… views

i walk away

it is he who smiles

it is i who is pleased

Pouring Out

put the kettle on

Life is truly about ebbing and flowing; ups and downs; giving and taking. But if we are not careful, if we do not take good care of ourselves we can end up flailing about, constantly searching for our buoyancy. And of course, when we flail, we run the risk of grabbing for anything in search of salvation.

And it’s funny how it happens, we roll right along, doing the ten million things we do. Working, listening, giving, creating … constantly pouring out. All the while, not noticing our own meter. Not noticing that we are not being poured into.

Take parenting for instance. Although I haven’t done the official math on it, I believe that 100% of the time, parents will only receive about a 10% return on “parental investment”. Our children love us, but simply do not care about how much we do to, with and for them. We can bake five thousand cookies the night before a bake sale because a teacher sent a last-minute note in desperate need. We do it for the love of our children, for the support of teachers whom we also love. In return, we may/possibly/not likely receive a pre-typed thank you note in return.

Anyway, you get my meaning on that. I am not delusional enough to think that there is ever a point at which we receive in the same measure what we give. And although the numbers will differ, every aspect of our lives have a measure of input-output which should ultimately balance out.

Confession. I have a terrible problem of monitoring my meter. Whenever I commit to something, I really commit. I’m not a perfectionist but I do place a high expectation on myself to create the best thing or love honestly and without hesitation.

I also have a terrible problem of not demanding that which I pour. And because of this, I at times find myself at points of near-emptiness. All while simultaneously being filled with tears and longing. Filled with a desire to be poured into. Filled with a longing to be loved honestly and without hesitation.

It’s amazing just how much space absence can take up.

Thankfully though, I understand the importance of self-care, of saying no to other people and things. Of saying yes to myself. For now, this is enough to allow me the space to continue to grow stronger in voicing my needs with the full expectation of being poured into …

never. again.

you f*cked her over
filled her belly
with excuses
impregnated her
with lies

she gave birth
to resentment
to doubt
to anger
and a solemn promise

never again.

just.facts.

my Blackness

my womaness

my southerness

my heritage

my ability to love

my desire to be loved

my openness

my magic
my oneness

my duality

my spirit

my humanity
my willingness

my intellect

my comfort

i provide rest
you see me

i am fire

i am clarity

i am light
my brown skin

on its own offends

your privilege

your existence

the air i breathe

is the air you breathe

no amount of

wishing

hoping

praying

cursing

politicizing

conniving

shucking

jiving

bible-thumping

or lying

will change that
Copyright © 2017 Tamika Brown and TheFynePrynt.com

Culture Commentary: A Day Without Woman

#ADWAW is a point of privilege. I feel its necessary to go ahead and plop that out right up front.

While its intentions are good and wholesome and very kumbaya, it is a point of privilege nonetheless. The woman. The woman who already works more only to be paid less, who uses sick days and vacation days to care of all but themselves. The woman who works … with NO paid time off. The woman who cannot afford to take a day off but is now forced to do so because schools are closed.

I salute each woman who has the mind to participate in #ADWAW. But I remain puzzled about its benefits; its beneficiaries. What good does our absence do when, tomorrow, we will have to work even harder to make up for today?

Absence, like quitting, is easy. The real work of the movement is in presence. The real work is in inviting women into your space who do not look like you, who do not worship like you, who do not live like you do and certainly not where you do. It is our presence that builds, that grows, that lifts. We are beyond the point of ABSENCE.

Resistance cannot only be about what we’re “not gonna do”. Resistance is and always has been about breaking barriers. INSISTING that your child’s school celebrates women’s history; INSISTING that Black history is everyone’s history; INSISTING that a girl’s/woman’s body is her own to control; INSISTING absolutely and on every available platform that Black Lives Matter; INSISTING that your coworker not be unfairly treated simply because her skin has been forever kissed by the sun.

Now is the time to be PRESENT

Now is the time to STAND

Now is the time to SPEAK

Now is the time to FIGHT

Now is the time to ACT

It is wonderful to have a national platform to showcase “solidarity” but the truth, for many/most of you is that the real platform – the place where the real work needs to be done, is WITHIN.

restless

can’t find the words

don’t have the feeling

didn’t catch those feelings

listening intently

hearing nothing

constant noise

roaring mentally

grabbing me

shaking me

pay attention

or blink

and i’ll miss it

miss him

miss you

miss me

most of all

handle with care

Choosing to love

Having love choose you

Perfectly imperfect

Always moving

Always changing

Always growing

Evolving or devolving

Handle with care

Even if not by choice

Even if not given in the way we anticipate

If not received in ways that we hoped

If not shared

If not multiplied

Handle with care

The divinity of love is really unmatched

There is nothing quite like it

We all want to feel it

We all want to be bathed in it

We all want

But when it comes and it is not in the form that we so desire

That we’ve prayed for

That we’ve wished for

That we have determined is the ideal

Then what?

What happens to that love?

What happens when we stop handling it with care?

What happens when we stop appreciating it, take it for granted?

When we decide that it is not enough?

When we make those decisions and not focus on what love is

what it is meant to be

what its true divinity is

then

We tear down

We tear up

destroy

Hurt those around us

Especially those who love us

in word and deed

Handle with care

Love

It is not for possession, to be possessed to be given as a possession

it is merely to be

It is to teach

It is to behold

It is to celebrate

It is all these things

It is none of these things

It is everything

To anyone who has ever wanted it

To anyone who has ever thought they had it

Anyone who has truly achieved this divinity

It is hurtful

It is painful

It does not have to be

But

That is what we make it

Because we cannot

Decide

We want to get high

we want to stay high

And for anyone who has ever dabbled in things that get you high

You know, those things, don’t keep you there

The same is true with love

Handle with care

If you are unable to handle it with care

Then surely, you shouldn’t handle it at all.

Image: blamethedragon

The Fyne Prynt

… there is always more …

Author: The Fyne Prynt

… views

Pouring Out

never. again.

just.facts.

Culture Commentary: A Day Without Woman

restless

handle with care

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