outside seeking self
yet fazed by gossiping breeze
her voice playing within the leaves and trees
lulling me to sleep
perhaps I will find “self” where her story
takes me…
Chillin’
Author: festivalking
... A journey of a mind full of wonder and imagination, but stubborn when it comes to sharing!
Hoots of thunder in twilight
Away sounds of distant thunder
sparks prayer for cool weather
for a moment humidity flees
silence is broken by rustling trees
sounds of night competing
as distant thunder abates the heat
coming dawn gazes upon the scene
coming unforgiving Sun-
not caring a hoot…
Sitting in my chair, the crack of distant thunder inspired this piece. I hope it does justice to this week’s Quadrille prompt on dVerse – Quadrille #219 – A Poetic Hootenanny
Join in and “give a hoot about the rules and write a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting the title), including some semblance of the word hoot…“
Cheers! 🙂
I am the walrus🎵🎶
“Just kidding! I bear no resemblance to the walrus—just thought I’d entertain you while you’re here. 🙂 I, for one, see myself more as an elephant, and for good reason: An elephant never forgets!
Funny as it may sound, my love for elephants began in my teens. I had watched Disney’s Jungle Book countless times before, but one day, the phrase hit me differently: “An elephant never forgets!” Maybe I was studying for an exam and wanted to embody that persona—who knows? But from that moment, the words and the idea of the elephant stuck with me.
My love for these magnificent creatures only grew when my aunt gifted me a silver waist chain adorned with elephant charms—the most beautiful piece of jewelry I ever owned… until I lost it. After that, I found myself searching for a replacement, and I was drawn to an ankle chain with the same elephant motif. Why the elephant? I wondered. It wasn’t until I wrote My Honey Bee… To My Daughter, a piece about the essence of the honeybee, that I revisited my fascination with elephants.
It turns out elephants are more than just creatures with keen memories. They grieve their dead, symbolize strength and wisdom, and in many cultures, they represent luck, prosperity, and leadership. Among the Ashanti people of West Africa, elephants are believed to be the reincarnated souls of their great leaders... Too much? 🙂
Now, I’m “playing with the idea“ of getting a tattoo—you can probably guess what it will be. 😉
… To me, the elephant embodies peace, wisdom, strength, loyalty, majesty, family, culture, and longevity”- and I am she.
Beast without Burden
From Africa to Asia
with strengths unquestioned
… are we good?
Hi! How’s it going? Are we doing okay?
Did the world ‘as we know it’ finally end? What’s the situation on global warming? Has AI finally taken over?
How is our baby girl? Are you and Sena still best of friends? Any grandkids?
I truly hope you’re in a good place and time right now. If you’re reading this, it means you’re of sound mind and body (I hope) at a hundred—congratulations! Please write back and share the regimen that has kept you going so long. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to fill me in on the global stock market… should I be selling my Tesla stock?😧
NH3 …Think Chemistry
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
This one goes out to all the science geeks in the house! 🥳
My middle name is Amoniya- and while it may sound like the Chemical compound Ammonia at first glance, its actually a different pronunciation with 4 syllables instead of 3: “Ah-Mo-Ni-Ya”
… and it means “person without jealousy”.
Pseudonym
‘Came by way of a thief in the night
Said Ma’
Initially unwanted by
… Papa
Four months too soon
Preterm
Complication stirred up intercessions
… Please stay
Decades since, “Celebration” in my name
“FK” 😉
Festival King, FK for short, is obviously not my real name – BUT just so you know, my pseudo is coined from my first and last names … First name actually meaning “Celebration”:)
An old poem of mine gives insight into my Last name. Click the link if you’d like to read: OTARU
MTB: The Poetry of Names – Today’s MTB prompt on @dVerse has us writing a WaltMarie poetry style*:
- 10 lines
- even lines are just 2 syllables
- odd lines are longer but without syllable restriction
- the even lines make their own mini-poem if read separately
- meter and rhyme are unspecified
And the theme of your poem should be
- the history/meaning of your name
- or one you wish you had
- or an imaginary one
Consider/imagine how it was chosen, what has it meant to carry that name.
ENJOY!!! 🙂
Wetin…?
Hello! And if you haven’t experienced it yet, welcome to a quick intro to Nigerian Pidgin language! 🙂
The word “Wetin” is a Nigerian Pidgin word that means “what.” For example, “Wetin dey happen?” means “What is going on?”
Now, my mom—who also happens to be my housemate (Love you, Mama!)—is the absolute worst at minding her own business. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not a gossip… who am I fooling? Aren’t we all, to a certain degree? 😉 In these parts, people who have a knack for giving the best updates on other people’s business are called “Gist masters” or “Amebos.” But I digress!
In my 20s and even my 30s, it was cool when Mommy dearest wanted to know what I was up to or what I was wearing out. But these days? COME ON, MAMA!
I walk out of the kitchen, and if I so much as make a fist as I leave, she goes, “Wetin you dey carry for hand?” If I’m chewing, “Wetin you dey chop?” Even right now, as I’m typing this message, she could probably walk into my room and ask, “Wetin you dey do?” And in my head, I’m thinking, “Woman, I don’t owe you an explanation!” But, of course, as a good old-fashioned Nigerian daughter, I have to give an answer—even if it’s not always the full truth—just so we can MOVE ON.
Now, the word “Wetin” has even more cool variations, like “Wetin dey happen?” or “Wetin dey shele?” Or just plain and simple “Wetin dey?!” So never look down on that term, ’cause it’s cool! 🙂
To my younger self…
Daily writing prompt
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
To my younger self: That dream came true. You are a single woman…
Looking back, the desire for connection, a soulmate, and that fairytale happy ending B.S. only led to drama and smoke screens. Most scenes ended with the classic “It’s not you, it’s me” speech—wrong frequencies of tribe, class, or religion.
I sure could pick them, right? 🙂
This cycle ran from my 20s through my mid-30s. And then, I met her. We crossed paths just as I was about to check into heartbreak hotel once again—well, not so much heartbreak this time, as I had already given up on the relationship and was ready to walk away. And then she appeared, full of beauty and charm, completely enchanting me.
The first time I told my mom about her, she said something profound:
“You’ve spent all this time running through failed love stories. Now she’s here, and you have the perfect chance at love. I pray you do right by her.”
That was the moment I realized—my past wasn’t a curse. It was a path leading me to my true love story.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned—among the many lessons she has brought into my life—it’s the discipline of loving myself first and enough. That way, even when love isn’t reciprocated, I remain whole. I am good enough for me—strong enough to know I deserve better and wise enough to move the hell on.
To my younger self: That dream came true. You are a single woman… and the proud mother of the most incredible 8-year-old—the kind of love money could never buy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Eden’s wake
Raped of essence, Gaya thinks:
life is an affliction!
homo sapien sedition,
greenhouse emission,
they ruin my flawless skin…
Take me back to Eden's wake,
time of the primordial soup
when all was new
and only felt was heaven's embrace
cradled by sun and moon's light
Skies filled with faraway stars once vivid
now blanketed by industry’s breath
the heavens polluted by technology
nothing is left undefiled
like a dog with fleas, I am sets unease
Overpopulating, they
consuming all in their wake
their parasitic resilience
unsusceptible to my defenses
all failed attempts to quash them
weaponizing my tears
my quaking body and seething pants
yet the malady unable to shake
beset, but corrected I stand
… man, not life is my only affliction
Worn, abused and tired am I
Awaiting what're be my end
by tormenters within
'else by heaven's kind hand
leading me back to Eden's wake
Inspired by the dVerse prompt: Metamorphosis of Sorts
6:45am
Listening…
Imagination drawing pictures of a stary night..
Causing coursing desire to melt into my pillow
The wrongest time to come by such melody
As the sun already rises to great me.
GOOD MORNING!!!! 🙂
Festival King 