Cookies from Ukraine

Cookies from Ukraine

(This is an allegory..all semblances to real persons and places aя̲̣ε̲̣ very well-intended)

I have a thing f☺r cookies from Ukraine..brown-crusted wt pure cream Ø̲п̥ the insides..eazy Ø̲п̥ Τ̲̅ђe palatte..lasting Ø̲п̥ Τ̲̅ђe tongue..a delight f☺r anyone wt a sweet tooth..

I found luv while flipping thru Τ̲̅ђe pages of a magazine and beheld this cookie jar brimming wt ukrainian cookies..М̣̇Ɣ fingers trembled as I traced Τ̲̅ђe outline of Τ̲̅ђe jar Ø̲п̥ Τ̲̅ђe glossy page of Τ̲̅ђe magazine..aaah..what do we have here? I had †̥☺ have those cookies..I hurriedly tapped Ø̲п̥ Τ̲̅ђe keys of М̣̇Ɣ PC as I made an online order f☺r Τ̲̅ђe beauties..

 Τ̲̅ђe reply came a while later via e-mail.. Τ̲̅ђe cookies will B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ delivered †̥☺ me as ordered..but..it would take some time †̥☺ arrive..probably next year..М̣̇Ɣ heart skipped and took a nose-dive into М̣̇Ɣ boots..no cookies from ukraine this year..not even i̲̅n̲̅ time f☺r christmas..could I wait it out? I chewed М̣̇Ɣ fingers as I contemplated Τ̲̅ђe dreary months that stretched endlessly ahead..then М̣̇Ɣ insecurities creeped i̲̅n̲̅..

 U̶̲̅ see,it wasn't Τ̲̅ђe first time I had bn made †̥☺ wait f☺r a stretch of time before taking delivery of a jar of exotic cookies I had pre-ordered online..well,by Τ̲̅ђe time М̣̇Ɣ cookies arrived Τ̲̅ђe last time,they had become stale and powdery..tasteless and offering no real comfort †̥☺ a man wt a sweet tooth..and that was Τ̲̅ђe way Τ̲̅ђe cookie crumbled..nw here I was facing a similar ordeal..

Lord knows,I loved those ukranian cookies..but Τ̲̅ђe uncertainty of it all gave no assurrance †̥☺ a man Ø̲п̥ Τ̲̅ђe rebound from disillusionment..once bitten,twice shy..or Ş̲o rumour has it..Ş̲o I chickened out..and cancelled М̣̇Ɣ order..did a straight judas Ø̲п̥ those cookies..was I wrong? F☺r letting М̣̇Ɣ head rule М̣̇Ɣ heart? Did I throw М̣̇Ɣ happiness away? I don't know..I guess time is Τ̲̅ђe only true judge of these things..but sometimes,I sneak back †̥☺ that magazine and gaze upon those cookies..М̣̇Ɣ cookies from Ukraine..and wonder..

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

To B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ or not †̥☺ B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ Ghetto

(Pls excuse the wordings of this piece..I think i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ ebonics sometimes and luv to translate М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ thots using the same expression..)

Derz a whole lotta tinz dat aint wat dey seem 2 B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣..and peeps get it twisted..ℓi̶̲̥̅ke̶̲̥̅ the whole concept of bn 'ghetto'..I kip tellin folk,bn ghetto aint abt where U̶̲̥̅̊ waz raised or Ђδω much cheddar U̶̲̥̅̊ got..bn po aint got nufin on bn ghetto..ya see..Ghetto į̸̸̨§ a state of mind not a financial condition..I seen rich folk dats straight ghetto and I seen strugglin folk wt more class than Fendi...F̶̲̥̅̊☺я real tho,class aint bought wt money,its a product of good breeding and self-comportment..and I seen rich folk that aint got it..straight up ghetto wt they fine linen and dirty manners..no regard F̶̲̥̅̊☺я another man's dignity..they mad trippin off dat money stack wt no realness i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ em..I seen uptown kids treat people ℓi̶̲̥̅ke̶̲̥̅ dirt..mouths ℓi̶̲̥̅ke̶̲̥̅ garbage cans..spouting foul grammer ℓi̶̲̥̅ke̶̲̥̅ roosters..and I seen po folk wt compassion who treat people nice and respect people's feelinz..a lotta tins aint wat they seem,I tell ya..when it all comes to roost and the fat lady sings,bn Ghetto į̸̸̨§ a mentality..a disposition..a personal character flaw..tho found mostly amongst common folk..and associated wt the grimey and under-privileged..it aint limited to that..and I seen several exceptions to that stereotype..cos U̶̲̥̅̊ see, Ghetto į̸̸̨§ wat U̶̲̥̅̊ are..not where U̶̲̥̅̊ from..nuff said

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Confessions of a No-Gooder

I got ur messages..on my mobile phone..and facebook.. U̶̲̥̅̊ say u think about me a great deal..that's an irony of sorts, U know..cos I've seen d pictures of u and him u posted Ø̲n ur wall..U seem so happy..what's the matter,dear? Ur supposed 2 be in luv..(Sigh)..let's B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ real wt ourselves..The truth is I'm no gud 4 u ..never been..never will..

 U̶̲̥̅̊ ask me if I still remember u..of course I do..U were Мy Sunshine..М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ Chinky China Doll..I was the eclipse that shadowed ur sun 4 a season..the erstwhile recipient of ur affections..until u felt a change i̶̲̥̅̊n d weather and decided 2 flow wt the tide..afterall, U were the ocean..and I was the sand..who was I 2 hold U down?..in the springtime of ur life..resplendent in all ur glory..itching 2 explore and enjoy life..me,a late-bloomer..still finding my feet i̶̲̥̅̊n this world..still planting my seeds and watching them grow..no good 2 a high-flier ℓike U ..no good at all..

So run,Ms Chocolate..and don't look back..ur in a better luv,arent U ? Let it consume U..and fill ur consciousness..Dnt spare a thot 4 me..a no-gooder who couldn't live up 2 ur dreams..I'm still i̶̲̥̅̊n my wilderness,though..but I'm loving where I am on the way 2 where I'm goin..and I'm grateful 4 the people whose faith in me inspire me 2 bε a higher me..they validate my existence.. Enjoy ur time under the sun,Мy dear..we won't always be young...life is too short 2 spend on a no-gooder..no,not me..

P.S
 U̶̲̥̅̊ asked me 2 think about U sometime..I'm sorry..that's a promise I can't keep..cos I wud really love †̥☺ fall i̶̲̥̅̊n love again..wt a no-gooder like me..but above it all.. U̶̲̥̅̊ have М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ best wishes..XOXO..

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Dear Spring

I heard d echoes of ur comin from a lifetime away..ℓi̶̲̥̅ke̶̲̥̅ the patter of a thousand naked feet..'hello friend', U̶̲̥̅̊ whispered..as U̶̲̥̅̊ tapped on М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ window pane..and I shivered.. i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ anticipation..as I welcomed U̶̲̥̅̊ with open arms..ur the ocean to my shore..u always come back F̶̲̥̅̊☺я me..the runaway lover returns..and į̸̸̨§ received wt mixed feelings..cos U̶̲̥̅̊ embody the sum total of М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ joys and М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ pains..М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ dreams and М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ nightmares..М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ lows and М̣̣̥̇̊Ɣ highs..they always come around i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ springtime..and I wonder..what would it B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ this time?..Raindrops or Teardrops..Companionship or Solitude..Love or Heartbreak..they always come i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ 2s.. i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ the springtime..April just died..it May B̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣ June's turn i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ July..but i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ the meantime..its springtime..Hello Spring...

Monday, 30 April 2012

The She-Factor

I was on a bus that day..catchin the long ride from badagry to mile 2 when it happened..we pulled up at a bus-stop and as people alighted,I happened to look up from my reading and look through the glass window..our eyes met..and in that fraction of a second..I knew..she was aware..like birds of passage in a mating dance..we had flashed colours and created a picture of possibilties..young black male spots young black female..and they both know the steps to the ageless ritual dance..she knew I was searchin..and I knew she was on the lookout too..no time for pretence or formality..we both knew..then the bus pulls out of the station and breaks off the communion..no time for regrets..no time for apologies..we both look away and confront our reality..me,back to my reading..her,back to her waiting..but she knew..she was aware,all right...

Posted by Rapsody at 13:40 1 comment:

Ms Rapsodee

You should have seen me back then..with my hand-me down jeans and over-sized shirt..clutching a piece of paper in my hand..with my heart in my mouth..lying in wait for her..unsure of who was the hunter..and who was the prey..ℓoℓ..u see,I was'nt always this self-confident,smooth-talking charmer *wink*..back then,I was a tad bit unsure of myself..especially around the ladies..let me walk u down the alley-way of my memories..just for a bit

Its the summer of 1997..I'm barely out of secondary school..the youngest kid in my class..dreamy-eyed,shy and infatuated..*sigh*Yes! infatuated..and Tomi was the object of my affections..
She wasn't the prettiest one around..neither was she the sharpest pencil in the pack..that was obvious too..but my heart has always had a mind of its own..and it chose Tomi..Love is such a delightful pain,I tell u..I loved Tomi with every inch of my bony frame..wt every minute of my adolescent life..Phew! There was only one problem..I was too scared †o tell her..

Yes,I know..I was a chicken all right..a tongue-tied one for that matter..I would sneak glances at her in school and when she looked my way,I would duck quickly praying she didn't catch me..lord knows,how long I played that hide-and-seek game with Tomi..each time,I saw her talking with some boy in school,my heart would constrict with jealousy and I would wish a thousand deaths on the impudent fellow all the while cursing myself for being such a spineless fool..somehow,I knew she sensed my interest..obviously,I wasn't too good at playing peeping tom and the intensity of my glances must have told a story of their own..but she gave me no encouragement..watching me underneath her lashes..her brown eyes observing me..her bashful knight in shining armor

Then came Valentine..and its fever got †o me..it was now or never..I wrote her a simple love note ending with the words 'will u bε my val?',enclosed it with a flower in an envelope and sent it †o her through a junior student.JAMB Class had ended for the day..but I hung around hoping †o see her..valentine was the next day..so I waited..with bated breath and sweaty palms..almost certain of rejection..yet half-hoping
And then she came out..with two of her friends in tow..all laughing...Good Heavens! My nerve broke..and shattered into fragments..I didn't wait to hear the verdict..nah..I bolted for home..with my tail tucked firmly between my legs..Not in front of those girls! I would rather die..on Valentine's day,I hid at home..but the next day,I mustered the courage to attend class..

There she was again..not saying a word..watching me from underneath her lashes..brown eyes not missing a thing..and my heart sank..I was the knight who ran away..the romeo who refused †o die..the one who got way..Pls forgive me,Tomi..I would rather die another day..ℓoℓ..James Bond

P.S
I never got another chance †o express my feelings †o Tomi.She moved away from our neighborhood soon afterwards..Sometimes,I wonder what would have been her answer..if I had waited that day..I guess we would never know..

Tomi,if u ever get †o read this..Happy valentine!

I hate my Daddy

I cudnt believe what I had just heard..I turned in shock †o look at her.."Seriously...I hate my father" she repeated..smiling at my surprised expression.."Dnt worry" she reassured me "you aяε not like him" Then she launched into a tirade about her father's many sins and shortcomings..I listened intently, filling in the gaps in her story and picking up the undercurrents of hatred,contempt and bitterness she had harboured so long against the first man in her life..
After our conversation,I took a walk downtown..and down memory lane..u see,I have met quite a number of angry black women in my lifetime..young women wt an axe †o grind..bitter women..women wt a disappointment as a father or no father at all..raised by single mothers..angry daughters raised by angry mothers..a vicious circle..
There was Ms K..she had a turbulent childhood..torn between separated parents..she chose †o live wt her dad..until he kicked her out †o make his new wife comfortable in her new home..left his daughter moving from a one friend's house †o another..living like a refugee..fighting athsma as well as hatred for her father..searching for a father figure but scared of commitment..she broke many hearts in the process..mine inclusive..
Then there was Ms A..all she wanted was a little attention from daddy..he was never around ,u see..her mum practically fended for the family..but he was her idol..dying of neglect,she wud hve done anything †o win his approval..she grew up the day she discovered her sweet daddy had used the money that had been kept †o purchase her JAMB form †o procure a cheap abortion for his mistress..
How about Ms T?,she had a father all right..but all he ever did was father her..the epitome of irresponsibility..she had a petname for him "That fool! "..yes,that was her best description for the first man in her life..
I could go on and tell u about Ms J..daughter of a divorced clergyman..he did the best he could materially for her but left her feeling emotionally short-changed..she cud never quite forgive him for breaking up the family..she wud punish him by denying him time with her and when she wud visit,she wudnt say a word †o him for days..such vendetta!
I knw many more of such women..angry women..attractive,intelligent..but damaged..I've listened †o them talk and had some of them confide in me..(*wink*..one of the fringe benefits of being a good listener)..these women do desire a different future for themselves..good husbands and blissful marriages..but they struggle in relationships..

*Sigh* Its the baggage,my dear..the hurt,the pain,the betrayal..yes..and the anger..Daddy was a rascal..no doubt..but there aяε still some fine young men out there..who would respect and love u..and bε a good father †o your own kids..its time †o heal yourself..forgive the old man..and move on..dnt make another man do time for your father's crimes..let go of the baggage,sister..