Alagbe Eniola

A Tribute to Relief Workers

A child cries out in  hunger and fear
A mother weeps with  sorrowful tears 
Her tears flow into a gentle river 
The river began to slowly quiver 
A moonbeam casts  a golden light
Human angels  appear to  set things right
Precious food  and medicine hand in hand
Now spreading hope to all  the land
Each day they put their lives on the line 
To serve all of the neediest humankind
Thank you to all the beautiful souls
The ones that care with a heart so bold
by Alison Johnstone

Beyond the Storm

The wicked  wind billows on the rails
Whipping through the torn tattered sails
The unrelenting waves crash all around
Will the ship survive or run aground?
The storm brews up power relentlessly 
Tossing the ragged ship endlessly
Do not despair ; look to the horizon’s part 
Connect with the anchors of your heart
Feel your strength and the true might
Move past  the storm and revel in the light

by Alison Johnstone

Ego vs Soul

Your ego mind is a most powerful force
It can lift you up or knock you off course
It can tear your heart and block the dream
Are you  fighting a losing battle upstream?
Connect to your soul knowing  the real you
The one that is loving, courageous,  honest and true
The power of the soul is itself  a mighty force
Embrace it and be led  back on course
The ego will wage battles with the soul
But truth will prevail in a way that is bold

by Alison Johnstone

At the corner of the booth, wiping away mascara in front of a cascading mountain of makeup, sat the most intriguing woman I had ever met. Rosaline was sharp, bold, and charismatic. Her remarkable ability to say the most insanely inappropriate things at the most awkward moments earned her title as my second skin.Before I stood to lose all my courage, I cleared my throat to ask the question that had been burning in the back of my mind ever since the spotlight shifted onto Juliet.

“Are you happy being denied in the tale that was rightfully meant to have your name in bold?”

Her eyes gleamed knowingly, as if picking up on the words I dared not think for fear of them coming true.Can anyone be happy as a ‘Rosaline’? Can you be happy as the woman who almost got it all?I knew that feeling all too well: almost having the boy, almost having the spotlight in your own rightful story. The feeling hit home. They say I am witty and smart. They tell me what they tell her, that we are the suns. Yet why does the story still have Juliet in bold? Why is it still Juliet?I bet she despises the silent tirade, having the audience look at her pitiful plight and wonder why she wasn't enough.

“But my name isn't Juliet. I am Rosalind, a heartbroken but proud woman.”

I looked dumbfoundedly into her content smile. Suddenly, I was no longer staring at a weeping figure cursed to be marred with tears of sorrow. A sorrow she no longer had since she stopped trying for a different name tag.This commanding force of a woman refused to bend for the story that all had deemed was her life, tragically wrenched from her hands.Rosaline knew this wasn't her show. ‘Rosaline’ was up next.Without warning, she gets to her feet.

“Must I try and wait to be the ‘Juliet’ for someone who isn't my Romeo? Forgotten or not, the story must go on, and mine just happened to be pressed late. Alas, I must go for my show, now now,we can't have Dario waiting.”

She winked as I grinned through the realisation that I am a Rosaline(deff always late)and a proud one.

Glinting golden through the trees,
 Apples of Hesperides!
Through the moon-pierced warp of night
Shoot pale shafts of yellow light,
Swaying to the kissing breeze
Swings the treasure, golden-gleaming,
 Apples of Hesperides!

Far and lofty yet they glimmer,
 Apples of Hesperides!
Blinded by their radiant shimmer,
Pushing forward just for these;
Dew-besprinkled, bramble-marred,
Poor duped mortal, travel-scarred,
Always thinking soon to seize
And possess the golden-glistening
 Apples of Hesperides!

Orbed, and glittering, and pendent,
 Apples of Hesperides!
Not one missing, still transcendent,
Clustering like a swarm of bees.
Yielding to no man's desire,
Glowing with a saffron fire,
Splendid, unassailed, the golden
 Apples of Hesperides!

I can miss you,
I can grieve for you,
but I don't want to bother you.
I can feel you,
I can be yours,
but I don't want to be a burden to you.
I can love you even in silence,
but I don't want anyone to
drag you down because of me.
I can be your strength
without being by your side,
but I don't want anyone to look down on you
just because of me.
I can be your ally, even from a distance,
but I don't want to be the reason for your downfall.
I can live without you,
even when it hurts,
but I am happy that you are
shining without me,
because that matters more.
I will always choose you as mine,
but without letting you know.
I can feel sad in your absence,
but I don't want you to hurt yourself.
I can die a hundred times,
but I don't want you to be blamed,
nor do I want your family to be blamed,
just because I have nothing
and no one by my side.
I can be your silent cheerleader,
but I can't be the reason for your problems.
I can hurt myself,
knowingly or unknowingly,
but I want you to look good
and be respected in modern society.
I can lose everything over time for you,
but I don't want you to lose anything,
because you deserve to have it all.
I can remain nameless in modern society,
but you are the source of everything
that still makes me believe in love.
That's why I love you,
but I let you go.