we tend to underestimate
how long and far a journey sweetness
can take us
and it requires
very little of us
to be sweet that is
to enjoy the rewards
a smile
a touch
good loving
to get us where we want
to go
Category Archives: Daily Musings
A New Green Dress
the almond tree that houses
my meditation tea house
has decided that she wants
a new green dress
and I’m okay with that
as a woman
i understand the desire
to change things up
flaunt what’s left of
your beauty
see if heads still turn
when you walk down the street
but this woman is messy
instead of just giving away or
tossing the old dress
she has been for the past week
cutting it up into small pieces
as if to say I am done with you
but since you did look good on
me once
me go tek me time
and peel you away
–red firy leaf after leaf
strewn all over the floor
and ground–
so you remember me
daily as I sweep
these bits of her former self
i nod in salutation
and me tell her
girl me see yuh
and me overstand
how as women age
we have fi go on bad
to get just a little
attention
but she nah listen to me
so me sweep
so she toss
another bit of her old dress
On Writing 2
to the seekers of words
who know
to put words
to memory
is to let history live
continue the promise
of our ancestors
provide a future
for our children
and advance our soul-force
to use words
understanding their importance
how language shapes and identifies things
how it takes the mystery
out of darkness
and illuminates the magic
of life
words wet as the sea
hot as the sun
sticky as gum
flexible as elastic
words
naming the beginning
and trying to define the end
words
much more than
a mouthful
On Writing
My only crime is writing.
I descend into sin when I flaunt how much I enjoy this writing thing
and wanting to wallow in it as much and as often as I can
as if it were melted chocolate
in which to bathe
No Complaining
it should be a law
then complainers
would have to find
solutions
or shut up
it emanates
from self dissatisfaction
that has to be passed on
refusal to look
at self agency
and a willingness
to stay stuck
dissatisfied
the same story
get told over
and over
at the same registry
recommendation
find what is good in your life
seek out and report
on the beauty in the world
smile more
develop an appreciation of others
change what you don’t like
just leave your stories
at the door
This Day
today de body said
lef me be
mind says
kyan tink
moved from
pillows to bench
to tree to sofa
an achiness
a floating
an in-betweenness
overload
trying too hard
to rectify
remedy
amend what needs
to be left alone
the world continues
to turn
if it really does
jus settle
inner knowing advises
rain nah fall today
Simple Things 3
meditating in the tea house
built in the almond tree
my eyes turn to the bananaquit
as it lands in the fur of cotton
trapped in the lemon tree
then flits to the top of the almond trees
lost among the thick pear-shaped leaves
not even its brilliant yellow-breasted
stomach can i see
but no time to ponder
its actions
lucia feeding the dogs below
attract my attention
as he bangs on the branch of the tree
to get powder’s attention
who raises its hind legs
to the branch and dances
all the while my chime
continues its ceaseless
sounding
tinkle tinkle tinkle
like a dervish dancer
caught in the frenzy of his own
swirling
Simple Things 2
walking out unto the patio
picking thyme
hanging clothes on the line
the history of work and food
the love of soil
forced from us
years of free enslaved labor
the image of poverty
stamped unto africa
the almond tree
shedding leaves
sweeping the leaves
from the guinep tree
sighting a deer
kin to those brought to st croix
over 200 years ago
the ocean on the horizon
looking mostly white
a sliver of blue
declaring its true identity
sipping my coffee
lizards scamper
from branch to branch
all is well in my world
this gifted day
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
Alive
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
Opal Palmer Adisa 