OLUWAJIMI . J . THORPE

Oh! Where is thy first BBY that is a king in the East & ruleth over 66 legions? Oh! Where is thy second B2BY that is a Duke, who ruleth over 31 legions? Oh! Where is thy third B3BY that is of good nature & ruleth over 26 legions? Oh! Where is thy fourth B4BY that speaketh with a hoarse voice, who ruleth over 30 legions? Oh! Where is thy fifth B5BY that answereth truly to all things hidden & ruleth over 36 legions? Oh! Where is thy sixth B6BY that is also called a Duke, who ruleth over 10 legions? Oh! Where is thy seventh B7BY that reconciles controversies & ruleth over 40 legions? Oh! Where is thy eight B8BY that breaketh the hidden treasures open, who ruleth over 30 legions? Oh! Where is thy ninth B9BY that is the most obedient to his Master & ruleth over 200 legions? Oh! Where is thy tenth B10BY that teacheth Philosophy, who ruleth over 50 legions? Oh! Where is thy eleventh B11BY that showeth the meaning & resolution of all questions ...

Way back in 1996 I married a wonderful man named Michael. It was a first marriage for both of us, and we felt as if we’d been waiting for each other our whole lives. We’d been trying to conceive, with no luck, ever since our engagement. In the fall of 1997 I underwent an exploratory laparoscopic surgery where it was discovered I had endometriosis. During the surgery they were able to do a procedure that temporarily opened a short window of fertility. My doctor told us this window would last approximately 3 months, afterwhich I’d most likely become infertile again, so we were thrilled when we conceived just three weeks later. It was the day before Thanksgiving that we discovered I was pregnant, and I felt very thankful. Michael caressed and kissed my belly, and we called this our “miracle baby”. Everything seemed fine. I wasn’t suffering with morning sickness or other early pregnancy symptoms, but at 13 weeks I had some bad bleeding. Michael rushed home from work while I frantic...

 Life’s time A time to plan, a time to live A time to put behind and just leave Time of importance that you need to perceive Life is minutes if you forget why do you live? Time to take, time to give Time to judge another to forgive So stop regretting the past And your present 'unlive' But don't be fooled by the time Thinking you, still, got time to live Because once it’s over Yourself is the only one you won’t forgive. Artwork by: Agostinoroccoart

Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.  My shoulder is against yours.  you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine  rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:  not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding  around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but  vegetables.  When you really look for me, you will see me  instantly --  you will find me in the tiniest house of time.  Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?  He is the breath inside the breath. Artwork by: Adeshomi Africanos-Williams

My dreams shattered in the tense stillness as endless threats and blows clothe my form My stomach flutters in familiar fear and I am ashamed of my weakness My hope lies shattered in madness cloaking my tender heart in bruises as I choke on the bitterness of your deceit Now I lie still, sedated by my sorrow My spirit shattered with loneliness when our love was forgotten my companionship no longer wanted and my wants and thoughts now worthless Seeing this reality as I suffer silently unable to accept our demise My dreams shattered in the distance of my most gentle memories Hatred distorts your face and I cower from the ugliness of your intent and the horror of this truth Our love shattered, built upon lies As my heart plummets over the cliff as my mind hides, seeking oblivion death warms my icy blood My spirit, too, is shattered by you For you know not truth, know not kindness Lies abound, and rage heats your blood Leaving me in its wake Shattered Artwo...

You left,  And grief cast its pall over me.  My pain condensed into a dropp  And rose into my eye.  For a great distance  My sight kissed your footprints,  Until the trail  Was swallowed by the dust of the road.  Before you left,  There was the bloom of your youth,  I turned around after you left  And every flower had wilted.  Since that day  I stopped speaking, I could not see.  My tongue was silenced  My sight turned to stone.  The pain that you gifted  To love,  Was the pain finally  That consumed ‘Shiv'. Artwork by: Serg Carpo

the flesh covers the bone and they put a mind in there and sometimes a soul, and the women break vases against the walls and the men drink too much and nobody finds the one but keep looking crawling in and out of beds. flesh covers the bone and the flesh searches for more than flesh. there's no chance at all: we are all trapped by a singular fate. nobody ever finds the one. the city dumps fill the junkyards fill the madhouses fill the hospitals fill the graveyards fill nothing else fills. Artwork by: Adeshomi Africanos-Williams