The Plea of a Gnarled Tree – Poem

woman tree

Whatever you write I’m curious to read

I want to know what hides in your mind

Whenever you paint I can see you bleed

Your wounded paths I want to unwind…

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. I’ve been thinking about you a lot

You capture attention – mine surely got caught

So, here’s my reaction to your heartfelt plea

The plea of a gnarled and exhausted tree

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This detail won’t stroke your ego

It won’t make too many mentions,

but the road to hell is paved with details,

or is it ‘with good intentions’?

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Never mind…

I know you mean well,

Still, one cannot ‘good-deed’

Their way out of hell…

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Even so…

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In doing good we must leave no stone unturned

Yet, Grace is a Gift which cannot be earned…

This gift is not carved into tablets of stone

We cannot reach peace on our own…

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Bread can be hardened, and yet

You can never turn stone into bread…

The truth’s independent of one’s belief

If you bite into stone, you will break your teeth

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Some say truths are many, but how many are there?

And how can those ‘truths’ contradict one another?

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There is only One… for the old and the youth

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“What makes me think that I’ve met the Truth?”

I am Free Finally – I take that as a proof

There is mercy and grace for those who repent

Even to the gnarled trees that are twisted and bent.

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Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)Leave a comment

Where are you growing to? – Poem

Woman - Sunflowers

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“You are rising too fast

You are aiming too high…

Courage is foolish –

Brave people die!”

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‘Where are you growing to?’

‘Why such a rush? They’ll implore

‘It’s just your pride…’ They will add…

‘We don’t believe you should take the floor!’

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Yes, one should challenge oneself

And one must question their thoughts…

Not to succumb to misleading voices

or misdirection of untamable wants…

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Where are we growing to?

Are we growing at all?

Are we rising to greatness?

Or preparing to fall?

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Reaching out to heavens,

Or in the other direction?

Are our minds filled with ego?

Or with divine perception?

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If you’re growing the right way

There is no need to explain…

Critics won’t go away

They will forever remain…

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So, keep on growing to where

You were created to grow…

Don’t let the skeptics define you

Enticing your mind to stay small

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So… what about you?

Where are you growing to?

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Our days are numbered you see

We have limited minutes and hours

After the danger of spring frost is past –

Have courage to bloom… like Sunflowers!

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Poetry Reading – Collaboration with Desiri

Desiri and i 2Welcome back to “Love Don’t Fear” stories and collaborations 😊

“I saw her smile” is a story of a girl who keeps searching for love in all the wrong places. I have shared this poem before, but I’m super happy to present you with Desiri Okobia’s rendition of it. Desiri (aka Miss Dee) is the author of “Diaries of a Visionary” and an English Literature teacher. Currently, she is preparing to launch her new book – a wonderful novella I can’t wait to read. In the meantime, however, please enjoy “I saw her smile” as well as Miss Dee’s powerful delivery.

A while ago, I’ve had an encounter with a lady on social media (I don’t know her personally), but she had read the poem and started messaging me about it. She told me: “If you don’t remove this piece from print – I will sue!” She accused me of thoroughly researching her private life to share it through my writings…

Whaaaat?!

Well…

To some extent, this tale may indeed be “hers” – not because I knew about her experiences, but because it is timeless and universal, while the principles it bears are gender-less… Truly, this poem is about (and for) all the girls and women, in all the corners of the world, who ever felt like they needed to be in romantic relationships (bad or good) before they could be whole.

Having said that, I asked Desiri why she picked “I saw her smile” – she told me she simply liked the story. So, even if you’re not “a girl who never smiles”, I believe that you’ll enjoy the narrative within the poem. As always, you’ll find drama and pain and all that stuff here, but ultimately it is a one woman’s journey from darkness to light.

FYI, “I saw her smile” can be found in my recent Poetry Collection “Love Don’t Fear”, so please go ahead and pick it up on Amazon if you like what you hear.

Please enjoy the YouTube video below and let me know your thoughts.

Just don’t sue – I haven’t been spying on you 😊

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‘Love Don’t Fear’ Collaborations

POETRY AND BOOKS

DesiriiOne of the greatest American novelists Ernest Hemingway is quoted to have said “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.” And yes, writing is solitary – it requires concentration and dedication, but that’s not what this post is about… This post is about collaboration.

“Love Don’t Fear” is filled with relationship stories, hence my need to share the book’s creation process with others came as no surprise. Ayo (foreword) and my husband Miguel influenced its title… During an impromptu ‘brain-storming’ session, Miguel put “Love Don’t Fear” out there and I knew that was it! One day, I might share the circumstance in which he got inspired, but that’s a whole ‘nother story… for later… maybe 😊

Moving on, I invited other fellow artists to contribute in the post-creation process. I can’t wait to share the fruits of these wonderful relationships with you. I hope you enjoy what’s to come and that we can connect through it…

On this note, let me introduce Desiri…  

Desiri Okobia (aka Miss Dee) is an author and English literature teacher from London, UK. In her book “Diaries of a Visionary”, she shares her experiences, positive energy and strong passion for God. She writes: “I made plans to move to America and pursue my career as an actress in Hollywood. By this time, I had built up my acting portfolio by attending a theatre school in London, taking part in theatre productions and appearing in some TV shows… …New York is similar to London, and I was used to the city life. I had it all planned out: first New York, and then eventually I would move to LA and work as an actress, live in a nice house on the beach and drive a red convertible. Yep! That’s all I wanted to do…”

Desiri’s honesty makes me smile and her story brings to mind a well known saying: “Man plans, God laughs”. Pick up “Diaries of a Visionary” (on Amazon) if you’re so inclined – find out how the Maker interrupted her American dream, see her growth and enjoy the rest of this inspiring tale…

Back to “Love Don’t Fear” collaborations, Desiri will be reading “I saw her smile” – the full recording will be here soon. Meanwhile, please enjoy this short snippet with her powerful delivery of the story about a girl who never smiled… until she did. 😊

There’s more to come. In the meantime, go ahead and pick up “Love Don’t Fear” on Amazon. ♥

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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…

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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.

♥

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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

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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…

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Just remember your future,

Picture it in your mind

Decide what you want

What it will be like…

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Stop remembering your past

Don’t repeat old mistakes

Start remembering your future

Let it find you prepared ♥

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Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)2 Comments

Keep Swimming – Poem

stony beach

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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!

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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.

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***

 

Final thought:

“Just keep swimming” Dori from “Finding Nemo”

Monika Ribeiro (writer/poet)2 Comments

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)3 Comments