See You in Tomorrow – Poem

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Tomorrow land

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I admit. I have made so many mistakes

I have twisted my life with my twisted ways

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I did things before they should have been done

I run when I should have sat, or sat when I should have run.

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There’s no way to turn back the hands of time

What is done already cannot be undone…

Till it can.

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So, stop dragging me through yesterdays

The damage is done, but I’m not done yet

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It is not too late – these are only delays

Did I tell you I knew the Maker of Days?

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You too need to focus on how far you’ve come

And stop crying over the long road ahead…

 .

Walk away! We can’t walk together unless we agree

Lest your fear casts a shadow on the future I see!

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There’s too much at stake, so join me or walk away

Doubts will take us back to our yesterday…

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See You in Tomorrow!

I pray that I meet you there.

♥

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Remember Your Future – Poem

Hope Endures

Remember your future

When the past is bleak

Remember Tomorrow

When you’ve had a tough week

or a year, even many tough years…

That have left you discouraged and weak

 .

I pray for your strength

When you’re weary and drained

That you focus your mind

On remembering good days

Again, and again, and again…

  .

Just remember your future,

Picture it in your mind

Decide what you want

What it will be like…

  .

Stop remembering your past

Don’t repeat old mistakes

Start remembering your future

Let it find you prepared ♥

 .

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Keep Swimming – Poem

stony beach

…

A brief definition of a beach, by me –

Soft & golden sand with a fresh breeze & the sea

Yet, this shore, right here, without one grain of sand

Is believed to be qualified. I believe, but not quite…

…

Well… Sea? Checked. Breeze? Checked.

But then.., stones – and sooo haaard!

…..

In my mind, there’s a memory of a soft & smooth beach

Without the soft sand, my bare feet feel so… eek!

.. 

Rocks are surely great for the ‘mountain time’

Yet, each beach, in my mind, requires… the sand…

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Second thought – let’s revise

It’s a fruitful land…

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As in spite of my hurting feet

Which from pebbles bleed

 I prefer to keep swimming

In the sea bottomed hard

Than to drown in the one

Underlaid with soft sand.

.

***

 

Final thought:

“Just keep swimming” Dori from “Finding Nemo”

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Everybody Runs – Poem

running-man

Did you notice how everybody runs?

I got caught up in it more than once…

These days, tomorrow happens yesterday

Human-doings excel, but night blends into day

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Did you notice how everybody runs?

Where’s the space for friendships,

Or for LOVE and romance?

Did you notice how everybody runs?

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It’s so easy to get caught in this chase

No one likes to lose, so one stays in the race

Did you notice how everybody runs…?

Working like a dog to improve their chance…

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To advance super-fast and burn out in advance

Not to look into eyes – maybe… merely glance

Not to feel anymore, not to laugh or dance

Do you wonder why everybody runs?

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Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

All the Time & Everywhere – Poem

lost found searching

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You don’t just find Him in Love, although

Many people like to think you do…

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His Love & His Peace break through our Hate

You find Him in joys, but more in despairs

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You find Him in dry spells. You find Him in rain

You find Him at night and during the day

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He is all the time. God is everywhere…

.

Yet, here is the most beautiful thing

About finding Him…

.

When you cannot find – you can’t even search

Your heart is too tired and too weak to care

He will find you…

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Wherever you’re at…

In sadness, in pain,

In the storm, in the rain

He is there…

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All the time & everywhere.

♥

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Get Free & Stay There – Poem

put on some music

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There are fervent desires hunting for each soul

Don’t let them imprison you. Learn to let things go

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When it hurts to not have what you think you need

Release and defy it – let your mind “stay freed”

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Learn to wait and believe – learn to let it go

Find a happy medium. Take your time to grow

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In the meantime,

 .

Relax… Hear the silence and dance…

Life need not be this complicated, and you only live once

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Free yourself… Don’t be hasty. Be grateful today

When the time is right things will come your way.

.

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Talking with a Mother – Short Story

Homeless MotherWhile they seat in their big houses, I’m wondering how to tell my children that we must move out of our tiny flat, and that I don’t know where we’re going to…

–    ‘Must we leave our friends? Must we change our school?’

They ask, and I feel like running away, but they have only me, so I have to stay.

I go to the powers that be and ask them for help. They don’t look in my eyes. They glance… Their head holds a PC inside, rather than a mind, never mind a human heart. They hand me a number to ring. And I do, so I can be lied to… I sense that their words might be far from the truth, so I start my own search online. The computer, seemingly a little more humane, tells me part of what’s to know. “You are on the waiting list – number 334. So, I go back to the ‘people’, and ask:

–      “Does this mean that you’ll help us move house?”

–     “No.” They say. “Don’t leave there – stay. When you’re on the streets – come back. Then, we’ll have a chat. There are many like you. You are not the only one.” Fine! I leave. “Next one, please!” I hear them yell. I feel like I’ll lose my mind if I stay. From now on, I’ll send letters or I’ll e-mail them.

I will work, at the same time, as hard as I can. Though, to rent a new small flat this job won’t provide. What else will I do? I will cry, sometimes. Not too much. I don’t want to drown… in tears. Then, I’ll work again just to pay the bills. I feel really tired – I’ve been lacking sleep… I can’t let them kill me though! I’m going to live! Yet, I bottle these fears and the pain. There’s a bottle of wine in my hand.

– “Why?” The interviewer asks.

– “Why wine? I’m cutting my chocolate down.”

– “No. Why bottle the pain? Why not talk to someone?” He smiles.

– “Oh…” She sighs.

Those who are comfortable want to stay comfortable. They say that they pray for me and my family while they seat in their big houses comfortably. Meanwhile, I wonder how to tell my children that we have to move, again… And, I cannot tell them where we’re going to… I don’t know… God knows. Oh… {She pauses} That’s right. He does. ‘Oh, thank you for listening’, she adds.

The interviewer smiles.

 “I will put this wine away. I’m going to pray.”

She gets up and goes… Where to? Well… God knows.

Happy Mother's Day

Dedicated to all mothers - especially those forced to persevere 
a lot more than others. You are amazing! Happy Mother's Day!♥

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Love Don’t Fear – Poetry Collection

Love don't fear Half Cover Amazon 12.04.18

 

FOREWORD¹ to “Love, Don’t Fear”

By Ayọ (singer, songwriter)

‘The opposite of love is not hate – it is fear. Fear always tries to get in the way of love. “Love, Don’t Fear” is like a nice breeze on a hot summer day or a warm blanket on a frigid winter night.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has been or is going through turbulence – not only in romantic affairs like marriage for instance, but also in friendships, family connections and others… It is a book for someone who feels challenged by their relationship and can’t find the words to express how they feel. You will discover your own truth in the emotions of these poems. Your truth may be different than mine, but I believe you will find yourself in them.

This book is powerful, yet it is simple. You might appreciate it even if you’re not a huge fan of poetry since it tends to be complicated. When I started reading “Love. Don’t Fear” I wanted to read the whole book. This is significant because I often start a book, but then leave it unfinished if it’s unable to hold my attention. Structurally, this book is just the right length and its stories flow nicely.

I don’t enjoy having to play Sherlock Holmes trying to read between the lines all the time. I want to hear God speak to me between the lines. The author of this poetry collection is connected. She is on the right search, asks the right questions and doesn’t look for things that don’t need to be found.

These stories are therapeutic because they are written from the right place. The book takes you back to the Power of God. It reminds you that you can move mountains if you only believe.’

Ayọ

Get the Book on Amazon (.com)

Get the Book on Amazon (.co.uk)

 

[1] Foreword transcribed & edited by Monika Ribeiro

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)

Excuses for Loving You – Poem

Colourful I love You Pic

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I love you because when I told you to go

You said you would not and you didn’t budge

You are dark & sweet. You’re my favourite thing

Way ahead of chocolate – even chocolate fudge!

.

I love when you look at me like a little boy

Who’s just been presented with his favorite toy

Stimulating my soul in untainted liberation 😊

I like how you do it. Mmm, such a sweet sensation.

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Many times, I wondered if our love was right

When our days were nights, and we saw no light…

Yet, after each storm He’s taken us through

I remember how much I love the essence of you.

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They thought I loved you because I loved drama,

And I had become what they call a baby mama.

.

Some thought it was purely awe-inspiring sex

And I’d dread my future if you were my ex

…Looking at another girl like a little boy

Who’s just been presented with his favorite toy

Sad Face Dried Flowers

There may be a grain of truth 

In all the above…,

But those aren’t the main excuses 

For You being the One I love…

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The main reason why I hope to love you forever

Is bullheaded trust that God joined us together.

Even when I feel like we’re going under –

I believe we have no right to put us asunder.

♥

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)