“Right-Side Up”

 

What if

we lived,

the right-side up?

If we could choose

the way to stop

and reverence,

with reference, to good?

If we refused

to stoke the fire,

but,

 put it out,

with something Higher?

Surely,

that’s what Life

is all about.

Be in “Who’s-Who”,

for being You,

without, external wrappings.

Let’s turn such things

the right-way up,

and

let go

of those trappings.

Together,

we can stop

the negativity that curdles,

Yes, we can run the race!

As “Team United”,

clear the hurdles.

Come on!

Let’s face this Life, head-on!

When

challenges come to town,

we’ll be like “Weebles”,

wobbling,

but we will not fall down!

…And,

what if, we could

have more help?

What if,

we weren’t alone?

And

hands would bear us up,

so that our feet

would not touch stone?

Could it be,

 such a Love is real,

that goes,

beyond perception?

Beyond the Earth,

5-sensory,

is an

endless connection?

Well,

in this waxing, waning world,

that glorifies so much,

the qualities of every thing,

above

the Human touch…

and places highest value

in accoutrements

and such…

…the fact

that there are those of us,

who rise up,

with one sound,

brings comfort,

for,

with extra help,

we’ll turn this World

right round.

∗∗

∗∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“The Constant”

 

Once,

the crushed velvet sky,

was

deserted by stars.

No Venus, nor Mars,

to re-define Humanity.

The bristling air,

stood still….

unpolluted, by wasted noise.

The only Constant,

Energy,

surrounded by

the purity of sound….

and

the common ground,

rolled back,

to become

Nature’s

wondrous welcome mat.

On that day,

the stars became,

us.

Heaven’s brilliance,

condensed into

dust,

encased, in shapes,

embedded, with

smiles and emotions

and hopes and dreams,

exuded, through

one-of-a-kind

expressions,

in, limitless, styles.

Life,

in all fashions.

Fresh and unique,

with idiosyncracies,

always, on-fleek.

But,

with no sense of angst

and

no need to compete.

 Complete.

Mixed-media terra firma,

from the Right-Handed seat.

Landed,

in circles.

Sent,

to hold hands,

with the remnant

whom,

no-one else,

cared to understand.

Yes,

we are the Bodies,

from, far-flung, Eternities,

open,

to embrace

the past and modernity.

Shining,

as is our Divine heritage.

Giving,

through infinites and vestiges.

A Virtuous Cycle,

of heartfelt pledges..

Living,

the interpersonal Spirit…

One-Loving,

one another,

in our

Universal Human Village.

∗∗

∗∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“Soul-In-One”

 

You

were not made

to carry this,

alone..

…to skate

upon thin ice

of

complex perplexity,

within

the sabotage

of an

ill-conceived

comfort zone.

You cannot be Atlas…

…trying to

deliver and decipher

global maps,

to the roads of

every Life.

Precious One,

you were not made to be.

For,

underneath

the weight of need,

you are, indeed, stifled….

… and,

this is

no time, for trifling.

When

rampant deception,

mounts its hind legs,

in combat,

for dominion,

over

your splendour.

Thus,

in candour,

let Revelation

soak into

your glorious, porous,

Heart.

Pack away

the painful mystery…

and start

the final round,

by aiming,

in direction of the Sun.

Come together,

at the flag

of your

Immortal Spirit…

and

in Victory,

find clarity,

as you complete

an epic

Soul-in-One.

∗∗

∗∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“Flotilla”

 

And then, they came.

Floating down

the stream of consciousness,

in a flotilla

of resonance,

borne of echoes

and

whimsical sighs.

Of

musical distances

and nighs.

Without oars,

or poles,

the

night-light commentary

arrived.

No barging.

No jostling

for space,

in the mind

of my Heart.

Just,

a generous helping

of searching stanzas,

mentored,

by climbing clause,

messages,

in metaphors,

secret similes,

replete,

with Light and Love…

 …touched and traced

by Hands,

from Above…

encoded,

by

Heaven’s Grace.

∗∗∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“Limitless”

 

In prayer,

I find you,

also,

waiting there.

Meditating,

upon depths,

of co-existence,

non-resistant,

in Divinity

and

Celestial air.

You,

I witness,

resting, leaning..

Pressing into

Higher Meaning.

Glowing,

is the way,

I see you.

Incandescent.

Shining.

Me, too.

Honouring The Way…

Lamplight,

at your feet,

so that you do not stray..

…do not succumb

to any circus

of the mind..

But,

live your extraordinary Purpose.

Inner Peace, you find.

Veils,

are torn asunder..

Clarity,

is wedded,

to a bold array of

Wonder.

Blended with the

rainbow-painted sky,

satisfied,

with

His Unlimited Supply…

….you,

I recognise.

You,

I join,

where all Creation flies.

Blessings,

in abundance,

cause the overflow of

Oneness..

United, in togetherness.

Limitless, in Love…

Our Joy,

He multiplies…

…and, exponentially,

we flourish,

in His

Great Eternal Enterprise.

∗∗

∗∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020

All Rights Reserved.

“Soulcation”

 

On my haunches.

Over,

being haunted,

in my inky workroom.

Packed.

Ready to stay,

for my

Soulcation.

A,

long-awaited,

lengthy, pit-stop,

to authentic

auto-communication.

Corralled,

by faded purple.

Held aloft,

by floordrobes.

Swamped by thoughts,

strewn farther,

than

material dissaray,

on display.

Shovelling…

Wading…

Pulling band aids

off…

Time for healing, has begun.

I can see

the ‘7’, of completion.

But,

for now,

I focus

all my energy,

on surviving

Day 1.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“Earth Angel”

 

Fallen,

beyond recognition,

this World.

 I am sent,

on a Mission.

To end the foetal position,

in response,

to perpetually,

heinous decisions.

Sent,

with ways to raise the bar,

bring the Global Vision

of Love and Peace,

closer, to where we are..

Closer to Home,

to close the door,

against infraction

and insidious,

villification

of Life.

I am come,

to quell strife,

from a Supernatural Source,

where twinkling stars,

alone,

do not bear the course,

to Freedom…

… but vessels, crafted,

one-by-one,

of precious flesh and bone,

are bonded and designed.

I am one,

made,

with awe and wondrous splendour.

I am part of Humankind.

My skin is dark.

A bold reminder,

of the rich variety,

of hues,

whose walking liners,

contain

Celestial sparks.

My Heart beats,

for Collective,

for Community,

for solidarity of Soulful exchange.

I bear my cross each day,

with passion.

Unconditional Love,

that is not rationed.

My desire that

the Good Will Out,

is fire,

burning to express,

that I am equal.

No rival. No sequel.

I am, truly, blessed..

… given every reason,

to have stillness and contentment,

when,

before I sleep,

I undress.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020

All Rights Reserved.

“Out With The Old”

 

Old narratives die hard.

They come for you,

swing at you,

swipe,

left and right,

without warning.

No greeting card.

They

merge and mutate

what is true,

until,

all that you know,

has become a false prophet.

The Ego bears down,

to give birth

to a self-centred mindset.

For sure,

to be bold, in the wisdom,

that

you must make time,

to get to know ‘you’,

is no crime.

But some storylines,

have no rhythm,

no rhyme,

no reason,

except, to

destroy, steal and kill,

what awaits,

in your pre-ordained Destiny.

No longer hissing,

they sidewind their way,

with a cunning depravity.

Just as you seek to be new,

old habits,

old narratives,

bind altogether,

to format a crew.

The cure,

to unlock and unblock

these insidious notions?

Stop feeding them.

Stop fuelling commotion.

For,

You are made from Higher Energy.

Born to vibrate

at a Superhuman frequency.

Therefore,

resist the negative tendencies..

Resist them all…

and they will,

most assuredly,

flee.

 

©A_F_R_O_W.2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“I Cried, But I Did Not Quit”

 

I cried,

but I did not quit.

When ravenous racism,

raged at my Blackness,

I did not spit back.

When playground “games”

insisted that

I wear cardigans,

atop my head,

to mimic straightened hair,

I could have cried,

but did not dare,

for fear, of sitting out.

Not, fitting in,

was not an option.

Joining in,

I could not

live without.

Kiss-chase,

left me broken-hearted.

No-one chose me.

I was “too dark” .

Dumped,

before romance had started…

which set up a trend…

Totally rejected,

from beginning,

to the end

of my scholastic journey.

But,

Mum said this, to me…

“That’s not what

your education’s for!

It’s not about looks!

Now, walk tall, like I taught you!

Take your brain,

your books,

your words,

and use them,

to burst through

segregation’s door!”

Her, ever eloquent, encouragement,

was Heaven-sent and timely.

So, that’s what I did.

Kept aiming high.

Began to think

my skin

was welcomed in…

at every level…

But, how wrong was I.

Frequently,

finding my surroundings

less diverse…

I grew stronger.

Felt no compulsion,

to rehearse responses,

in the face of questioning,

as to my presence,

at events,

billed as,

“exclusive”.

As the meaning,

reached new depths…

rather than, reclusive,

I grew,

profound.

I mean,

how long and, just,

how far,

would people go,

in vain attempts, to mute my sound?

How much harder,

would I have to try?

Why was there a need

for me to justify

my breathing, of the same air?

Why does

a raised brow of the eye,

still remain there,

whenever I express opinion?

Why shouldn’t I pronounce

my thoughts,

with clarity of diction?

Why must I be classified,

“Exotic. From the village.”

What does that, even, mean?!

What does that provide?

I. Am. A. Londoner.

Black. Afro-Caribbean. British.

Outside and inside.

Born here.

I won’t hide my light.

So,

what makes you think

you have the right

to steal the bread

out of my basket of

pre-destined opportunities?

Are. You. For. Real?!!!

What makes you feel

that you can shout the odds,

behind my back,

when I have read my paper,

drunk a pint,

in peace…

and head to the ladies’,

for release?

When will your cowardice cease?

At least,

address your disease,

to my face.

If not,

pipe down!

I think you’ll find,

I’m staying.

Going somewhere,

fuelled by

Joy and Blessings,

known as,

Success…

You may hate me.

But,

I will be in Love…

I shall abide,

in humblest Gratitude,

for whom God has made me..

A message,

to the mess of prejudice,

who cannot be dismissed…

nor, displaced…

A,

uniquely-crafted,

work of art..

A credit,

to His Hallowed

Human Race.

∗

 

©A_F_R_O_W2020.

All Rights Reserved.

“Minority”

I am not a “minority”

There is nothing

“less than”

about me.

No dictat

can diminish,

nor, dictate

my place in Humanity.

Walls of bureaucratic words,

can, neither, define,

nor suppress,

my vivacity.

No insidious mind-tricks,

attack-dogs,

of precepts, concepts,

outdated contexts,

can decry

my Divine Complexity.

For,

I am made,

esteemed,

wonderfully.

Higher Celestial Beings,

celebrate this progeny..

entrust in me,

their Heavenly Legacy.

There may be one definition of you,

but there’s an Eternal galaxy,

of me.

No matter what you try

to do,

or say,

you can never

compartmentalise

this woman,

this embodiment, in Soul,

who is Spirit,

therefore, whole…

I am not a number,

nor a minor chord,

I am Free.

I am Major.

I am Victory.

Indefatigable.

Undeniable.

Look me up.

You’ll find me.

I am,

Black. Bold. Beautiful.

… in the

Oxford English Dictionary.

 

© A_F_R_O_W.2020

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.