The Voice

"The tongue can paint what the eyes can't see". (Chinese proverb)

Welcome!

Here's a prelude to my very own anthology of poems dubbed "The Voice", that was started years before its inception and, as the sands of time, likely equally unsure of the date of its completion!

Here you will find different voices resonating through your mind's ears, stimulating you to empathise, observe and ponder just a little bit more. Not everything is as it seems, not every view you've heard, not every perspective has been shared. You'll find entries often penned at the many peaks and troughs of my spectrum of emotions in reflection of experiences that have deeply captured my attention.

Let's let the lovely literary juices flow! Trod gently this journey whose corridors are the prisms of opinions and reality.

Atlas:

1.Pillow Talk
2.Living Among the Dead
3.To Be or Not to Be
4.The  Rising 
5.These Eyes
...To be continued!

Living Among the Dead

 

Help!
I cry from my rock hard bed of stones,
My only reassurance of life is the painful sounds of groans and moans
Some of which I'm not even certain are my own.
Am I alone?No-others are slowly dying around me too,
I'm beginning to think my moments of being alive are but few.
Alas!The hub of strong strange voices is the welcoming music I hear,
Help!But they seem so far away, yet so ver,very near...
Help!I cry with what little strength I have left,
Don't leave...not yet...not yet...
(Voice of a Haitian victim)

I'm helping to save lives and even recover the dead,
It's rewarding, fulfilling, heart-wrenching, dread.
The Caribbean sea swells with the volume of tears being shed.
(Voice of a search and rescue personnel)

 I'm alive!But my family is in there too!
 Can't you do something?Is that my sister's   shoe?
 See her lying lifeless, wounded, still,
 What angered Mother Nature, causing her   my sister to kill?
 (Voice of a survivor).

Too much voodoo down there!
Too much evil dominates their land!
So the Most High had to step in and take a stand!
Food for thought,yes, but are we any more deserving than them?
Don't we too kill,maime, steal,sin everyday? What gauaranteed us being spared the same fate?
(Voices of one who judges and one representing the judged).

Thank God for life, His mercies, food, clothing, shelter
These things I can so freely enjoy
While Haiti lies in ruins,
Those alive struggling to survive among the dead.
(Voice of one thankful)

Which are YOU????

 *Written  January 10, 2010 during the immediate aftermaths of that devastating earthquake in Haiti a few hours earlier*

*Divided we fall,united we stand*

Adulting

Adulthood- that highly anticipated beacon of liberty and independence;the final steps in the task of painting the canvas of your very own future; the key to igniting the flame needed to offset your visions and dreams...a.k.a that unforgiving backstabbing BI-(sorry, got a bit carried away there😫)bit of a paradox.😏

Who was it that designed this ruthless whirlwind  of varying combination of being, tired, anxious, potentially broke and  indecisive? And as if that weren't enough, it's been set on repeat!😥

Who said I knew how to save consistently and effectively? Invest? Psh. Prepare my own daily meals? Meet every deadline? Appointment?  Be a doting daughter, sister, friend, partner, doctor and friendly neighbour all at once? Who said I had to answer every call whether or not I know who or what disaster may be on the other end of the line? Who said I knew how to shop for just enough grocery and household items to last a few weeks without having to make weekly visits to the store? Who the hellllll said I could actually commit to the gym or that club?

Who sends these bills monthly? I could've sworn I JUST paid that bill last week. Whyyyyyy do most jobs start so early????? I just need a few more minutes (or hours!)of sleep😩😴😪.Why do the weekends shorten when I'm relaxing or having fun but lengthen dramatically when I'm at work? Who said I'm getting older and no longer allowed to "turn up" in the club and twerk?

What am I to do with all these receipts though? You mean there's something on them that I can actually do without? Whether or not the price changes I'm gonna still need all that toilet paper no doubt.😫 Who made me a point of reference? 😮A source of advice? I'm legit here tryna figure out what staple can replace rice. Why can't I say the first thing that comes to my head? Some days I really don't want to play nice or would rather roll over and play dead😐

Adulting-no trial run, no manual, no script. You learn each day as you live and try to live each day as (if)you've learnt. Though like a vicious cycle stuck on repeat, each day is an opportunity to fit the missing pieces of the puzzle you seek. Refer to your elders (yes, those older than you), adjusting the advice and responses to your own reality. Don't compare, never stop, continue doing your best. Only you can live the life to supply all your needs and meet your demands. It's not easy but it must be done. And who better to do it than you? You've literally been given the mandate to design YOUR life; never mind how you may have started with what you consider less than another person's resources- you are enough. With every great painter, the paintbrush fell,the easel toppled and paint splashed, but don't give up on completing your beautiful canvas, leave an indelible mark behind. Enjoy each stroke of the brush, embrace the process of overcoming each challenge and most importantly learn to relax and pamper the mind.😏🤗

As vast as it seems, you are enough😊

Just do it!

*Divided we fall,united we stand*

Smiles 😊


"Why don't you smile more?" is a question that I'm often asked and I am now asking myself and you...so yeah...why don't you?👀👀 Is it like an adornment worn only on special ocassions? Or does it have a place in your everyday life?

A smile...
Half a circle, 3/4 even, a frown turned upside down.
Dimples, fat cheeks, crooked teeth it will work its way around.
A peculiar arrangement of muscles unique to each person's own facial features but with shared common effects,
It does tend to take away an unsuspecting onlooker's breath😉

A smile...
A conjuction, punctuating your mood
But what if you're only in the mood to brood?😟
In that case, how readily does a smile really break through
In times of distress it can be the hardest thing to do!

A smile...
After a compliment or during a date,
While having a good time with someone with whom you can relate

A smile...
After acheiving or sharing in another's milestone;
A smile while conversing with the one you love on the other end of the phone❤

A smile is an opportunity to set things right and
Settle that dispute that would've otherwise escalated into a fight.
A smile,as it were, sets things into motion, speaks positive into your mood and by extension your day,
A smile to one hurting and in need might quite literally save the day

A smile sends hope to a random passerby who might be thinking nothing good is left in this dark,cold world;
A smile  encourages a fellow broken hearted girl
That she too will rise, soar above yet another hurt;
A smile to and from yourself reminds you of  your worth.🏆

How to smile more? Count your blessings; a smile spontaneously accompanies each. No matter the circumstance or mood, if you really think about it, you will always find that your reasons to smile farrrrr outweigh your reasons not to😊

        *United we stand,divided we fall*

Family Matters!

Fam is everything!I seldom need an ocassion to celebrate them. Especially with regards to my siblings-they are my first friends and often dearest.

My immediate family is of the rapidly becoming extinct nuclear type with two firm authorative figures at the forefront and seven (yes seven) kids. We are a handful. Fullhouse. Seventh heaven. Never a dull moment.

We grew up with many sometimes questionable rules and principles but all in all a few qualities remain dear to my heart and have helped me survive the toughest of times.

Motivation: We were always there for each other for every ordeal whether an exam or some new challenge. We grew up in an environment of unwavering support and that thankfully still remains.

Laughter: From both parents to my youngest sibling we have an excellent sense of humor flourished with the best use of sarcasm and wit. Nothing gets pass us. We laugh at each other, random silly things and my dad's hilarious 'growing-up-country'tales😉. You hardly wanted to share some unfortunate ordeal of your day lest it be taken for the day's (or week's) joke.

Help: We were nurtured with an unwritten mantra to help each other in the time of need. I recall precious seemingly simple deeds as my older siblings giving me extra 'pocket money' whenever I was returning to school from a break while in med school and even my bigger sis 'taking something from kingston' on her weekends back from college (while not yet employed).

Education: Being children of educators got us our fair share of the usual stereotyping that accompanies the turf. But here we are all on our way if not already educated at the tertiary level and playing our role as remarkable contributors to society. We struggled and continue to struggle to overcome the many financial barriers accompanying this effort but with God's help through hard work, family support and possibly tears we have secured for ourselves a position to continue to excel in any area of our choice.

Preacher's kids: To top it all off we were always the PK's in the group and that too got us our share of tease. But on a deeper level we are all in close contact with our spiritual selves and recognise the role of a higher Being in our lives.

Throw in good looking genes, kind hearts and a varied combination of talents, we are a formidable force with God always at the forefront and determination not far behind. We have infectious personalities that leave us being warmly welcomed and definitely hard to forget. 😋

I dont get how other families 'live bad' or even reek havoc, harm and even death against each other. We have our share of fights, aguments and disagreements but we are never far apart. We laud each other's accomplishments amd push each other ahead without bombarding each others space.

There is always someone to talk to, play with or give a helping hand. For e.g, we have a whatts app group with the name "Family Matters"(as above🙄) and one afternoon *Poochie* (name changed for privacy) was at home 'taking care of business' in the loo when she messaged saying she needed some tissue...you can probably fill in the rest! Now, if thats not a good reason to have siblings I dont know any!🤣

Though I do not want a large family of my own in the future, the benefits were never hard to find. But I do look forward to a quieter lot of my own😉 Love your family, they will sometimes end up being all that you've got. They may not be perfect but try to keep them near. Family truly matters.

*Divided we fall,united we stand*

The latest sweetest addition-1st grandchild!Driving us crazy😁

😍😍

About ME!

Hi! I feel the need to re/introduce myself. I have been MIA for some months now and I owe an apology to myself for starting something and not following through (bad habit to leave behind in 2017 might I add!) and to a few loyal persons who have supported this small venture and probably wondering about its progress. But your passionate lover of writing is back in the biz back to expressing myself through the written word.😏 I wish to always be able to share something that will somehow impact someone in some small way, keep  your interest piqued on an otherwise boring/uneventful day, get the wheels of your mind turning and thinking about something I've said and hopefully keep your fingers scrolling to the very end! Dig in!

Full name: Ro- Kaye Alethea Simmonds
(Still can't locate my dad's friend who suggested this name!)

Age: Blah. Let's just say I age well😏🙄

Profession: Medical Doctor

Favourite expression: blah (😅)/I'm hungry🙈

Favourite drink : Coconut water

Favourite ACTUAL drink : Ok fine Rum Cream😏🍺 (I don't drink much)

Ambition (yes, there's more🤓): To be one of the greatest Internists, at the very least a Danielle Steele/John Grisham- level writer and a supermom (since I'm hell-bent on having twins!)

Favourite food:  Pizza! & Ackee and saltfish with dumplings (country girl at heart🌳🌿)*swings from vine*

Pet peaves: Being called 'ma'am' , things not being in order (yet my car is always a mess🤥🙈)

Strengths: I try to take pride in everything I do, if it's not my best effort I probably wont be doing it. Not a perfectionist but I try.

Weaknesses: Umm why would I tell you that🤔 😋😋

Likes: Sunshine, the beach, reading

Dislikes : 1.Rain and thunderstorms. 2.Dishonesty

Oddities : 1. I dont take compliments well (musta had too many 🤣🙈🙊///same thing🤐see what i mean🙈
2. My 1 1/2 dimples 😁

Scary movie or happy ending?: Def the latter.But i'm flexible, I'll scream my way through the hacking and bloodshed if I have to😎

Lover or Fighter?: Both. I'll fight for love😍 (not anymore,hmph!)

Fears: Heights, drowning, scary insects

Top song on my playlist: Lemon (Rhianna & N.E.R.D)

Bad habits: 1.Being late😣🙈 2.Worrying

Bravest thing I've ever done: The Big Chop 😉 (but with no regrets!)

Silliest thing I've ever done: Fall in love 🙈⚠️♥️🤸‍♀️

Something I fantasise about: Writing a book while vacationing in a chateau somewhere in Europe



That's all for now! If you wanna know more, you know where to find me😋 Hope to meet you soon😊

*IG kayeiam_simmonds*





                 

Unbothered😋

Hello! It's  been waaaaaay too long since I've  posted anything aaaaalllll because of this darn never ending (previously) much anticipated period called ADULTING! One day I'll let you in on just what that means in my world. But, more interestingly I am also quite late in commenting on this rather 'new sounding' yet familiar word that seems to be in vogue over the past few months (or longer?)again mainly on the various social media platforms.

Unbothered;The caption for many posts/comments/tweets from usually a young person expressing their lack of concern or interest in a particular would-be stimulant. Probably replacing arcache expressions like 'whatever',it is usually particularly directed at something generally meant to incite a negative reaction or effect.

But, I can't help but wonder, are we really as unbothered as we think or claim to be?
Think about it. You had a bad day, a co-worker pissed you the hell off (daily occurrences for some of us) or some misfit said something to try to 'bring you down'. You may or may not have responded but blew off some steam and quickly dismissed it, but hours later it's your new post/tweet/caption to your 'serious face' selfie for the day. As 'unbothered' as you are, you sure took alot of energy and time into taking an angry but cute pout to show you're 'pissed but okay' and allowed that one encounter to sum up your day...Just how 'unbothered' are we by these daily life trivias?

I for one am a classic panic-button -tell-it-as-it- is but a worry bunny kinda person. I sometimes spend alot of time reminiscing, revisiting and regurgitating things. I most certainly dont respond to every single  barking dog as we all know that that gets you absolutely nowhere and is often a waste of otherwise useful energy. But, I am learning day by day how to hear and not hear and to pay less attention to the different levels of 'pettyness' I sometimes encounter. And trust me, I'm doing great! (Well most days🙄😉 lol )

At the end  of the day, (literally)
there are really few things worth thinking about and those include providing an answer to questions about what I could have done better, if my daily goals were acheived and what I learnt from the day. Not to sit and imagine how the various combinations of questionable personalities did that vs this...No. Higher heights is what I seek. To always keep elevating myself in every way possible. Personal and spiritual growth and higher intellectual and educational gains.

Strive to be truly unbothered by the many distractors along the way. You may slow down but never stop. Pause but only to breathe, count to ten and move on. Let no one get close enough or get the joy of bringing you down or 'getting you out'. Guard your world, guard you.

*United we stand divided we fall.*