Gentle

Lately, I have been feeling a bit bruised and battered, and then I came across this

"and i said to my body. softly.
'i want to be your friend.'
it took a long breath and replied
'i have been waiting my whole life for this.' "

 - Nayyirah Waheed (Instagram & Twitter)

Msaki

I first discovered Msaki through my very cool friend Randomarivate. Rhandz had seen Msaki perform in Pretoria and when she got back to CT, she introduced me to Msaki’s street performance of ‘Dear Youth’ on Youtube. I was hooked.

She (Msaki not Rhandzu ;)) is an ah-may-zing singer-songwriter.

Difficult to Love

Saw this poem a while ago on Verbal-Sid’s blog. I love it.

For women who are difficult to love 

by Warsan Shire

you are a horse running alone

and he tries to tame you

compares you to an impossible highway

to a burning house

says you are blinding him

that he could never leave you

forget you

want anything but you

you dizzy him, you are unbearable

every woman before or after you

is doused in your name

you fill his mouth

his teeth ache with memory of taste

his body just a long shadow seeking yours

but you are always too intense

frightening in the way you want him

unashamed and sacrificial

he tells you that no man can live up to the one who

lives in your head

and you tried to change didn't you?

closed your mouth more

tried to be softer

prettier

less volatile, less awake

but even when sleeping you could feel

him travelling away from you in his dreams

so what did you want to do love

split his head open?

you can’t make homes out of human beings

someone should have already told you that

and if he wants to leave

then let him leave

you are terrifying and strange and beautiful

I was dying

I saw this on @Rasheeda_s instagram account:

“First I was dying to finish high school and start college,
  And then I was dying to finish college and start working;
  And then I was dying to marry and have children; 

  And then I was dying for my children to get old enough for school so I could return to work;
  And then I was dying to retire.

  And now I am dying… and suddenly I realise I forgot to live.”