with love!

I have truly had a wonderful week and I really hope you have too! It's been really inspiring...contrary to some beliefs... people are amazingly beautiful!!!
I have met some fabulous people and guess where? At Spitalfields of course! Christmas truly is the season of goodwill, a handful of grouches can never take away from a bearhug full of wonderful people.

So to all people out there! Lots and lots of love...keep being you and have a truly wonderful christmas and an amazing new year!!!

xxx

HAVE FUN!!

Creativity for the fun of it is SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE than creativity for monetary value. Took me some time to realise this! Suddenly dawned on me that when I'm playing, I have so much more fun than when I'm consciously trying to create something for sale!! Playing is so EXPERIMENTAL!! Consciously creating can be such a DRAG!!! SO to all you creative people out there....PLAY HARD!!!

Who says a round peg would never fit in a square hole? Find a way to make it fit! Experiment! Dont be precious with the round peg!!

Spitalfields

Love the vibe at Spits....cool, urban hangout. That's where you'll find me on Fridays....hanging out with other designer makers, artists, craftspeople...doing our thing: selling beautiful objects d'art!!

Have a great week!xxx

Christmas Sale!!

Really looking forward to Christmas!!....for all the wrong reasons!!! Well, from a business point of view for all the right reasons!
I'm looking forward to booming SALES!!! So many opportunities to exhibit and sell right now! It's intriguing. I never really appreciated the consumer culture until now!

My name

My name speaks volumes
As I dance to its pronunciation
I realise I will not alter this name
To suit a plastic world

For this name speaks of warriors
Red earth and drums
Rhythm grown in the home
In the dance of the pestle
The shake of the basket
The grind of the stone
As food fills the home

This name celebrates me
And whom I have become

I dance when called
At my heritage and birthright
The authenticity of who I am
Its nuances and intonations
I will not play down
Or lay down as slang
Words too rich to pronounce
They leave a twist in your tongue

So call me again
And light up my eyes
With the sweet breath of home
I find in my name
At the scent of grass mingled with rain
As it kisses the soil of Africa


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Times like this

I smell decadence in the street
Corruption like blood has been spilled
The air is so tense
Can you feel......?
What anguish! Mother Nature weeps

Faces are hollow, eyes shift
Footsteps are whispered
See......shufflers shuffle along
Sweeping pockets for pins

I see decadence in the street
I hurt because it makes me weep
I cannot don a mask
Ignore the remarks on the faces of people I see
'Tried and failed'
'Never helped'
'Lost it all'
'Downright sold'

I feel decadence in the street
Will someone please listen to me
We cannot go on
With a play upon words
We create just to soothe our own needs



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1998

Tribute to basket mouth

With rofo rofo fight
I call on the unknown soldier
And the beasts of no nation
I ask the vagabonds in power to step down

Pay no mind to the noise for vendor mouth
And fear not for man
For water no get enemy
Even though there is no agreement
And our people are suffering and smiling

With so much confusion
Everything is upside down
Yet in spite of the army arrangement
We go shout plenty why poor man dey suffer
Because observation is no crime
And we hear our children cry
Teacher don't teach me nonsense

Yet which head never steal?
Here in London, we see everything scatter
As dog eat dog when question jam answer

In America, the perambulator
Is an international teef teef
Who pays no heed to the people's cry

In Naija, just like that, overtake don overtake
And the vagabonds in power claim there is no bread
And resort to unnecessary begging

We have reached a stalemate
There is no time for shakara
Let confusion break bone of the original sufferhead
The perambulator and Mr Follow Follow
Because it is an open and close case
That bad leadership is very expensive shit



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Put your foot down

I give my halfway man
Neither hers nor mine
A halfway look
Neither smile nor frown
That kind of tells him, I guess, I am vexed
He does not say a thing, just walks past me
And I wonder why he does not take me seriously
As I kind of talk to him, sort of tell him, I guess
How I feel at being left at home all day
Without so much as 'by the way'

I guess my halfway man
Neither hers nor mine
Kind of loves me in a way
I cannot put my finger on

So, I stay in this halfway house
That is not quite home
And hope oneday, sometime soon
He will, I guess, take me seriously


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Live the dream

Some day, you will wake up and say 'they told you so'
They told you, you could raise your head high and walk proud
Knowing that this battle has been won with the sweat and blood of generations gone
They told you, the world was an oyster in the palm of your hand
And all you had to do was reach out and grasp your dream
And it was yours to become, to fulfill
Because it is all so real, this creativity within you
This gift bursting to be out and about and shout out to the world to note its worth
This wisdom, pulsating as you breathe in and out
In a world that appears shut down to a creativity that will not stop till you drop
Because it is given and is far reaching
And today is as good as any day to start
And do not believe the lies as men try to shut you up
Tie you down, make you stay, knowing they cannot
For the dream within you will not die even if you never try to fly
So what is stopping you?

Some day, you will wake up and say, 'they told you so'



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2005

Glory

Without God.....
my life would have no meaning
I would be in a daze
Pounding streets...wondering what time of day it is

Seeking, searching, frenzied for a nameless quality
To cushion the blows life throws at me

Dancing, gyrating, paying the piper
For tunes I do not choose
Naked, stripped of being the person that I am
Slipping into role like a chameleon

From mirrors, I would cringe
Hating to look within
Afraid of what I will see

Glory to God for me


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Refuge

The Lord is the stronghold of my life
Of whom shall I be afraid?
From what shall I quiver?
Where shall I dare not tread?

The Lord is my Redeemer
My refuge in times of trouble
Though I walk through the shadow of death
I shall fear no evil
For the Lord is before me
The light of my path
He will comfort me
With His rod and His staff
Fighting my battles
Waging my wars
Keeping me clothed in His love



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Not A Dog

Don't treat him like a dog
If he has no bark
Give him a label
Sew him a tag
Paint him colours he is not
Tell the world his cause is lost
Backlash, tonguelash wreck the home
Words are mortal sticks and stones
Picking nits when nits ain't in
Takes the flesh off everything
Scabs, sores, hollow walls
Casualties of flailing him

If a man is not barking
He is not a dog
Not pissing around to mark his spot
Not on the prowl for a bitch in heat
Not chasing bunnies in his sleep

A good man, they say, is hard to find
And some of us sisters have a gold mine
So don't treat him dirty
Don't make him pay
For every other brother who has gone astray

Some of us sisters, take the mick
Fault finding is our gig
Where we get our highs and rise
Feeling we are queens arrived

Look in the mirror I dare you
If you are never wrong
You had better change the view
Slant the mirror to make it straight
Look yourself in the face

Perfection to no man belongs
Correction always carries on
Burns a torch for all to see
That change is simply necessary

So sister if you diss your man
And feel he is some dog
Go get a leash, get a tag
If you are not the bitch about



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Black History Month...

for anyone who missed my return to the stage here goes.....


I am proud of my origin
thick curly hair
lips pouting wide
eyes widespread oval
with deep pools of light
rhythm in my soul
dancing in my stride
feet placed on the ground
wide hips pulsate
skin of bronze and luminous
voice of ancient melodies
jibes at my origin underline peculiarities
the wealth of a man is his enemies
envious of how great he has become
so next time you sit next to me
look into my eyes
you will see them dance
proudly to those ancient drums
melodies I bring along
from my native motherland

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003


I thoroughly enjoyed being on stage...doing my bit for Black History Month!

performance poetry

On a roll at the mo! really having so much fun! probably cos I'm doing what I love most right now! rhyme...verse....art....it's all good!

Performing on stage for Black History Month was a bit of an eye opener....hadn't been on stage since 2004...had actually forgotten what a buzz it is! really appreciate performance artists right now! the limelight aint easy! anyone who thinks it's a piece of cake seriously needs to back up that thought with FACT! words failed me for a few seconds but it seemed like forever!
I really look forward to performance poetry some time really soon....cos I enjoyed myself....

work to do.....

seriously need to update website!!! so busy painting...website in desperate need of revamp!!! need a web designer and fast!!!

Loving it!!!

s'been a really long week....a really fulfilled week.....a really 'push me to the max' week....loved it!!! Got the scars to prove it! I am so exhausted!! But what a rush!! Met some truly amazing people...gained priceless insight....and the contacts! Can't stop smiling! I'm like a cat with the yummiest cream! A hard week! But what a crop! I give myself a pat on the back for pulling this off! And I am so grateful to be ENABLED, CRADLED, PROTECTED AND LOVED!!!

Have a wonderful week!

exhibition blues...? pah!

Exhibition is going really well....and to think I had the jitters the weekend before.... Resilience is an amazing quality...you never know you've got it till you are tried and tested! It is amazing what resources we can pull on! Never give up! I know this sounds very cliche but feel the fear and roll with it! We are definitely all beautifully and wonderfully made! Nothing stops us but ourselves! And fear...ride on it! Push your boundaries! Excel and then exhale when it's all done cos now I can put my feet up!

I am so looking forward to the Carnival this weekend! Have a beautiful weekend and stay blessed!!

Bring it on!!!

One day to go! Two exhibitions to show! I'm ready!! Bring it on!!!

xxx

Exhibition on Monday!!!!

Exhibition opens on Monday the 24th of August....and I am far from ready! AAAAARGGGGHHHHH! Well....when the going gets tough....... Not that I'm too worried (yeah right!)....just that I have actually spread myself way too thinly! It can be done and will be done....but my....! I certainly have a LOT ON MY PLATE!!! at the mo...Need to calm down....need to focus and try not to PANIC!!!! OMG!!! I need a break!!!

I will not panic...I will calm down...I will not panic....I will calm down....I will not panic....I will calm down....AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

Don't feel ready for Monday!!!!! But simply have to be ready!!!!

Please keep your fingers crossed for me....going to have to really think on my feet here. How am I going to cram a month's work of art into one weekend? OMG!!!


xxxx

Creativity.....

It's absolutely fantastic, seeing what's out there.....Had not been to any galleries in a while so going to the Whitechapel Gallery today was such a breeze! It was awesome! It's really amazing what is out there! Creativity is so inspiring! Could not stop looking at the tapestry of Picasso's Guernica! And there are so many cutting edge artists whose names I can't even remember! Note to self = (use a pen and paper; take notes!!!) There was an amazing collage on the wall by a Daniel Kelly...I can still see it when I close my eyes. Words fail me.....it was something...has to be seen to be believed! I had an amazing day! ...and will definitely do this more often! need to go out there and be inspired as well as go out there to inspire! The creativity within us....my days...

I had a truly beautiful day! We all need to pay attention to the creativity around us...visit a gallery or two and not even a high brow gallery; visit a gallery that supports local artists and you WILL be inspired.... It's amazing what is out there!

xxxx

calligraphy murals

Too preoccupied with murals at the moment to worry about upcoming exhibitions!

Just having so much fun! Calligraphy and walls go hand in hand! Nothing beats seeing the writing on the wall!

Really is fun transforming rooms with words! Interesting focal point...Ha! Well, I've got other products and I simply have to force myself to calm down. Next exhibition is in AUGUST!!!!! OMG!!

Painting on walls is just so enjoyable! Takes forever but what a buzz when it's completed. But then again, so is any kind of art. But I do love it, when art says something....literally says something! Walls are the bees' knees! I thinks it's just the permanence and non permanence of painting on walls that gives me a buzz. It's there as long as it's there...cannot be moved about. I love it!! But what's more....the clients are really pleased!

It's all about love

Religion is all about rules.....law....Love is all about relationships. Rules are man made and therefore fallible. Love is pure and only appears warped when we treat it like a law! Laws are binding...love sets you free! God is love.

Do not be religious, be loving.....

Stay blessed and have a great day!

Rest in Perfect Peace MJ!

It's amazing how unforgiving people can be! And I'm beginning to realise why...some people are so bitter inside that anything sweet is poison! The more you criticise, take bites out of someone else, the smaller you become. It takes a big person to speak well of others and a nonentity to speak only evil! Some people cannot see beyond their noses!

Take the holier than thou people taking cynical bites out of MJ even though he is dead! My days! How low can you get? The bitterness is scary....I would not want to be caught in a room with anyone who ain't got a clue what forgiveness means! Gosh! Not saying he did anything perverse...but worse case scenario...what if he did? Who made you judge and jury? Are you perfect? Do you care enough to give without ever receiving thanks? Can you breathe life into your most beloved relative when that person dies? Unforgiving people are bitter, twisted with humongous faults and only see faults in others...cos that is all they know. So twisted and warped, they believe everyone is twisted and warped! They do not believe anyone can change because they cannot! Anyone stuck in their ways and inflexible is murder to be around....Anyone who quotes 'the leopard never changes its spots' in reference to someone contrite is murder to be around, anyone who never gives anyone else the benefit of the doubt is murder to be around. Because these kind of people try to kill your spirit, wear you down with criticism, blinded by the big logs in their eyes, they try to take out the speck in yours! Next time someone criticises you with a vengeance, recognise who they are from their words, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Anyone who bad mouths anyone else, trying to run them into the ground is a murderer! We have been called to live and to live abundantly so do not let anyone steal your life with nasty words!

It's really spooky....young children are not judgmental and my do we teach them to be! Innocence, kindness, caring, unadulterated love is not something we understand. We call caring, giving people.... simple, naive, too trusting....because we are not to be trusted! And that's why I have my guard up, cos one word, one act out of tune....I really don't want to know. But I won't go around bad mouthing the person cos that is so lame!

I know I need to change my ways...but so do we all! Because we all fall short......but come on, bad mouthing someone who has done nothing to you....simply proves you are a nonentity!

RIP MJ! You were blessed with music and you shared it with the world!

Calligraffiti

created a variant of calligraffiti!

watch this space!

Learning on the job.....!

I'm learning......DO NOT WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE....especially in business. Trade secrets should remain trade secrets. Gosh! Business can be so cut throat! Don't let it happen to you....PASSION is absolutely necessary but wisdom is paramount!

I'm learning......

Being visionary!

One thing I'm definite about is 'no one can follow your dream like you'...so if you have a dream be first in line to work it out. Do not leave your dream to be administered by others. No one can replicate any nuance of your being e.g. the way you walk, eat, sleep. So it goes without saying no one can replicate your thoughts. So your dream is your dream.
Delegate, my all means, but dream your dream and no one else's! Get people on board, because obviously the more the merrier just remember you are the host of the party! Every dream is God-given and every person the channel of his/her dream...so each of us has a duty to work out our own dreams...It's great to come alongside someone working out their dream and give a helping hand...It's not great to try to dream their dream for them...because you cannot! You can understand their vision, give them tips, help in any way you can but dream their dream.....! What a waste of your own dreams! Except of course if your dream is to help others realise their dreams! Well, that's a possibility I had not thought of! You could be an enabler...whose dream is to fulfil other people's dreams... Somehow, I don't think so! Everyone has a dream and by dream I mean vision....not to be confused with a dream to go on some fancy holiday! Scrap that! I'm being really cynical today not my usual bubbly self...bit crabby. Don't really feel that bubbly today but will snap out of it! Now that I'm blogging...which I thoroughly enjoy doing. Pouring it all out not knowing if it will be read or not and certainly not caring either! That's what makes it easy....Feel better already...

Have a great day and keep your dreams alive by working them out!

xxx

WORDS

I love art and I believe in the power of the written word. 'the pen is mightier than the sword' is so very true or so I feel. words are soothing, words are therapeutic. nothing beats a positive word. a word is never too late. WORD

learning on the job....!

I'm learning to delegate....! Not the easiest thing to do when you are so used to going it alone...and have certain ideas of how it should fit in place! But delegation is a really good thing..and letting go to trust is an eye opener! You've got to let someone else hold the reins...if the horse bolts....well, that's another story.

But delegation is amazing cos it's all about trust. And believe me, trust is a good thing!

exhibition...!

Definitely get a buzz from exhibitions! Caught the bug at uni and never got rid of it! Been told, 'it's daunting to put work on show'! But I don't think so! It's great to get feedback...you begin to know what works and what doesn't!

I enjoyed every minute of the exhibition! It was great!

Can't wait to do it again!

BANKS......!

Banks at least ....the one (will not say which one) I bank with is definitely feeling the pinch and stressing me OUT! Money will be paid into the account....threatening to close the account for 'a paltry sum'. Soon pay money in...then they'll be off my case.....my days!

Profit and loss accounts!

If anyone ever told you doing your business accounts yourself was easy....that person is either a mathematician, accountant or absolute JOKER.... It is the hardest, most tedious thing in the world! OMG!!!!! It's taking FOREVER........

I simply had to stop....was doing my nut!!

My little rant done...got to get back to ACCOUNTS!!! will try really hard not to pull my hair out!

Crunch time....

Beginning to feel despondent....is it the credit crunch? or is it just me being impatient....'I want everything NOW!' little girl attitude surfacing? I don't know...I'm feeling despondent....Is business slow? I don't know...depends how I qualify 'slow'. Well, I'm buzzing with creativity and ideas....I'm scribbling, drawing, patterning, doodling, writing, blogging non stop. Relatively oozing with creative ideas and working them out too! So I'm on a roll....but....it's a new business and I'm scared. Terrified of this credit crunch! Terrified that not so many people are buying...at least not online....! But at point of sales...it's good! Close up with all the energy I have put into my work...the work basically sells itself and is bought! Wooer! and I wonder if there is a credit crunch at all! But online....? Well, that's a another story....is it the images? Probably. They don't really do the products justice.....I need another pair of hands. Someone who could update images on the website....do all the leg work...take stunning photos, upload onto site, write captions, add buttons....do the works! But what will I pay this amazing whiz kid. Peanuts....if I can find any.
You know what they say, 'when the going gets tough.....' I'm going to be tough, resilient and weather this storm! Cos right now at this moment, the credit crunch is taking humongous bites out of my confidence!
Be right back....need to go stomp my feet in despair and wail. But no! that's the impatient little girl again. I will weather this storm and I will be fine. Taking one little step at a time cos I ain't going down without a fight and neither are you!!

So tighten that belt, chin up, walk tall cos we ain't beat yet! and we won't be either cos it's all good!

I love blogging....

Really tired this evening! Been at ceramics studio all day...sculpting! Long week it's been. Week started out great....full of beans on Monday,,,,still full of beans on Tuesday...today...can still smell a bean or two...but I'm physically TIRED. Been on such a buzz..I've worn myself out. Need an early night...but don't think that's going to happen. So much to do...so little time!
Blogging is so therapeutic....don't you think. Just typing away on a little laptop....pouring it all out instead of keeping it all in my head....thoughts thoughts thoughts thoughts....like a merry go round. Well I don't know about 'merry'. Thoughts thoughts thoughts in my head break my chain of thought cos there are so many...feel like I'm chasing my tail!
I love blogging....why didn't I blog sooner? Well, there is a time and a place!
Not quite ready to put up any more poetry...at least not right now....two things priority right now...blog...sleep. I should sleep...should stop blogging now....but don't really want to. Isn't it the best when you can publish stuff online not knowing if anyone else is going to read it....It's absolutely amazing! Blogging is the bees' knees!
Thanks to whoever introduced and encouraged online blogging...you've got a great head on your shoulders!
I love to talk....don't I? Especially, when I don't know if anyone is listening! Believe me...take it from a first time blogger, when you don't know if anyone is ever going to read your blog.....is ABSOLUTELY the best time to blog! You're basically pouring it all out..... and it feels good!
Well...don't let me keep you, (ha!) whoever is reading this....cos I guess at some point someone will read it! Which is kind of sad...good in a way. Well that puts a dampener on things...don't want to say much anymore...but who am I kidding? Of course this will be read! It's just that blogging is so personal and sometimes you just want to hide yourself from the world! Well whoever is reading this, probably has never met me...so that's fine. I can blog all I want...and will continue to... But not for now! I need my beauty sleep. And I guess....so do you!

Ciao!

Origin

I don't have a problem with where I come from
I am proud of my origin
Thick curly hair, lips pouting wide
Eyes widespread oval with deep pools of light
Rhythm in my soul, dancing in my stride
Feet placed on the ground
As wide hips pulsate
Skin of bronze and luminous
Voice of ancient melodies
Jibes at my origin underline peculiarities
The wealth of a man is his enemies
Envious of how great he has become


So next time you sit next to me
Look into my eyes; you will see them dance
Proudly to those ancient drums
Melodies I bring along from my native motherland


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2000

Thank You

For little things and big things
Waters stirred; deep and shallow
Time spent without being wasted
Laughter that lacks a plastic smile
Words that guide with an open mind
Friendship as it is meant to be

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

I pine

I try to deny my heart's cries
As I sigh and pine for your touch
Water with anticipation at the thought
Of you and I subject to my heart
As it cries at time spent apart
At words left unspoken
At Love's fleeting glance

As I pine and you simply walk past

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

I believe

Prodigal that I am, I turn to you O God
My sins have overtaken the person that I am
Peace, I find, evades me; worry has planted seeds
Trouble has cultivated a hedge to fence me in

Yet in spite of all around me, Your spirit lives in me
I turn to you my saviour and say that 'I believe'

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

Lilies of the Valley

Do not speak words of condemnation; decrees upon your life
Speak of plenty running over cups of redemption

Let the day's own troubles not be your sorrow
'It is finished', says the Lord
As the lilies of the valley clothe, so you will be and more

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

Walls have ears

Watch what you say when she is around
She reads stories from lips not kept zipped
Transcribing speech into manuscript
Dotting i's and crossing t's to make sense of any omittances

Watch what you say when she is around
Or you will have to give account for words spoken in haste
In this maze of cultures interwoven by the pursuit of peace

Watch what you say before words cause war
As careless talks ruins it all

Look beyond the paint walls adorn

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Glory to God

Without God, my life would have no meaning
I would be in a daze pounding streets, wondering what time of day it is
Seeking, searching frenzied for a nameless quality
To cushion the blows life throws at me

Dancing, gyrating, paying the piper for tunes I do not choose
Naked, stripped of being the person that I am
Slipping into role like a chameleon

From mirrors, I would cringe, hating to look within
Afraid of what I will see

So, glory to God for me

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

The Hands of Time

If the ticking clocks could tell what each passing moment holds
I would fill my house with ticking hands and listen to their song

If an hour told a story in the first seconds of its birth
I would do all things by sundown of the day not yet begun

If a day was told in seconds; a week in minutes sung
I would plan my months in hours; A day in a year unfold

But Time, a well-bound book, each day in a page will tell
When it is twenty four hours old!


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

It's all in the chase

I love the chase; to catch a dream
Taste it, hold it, feel it
I love to sprint on winged feet
Dashing, diving, leaping
To fly against the open sky
Rage against the rising tide
To catch a dream beyond my reach

I love the rush of coming tops
Of holding my spot
Exhilarating appreciation of all I can achieve

I love the chase; I love the rush
I love the honey of non stop
The push that comes to shove
The jungle justice code
Survival of the bold

I love the chase



Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Forbidden

Forbidden love, playing with emotions; imagining
Playing house when the lights are dim
Letting loose, chasing dreams forbidden
Little gestures, whispered trust, tender kisses; shattered
By ties to expectation; ties to rules unspoken

He trusts; she loves; he loves; she trusts
All is shattered; broken by ties to rules unspoken

A spark ignites emotion, outpouring of devotion
Bridges crossed, rules broken
Love once forbidden is now in season


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

Celebrate

Celebrate Age; the passing of time
Mood swings; learning to make up your mind
People who cross you; people who don't
Promises broken; loyalties shown

Celebrate Life; the knowledge you have
Good and bad habits woven with time
Into the workings of your mind

Celebrate Joy; Celebrate Time
Days spent together
Nights flying by

Celebrate You; the older you get
The bolder your vision; Do not live to regret
A chance never taken; A wish never made
A word never spoken; A trip never made


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 1999

Woman

I am instinct, passed down from generation to generation
Comfort, nurtured in my bones
Love, building bridges; Time, raising homes
I am my grandmother's hands as she kneads dough in a bowl
My mother's patience as she listens
My sister's light step as she spies the fly guy that turns her head

I am your ears as you listen to this song
Of who I am and who you are
And who we choose to be as we fall in step with generations past
Supple; Slinky; Flirty; Naughty
Working our minds to ease the burden of antagonism
Living it large in small doses
Giving with gusto as much as need be
Knowing that time is spandex when used wisely
I am grace enabled; beauty envisioned; hurt well handled; love abundant

I am woman


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

Balm of Gilead

My life has found direction
A reason for being
Righteous exultation
A path that leads to Him

His ways are paved with wonder
Beyond the might of men
He is my refuge and my comfort
The salving Balm of Gilead

My days are filled with wonder
Comfort from the storm
Preciously protected
He is the reason I was born


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2000

Live the dream

Someday, you will wake up and say, they told you so
They told you, you could raise your head high and walk proud
Knowing that this battle has been won with the sweat and blood of generations gone
They told you the world was an oyster in the palm of your hand
And all you had to do was reach out and grasp your dream
And it was yours to become, to fulfill
Because it is all so real; this creativity within you
This gift bursting to be out and about and shout out to the world to note its worth
This wisdom, God-given pulsating as you breathe in and out
In a world that appears shut down to a creativity that will not stop till you drop
Because it is a blessing that is far reaching
And today is as good as any day to start
Because you can fly if you only try
And do not believe the lies as men try to tie you down and shut you up and make you stay knowing they cannot
Because the dream within you will not die even if you never try to fly

So what is stopping you?

Someday you will wake up and say, they told you so
They told you, you could raise your head high and walk proud
Knowing that the battle has been won


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

....smooth sailing...

If you have got it going; keep it moving, together; smoothly
To a crescendo; A celebration

Co-ordination of your emotions
Leads to revelation of the person within you
Shrouded in mystery, now revealed for all to see

And your dreams, once a whisper, are now a shout!
Of joy, from toil; hanging in; holding on to dreams you have

A wish you made, when once a child

So don't you rock that boat!


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Absolute

Power corrupts, playing tricks on the mind
Vying with the divine to dominate its kind
Drunk on a cause, so false
Leaving trails of hope dashed

Power ignites; the will to fight
And sever the hold once close
Take a stand against the world

Power deceives with little reprieve
As powerless we stand without a gang

No applause; no fans


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Idealist

The flick, the stick, the binge, the fling
Toss around high ideals
Utopian worlds that do not exist
But in a world of make believe

The flick, disdaining every word
Ordaining self as king of all

The stick, beating us about the head
In attempts to rule the herd

The binge, self destructive force
Our insides out; free for all

The fling, seeking never finds
Leaving ash where once was hope


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

Bad leadership

With rofo rofo fight
I take on the unknown soldier
And the beasts of no nation
I ask the vagabonds in power to step down

Pay no mind to the noise for vendor mouth
And fear not for man even though there is no agreement
And our people are suffering and smiling
Because of the authority stealing
And the sorrow, tears and blood

With so much confusion
Everything is upside down
Yet in spite of the army arrangement
We go shout plenty why poor man dey suffer
Because observation is no crime
And we hear our children cry
Teacher don't teach me nonsense

Yet which head never steal?
Here, in London we see everything scatter
As dog eat dog when question jam answer
Because Mr Follow Follow is a zombie

In Naija, just like that, overtake don overtake
And the vagabonds in power claim there is no bread
And resort to unnecessary begging

We have reached a stalement; There is no time for shakara
Let confusion break bone of the original sufferhead
The yellow fever, Zombie and Mr Follow Follow
Because it is an open and close case
That bad leadership is very expensive shit


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2003

...says in his heart...

The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'
What a fool and what a heart so deceived
What a life ravaged by vain fantasy
Believing in the power of man's might

The fool thinks to himself, 'It is over'
When the last breath he draws in deadly sleep
Little knowing that is just the beginning
For lives that have been justified by Him

For Christ on the cross rebuilt all bridges
Laboured in love to set us free
And death is merely slumber pending
Triumphant reign with Him


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2000

Poetry must be laughing

Poetry must be laughing
As she is drawn out of the closet
Put on display in all her array
Her trinkets of song beaded with rhyme
As she smiles at the lines caressing her eyes
In age old beauty of defiance

Poetry must be sated
With the phrases and cliches that define her movement
With the homage we pay her in all her adornment
With the grace and skill with which we trill
As birds in song in a ritual dance

Because....
Without vying or trying
She is raised higher and higher
On the pedestal we have placed her

Neither moth nor rust can eradicate her
The ravage of war does not humiliate her
Time and tide cannot dissipate her
Men in scorn cannot degrade her
The loss of love does not erode her
Mind over matter cannot control her
For our every thought applauds her

Poetry must be laughing


Omo Okolo copyright reserved Nov 2002

If he is not a dog....

Don't treat him like a dog when he has no bark
Give him a label; sew him a tag
Paint him colours he is not
Tell the world, his cause is lost
Backlash, tongue lash wreck the home
Words are mortal sticks and stones
Picking 'nits' when 'nits' ain't in
Takes the flesh off everything!
Scabs, sores, hollow walls are casualties of flailing him

If a man is not barking
He is not a dog
Not sniffing around to mark his spot
Not on the prowl for a bitch in heat
Not chasing bunnies in his sleep

A good man, they say, is hard to find
And some of us sisters have a gold mine
So don't treat him dirty
Don't make him pay
For every other brother who has gone astray

Some of us sisters take the 'mic'
Nit-picking is our gig
Where we get our highs and rise
Feeling we are queens arrived

Look in the mirror, I dare you!
If you are never wrong
You had better change the view
Slant the mirror to make it straight
Look yourself full in the face

Perfection to no man belongs
Correction always carries on
Burns a torch for all to see
That change is simply necessary

So sister, if you 'dis' your man
And feel he is 'doggone'
Go get a leash; get a tag
If you are not the bitch about


Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2002

The Age of Experience

Age and Experience often walk hand in hand
But when Youth comes along for the ride
Age ignores Experience as though a ne'er do well

Omo Okolo copyright reserved 2009

dont feel ready.....

don't feel at all prepared for exhibition next month!
so many things to do....so little time!!!
need to get a move on...but....blogging!!!!
new to blogging(not quite new....), s'been said I talk a lot, so 'not quite new' to blogging. Especially when I've got a juicy bone of places to be and things to do, just can't drop that 'bone' - keep talking, moaning, singing, writing, rhyming about it! Like now....

things to do, places to be, deadlines to meet....

gtg!

back soon........

PS Hv a fantastic day!