25 Ways I Sip My Tea

 

 

Now that I'm awake,

there's more than one way to take

A sip of my tea

 

I heard them ask me,

How to beat sad stories that

I share globally

 

I turn and face them,

the problems my soul can see,

to find solutions

 

There are some humans

that spend each waking moment

Stealing dignity,

 

Generosity

guides my spirit into joy

Hope comes back ten-fold

 

In digital skies,

I find amazing creatures

With passions as I

 

Rounding the bases,

Focused on inner travels

Journeys of the mind

 

Transitions are tough

Riding the rocking chair

Trying to get there

 

Where solutions are

Feeling like a part of me

Out where we gather,

 

It has to matter

if we simulate ourselves

Genetic copies

 

Whether or not I

fail or succeed with answers

I can learn from them,

 

Clean up my own mess

Even as I'm moving on

Leaving parts of me,

 

(Tune in and see)

 

This is how I grow,

I remember to love me

As my Grindaddy did

 

I simply let go

Turn towards the problems while I

Trade that shade for tea,

 

What was of darkness,

Depression, greed and envy,

I fight to be free

 

To have an impact,

To keep on moving forward,

To know where to lean,

 

Shade is always there,

And love is always a verb

I'm blessed to receive

 

I'm not alone, just

Flanked on all sides by angels

Blocking shade that lies 

 

Behind demon eyes

That fail to connect to what

What they feel inside

 

Only snap judgments

and inferiority

Damaging the worst,

 

Clogging the bases

Wanting second stuck on first,

Causing worlds of thirst

 

(Lord help me be strong)

 

In adversity

Darkness reveals the brightest

But does not make it,

 

This Light you can see,

Any good without is just

The God within me

 

Move out of my way

Or come on in toward problems

That our souls can see

 

Where when life throws shade -

I just keep the faith and take

A sip of my tea

 

 

© Arkay Evans 2016

 

A Brand New Devil

Yes, yes, yes...I know.  Many, many people don't believe as I do.  As a poet and woman of faith, I am also a spiritual narcissist with no time or interest in controlling the beliefs of others.  I've never needed people to believe as me to love them - my faith is my freedom, and I express to pay that freedom forward.  My faith does not designate, sell, excuse or defend - it is quite simply me - doing what I do - development through my craft. 

I included this little precursor to the poem 'A Brand New Devil' because so many are disturbed by an individual expression of faith.  I find it both odd and inexplicably stupid when using God's name to swear is cool with people, but saying God's name as a simple expression of faith and hope irritates the hell (literally) out of them. It's laughable to presume that anything I write or blog is somehow designed for some twisted level of religious recruitment. If you've ever thought that about my work, get ovah ya-self already.  It's not about you, shoot - I'm still pushing the door that says 'pull' half the time.

There are so many different faiths in the world - and as we all know, there are people who say that their God has told them to hurt or even kill others. My question to that is always the same - if God is love, what's the point of a love that you'd hate and kill for?  THAT'S some logic to pray about. Then there are those who think all this yap about evil being among us (in a supernatural sense) is all bunk, at best.  How bout those minions?  You think there are none? Oh contrare. There is always a minion skulking at every turn.  Now if I say there's always some miserable jerk who wants to undermine your joy, your life, and even your contribution, most people understand and some even agree with the insult.  I prefer the explanation of this biblical description:  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Ephesians 6: 12.

Minions come in all forms.  They can range from control freaks who have GOT to be right to be happy, to your average Joe sociopath just chillin' at the job site and tripping nerds, or hiding in the church house smiling and waiting for the day when they can gain a little pleasure from the pain or discomfort they cause or see in another (who they never COULD stand).  And this brings me to another truth - that the intention of a minion can sometimes be found right in the mirror.  An attitude of gratitude can get it right in check.  So, when you see those ugly moods, mosquito minions and all their joy-sucking intentions snarling from the mirror - check it quick.  When you see that minion in another miserable soul, don't reflect it - check it with a smile of gratitude for what's good and flee from such distainful creatures.  Because there are many miserable minions about with much trouble to do and too little time to do it, and nothing good can be done to confound these ugly situations but by faith. 

So I pray for you, what I need. May you be blessed with abundant patience.  May the boundaries of your faith ALWAYS protect you from harm, bring you rest, and give you the strength you need to rise, and fight another day for joy and justice.

A Brand New Devil

Oh my Patience
Please don't let me down this time,
I've come such a long, long way
and I can't fall that far behind,
Help me through the valley, Lord
Tell me how it's gonna be,
I need your heart to be my eyes
for I have come upon a darkness
I can hardly see...
I remember how the mountain can be,
The ruthless desert valley pit,
The stratospheric jagged cliffs,
I chased my dreams up to the ledge,
Excitement for the rough edge,
A fictional story, where my little world seemed to be
a friendly, harmless, raving beauty...
And Lord knows, the steepest slopes,
they go down all too fast, you know -
DAMN it is a bumpy ride;
The rocks and roots ripped at my hide,
until I landed, BOOM
like that, and laid there for a fortnight,
Absent of my vicious gall,
Love can be hard,
when it breaks a long fall...
But even then I hear your call say
Come back lover,
Here is right where you belong,
and I come running forth to you
deep within my fighting soul
just to come upon a darkness
one that I have never known...
And even then I do remember,
You told me that with every level
here comes a brand new devil,
And I relay with all of heaven in my corner
what can evil make me say?
Not a doggone thing.
For Love has taken me to and through
a mole hill or a mountain or two
and I know for sho like then as TODAY,
Love is Light
It will show me The Way

Copyright © 2011 Arkay Evans

April In Paris

Dreaming Paris (A Haiku)

When little makes sense,

It's easy dreaming Paris,

where you'd rather be.

Paris, France...at a tiny glance

Where everything seemed different.  And absolutely perfect.

I love Paris. The food, the wine, the busy streets all bustling with people. Even the air there seems different to me. To see the world and to experience the beauty of culture is an amazing blessing.

An exhausted me at brunch with Ine post arrival.

I was exhausted after my 10 hour flight. There'd been a very unhappy 4 year old whose parents had only brought ear plugs for themselves.  Once I arrived, it no longer mattered - one is immediately swept up by the sounds and smells and sights.  My camera was on fire and there was much to see.

Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) at Les Invalides

According to records left by 19th century owners and to the absolute horror of French officials, Napoleon's penis was removed after his death in 1821 during the autopsy by a clearly twisted doctor, then smuggled back to France by his chaplain. Wow. In the meantime, why I keep such trivial info in my head remains a medical mystery, and why I've decided to share it here simply has no explanation.

Arc de Triomph

Located on the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomph (Triumphal Arch) is an amazing monument commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor those who fought and died for France.

Golden Mime

Mime performing outside Notre Dam

James Brown is loved in Paris

This cafe' owner welcomed me with a dance and blaring appreciation for the Godfather of Soul.

A Writer in Paradise

Boating on the River Sienne

This was a day of adventure.  The bridge to the left served as shelter to the young boy in the pic 'Paris Underground' below...

Paris Underground

 Treasure Troll (Evans)

The day was growing late. I slowly made my way back toward Le' Hotel Kensington; my camera clicking away with a mind of its own. It excited for the delectable French canard that awaited me. I'd been craving the smells from a cafe' near the hotel. I saw a little boy sitting on a bridge across the river Seine.  He looked lost in his body, but he was no fool - the boy had a sly eye and major game.  He played music on the bridge for money.  I didn't want to be late, but I couldn't stop myself.  I asked him in my broken French if I could take a shot of him playing.  He nodded - one eye on me, one on the world around us. He put most of a deck of cards he had on the inside of his jacket.  The rest you see clipped to his left sleve.  Here is his attempt to smile for me - it was just a few seconds - a slice of time and space. It ceased when a group of boys came upon us, calling him names.  The fear in his eyes was one I'd seen before.  I asked him to play 'La Vie en Rose' for me as loudly as he could.

And from this very spot, he began to play.  The sound was haunting and magical, like a call for help, and scores of people crossing the bridge began to gather round.  He played and played his little heart out.  In lieu of the crowd, his bigoted tormentors would be on their way...for now. 

For his trouble, the boy had gathered quite a bit of money.  As I walked away, he disappeared beneath the bridge to count his earnings.  It wasn't until much later that I realized he hadn't spoken one word.

A Fun Night In Paris

Wonderful travel companions.

Notre Dame de Paris

Entrance at Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Notre Dame is a most beautiful structure.  It was by far my favorite excursion - an intensely moving experience - my sanctuary, just as it had been for millions before me.  I visited Notre Dame several times.  The archetecture is amazing.  The medeval gargoyles snarl from the heights of it.  The rose windows are magnificent - didn't get a good shot, though. 

I was far too busy praying.

Copyright © Arkay Evans

Midwest Sister

Midwest Sister.
This piece was written in honor of all my sisters who have survived violent hate or domestic crimes. 
God bless those who by faith find the courage to trust, love and achieve again. 
By faith, sweetness can endure.

________________________________________________

And so,

The story goes that you,

First saw the devil 'round age 23,

Blazing in a stench of bigoted, biased Chauvinistic eyes

hurling like vomit on fire,

As you suffered at length,

Overestimating the kindness of strangers

and personal strength,

And this, your concrete dance

was held in the beauty of Missouri grasses and wild wheat,

whispering warnings in summer heat,

and memories,

fading and rising in you like the acid of

what-if's gone sour,

Leaving a sister angry and sad,

Wishing she were stronger,

But fear not, dear sister;

for if sweetness can endure,

And with faith in God it can,

then I know I'll see you soon

to fist bump better days, my friend.

Peace.

Copyright © Arkay Evans

Snow In April (Evans)

The weather in tornado alley is sometimes quite bizzare.  We'd just had a week or so of
lovely spring warmth, when BOOM in rolled an artic springtime blizzard.  I took tons of pictures.
It was absolutely beautiful.