Des Instants...

...Sous les eclairs dechirant le ciel et les tambours de pluie battant sur les toles, nos silhouettes se tiennent vers la fenetre entrouverte, de cette chambre a moitie illuminee d'un jaune ocre de bougies. Ses deux mains empoignent mes hanches, son torse couvre mon dos, alors que la moiteur de sa bouche inonde mon cou. On respire fort le parfum enivrant de la terre fraichement rajeunie par la pluie, melee au doux parfum du vieux bois de la piece. On renouvelle les promesses de passion et de tendresse comme tous les soirs, fortifiees avec le temps, parce qu'elles sont encore plus vraies aujourdhui qu'elles ne l'etaient hier. Parce qu'elles sont plus mures, et qu'elle s'immiscent les unes dans les autres sans se perdre les autres dans les unes. Il me tient fort et me dit que demain sera encore plus beau et nous avec...

Immigrant Name

She sat in the middle of the class

Standing out like charcoal in snow

With her long traditional Kente outfit and her head wrap

Eyes focused on his gesticulating hands

Lips and jaws clenched.

Her fingers fiddled with her bracelets

And the soft touch of them, reminded her of home

She thought more of it now that it had snowed

The coldness made her nostalgic of the warmth back home

She dived in her memories

Memories she edited in her mind

Making them more beautiful than they had probably been

Like we do when the present does not live up to the past

The instructor asked students' names

And from where she sat,

With her back straightened by nervousness,

She glanced and saw intimidation painted on some faces.

Peers who like her, couldn't call this new place home

She watched them chew their names with insecurity

And watched him repeat them with disdain

Names that came out with a new layer,

A layer of superiority.

She followed the count with her eyes as it went on

And finally it was her turn

“What’s your name?” he asked

With a sudden hesitation

As though she never knew her name,

She gave a blank stare.

A stare that screamed she didn't belong

She thought of what her easiest name was

Of what name will be softest

Of what name he will easily enunciate

The African that she was, wondered

And for a moment that seemed for like ever,

She forgot what she was supposed to remember.

Remember she wears the name of a queen

Like her grandmother did before her,

Like her grandchildren will after her.

With a tone wrapped in pride

Sounding every syllable slowly, she said 

“I am Djou-ko-o Ke-le-ke-e Ko-me-ke-lah”

Making sure he paid attention

And pronounced it right.

She remembered at last!

That her name was a memory

Like the sun that shines every day, reminding her, she was here

She dare not hide it for heavy tongues

Tongues lazed by scorn of differences

Tongues weighed down by fear of the unknown

For she was here before being

And she’ll be here after

                                                                      

                                                                                     ̶ Immigrant Name

VIBING ON: NANDI MNGOMA

I was on Youtube and by whatever magic, I fell on her music. Absolutely awesome. Sweet South African house music. Though I could only find two music videos from her, in her case, that's all I needed lol. Nandi Mngoma is a South African artist, born in Kwazulu natal. She is an actress and a singer, to say the least.
I do hope she has more in store for listeners like myself. Her music seems to be some sort of electro-house pop, with of course, south African touches. I am in loooove. Both songs have a very positive energy. From the beat, to the lyrics, and of course to her contagious smile. Just listen and enjoy.

Bald is NOT the new sexy. It will ALWAYS be sexy. It's a classic, and she wears it, oh so well!

                                                      Nandi Ngoma- Good times

                                          Franky ft Nandi- Tonight

Promenade

Blue skies, water and adults running around with kids, is one of the best remedy I have to uplift my mood. Took a long walk along the beach and the pier the other day. Days where my only worries are which pair of sandals I should wear, haha! Relaxing days. Anyway, here are some pics.

A colorful kite a little boy was playing with.

Met a new friend who let me play with his drums :)

Kids and adults 

The pier

Art is everywhere!

Bisous!

Unwept tears

Unwept Tears

We were keepers, we always had
We stuffed the soul till it was mute, till it was numb
Souls that feared rejection
Souls burdened by untold stories
Stories we tucked away
Souls drenched in unwept tears
Immobilized tears, like water trapped in oil droplets. 


Lumps of frustration choked by denial
A recurrent fogginess in our eyes that vanished as quickly as it was formed
Tears that pride dried, like clothes under the sun
Chronic sadness.
A sadness that even smiled
Smiles we faked so well
Tears we didn't dare to shed, years ago, yesterday.


We were told to be strong
“Strength does not cry” they said
No one to say it was okay to let go
“Strength retaliates” they said
No one to say it’s okay not to keep scores
Strength was courageous, ironically not enough to cry
Not enough to be vulnerable
No one told us, we’ll wake up one day feeling like life lived us.


Today though, we want to cry
Tears should fall
Trickle down our jaws
With a touch that feels maternal
Like rain after a long drought
Restoring the soul’s fertility anew
Today we weep till vulnerability resurfaces
Weeping the unwept
Sweeping the unswept
Till we beam again
Till we feel again

Coco M 
  
Photo: Unknown photographer