I sat in the corner,
a book in hand,
cup of coffee in the other.
I looked outside the window,
drops of rain,
splashes of thunder,
claps of lightning.
Your wishes,
My dreams.
Your thoughts,
My desires.
I sat in the corner,
with thoughts of you,
crisp and clean,
like the drops of rain that hit the ground.
I haven’t completed this year’s NanoWrimo challenge. I had this great idea and plot and somewhere along the way, work became a priority and I could not catch up or meet the targets I set for myself.
So, what does that mean for Flowers in June? I will write it at my own pace. I set it up as this month’s challenge because:
So, now that the month’s coming to an end and all the Wrimos out there are drawing closer to their targets, I am left drinking coffee, listening to Formation by Beyonce and biting large chunks of cake. I am not going to strain myself to meet the target :-(.
I really wanted to get this done, but those 50,000 words are not yet here and they’ll not be come 30th of this month. On the bright side, I feel more relaxed knowing that I have managed to meet half of that and can always keep writing and improving the plot.
I won’t win the challenge this year, but I shall have mastered my emotions and given into the story, and I win all through, so thanks to NanoWrimo for that kind of pressure.
I saw this on The Happiest Pixel and let’s just say that her answers got me thinking I could do the same. For that Instalove and reading books, let’s do this!
Feed: Many people give a special theme to their Instagram feeds or none at all. Are most of the books you read the same genre or do you like to mix it up?
I love a good romance and I have often leaned towards that genre, but I do mix things up with some YA and Literary Fiction. I have never developed the taste for Sci-Fi but I’ll tweak them soon enough.
Filter: Most Instagrammers often put filters onto their photos to make them look vibrant and beautiful. Name a book with a stunning cover.
Following: On Instagram, users follow others to see what they post and basically for a little mash-up of their lives. Name a book character whose steps you always enjoy following.
I am not following anyone’s steps in a series, but while we are at it- I would love to read J.R.Ward’s ‘The Bourbon Kings.’
Followers: Many celebrities have millions of Instagram followers. Name a hyped-up book read by thousands that you were hesitant to read, but ended up devouring.
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I mean, who wouldn’t love Jace’s wit and sarcasm?
Direct message: DMs are often used to send pictures found on Instagram to others or simply just to chat. Name a book you always recommend to others.
Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe
Bio: Instagram bios can be up to 150 characters long and can be sued to give some general information about yourself. Name a book with a catchy blurb that hooked you in.
“Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the ‘Cemetery of Forgotten Books.’ –The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Unfollow: Sometimes you’ll like someone’s feed at first but then you lose interest and decide to unfollow them. Name a book you liked at first, but over time, the love wore off.
Demon Kissed by H.M.Ward
Notifications: Whether you admit it or not, everyone loves and waits anxiously to see the pink notification button pop up at the bottom of their Instagram feed. Name an unreleased book that you have been anxiously waiting.
None at the moment.
Hashtag: Many Instagrammers use hashtags to get their photos out there, or just for fun. Create yourself a booksihs tag! It could be anything from just your blog’s name to something crazy spectacular!
#kitabunilichoandika #suchanawesomebook #kenyanstory
Story: Many Instagrammers love using Instagram’s story feature to let their followers know what they are currently up to. Name a book you are currently reading!
I’m reading ” The Emperor’s Bones” by Adam Williams
Tag: Many people tag friends in their photos because they were together when the picture was taken, or simply just because. Tag 5 awesome bloggers that you’d like to see take on this tag!
😎
I woke up with a song in my heart,
It felt like I had a new start.
I could have taken to heart,
The little things that hurt.
The disappointments, hours in traffic, sickness, bills
All these ills.
I woke up with a song in my heart,
It had no rhyme
I had no time.
It had no melody,
But carried a tune.
I woke up with a song in my heart,
So I filled the beats with words.
I wrote them down, even as I looked like a clown.
I wrote them down
And one by one, the words rang true,
The sun rises on every soul,
The sun sets on every soul,
What you do in between fills your soul.
I bought flowers in June. A bouquet of red roses. I had just arrived from Busia that Thursday evening when I walked to the vendor at Mega City and asked for a bouquet. I did not want her to mix them up or wrap them in that colorful clear paper and tie a ribbon. I wanted a dozen roses and I got them.
I thought about this today as I drifted in and out of sleep in a vehicle from Mbita. Everyone was talking about their experience being in Mbita and taking selfies to share on WhatsApp. I was nursing a fever and a constant nausea but my earphones were firmly plugged into my ears, delivering soothing sounds of Alexandra Burke and Muse. Well, Muse can be very soothing when you have a fever. I do not know what prompted the thought of flowers. It could have been the nausea or the fever, or the desire to laugh with others when I was clearly unwell, I cannot place it. I closed my eyes for a nap and treated my eyes to the sight of fresh red roses. It was like a bar of chocolate, holding those roses, like a cold drink away from the sun- and I remember feeling complete even though I had been the one to gift myself that bouquet.
When we arrived in Kisumu all I could think of was getting to the house, taking a cold shower and sleeping, tucked away under a duvet, shaking off a fever or tossing and turning until I beheld another dawn. It was this constant state of darkness that made it harder for me to breathe or cross the road to get home. I wished I had if not one rose but a dozen, something that could take me back to that awesome feeling in June. When I got to the house, my nephew ran up to me ‘Arch! Where have you been? I missed you!’He threw his hands around me and hugged me and I stood for a while torn between telling him I was unwell and basking in all that attention and love. When he stepped back, he shook his head, shrugged his shoulder and asked, ‘Are you okay?’
I put down my bag and said ‘Yes, I am.’ He turned and went into the kitchen. I was dismissed. Later on as I took that shower, I realized that I’ll be on medication for a while and they’ll weigh me down only if I let them- and that sometimes, a hug is better than a dozen red roses (plus it’s free, and has no thorns, it does not wither too)
🙂
It’s great to get out of Kisumu and visit other towns and so the visit to Mbita came at a much needed time.
A view of the Lake Victoria and of the hotel makes for a great stay- let’s not talk about the heat, I thought Kisumu was hot…well, the hotel rooms have pre-installed fans!
I sat facing my computer this morning, but I could not type anything except “this is a word document, I should write something, anything, as long as I am here, a few words should be just fine.” I did laundry, sorted out my clothes and packed for a trip I’m supposed to make this Wednesday. It felt good. Great. So when I sat down and thought about my week and felt as though something was slowly dying in me, I was taken aback. I have a job. I am of good health. I have a loving family full of crazy people who always make me laugh and think. I have a roof over my head. I have that new Rebecca Ferguson album “Superwoman.” I have not missed an episode of Twist of Fate on ZeeWorld. So what’s the matter?
As I sat down to have breakfast, it hit me that I have not been writing much and there was this sadness that filled my heart. I wonder, do other Writers feel so empty when they haven’t written? What do they do with the emptiness? Does it go away or can it be filled with something temporarily?
And then I learned of Passion.
Going on even when you don’t feel like it.
Going on when the world mocks you. It is being brave enough to stand when you’re too weak to keep kneeling because you have a fire in you that refuses to be put out.
Why then is this passion important?
From where I sit, it’s important because it is that spark that knows it will light up not one soul but many souls and it’s stubborn enough to keep burning. I have been so focused on blending in at work, doing a good job that I forgot that I am a Writer. I have been so focused on earning a paycheck that I forgot about the burning fire inside of me that refuses to be put out.
It is also important because it is the driving force of purpose. When you are persistent in doing something you are passionate about,you are focused,determined and are bound to realize results.
Passion makes you stand out. It announces your presence anywhere you go, for as long as you keep it alive.
Maybe other Writers have had the same challenge of balancing their work, responsibilities and family with writing. But, I have to keep that passion burning, for simply put writers write.
Rebecca knew Matthew. His smile, the way he walked in long strides, laughed at odd comments in Facebook posts and even how he removed money from his wallet to pay bills. She knew it all, except for why he loathed flowers.
She paid three hundred shillings for them. A bouquet of red, pink, yellow and one that slightly resembled crisp orange. When she got to the house, she placed them on his side of the bed and waited…
The call came in at 7:00pm.
Show yourself, do not put on a show,
You’ll be left alone after the applause.
Show yourself!
nilichoandika 