”Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning.’‘ – Samuel Butler. I agree because life and love is a journey. Find out more in this short documentary I wrote and directed with a friend.
Here’s a transcript of the film:
Life is a journey, and it starts with a cry… the cry of a new-born baby. It ends with moans, groans, or the contented sigh of an older man or woman who’s led a fruitful life.
Or it can end in running feet, a chase, a stab, searing pain, blood splattered on the sidewalk, the cold street receding away as a young life flitter away into nothingness…
A life cut short…
Humans are chasing humans and killing without thought or regard for the pains inflicted on unfamiliar people.
Life can end well, or, it may end in tragedy.
Twenty years ago, I got married to the man of my dreams, and two years later, I was in the hospital, in labour, and anticipating the birth of my son.
It was a complicated process. A short life, my son passed away two days after he was born.
My life stopped briefly.
I didn’t know how to process my grief. I cried every night, and I prayed every night.
Days passed. Time didn’t wait for my grief. And I healed with the love of my husband and family.
Three months later, there was a miracle.
I was pregnant again. This time, everything felt different, but I was hiding my fears. I smiled openly while I cried and cringed inside, wondering if the new life growing inside me would live, and survive.
Nine months later, I welcomed another son. He lives. He’s kind and makes me laugh. He’s energetic and loves life. I had two more children, a daughter and another son.
My family means everything to me.
But something is wrong.
I’ve lived in London for over fifteen years, and every time there’s a young life wasted on the streets, I remember the child I lost.
Although my son died as a new-born baby and in different circumstances, I relive the pain every time I read or watch the news of another senseless killing of young people on our streets.
My eldest son is now 17. He’s brilliant and hardworking. He had one of the best GCSE results in his school, and he’s currently studying Medicine at A levels. He wants to be a doctor. Samuel wants to help and make our society a better place for everyone.
But should I be afraid anytime he’s out of the house? Or because of the colour of his skin?
Can I have hope that things will improve, and that love may conquer hatred, racism, anger and the ugliness inherent in the human soul?
My son believes in a better society, a better world.
Rafael Benedetti wants the world to see goodness in him. Fay Beneddeti intends to champion the course of women and family. These people are keen to see positive changes in our society.
Maybe, there is hope Afterall.
I won’t be afraid anymore.
Hope, no matter how fleeting is still better than fear.
Loving humans can be a reality while chasing humans could become a myth.
I rarely watch the news, but I love reading newspapers and when I do, I’ll check BBC website on my laptop for updates which is ironic, because at the end of the day, I still watch news, albeit, reluctantly. This simple poem didn’t follow any pattern but it just came to me when I saw this stunning picture. I want to celebrate the earth, so I take the place of a creator bemoaning the stupidity of His creations. I hope you like it.
To all my American friends, I wish you ‘Happy Thanksgiving,’ in advance, and to those caught up in the Ferguson riots, please keep out of it and stay safe.
Like ducks, they suck up wealth, gulping with little regards to the poor.
Like darkness, they attract light but powerless to overcome it.
Like mould, they dance with filth in their regale splendour.
Like moot, they put argument forward and steal joy.
Like hurricane, they devastate and destroy.
Like dirt, they accumulate.
Like ghost,
It would all float away!
They are the insatiable fools…
******
I watched a very interesting, and rather unnerving drama called ‘The Joneses’ with my husband yesterday. It was such a very unexpected film. The film dealt with greed, and how humans just like the idea of accumulating wealth, jealous of other people’s successes and the mad, crazy, rush to have it all. It might be because I’m approaching the big four zero, but life isn’t really about all we can accumulate materially but all we can do to reach out to others, and being better people!
Phil Collins said it best in his song ‘Another Day In Paradise.’ It was and still is, one of my favourite songs of the nineties! Check it out;
Enjoy the rest of your week my friends! I hope you’ve all had fun so far, please, keep safe!
The lashes fell on my skin, burrowing holes through it
My hands gripped the tree as blood flowed freely.
The ground soaked and groaned.
My tears mingled with blood as hope fled.
A quick gaze upwards and the sky mocked me.
What sins have I committed?
What atrocities would call for such retribution?
Then like a glimpse in the night,
I saw a new world.
Different from my present.
Free from pain of the field and labouring for the proud.
A spasm, a breeze, a sound.
And mercy reclaimed my soul in a faint.
………………..
On Saturday, I went to watch the acclaimed drama, ’12 Years A Slave,’ directed by Steve McQueen. I wished I hadn’t watch the film, it was brutal. I ran out twice, it was very difficult to watch. As a writer, I’ve got a hyper imagination, and as the lashes landed on Patti’s (played by Nyong’o) bare skin, I flinched, I saw myself tied to the tree in her place, my cries of mercy rending the air. The horrors of slavery would live forever, and it’s even inconceivable that over 21 million people are still enslaved today!!!
I know we live in a very complex world but one by one, day by day, we can make a change, reclaiming sanity on our streets and nations. Thank God slavery is officially abolished. Thank God Hitler is dead but changing our world is everyone’s responsibility. A change to obliterate slavery, poverty, racism, murder… All sorts of evil lurking beneath the soul of men.
I’d always loved Cher’s voice and while the kids were screaming downstairs, (they’re on half term break) I sneaked upstairs and immersed` myself in their song, ‘I Got You Babe.’ It was nice, simple and full of love. Though Sonny (Cher’s former husband) passed away a few years ago, and they did divorced before his passing, I believe Cher and Sonny truly cared for each other. You can listen here if you want. 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80QHRTQ3Kmw
This week, I hope we’ll all find what would cheer our hearts. It would also be nice to send cheers to others. I wish you peace and joy friends. Have a fantastic week.
This year is slowly drawing to a close. It’s been eventful, at times painful but I am thankful for my family and friends. We’ve all had a blast. I have 10,000 reasons to thank God, I could list all the reasons but then you would be bored! In all, I love you all and appreciate your love and friendships! Let Your Light Shine… 🙂
“All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.”
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven.
”My life flashed before my eyes.
I saw heaven and hell passed beneath my feet, I almost slipped on mould and blood.
My hatred flashed venoms at me, I gazed at hopes I thought gone, my blood boiled.
I bath with forgiveness and left bitterness behind.
I glided towards the void as life met my weakness.
Horrors assailed my sins and I bowed in pain.
What is my hope? When shall I see your face again?
Your cute rosy cheeks burned my skin and I flinched
as blood rushed to my cheeks.
I love you my angel…
But I know your end is only the beginning.
I’m determined to see you again, someday!”
******
Life is short… I always say that but I’ll take my words back today. Life is endless, it’s infinity and what we do really echoes through eternity. I tried to summarise my emotions into this poem, and you really have to be my friend, to really care and understand what I’m trying to say. A part of me passed away yesterday, a part I’ve never even met… a baby. My sister’s baby. I tried to hold it in but I couldn’t anymore. Believe me, I fought so hard and though I didn’t get to meet him and hold him in my arms, I felt him in my spirit.
His breath passed my face in my dreams.
“Holding anger is a poison…It eats you from inside…We think that by hating someone we hurt them…But hatred is a curved blade…and the harm we do to others…we also do to ourselves.” ― Mitch Albom
I love Mitch’s words because I was angry at the circumstances surrounding my sister’s baby but that’s life… And as much as I hate to write this post, I had to. But this year has been good, and I’m still grateful for what God has enabled me to achieve.
I would still write another post before the end of this year, and if you’d endured my ramblings thus far, thanks for stopping by!
”On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know…that there is a solution to all of this- and it is right around the next corner.
A few weeks from now, you will not even be facing this problem. A few months from now, you will have forgotten you ever had it. A few years from now, you will wonder why you let yourself worry so much.”
I don’t want to add more to this because it’s self-explanatory, though some situations in life takes more than weeks to resolve but all the same, worrying is stressful, even though it’s in our nature as humans to worry, but we can live better lives if we eschew that two headed monster and enjoy ourselves. Like the storm that battered us in the UK today, that’s life – sometimes predictable, sometimes not!
So on this day… and this week, I hope it would be interesting, peaceful and productive for you all wherever you are in the world!
My son came home from school today and told me about this short animation they watched at school. While he recounted the story to me, he had tears in his eyes. I was moved but thought nothing of it. Then before he went to bed, he took my laptop and showed me the animation.
Well, I listened to it and had tears in my eyes too.
It was a very moving story about a man, who lost his wife, friend, son and was only left with his grandson. In all honesty, I couldn’t explain this story using mere words, but I guess if you listen to the music you’ll understand it.
A wise man once said, ”Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it.”Sai Baba
This week, I hope you’ll all sing life’s song, meet life’s challenges, play life’s game, realise your dreams, offer sacrifices of love and above all, love and enjoy your life!!
Seyi Sandra David 