Shalom

I 'woke up' today
No trace of light
Brushed my teeth
Washed my face
As the water showered over me
Cleansing and rejuvenating me
- For the day ahead
As the sun rose in greeting
I surrendered to the earth
As nature spoke and whispered a prayer
Tranquil... in silence
Peace be still
And the cascade of trees danced freely...

Heaven's drizzle of rain
- A hint of blessing
For the morn...
For the day...
Shalom.

By: Rachael N. Collymore
©19.05.2018

Happy Mothers Day

Happy MothersDay! ♡♥♡
Grateful
For the time with you
For love was found in you
Those precious moments of firsts shared with you
A bond formed, pure and true
No one can replace a mother like you
A nurturer of many virtues
A kind heart - your goodness shows
A wise and phenomenal woman
Blessings abound
Because of you, I am who I am...
And that's why today I'm honoured to call you, "friend"
Mother: You are the world to me!

Written with love to my mother(s)
♥ always

By Rachael N. Collymore
(c)2018

Stay Hungry?

Mural by Joseph John Jones (1909-1963)

Belly full and still hungry

Eating for today and for tomorrow even

Who knows what will be

Bread, rice and peas and a little sugar

Essentials for basic living and some shelter

Those who pray, pray for daily bread

Those who grind, grind harder to eat

Starvation breeds hunger

The struggle is real and God is real too

for those who believe in higher

So they push and push to “make it”
for a piece of the pie and the taste of success

Champagne dreams many drink till drunk

Thirsty for the high life; who knows the price tag

But it won’t quench the desire

Fire burns

and the souls of many perish

While some soar on Cloud 9

Life is a dichotomy of two worlds:

Those who have and those who have not

The rain falls on all.

Those who believe only the strong survive

Prey on the weak

Preach money and power rules

Man elevates himself as God

while many sit in the pews, confessing sins

to men of the cloth.

A world within worlds, this life

but change remains constant

and so too, the poor and the wealthy

And if there be any absolutes

Who will stay hungry and who will be fed?

Written By: Rachael N. Collymore

©2018

Lost In Translation

Albert Gleizes' "La femme aux Phlox"

I’ve listened with keen ears to words spoken
To the tongues of many who have used the vernacular
Often times we wonder where the confusion lies in the similar
To confuse and complex the recipient.

The written word sometimes give pause
If a phrase or punctuation is misused, misplaced or misrepresented
Chaos unfolds and what was simple 
Becomes complicated. 

The language of the masses and the meaning attributed
If translated, may say so much or so little
and we become the objects of ridicule.

What must we do, what must we say
to communicate the true intent 
of the words we convey?

Shall we go back to basics 
When a “yes” was “yes”
and a “no”, “no”?

For some, this may be the only way
But for others, this may just be a game
We choose to play.


Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
©2018

YEAH

It's no ordinary feeling
Inexplicable even
That kinda knot-tying,
tingling sensation-kinda feeling
No infatuation here
Simply a feeling
Like a splash of water
A touch of rain
A caress of the wind
blowing on one's face
          Yeah...
That's what I mean

We've  all experienced it
We've all felt it
and longed for it to last

If we could bottle up these butterflies
that flutter
If we could freeze all these melting hearts and
capture all the priceless moments -
The feeling no camera can hold
                   Yeah...
That would be something

If you could visualize it
What a beautiful picture it would be

Maybe we've caught a glimpse in twinkling eyes
and never-ending smiles that warm hearts and
touch souls for days...
                       Yeah...
It's that glow, the It-Factor kinda feeling

Think about it
Yeah,
It's Like That.

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
© 2017

STAY

Through the shadows
in the corridors of hidden thoughts
and dreams where few find rest

Sleepless nights, many
Intoxicated by nocturnal's drug
arrests the mind to create

to touch the tip of its nib to
paperless scrolls of
ideas and dreams come to life

These musings gather
like fallen leaves
Burst free when eyelids shut
to open wide again.

Sing me a lullaby
Drift me to that happy place

Stay with me if only for a while
Stay with me...

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
© 2017

In The Castle of My Skin

In the castle of my skin Oceans collide to meet the sea Kissing the shoreline of time I'm forever moving with the tide; its ebb & flow defines me Like an immovable force the spirit within drives me; Over the edge is limitless In the castle of my skin Worlds are endless I draw outside the lines of conformity, smearing on mediocre's canvas, I paint. For this skin is just my temporary home, for I exist - Beyond this. Among the trees and stars above In the wind that whistles in your ear and in the melodies the birds sing. I Am and I exist To Be... "​My writing process starts with some specific inspiration. Be it a thing, an event or an occurrence, once it captures me, the words and thoughts are formed. This particular piece was two-fold in that the title came first (usually I put a title after the poem is written). I read George Lamming's, In the Castle of My Skin many years ago - such an engaging read - but his title stayed with me. It's visual in its phrasing, but the weight of the phrase says so much more. So I wrote it down recently and began thinking about it and its significance to one's identity and the words came." - Rachael N. Collymore https://www.circleofpoetstt.org/poem-of-the-month/in-the-castle-of-my-skin-by-rachael-n-collymore

For Manchester

Time is fleeting
Last moments remembered
What we shared 
Seems so distant and forgone
Who were we then?
Screams of joy
Now screams of pain
Where were the signs
That this moment
Would be our last
Were prayers to God heard
Were souls saved                              
Was love found
In the dust and rubble
Did you hold your breath            

Did you exhale
The clock has spun 
Around and Around
Who can tell the time now
Such a fleeting thing
Who knows when?
Until...
Manchester.

♡For the fallen ones♡
         Remember                                                         

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
©2017
23.05.2017


NB.No rights to images or copyright infringement intended (images sourced online)

Dance of the palm tree

Graceful with a gentle sway
The wind caresses - a light breeze blows

Elongated, stretching towards the sky
She dances

Poised in perfect form
The gathering of one, two, three
Down the lane, join in
Synchronicity.

Up and down, side to side
To and fro they go
Like ballet dancers twirl
On tippy tippy toes
All in a row.

Demi-pointe to plié
Swan-like perfection,
Palm after palm
Raise in salutation

The envy among the trees.

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
 ©2017

My thoughts of You

Your ability is more than the labels we conjure or the definitions we ascribe

Your ability embodies your heart and soul, that spirit that awakens with new purpose with every feat achieved. 

These words were coined for you, 'Yes I can' and for every human whose uniqueness surpassed our limited understanding... This is for you!

To experience a world through your eyes
To laugh freely without inhibition
To defy all odds 

To dare the day
To step forward unafraid
To challenge all norms
To say one must be this way or the other, yet still 
You learn,
You grow,
You motivate,
You inspire
Us

To be more than the sum of our parts
To be in the now
To be better
Happy Down Syndrome Day & World Poetry Day!

Written by:
Rachael N. Collymore©2017

Fluid

Fluid

I saw her dancing

And like a smooth roller skater

He slid across to meet her in one swift move

To embrace her

And with each drop, notes splashed

Toes began to twitch and shoes began to click

As hips swayed to a beat that began to take form

A song, only they knew too well

Here it comes…

Spellbound to the music that evokes all emotions

Woooooo

The rhythm is in the dancing: Swoosh!

Here it comes…

[Randy Crawford croons, ‘Purple Rain’]

And she smiles as drops turn to showers

Her neck arches back in greeting, in surrender

Effortlessly, he spins her as the music takes over

Drawn to the vibration… a need…

To become fluid, to become one 

One note

One song

One dance

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore

©2017

- Circle of Poets' challenge: An ekphrastic poem -

Guitar Strums

I awoke to guitar strums
To humming birds singing my song
I awoke to guitar strums
That played a melody to ignite my soul;

My spirit full, longed to exhale with oooouuuu, ooouuu, oouu
My heart smiled in greeting
Contented by the light shining through...
I awoke to guitar strums
With words that spit fire

My pores raised in praise
My ears peeked...
Heard the chorus sound
& my eyes opened with new sight to the morning. 

By Rachael N. Collymore
March 7, 2016

The Jovial One

So here I am, listening to #Adele’s Hello... 

a random thought a minute later 

and a flash of you in my mind’s eye, has led me here... 

Although I resisted the urge to write your name on this virtual wall and 

although I have written on physical sheets, 

words to honour your memory - here I am ‘talking’ to you...

“Hey Rachael,

Hi uncle, how are you?

I’m alright, hanging in there... 

Love you...”

You were the one whose smile I heard and joy I felt whenever you were 

on the phone or whenever we had a family get-together 

- often at Christmas time by aunty Lydia (miss you dearly)... 

You loved being around family, seeing your neices and nephews or 

cooking up a storm - I’ll surely miss your pepper shrimp! 

Our last real meet up was following aunty’s send off... 

who knew you’d soon leave to join her...

I saw the tears you shed for her then and I feel those tears now - 

the absence of your presence. [Lord I pray for the strength... tomorrow...] 

I’m unprepared for this... I need more time...

But time was taken... from us... from you...

I’ll miss those laughs and hugs, uncle

Those smiling eyes, though with a hint of sadness at times

I’ll miss seeing your face light up when we sang praises of your food -

always happy to give us a second helping! 

Who’d have thought I’d be saying goodbye to you - so soon...

I’ll miss hearing your voice and talking to you.

We always wish we knew in advance, when the sands of time will run out...

Maybe I’d come visit you and check for you frequently and 

ask you tons of questions about back when and so on... 

Maybe I’d talk to you about life and listen to you 

or tell you what it means to me

Maybe then, the time would be sufficent and enough to say, 

“Goodbye, till we meet again...”

Maybe this time was... 

Either way, know this - I love you lots and I will miss you.

I will miss you at Christmas time, as I miss you now...

I pray your soul is soaring free... [Hug aunty for me]

I pray you’re with her and your smile is bright...

Tomorrow has come... I’m still not ready to say, Goodbye...

Uncle Lemuel, Love you <3>

Check out my poem in World of Change, by David Madgalene

Zhuipusbooks: > Ebook Download World of Change, by David Madgale...: Ebook Download World of Change, by David Madgalene

To Love Always

Today is one of those days...

Remembering the day you went on to the great beyond is never easy

Puts me in a melancholy mood, but not for too long.

'Cause you see, you filled my world, my life with many cherished, happy memories.

You were pa, my, our grandpa...

The one whose stern words were never harsh,

They were spoken out of love and experience to help mold us for the unknown...

An exemplar, yes - you were such.

You were a listening ear, a voice filled with much wisdom - and understanding. You were our sanctuary...

You were a storyteller, our griot

It was your way of remembering a time gone, a time forgotten, a time lost...

Yet, it was also your way of showing us the way -

In guiding us for this day when you would no longer be with us - physically...

When I saw those flowers bloom, "irises" I'm told, I knew that it was you - reminding us that you are very near, looking on from a distance, still checking in, tending to your plants and making sure I remember the how-to...

So while your company is missed and today conjures bittersweet flashes of you... I can smile in knowing that you are still around in every 'creek and cranny', in the keys of the piano and every note played; in every tree that blossoms and bears fruit, in the wind that blows our way, in the soil you toiled and every gardening tool you left behind for us... We can't find your old faithful 'straw hat' though - yes, we remember you in everything, everyday.

It's easy to talk fondly of you and there's no greater love, this is true...

For you've left a piece of you with each one of us and you've stayed with us... Grandmum misses you - her reminiscences reflect this and your love for her was undeniable... A man, imperfectly perfect, you were one of a kind...

Husband, friend, pa and grandpa... Love you always!

It's the memories

For who are we but dust
Blowing here and there
Blowing wherever the wind decides...

It is so when dust settles on old fortune,
Memories capsuled
Frozen in time, only to be unlocked momentarily

Yes it's those memories etched in the fine lines
Of dimpled smiles or in the corner of bright twinkling eyes
That remember... 
Or the ones that leave deep impressions on foreheads of longing...

For one moment to turn the hands of time back...
Back to when, just to experience it once again
So they may hold on for a little while...
To drift, like dust in the wind 
Blissful and free...

Yes it's those memories we desire 
For life to be worthwhile
For life to be eternal 
These are the memories 
The heart keeps beating for
And why every breath is taken
Because we dared to love and to live
For this is what life's about...
15/6/15

Wom[b]an 

(for ‪#‎WomensHistoryMonth‬ ‪#‎WomensDay‬)

A nurturer, a lover, a mother - blessed is her womb...

For she brings life into this world... Wom[b]an

She is wise, she is strong, she is fierce, she is meek

Her name is royal; her worth, priceless...
Many have knelt before her; been wooed by her -
blessed by the many virtues, she possesses...

Who is she? She is... Wom(b)an!

Take pride in her stride
In her poise, in her grace and in her gaze...

Listen to the wisdom in her words
For her words are not fickle -
They are like droplets of water
sprinkling on her seedlings for them to grow...

Look to her, she is Queen

She is Wom(b)an!

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore
Poetic Vibes

(photo source: 'I Love Being Black')

Family Matters

We try to dance between the lines

Confined by parallels 

While our mind attempts to roam

Freely expressing thoughts 

That words dare not say

We weave through the lines

Colouring and shading 

the space within

Elusive; not to upset the status quo

Of what perfect be

We exist within the lines 

Defined by one's definition of

What we must be 

Who we must be and

How we must live 

Yet, the full measure of our existence

Remains undefined...

We who walk in straight lines

Never turn to see the curve 

Beyond never-ending sentences

That run-off the lines to infinity

Where colours cross over the boundary

To create its own artistry 

We, deceived by blurred lines

Seen through visions askew

With proclamations of divine manifestation

Have silenced our own tongues

In the name of...

We never question these lines

Which have imprisoned thought and reason

Giving room to heresy.

We've lost our way 

and the knowledge of our inheritance has been tainted

For inherent in all of us is our moral compass

Our sixth sense, our conscience...

The voice within, dare I say the likeness of God in us

That intuitive truth of who we really are...

No one can give assent 

except for the creator of this being

Therefore,we who have lived within shadows of others' truth

Must break the line and forge ahead 

Unrestricted and unafraid;

Reclaim our identity

For the line was never the beginning or the end

It was written so that we may exceed it

Turn the page

The story continues...

Next chapter.

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore

©2015

 

Breathe.

24/11/2014

It's Monday morning and I'm here...

It's never easy moving on

Everything you see reminds you of that person

Little things hold new meaning; 

sentimental value we never knew would be so much...

Now that you're gone...

You're no longer here in my present

A world filled with so much promise 

Spins by unnoticed...

The tides are turning

And this wave has caught me off-guard 

You're no longer here in my present

The tears don't fall

This outward shell is frozen

Like this plastered smile...

It's turmoil inside

And the storm is churning

Screaming your name.

Mourning is a hell of a thing

A million pieces...

That's how much my heart has been broken

I heard it shatter when you left me

And grey skies shed my pain,

everytime it rained...

It drowns my soul

And I hope to stay afloat.

Where did you go?

These four walls echo your name  

Searching...

If only you'd answer...

Return to me;

Hear my silent plea

Inwardly, I'm fighting 

to stay strong...

For you, I'm breathing 

Until love returns,

to fill this void inside.

I'll breathe.

Weather forecast: Prepare for rain.

Written by: Rachael N. Collymore

©2014