Words and Passage Get Inspired in the Poetry Corner"

Welcome to NBHI’s “Poetry Corner”

Hi! So excited that you have connected with our new Poetry Corner.

So, since starting this practice 3 years ago in 2018, a lot of things have happened in the life of the practice and in my own life. I have been writing over the years privately and did not realize the place it had in NBHI until 2019 when I nervously launched the blog “Orange Walk.”

Two years later, I realized the connection I have with the writing inspirations that flow from my life and the work I do that I feel so passionately about. Where I am from, we have this idiom, “no man is an island; no man stands alone.” To say, we can all use the encouragement!

My hope is to use my voice to inspire, encourage, and uplift others. I hope that this Poetry Corner will be that and more for you. I believe in empowering women and girls! In that spirit, each month, you can expect to find inspirational poems and

videos. Also, on our Instagram and Facebook page, on Mondays, you will find what we call Monday “Power” Tips for your daily and weekly grind.

Can’t wait to hear from you!

“THE DEEP”

I just want to be with my thoughts…
I don’t want to write or to talk.

Right or wrong…
Where did those words come from
I am sure we missed their real meaning…
Purpose or intention

I want to be free...
Free to exhale
Free to speak…
liberation beyond these borders
of fear and confinement...

to lose the script of intimidation…
to go within and discover the rhythm…
mysteries, prehistories, my plan

I am called… I am selected
So I need to listen …
I can hope... I can dream

Judge me if you must.
Even you believed the hoax, the lie, the agenda…
To control is to steal your wonder and mine, and hers….

Now is the time to go deep inside
Feel the pounding of the heart...
The smiling of your soul…
The flutter of your emotions…
Trust it, it will flow.

“RIVER MOMENTS”

You see the river moments bobbing and weaving
Scared because I am not seeing…
You told me only to keep believing

When you go through the rivers you will not drown
You said because “I” “The I am”
I am He who sits on the throne

Feeling lost and beat down
You said rest... In me peace and safety are found
The horse and its rider will surely drown...
But no… not you…
I am your everlasting father
With whom grace and compassion truly abound
Wait, wait, wait on me…
You will not run aground...

Suddenly my heart is at peace
I am reminded my life Is not my own
And I am not alone.

“YOUR LIFE”

I wonder how many times…
Painters, artists, visionaries quit their quest
Of following their passion…..

It’s like faith… there’s a burning persuasion that is felt…
That is felt inside—and won’t wait
It’s birth that must take place….

Still nothing yet… but we forge ahead
To meet the rise and fall..
The ebb and flow.. the ups and downs that only you know…

As we ponder our next move
There’s a stillness that is catatonic in nature
If unaware, it can be an indefinite capture

One that tries to silence the voice…
The melody within…
But oh no! My soul cries…

Why should I permit this act of treason?
When God has given me every reason and promise with each season.

You contemplate my existence
My relevance is not up to you
Because to HIM… HE already foreknew
That Is my stance….
The “I Am that I Am” …
Said that I CAN.

“BEGIN AGAIN”

Begin again… It’s time sufficient
Every thought, every second counts…
Remember your mind is a fertile ground.

What you plant will really grow...
So, be intentional…
This time, sew seeds of hope, belief, and determination.

Because you can be sure the weeds of life will….
Bring discouragement, and doubt.

Begin again… it’s time to put your dreams into action…
One step forward two steps backward… hmm...
That’s ok—success requires persistent and continuous motion….
It’s only when we stop that gravity hits back!

Begin again… it’s the only sure way to win…
With desire, faith, and a sound plan in hand...
What or who can withstand.

To begin again…
Is always a step in the right direction.

“He Did Do It!”

From my pain has come purpose
It happened right before my eyes
No magic, no, not even a circus
A divine plan from the omniscient one!

So many detours
Strong winds, inclement weather...
I did not know I would make it…
But he knew better.

Self-hate and fear my name and person did bear…shame and doubt had me muzzled—trying to dictate…
As if I have no say about my destiny, my future…
But now, here’s my testimony

I am “The Madam Chair”
My life, my dreams, my hopes
You are now spectators…
No longer my antagonists or masters...
Setting up divisions of who is first and who is last…
You get to sit in silence and give counsel ONLY when asked.

I did it you see…!
I did it…!
Right before your eyes…
No magic, no, not even a circus…
From my pain has come my purpose…
A divine plan from the omniscient one!

“LIVING IN THEIR SHADOWS”

Your life has worth
Despite the past and your hurts

There’s a plan for your life
Those dreams and beliefs
Hope built inside waiting to take flight

Come up higher!...
What are you doing down there?...
A lender you will be and not a borrower... not a beggar

A seat is set for you at the table
Front and Center
Understanding who you are…

A woman of valor, purpose, and honour
Your gifts will make room for you… I am told
Be a good steward and not a squanderer

Then I understood…
Fear is a reproach… never a truth teller

Who says you have to do and say what they like?
So grab the mic
The platform is yours…
It is steady, ready for you

So, move with the rhythm and saulter
A solstice event
So, begin again….

It is your choice, now, maybe not back then….
Don’t leave it up to them!

Your life has worth
Despite the past and your hurts

“Know Your Worth”

You made it seem like something was wrong with me….

My request or simple girl type nuances dismissed

So I second-guessed

On birthdays no cards…. You made it seem hard

Unimportant, trivial, these actions became a sequel.

All along I was not your intended… only your gain

And whatever you could have extracted….

After a while, my eyes opened in denial still refusing to accept

How could this be

The many inconveniences you have dealt

The many disregards and discards my heart has felt

Then suddenly my eyes, heart, and soul finally accepted

I am good, whole, and loved

These you desire and can only dream of

You are empty, producing only weeds and moss

To mar and destroy others is your loss

You made it seem like something was wrong with me

This is your cover to make many captives with you and your sorrow!

“The Unknown”

So, we limit ourselves by what we already know

creating the unknown takes courage, I have to bold

I don't know sometimes-- most times

where I'm going

I just know I have to keep rowing

The tides of life, seemingly insurmountably high

The signs are not always clear

My emotions are everywhere-- reeling with fear underneath

The discovery, discreet, is something I want and feel very strongly about

but then, there are the moments when I'm filled with so much doubt

My heart pounds

questions fall like rain--not like a thunderstorm

the one that goes on and on...

Then I realize there's purpose in the storm, water-- a refilling of the seas and estuaries

flowing to unknown places and sanctuaries

satisfying many yet disrupting the setting of the collective stasis of others

Opportunities, moments, straight paths, unexpected detours

None of which was known before...

Reminded, I am still the author

A lightning bolt quickens me to action

awakens my fretful stupor

From pasture to pasture

destiny may have a part or take a certain posture...

But, a bystander I cannot and will not be

An open landscape to seize-- a plain canvas screams!!!

create unknowns unique only to me.

“Nature Speaks”

The sun rises and sets
even the ocean ebbs and flows
a natural reset

My existence, too, requires each of these steps
His process, timeless, infinite, a constant companion

Trees have roots, trunks, and leaves
they function by their foundation

My being, heart, soul, and spirit
is also His creation....
I suffer without his renewing

My walks are no longer lonely
every path guided....
my entrance and access granted...
exits divinely orchestrated

Lifted and elevated are my thoughts and imagination
solipsism, sovereignty is my consciousness...

Awareness, summer or spring, He's in everything
Winter or Fall count it all joy!

“HIM”

I dream with HIM

I wait on HIM

I pray to HIM

Best course of action for the mortal

Time and expiration they go together

Life the present…. Death the hereafter

A whole separate matter…

Laughter, gratitude makes the heart lighter...

The birds chirp…

The sound of the violin…. A breath of fresh air within

That space… that void

Only HE can fill

Like the desert home to the Cactus… such mystery

HIS pavilion….my solace

My peace, faith awaits in this secret place

I dream with HIM

I wait on HIM

I pray to HIM

“Freedom”

I am in the present forgetting or fighting, it seems, the freedom (s) that I have...

instantly my mind starts to worry about what I want to do, the things I need to do...

This tends to happen when I sit or there's this space of quiet and calm--then the clouds threaten to roll in as I wonder--- "is it as bad as I think?"

Where do I begin...

start with this moment... breathe, smile, be

settle in--- everything will be fine.

Why not?---worrying only steals...

steals time, energy, creativity---never again to be mine

The future only gives me what I put into the present...

I do not want to come up short---

So I take comfort in knowing that I must do my part.

Scary sometimes--but of course

'What I want--- what I desire'

overwhelms these negative forces that conspire.

You see, they only win with my consent...

My nature rebels--- my dissent is felt...

Reverberating with a resounding cymbal---my resolve.

A reminder that fear and worry are not my masters...

In this moment and each to come---

I am to make the most of them while there's still sun!

“PARADOX OF HEALING”

Giving opens feelings of healing..
of hope beyond human ceilings

removes barriers that once kept you and I shuttered...
like an isolated house left for ruin

Or like that little girl inside locked in her room
feeling unsafe about her space--- in the world

No one comes in and there's nothing going out
The elements of life escape none--- there is no round-about

There are no guarantees
It is up to us to bargain and see what can be...

Become of our efforts
Become of our faith
Become of our love

What are we really about?
So many people take and not give
missing the mark, this is the path they live

Forgetting that they too, soon, will cease to exist
The purpose they missed...
"giving is receiving" ---not a myth

When we give we allow ourselves to be open to the possibilities
in the making, the ones that giving is creating
anything else is dismal---nothing is growing

Don't be deceived---giving is receiving
This is the paradox of healing.