Just one of those days, I feel like expressing my love to the Father of Love and just be in His presence without airs.
© 2017. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved.
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Like Your Child…
Tag: Childhood
Categories
#LyricalMonday – Mayah’s Thought
I totally enjoy talking with babies, children and watching their mannerisms, trying to decipher what they need or are up to. On a visit to Mayah some time back, I read her thoughts…don’t tell her o! LOL
©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved
I missed out on this challenge last week but decided to attempt it all the same.
My second haiku is in appreciation of my daughter Imani Naomi. Naomi means “pleasant, beautiful, delightful”
https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-101-freshwind/
Swinging Leaves
With more than a tease
The soft wind swings fresh leaves to
And fro, oh! Such bliss
You are…
A breath of fresh air
Delightsome, showing you care
My sweet Imani!
Picture Sources: http://www.tianxinqi.com/news/Fresh-Leaves10peqvjmgy
©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved
When I was a child, Innocence used to live in my community
Yes, they were bullies, but also mothers that stood up to resist
And fathers that sent you back to school to return with a trophy
There were mothers who could leave their children for the market
And return to meet them alive and in one piece.
Fathers who taught boys how to be men and not celebrate the beast in them
Fathers who knew to be proud of their legacy, wealthy or not!
Back then, it felt good to be a child, as my short baby dress wasn’t an invitation
But a girl beautifully dressed with ribbons and matching socks…
Trusting fingers clinging to out-stretched adult hands
Giggling as my feet left the ground; above an uncle’s shoulder…
When Innocence was a child like me!
Now Innocence is grown in more ways than she should
The quick movement of retreating eyes tell sordid tales
Of several forms of abuse, unspoken and unreached hurts
Innocence wears a gown not her size, trying desperately to hide
Yet searching ‘Hawks’ snatch her fresh before Momma turns to defend
Making a woman of her, laden with a child. Yet, she herself is one!
I don’t know if Innocence will return…
But I seek all who will her cause defend and Hawks prevent
Will you join me? So we truly have a Happy Children’s day.
*Both male and female gender suffer different forms of abuse and need to be cared for, defended, loved and made to enjoy their innocence. Let’s be the voice of the new-born, 3-month baby who can’t form words yet or the one whose truth is disbelieved.
**We still have parents that believe in family values and uphold them at every given opportunity.
©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved
Categories
#ThankfulThursday – Sunshine
Today I am thankful for Sunshine, the one I love ❤
If you want to know more about her, check out my Freedom Fridays on her. For today, I’m just grateful!
Picture Source: http://provocativemanners.blogspot.com.ng/2013/04/sunshine-is-my-favorite-accessory.html
©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved
Categories
Liar! Liar!! Pants on Fire
At last…I’m smiling at the thoughts going on in Folakemi’s mind. You see, I had promised her based on one of my Freedom Friday to talk about lies and how I handled a case.
As a child (I’m sure most children were like this …I don’t know about ‘nowadays-children’ o!), and growing up and surrounded by many family members whom I loved dearly, many things I was told I believed. Especially when I was made a promise by an older person. Don’t get me wrong, I knew right from wrong and so didn’t fall into the category of gullible young girls who listened and believed every story. But I had an Uncle whom my Dad calls “*Wayo Imeh”. I thought that was his name and in my innocence I addressed him as such in his absence. Until a day, he called me to wish me happy birthday and made a promise to buy me some gift (I can’t even remember what he promised, but you see I never forgot either). Whilst still on the call, he asked to talk with Dad and he enquired who it was I was talking to and I answered “Uncle Wayo Imeh”. I got a sharp rebuke and scolding from the earpiece.
“Who are you calling “Wayo Imeh”?
Innocently I replied, “You, Uncle.”
“Idi afe asong? Meaning Are you okay? Is that my name?!
“Yes, that’s what Daddy usually calls you”, I replied feeling sober and upset he had said that to me on my birthday, when I had done no wrong. After all, I added ‘Uncle’ to his name. Oh, the thoughts on a child’s mind…LOL.
After I had handed the phone to my father, I went to ask my mum what was Uncle’s name and to my shock she simply said “Imeh”. Did I let it rest? No! I needed to know why Daddy and other elderly people called him “Wayo Imeh or Imeh Wayo” so I prodded her on and she replied because he plays a lot of “Wayo” and the name stuck. Did Uncle live up to his name, yes as he didn’t give me my present (till date) and some other promises he didn’t keep. I felt really bad because as a child, I expected adults to be truthful.
*Wayo means deceit
*Imeh means Patience
FAST FORWARD…to modern times
My help had celebrated her birthday and we got her a cake so she’d feel our appreciation. I asked her to take some to her family (brother and wife with child) in Lagos whom she said resided in Agege. I live in Lekki axis, so it’s quite a distance. While discussing with my King if to let her go there or not, I had my doubts if she would return same day and she said she would. To help facilitate this, we allowed her leave early on the said day. By 6pm, she wasn’t back so I started calling her and she didn’t pick my calls. After a while, about 8pm or so, I called her again and she picked and I asked where she was, thinking she was probably held up in traffic. Only to be told “Aunty, I’m not coming back today, I’m helping my brother’s wife and she says I should stay.”
Yeah! The picture in your head does not add up to the real picture of how mad I was. And to think that she didn’t even have the courtesy to call and tell me this and ask for permission to do that. I gave her an ultimatum, if she didn’t return, not to bother. Something told me she wasn’t at her brother’s place. Case in point, she had wrapped 2 big chunks of cake differently and when I asked why she didn’t put them together since they were going to the same place, she replied that the wrapping foil wouldn’t go round. See story o!!! I indulged her.
Well 🙂 she got back from Agege in less than 2 hours wink wink I didn’t say much but she heard VOLUMES from my silence. And in the morning, we had the AIDS, Protection and Abstinence discussion, as before now we had had the Pregnancy and Ebola discussion. I’m sure I made your day Folakemi LOL
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