Waking up in this space, it’s hard to get out of bed…
Would you want to rush off?
My early morning rising was that of a Queen. Listening to the sounds of Sa-Ra, eating this space fruit…
As I sip my hibiscus, Bob Marley sang me a song…
And then back to Sa-Ra…
I’m ready for the world now!
Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned. If your knowledge were your wealth than it would be well earned.
I am Shila, come play.
Close
your
eyes
Don’t be afraid
in the shadows of darkness
the night balances out the day
equal
as the vernal equinox finds its way
6, 4, 5
post meridian, it’s time
find me
all that you thought mattered
wasn’t filling
i am your fullness
i am your Spring
the mistress of mystery
goddess ciphering
rotating, evolving, blossoming,
untouched by your inability to feel
the real, I am the way,
come lift me
let go of the dead weight
my womb is thirsty
the life inside of me has yet to be born
put your hands into my loop
and bring forth eternal life
close
your
eyes.
i am waiting
allowing the medicinal metaphors of history
the prophetic memories of the seasons past
redirect my high
i am turnt
i am in another di e
mension, i fly
through the evening sky
you haven’t felt it yet,
but i have,
let me tell you about the reasons, last
night i was fucking the light
it keeps me grounded
i am
rooted in the things you told me to pay attention to
you are in my dreams
cycling through my thunderous extremes
i receive
messages from gods
i process the important data
hieroglyphs painted on my walls
my soul left my body
i am traveling
my unconscious mind
con trives
the TRUTH,
the story of my genes
my ancestors, the creators of liberty
want me to be free
to say words like:
you are the day, and I am the night
put your fingers in my sands and
draw two parallel lines to measure us
tomorrow,
wake up
life is experimental, but he plays chess
the living doesn’t start until you say yes,
to greatness,
let go of an empty search
you should ask the god in you for me
or should you let life just be?
don’t live in misery,
when you could have my mysteries
ok, so it’s like this
i want you
in the Spring
do you want me?
it took me forever to be right on time
peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned,
shila_iris is OSiRiS RiSinG is your Queen is your Reality, i am power, come play with me
Face it.
i am poet.
listen… and be wild as the warm winds…
I was trying to go it alone, but he said, “I want to assist you through this process.” Before I knew it, I was crying. That is the impact a true friend has. It’s not just rhetoric, it’s responsibility. He wanted to hold my hand. He was pure.
***** The seasons will forever change. We all know it. The leaves have fallen off my trees. The ground beneath my feet is hard and cold. My flowers are hiding until the spring, but I can still feel the green, the roots. My foundation is being set. I’ve never felt this powerful in my life! It feels good. My season has changed and I’ve had to spend a lot of time alone. Spending time with myself, with my own thoughts, not being dependent on another has been empowering! Not jumping from affair to affair has been elevating. Having friends and family around who see the greatness in me, has been nourishing. I am not afraid to be alone anymore or to commit to myself anymore. I’m thinking, if you can’t be alone with you, why would other people want to? I don’t want to attract the same type of energy again and again, so I guess it is time to cleanse!
I record my experiences using poetry. When I talk to people about how great it feels to go through things, no matter how painful, when I tell people my story, they are interested! I’ve been encouraged to always be a griot, a storyteller, and to use the magic of my words to nurse my strength. When I write, I can feel the magic. It’s healing. I am a writer who’s finds the most comfort in telling my own story. My journey through the seasons has been tumultuous. I had been holding on to things that were damaging me. I had read many self-help books that I thought would assist in my healing, only to realize that the healing didn’t start until I let go of the thing that was hurting me most. I had to take time out to learn myself and although I have been alone, many people have come to me, and given me hugs, smiles, kisses, and so much love.
This is my thank you LETTER to the wonderful people in my CIPHER. Some of you are miles away, but when I needed you, somehow you sensed it, and you were right here with me. I am forever grateful. May we journey onward through the seasons. Everything is good until it is not! It’s been a long time coming… read (click on the image below to enlarge)
“his excitement in hearing my voice was attractive. it always had been. it felt real. not rehearsed. it felt right.”
the THANK YOU LETTER… you have to adjust your screens to read.
and although, i don’t need to run to people to save me, i’ve realized that there are people who genuinely want to help. No matter how much I refuse, they feel like they have to. It’s quite amazing. I am grateful. this poem was originally published here, on January 29, with other things in mind. It is still relevant in my journey. it is not a love poem. it is a poem to show my regards for those who really CARE about me. and they have proven this time and time again. i can’t believe how wonderful you are. i deserve u. i miss u. 
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Thank you friends, lovers, family, companions, artists- everyone who has experienced me! Everyone who rose to my occasion, everyone who was interested in the truth.
thank you for the warm kisses.
Thank you to all who allow me to tell my own stories.
Gotta give up it up to the cReAtor, allAh, JEHovah, mAAt, Jah, RastaFARI…
a song for you.
ERYKAH BADU: THE Healer
Monday, October 13, 2014, 2:34 p.m.
Surfing the net, I came across these images of beautiful women with flava. THESE ARE SOME STYLES YOU MAY want to TRY in JULY. I love to give style alternatives because so many women whom I come across think that style is wearing the tightest clothing you can find. That is so wrong! Women look most regal and respectable when they wear clothing that flows. Now, I am not saying that some things cannot be form-fitting, but you have to be careful because it is a fine line between form-fitting and clothing that is for attention whores! You have to keep your mind pure and know your body. If you have hips and curves it is not OK to show everyone what you got all the time. Honestly, sometimes it gets hot, but we women have to be careful what we show. I have made mistakes and worn things that I wish I hadn’t in all innocence, but quickly found out that some men simply cannot handle that and I did not want or need the attention … yeah.
Peace and love,
Queen Duafe for AfricanEssence
P.S. Looking for some chill music? Sade’s band Sweetback’s CD never gets old. It’s very smooth and actually good on days when you just want to sit back and listen to your thoughts…
Check it out from your local library or purchase it on Amazon. I give it a 5 star review.
“I’m in chains, you’re in chains too
I wear uniforms and you wear uniforms too
I’m a prisoner, you’re a prisoner too, Mr Jailer”
Asa is a Nigerian- born singer who is currently performing all over the world. Her music is a feel good, conscious protest to modern day slavery. She explains concepts such as love, oppression, peace, and dreaming. Of course I have some songs that I play over and over because the messages speak to what I am, but all of her music has a sharp angle of awareness that we don’t hear a lot these days.
Vocalist Asa, click on the image to be directed to her website
Asa represents a new breed of artist largely indebted to beautiful poets like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and MeShell Ndegeocello. Her lyrics are far from cookie-cutter, lacking the repetitive, hypnotic trance that modern artists get over using. Asa allows you to think and to get involved spiritually with the rhythms. If there is a parent out there looking for some good music for his/her young teenage daughter to listen to, please try ASA.
Queen Style
My heart leaps when she speaks in her native tongue on songs such as So Beautiful, Bi ban ke, and Bimpe. On her album Beautiful Imperfection, my favorite song is The Way I Feel. It is reminiscent of Nina Simone’s efforts in addressing the struggles of Black expression. While Nina Simone was more direct with her messages of demur, Asa is still powerful, especially since people are seemingly trying to force the world to forget the crimes of colonization endured by people of African descent. It won’t help to forget, or brush these issues under the rug. It’s better to address them and learn about the real history of the mother land.
“I’m talking to you jailer
Stop calling me a prisoner
Let he who is without sin-
be the first to cast the stone
Mr Jailer
You suppress all my strategy
You oppress every part of me
What you don’t know,
you’re a victim too
Mr Jailer”
These are lyrics from her song Jailer, the first song on her debut album. Just wonderful! Check out ASA in all her efforts to spread a different kind of message, not driven by money. Her music is linked on her website. Check out your local library if you want to borrow her CDs to try them out first. The video below is cool, however, I normally like music more without having viewed the videos. I like to hear the message before seeing it.
Today is February 13 and it is my birthday! I am excited! I never really get excited on my birthday but this year I am grateful for so many things, including all the new and wonderful people who have become a part of my world. I can thank my greatest friend in life (he knows who he is) for introducing me to so many new ideas, people, and feelings… we have a chemistry only true friendship can understand.
SMOOTH IS LIFE TRAVELS WITH YOU BESIDE ME… Thanks for being real and being so kind and tough and respectful and thoughtful and supportive. You have helped me evolve as an artist more than anyone. Peace and love to you always.
So… I love being an Aquarius. The sign defines me and I define it. Now it is time to write.
This is my first blog entry of the year. I wanted to write many times, but for some reason I could not! I think I had to get into the groove of the year. I was discouraged from making observations about the year and making resolutions until I made some major decisions about my life. My new year starts NOW- February 13. My birthday always feels more like a new year for me. In the past I have not been a big birthday person, but it means a great deal to me this year because I feel like I have more wisdom than I ever had. I have grown tremendously and I do not mind getting older. I welcome age. I can already see myself loving my gray hair when that time comes!
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT GETTING OLDER…
I’ve noticed changes in my body. It looks like I will have to get more active this year because my skin feels different and my face looks a bit different.
I’ve noticed changes in the way that I think. Things do not affect me the same. I want more now and I have this constant desire to find freedom.
I’ve started to face reality. I used to struggle with the here and now. I wanted people to be how I wanted them to be and I wanted them to change on the spot. I am not too concerned with these types of things anymore. My biggest concern is connecting myself with nature and seeing the world.
I used to have time to waste, but as I get older I realize that I need to keep pressing on. I do not want to play as much anymore (well, maybe just a bit). I love to have fun and smile every moment that I can… smell the flowers, if I may. I just realize that work and play have to match. THE KEY IS: USE MODERATION IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. Overuse and abuse make you grow old faster. Bad habits make you grow older as well. Only take what you need. Only buy what you need. Only use what you need. I accept enough to get by. Do not be greedy. Have you ever been at a cook out and watched that one person load their plate up until it is spilling over? Then they laugh and make meaningless comments trying to come up with an excuse as to why they are being greedy? DO NOT BE THAT PERSON. Take a little and leave some for others, move on. Do not accept anything for free. Work for the things you desire in life.
2013 HAS BEEN GREAT!
I ushered in January with history and poetry and art. I celebrated Kwanzaa with a group I perform poetry with: The Griot Project. We celebrated our 2nd Annual Kwanzaa this year. We had all observed Kwanzaa in the past, but we decided to celebrate it together and invite people to our celebrations. For 7 whole days we did this. Each evening we had a brief ceremony, ate, had discussions, took pictures, gave gifts, and glowed in the midst of our ancestors knowing they were proud that we took pride in our African American Identity- no watering it down.
I made Kwanzaa gifts. Since I paint and create, I love to give people art. I used old vinyl records to create Africa-inspired designs.
I enjoyed making these gifts and spending time with friends. I invited my friend Robert over ON my day which was Nia: Purpose (we all take a day and do research and share our findings with everyone who comes). He brought his friend Jennifer who I had never met. She later connected me with another poetry group in Columbus,Ohio. I was very grateful. This is why I enjoy meeting new people because it seems we all touched each other and were there at that particular time for a reason. THAT WAS MY NEW YEAR!
I also spent time with my friends from Umojah Nation Reggae Band. We went to Oil City, PA. They had a 4 hour gig welcoming in the New Year! Yes, 4 hours! It was fun. I do not have a picture from that day because I think everyone was too cold to pose!
Well. this year I hope to do some extensive traveling and see my family more.
More to come…
Check out my birthday playlist:
1. Jill Scott: Spring Summer Feeling
2. Telepopmusik: Don’t Look Back
3. Esthero: Thank Heaven for You
4. Janet Jackson: When We Oooo
5. Madonna: Secret
6. Maxwell: Bad Habits
7. Corinne Bailey Rae: Closer
8. Portishead: All Mine
9. LiAnn La Havas: Don’t Wake Me Up
10. Erykah Badu: Out My Mind, Just in Time
Peace & love and thanks for reading,
Queen Duafe of African Essence
Grace-full💜🌙
seeking solace in the horizon of life and beyond
When is Kwanzaa and my daily Kwanzaa practice
"Enlightening Through Words Of Wisdom"
"I saw the Angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free"
BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
Prime my subconscious, one hint at a time
WE CREATE YOUR FAIRY EVENTS
Earth & Ether 