simple pleasures
coconut water
freshly cut by
the man who loves me
waking to the sea and the trees
painting the door blue
catching up with a friend
had not heard from in years
his lips brushing mine
sitting at my desk
listening to the breeze sashaying
flirting with trees and
tossing leaves into the air
the fragrance of sweet peppers
pungent but not hot
coconut meat firm and crunchy
door wide open
leaves blow in
he eats his salad
i drink my smoothie
we are
home
waking
i find that all along
life has been happening
beauty surrounds and supports me
that all the I seek to know
reveals itself
like a tight fisted ball of cabbage
that i peel away
layer by layer
eyes see splendor
and are satisfied
heart shares love
and is grateful
mind connects with others
and receives blessings
the peace that i live
emerges from the sand
just as a land crab
that scuttles in and out of its hole
entrance to its home
peace speaks in myriad ways
through sounds colors and winds
in the lapping of the water at the shore
through the steady rhythm of my heart
peace is all that i see
blue bluing
sky skying
sea seaing
nothing needs to be said
breathe and breathe and breathing
water washing sand
sand rinsing sand
leaning into paradise
this is the journey home
the trek where self finds self
and says you are okay
i’m alright
i love you as you are
love me as i am
nothing else for you to be doing
beside self
this is the truth in this moment
taking steps that are not just circular
but leads to a wall
where a window gets erected
so you can see that woman
that you will become
in three decades
and you will look out and say
oh it is you
who have finally arrived
welcome
sit and lookout
on the memories
you’ve created
in peace
My mother’s laughter is what I remember most about my childhood
Full engulfing pure and commanding.
I knew my mother’s laughter could stop thieves from entering our home.
My mother’s laughter made cocky men smile
and jealous women befriend her.
Laughter was the mode of discipline…
As long as Mommy was laughing all infractions were forgiven
As long as Mommy was laughing all requests would be met
As long as Mommy was laughing the sun would rise bright and joy
would define the day.
My mothers has blessed me with her laughter.
Whenever I find myself in a tight spot
or feel overwhelmed I break into riotous laughter
and nothing or no one can stop me
laughter is the path and mouth of peace
laughter is the spirit of my mother
who with dogged determination raised
me to be steadfast and resourceful
Laughter is love’s proper name
To be creative is a gift, but with it also comes responsibility, to hone your talent, to share it, to excel and to evolve.
I do not take my talents for granted, and I am enormously grateful for the stories and poems that come to me. As I branch out into owning and marketing my own intellectual property, rather than hand it off to publishers, I feel a sense of freedom and possibility that I have not felt in a long time.
I am launching my own Journal, Interviewing the Caribbean. I am establishing my own institutions, no longer hiding behind or trying to fit into other’s agenda, but plowing my own road, and when I’ve gotten that done I will build my own monument.
Success is about the execution — did you achieve what you set out to do, regardless of the outward appreciation in numbers of attendees or monetary reward? If you did, then that event/project is/was successful and in telling the story or responding to those who ask how things went you can and should frame your story based on what you set out to do and how well you accomplished your goals.
The success of any project is based on the creator and her/his intention. I am successful because regardless of outward circumstances, I do my best, and if I am pleased with what I have created, and if only one other person finds pleasure in the work, then I met my goals.
I am successful in everything I do as always put my heart and all my efforts in all my projects.
I am successful because love feeds my creation.
To live and bask in abundance you must say Yes frequently. In fact, daily you should say yes to life and celebrate the yin and yang of You. In Jamaica everyone of worth has a yabba in which they cook their best pot, but one’s yabba could also refer to one’s special ideas, one’s special dreams and goals or the place where one stores things that are of special value. The yarns of our lives must be recorded and planted with the yams. Yoga will help to keep us strong and limber, and Yucca will nourish our bodies. Say Yes to you, say Yes to life, say yes to Peace.
The Xylophone is a wonderful instrument that makes sweet music to my ear and is used widely in many African cultures, where there are also xenagogues, whose sole roles were to guide strangers to observe and experience their culture. Being xenial was the norm. Once, not long ago, we were all xenodochial, kindness to strangers was not a stretch. Also many were xenolalia, and understood several languages they never studied. Wood was the first thing my character, God-Free, in It Begins With Tears tasted, the wood that made his mother’s coffin, and as a result he became a xylograher, and would spend his life as an unofficial xylologyist, studying wood before carving them. As a result of his keen interest and love of wood he discovered the science of xylotherapy and knew which woods to use to treat which disease.
When there is a problem be wise to the solution. Warm-heartedness will help to change a negative attitude into a willingness to see possibilities. Your job is to achieve your goals so be watchful of with whom you surround yourself, and make sure they are worthy to cradle your dreams. Write down your ideas, build a watchful team and take prudent steps and be wise. You must be a wizard, and don’t be afraid to be a wooer, and witty too to win others to join you in your enterprise. Be willing to work smartly, and understand that there might be times when you have to be willful to withstand what it takes to accomplish all your objectives. There are many well-meaning individuals who will help you along the way. Wager their worth, be winsome and wakeful and be always conscious of how wonderful your ideas and projects are even when there are some who will come at you with, “it Can’t be…” Silence them immediately. Distance yourself from them. Wander to the outreaches of your mind where solutions reside, warble in the sun until the answers appear, and if necessary, become a wayfarer so your goals are known and celebrated worldwide.
Opal Palmer Adisa 