 

you truly are.

That

rare gem 

of irrefutable value.

***

Imperfectly perfect soul

 of beautiful

human.

Your indelible cracks 

have made you

inestimable.

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.

Out of the silent breath

Guest Posts

Interview with Me, Myself and I…Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha…

jacquelineobyikocha

Jacqueline 2

It’s not every day that I get to feel like a star *I’m winking* 😉

I’ve been granted a wonderful interview by the talented, awesome blogger chic, Mandi, and as the very first interview in her interview series, she did a splendid job.

I humbly urge you to peek in for a few seconds through this link while I go strut my stuff a little bit. Hey! Come on! A girl has to love herself a bit you know 🙂

Thank you.

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.

Out of the silent breath

The Great Book Of Lists · This Is My Life

Elements of my day and so far so good…The great book of lists.

jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

 

La Duchesse has given us a double prompting and I’ll just race through me as quick as breeze:

Veggie sauce bubbling on the gas :-)
Veggie sauce bubbling on the gas 🙂

Her idea for this prompt ‘elements of my day and so far so good,’ comes from Brandon Burchard’s day planner.

So, the instructions are to build your list :

  • quickly jot your to-do list
  • what are the 3 things you are excited about today
  • what are the 3 things you are truly thankful for today

My quick to do list

  • Revise for the end of year exams with the children. I have to quiz them and go through their subjects before shooing them confidently out of the door to go and get those grades.
  • Conclude my monthly bulk cooking of stews, soups, and stuff: I always prepare at least two batches of our native soup amongst other stews to ease life a bit. These could serve as quick dinner or lunch on busy days. It earns me some hours of putting up my feet 😉
  • Continue partying on my blog and mixing with fab folks. Come on in 🙂
  • Place some calls to family in Nigeria.
  • Writing quick drafts of some of my blog posts for the coming week so that I can face my other writing works.
  • Tweak my second self-hosted site a little bit. Not yet ready to run.
  • Do some research work for work on Mastermind Learning and Development strategy.

    Native vegetable 'Edikan-ikong' soup.
    Native vegetable ‘Edikan-ikong’ soup.

I am excited

  • That school Summer break will commence over here in a couple of weeks. Don’t have a holiday plan yet but looking forward to working out something.
  • I have been nominated for The Annual Blogger’s Service to Bloggers Award. Have you voted yet? Please do cast your votes. Who would have thought that lil‘ me will be nominated for such 🙂
  • Some new ideas are cooking in my head and it makes me feel all warm at the thought.
  • Getting my teeth into my second book. It’s been a bit slow.
  • A 3-day self-improvement workshop that I’ll be attending. Okay, I’ve overshot the 3 things.

I am thankful:

  • For my husband and children. They are kind and supportive.
  • The blog World and the great supportive people I meet here. I’ve learnt so much in this space.
  • For life in general. Each day is a splendid opportunity.

So far so good and so not good.  I had to slip that in there 😉

  • I feel naughty and guilty for not having stuck to the ‘treat your body better rule’ that I set for myself. My weight loss has been sitting put like the Sitting Bull, but it’s my fault 😉 Okay, I’ve got that off my chest. Now to the good part.
  • My published poetry book makes me very happy.
  • The decent growth of my blog in just a year of blogging always amazes me. It’s just wonderful.
  • The endless burst of inspiration keeps me bubbling. I wish my fingers could work half as fast as the ideas that are streaming through my head.

Thank you, Duchesse. I enjoy your promptings.

P.S. You can join our Summer blog party by clicking the link. It’s taking place right now and really bubbling. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks. Looking forward to seeing you:-)

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