Posts – Following Whispers

“Crank Those Cogs” (poem / poetry)

Sometimes it can be really hard, to find the motivation,
To proceed as planned, and thus defeat procrastination,
I’m quite a driven person, but I have my struggles too,
Times I wish I could wave a wand, and didn’t have to move.

The problem is, this means we’re simply squandering our gifts,
Our time here is something, sadly, some were not blessed with,
Make each moment count my friends, find a way, you can,
Our biggest hurdle is ourself, so make good on your plans.

This week, I’ve found myself against the clock to develop a creative offering, for you beautiful souls out there, for whom I have so much love. I could hear my brain trying to justify me having an unscheduled break from writing and posting, but as I considered it, I realised that I could make the time, I was merely lacking the motivation.

Instead of continuing to search for excuses, and feel somehow sorry for myself, I began thinking about just how blessed I really am… I mean, I have my health; I have a roof over my head; I have food in the cupboards of my warm abode, and the means to prepare it; I am surrounded by love; I have my faculties; I have somewhere to rest when I’m done for the day, etc.

Then I got to thinking about the people who’ve overcome immense obstacles, to achieve things we often take for granted; and other inspirational people that are differently abled, who mustered the courage, strength and belief needed to eventually become one of the best in their chosen pursuit, occasionally, breaking World Records along the way.

So, really and truly, what excuses can I give? How can I justify doing considerably less than those who have steeper odds than me!? I guess it’s only right that I crank those cogs, and keep moving forward.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

If you enjoyed this poem of mine, I recommend you Follow my Blog or Website (see side-bar or bottom of page), so you don’t miss any of my future pieces (I share a couple of my new ones each week), and you can also check out my previous free poems, by clicking ‘Posts’ from the menu.

For those of you wanting to enjoy my exclusive material, you can find out all about my published poetry books, including my most recent release, “Poems That Move You” by clicking ‘Books’ from the menu, and it’s worth a mention, that if you follow me on Instagram @followingwhisperspoetry you’ll find some of my shared poems, a great poetry loving community showing love, and much more!

“Buffoonery” (poem / poetry)

I raised a bunch of pranksters, and everyone can see,
My kids are cheeky so-and-so’s, all trying to be me,
They still need work on timing, and respecting boundaries,
Instead they think their humour, will just be well received.

Read the room, my young ones, know your audience,
So that what’s produced is not their’s or your tears,
An impish spirit’s fine, but please show respect to your peers,
The goal is generating joy, when gloominess appears.

I am a father of four beautiful, free spirited kids. They each have very unique personalities, but the one key thing that they all share, is probably their appetite for being playfully cheeky, which I’d attribute to having a daily dose of my sense of humour over the years. I could well have become a stand up comedian, had I felt it was my calling.

My kids however, still have a ways to go with things like tact; knowing when to call it a day, and not take things too far; or imagining they were going to be on the receiving end and adjusting the intensity of their words, angle, or delivery accordingly, to get the right balance.

They do make me, my Wife, and each other laugh often, but sometimes their efforts in this regard crash and burn too, so I thought I’d conjure an insightful piece to help point them (and any other kids, and let’s be fair, adults, in the same boat) in the right direction.

To all the comedic apprentices out there, laughter is an important medicine, but as we all know, medicine can be harmful when it’s not used in the right manner or circumstances. Humour is a precious commodity, with a delicate nature. Comedy genius comes from being intuitive, speaking without malice, and painting the audience’s World in a lighter hue.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“Top Marks” (poem / poetry)

Guys, we’ve arrived, let the fun begin,
Grab the buckets and spades, the picnic and drinks,
Let’s find a nice spot, and set up our base,
Mission control for our magical day.

Now off you go, play, enjoy the cool breeze,
Build sand castles, and get acquainted with the sea,
Tunes playing, sun block applied, sunbathing,
Chilling on the beach, gets a five star rating.

Me and my immediate family decided that seen as there was a heat wave headed our way, we would swan off to the beach, enjoy a nice cool sea breeze and have some fun… and man did we have fun! We created new games, we also dug a tunnel to the sea, and raced around with buckets of water, filling it, so that we created a flowing mini river.

There were contests of skill and endurance, strolls and occasional jogs around the cool ocean waters, and much more besides.

We had plenty of sun block on, and topped up when we needed too, we also social distanced ourselves from others outside of our household, but in all fairness, once we got going, we totally forgot what we are still in the midst of and just smiled, and laughed, and smiled some more, within our little family unit.

It really was a wonderful day, one for the memory banks, for sure! I just wanted to share the highlights of it with you, and now that I have, it’s your turn to go and have your own magical adventure, and then come back and tell me all about it, or you could even tell me about one you’ve had recently! …sharing’s caring, you know!

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“The Establishment” (poem / poetry)

As I drew back the curtains, I loosened the seams by mistake,
Revealing the inner substance of this partitionary state,
Used for segregation, to control the way things are,
Seeing how frail the fabric was, I’m amazed they’d made it this far!

Their main function is to shut out light, while supposedly retaining warmth,
But, boasting a black-out characteristic, ensuring the darkness endures,
When they meet up, they restrict my views, so you don’t know me, and I don’t know you,
Yes, I was there when the poll got them through, but I’m starting to question their motives, in truth.

Are you really there for my benefit? Do you have my best interests at heart?
Do you only respond when I give you a tug? Do you force me to pull very hard?
Does this make me look heavy-handed? As you cling to the pole ever-tighter,
Using my internal light against me, so from outside I look like a fighter.

Maybe it’s time to redecorate, and dress my windows a different way,
Maybe how cold and indifferent you’ve been, has bit by bit, led to this day,
You’ve changed my homestead drastically, do I need you? I’m no longer certain,
Can you even hear the pain in my voice? The questions I pose… to my curtains.

I’m not gonna lie, out of the hundreds of pieces I’ve written so far, this is probably in my top 20 favourite poems. I just love the way the concept came together for me; the fact that it swiftly convinced me to modify my rhyming structure; I love the metaphor I devised to represent the establishment, by whom we are currently governed; and all of the other interwoven meaning and wordplay.

It was an absolute joy to write, (as in turn, I hope it is to read and digest), and I feel it says an awful lot about our current state of affairs, reminding us of this very simple but empowering point… who rules the roost, the curtains, or the person / people whose home it is?

I’m curious, how does this piece speak to you? Maybe you read it in the context of a different kind of passive aggressive relationship, be it another institution or a personal one!? I mean, I could easily see this likened to an abusive relationship, as rereading it, I have a few past flames who fit the descriptions perfectly.

Anyway, however you interpret it, I am sharing this with you, to remind you just how powerful you really are, and that there are things that you can do to change a pairing that’s a “bad fit”… it simply takes for us to speak up, and say that we’ve had enough, after which, we can create something that serves us, and our hopes and dreams much better.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“What It’s Good For” (poem / poetry)

There are many battles fought, in the name of one war,
These quests champion equilibrium for us all,
Until the chokehold around our throats releases,
We’ll progress, by tackling these manageable pieces.

Oppression; genocide; gender inequality;
Hatred by association; caste superiority;
Freedom of sexuality; poverty; torture;
Global suffering’s created ethical warmongers.

Classic war’s damaging… deep seeded destruction,
But our’s is for togetherness, dismantling assumptions,
It’s good for our humanity, so good for the soul,
And for the underdogs, reclaiming their personal control.

Will you build an equal future? Can you perceive…
A World where we’re not told what we are, or must be?
No more circumstantial barriers, prejudice or hate,
Just a planet full of love, where everybody feels great.

This is the third piece on the topic of combating inequality in a row from me now, so I think this one is fairly self-explanatory, but anyone who would like to get into things a bit deeper and discuss or contrubute, feel free to comment on this post, or DM me if you’d rather.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“No Excuses” (poem / poetry)

If the shoe was on the other foot, and whites were oppressed,
For hundreds of years, facing things too raw to digest,
Lord knows, there’d be a build up deep in their gut,
Upon reaching breaking point, they’d have to stand up.

They’d challenge the reality of black privilege;
The pain whites endure and how they’re forced to live;
The fact that their lives are still easily expendable;
And that racism was still seen as somewhat defendable.

Protests would be arranged under “White Lives Matter”,
Many blacks would march too, with “WLM” banners,
Rest assured, I’d be onboard, showing my support,
Instead of saying, “all lives matter”, downplaying the onslaught.

Yes, every life’s important, but you’re missing the point,
We’re all kin, simply the fruit of another loin,
Equality’s achieved, by tackling the worst abuses,
So I say thank you to our allies, for your lack of excuses.

It is incredibly moving to see so many of us uniting, putting our differences aside and showing a unified response, to the bleak realities and inequality that the majority of black people have faced for hundreds of years, and still do to this day.

However, there are groups of folks out there, who think that the black lives matter movement is not something that they want to recognise or support. Some of these people have also taken to smearing and attacking the name and sentiment of the movement! How very narrow minded and self serving of them.

We are not saying that all lives do not matter, we are not saying that black lives matter more than other lives, nor are we looking for revenge, we are simply highlighting and addressing the multi-generation spanning oppression and slaughter of innocent black people. It should not have occurred, it should not have been allowed to endure, and it must stop!

To all of the beautiful warriors, of all colours, races and walks of life that are supporting this movement, in the hopes of one day soon rectifying this appalling issue, you have earned my love and respect. I thank you, my ancestors thank you, and for my great grandkids, who will not be born for decades yet, I wish to thank you on their behalf.

These seeds of solidarity we are sowing, will bear fruit that will be enjoyed by humankind for centuries to come, and beyond.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“Together We Stand” (poem / poetry)

Some people don’t care about crippling oppression,
As long as it isn’t happening to them,
They’ll try their best, to teach us a lesson,
Which is from where the root of the problem has stemmed.

Their arguments hold less weight than a feather,
Every word they utter, fortifies their cold views,
As they try to stop us from uniting together,
By shutting us down, with loopholes and abuse.

They see that the beehive is acting with honour,
So they poke it with sticks, tempting hateful reactions,
They’re desperate to say, “look, these people are monsters!”
Those tricked into violence, feed the greatest distraction.

Civil rights abuses are disgusting, period,
Perpetrators now have no place left to hide,
To my brothers and sisters of all colours, none inferior,
As we all stand as one, my heart gushes with pride.

It’s been extremely heartwarming seeing so many people of all colours and races, standing side by side in opposition of the treatment of black people. We are not currently treated as equals by all people, or “the establishment”, thanks to loopholes in our laws, the abuse of authority by some enforcement officials, and the legacy of centuries of brainwashing, but hopefully, these inspiring efforts will begin to undo this.

I wish to wholeheartedly thank the majority of our global black community, for having the strength to show that enough is enough, without tarnishing our cause with reckless and overly aggressive behaviour. I also want to thank our allies for their support; empathy; and their passion in calling out both our oppressors, and those too ignorant to do anything but criticise.

This movement is but a stepping stone in righting the ills of this World. Once we have stopped these long standing atrocities, and we have a greater sense of racial equality, we can then begin to focus our energies on other worthwhile causes, together.

It is both a difficult and a beautiful time to be alive. We have gone through so much pain and suffering, but we also live in an age where we can mobilise so much quicker and more effectively, that there is no problem we can’t solve, as long as we stick together, lead with our hearts and continue to stand up for what is right!

Love and Respect to you all, always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“Positive Outcomes” (poem / poetry)

What am I worth? What do I deserve?
You’re priceless, and deserve the whole Universe.
Why do good things always go wrong for me?
There are blessings and lessons, you’ve yet to perceive.

Don’t hunt for perfection, you’ll waste so much time,
See the beauty in flaws… yours, his, hers, and mine,
Find peace in the little things, spread gratititude,
Lead with your heart, I have much faith in you.

This piece is a message of support and encouragement for a few of my friends going through tough times right now, and for anyone else who can relate or appreciate.

I know you will get through this, I am here for you, but ultimately, you have everything you need inside of you.

You will emerge stronger and wiser from this, able to show more empathy to those in similar struggles, and you will love, and dream, and reach for the stars again… of that, I am certain.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“On The Up” (poem / poetry)

When you feel low, and your resolve is tested,
You may feel stuck in a rut, with no blessings,
It’s not about where you are, just where you’re headed,
When down, the only way’s up, so don’t sweat it!

By observing lessons, you’ll figure things out,
Find motivation in the gaps that you’ve found,
Fill them with meaning, your perspective’s what counts,
The smallest of changes, can turn things around.

When we find ourselves in a difficult situation or emotional state, the greatest thing you can do for yourself is to not give up on… you. When we resign to the pain and suffering we feel, we give it a licence to take root, remain and thrive.

It’s true that there are no quick fixes that last, every solution embodied with durability is fueled by continued effort, but this effort does not need to be exhausting, small steps can add up to huge achievements.

Also, no sensible person expects perfection from another person, or themselves for that matter… we will all have moments where we faulter, where we make mistakes, or grind to a halt, but it’s of the utmost importance that we find the strength to take another small step forwards, and one more after that, and so on, and so on.

Now, if you find it almost impossible to do so, please at the very least take a moment to DM me and share your burden, as speaking your true feelings and thoughts to one compassionate person, will make your soul feel instantly lighter, and from that small action, you’ll have taken your first baby step, and laid out ones that can follow.

I promise you, either things will get easier, or you will become stronger, but most likely… both. I believe in you, come and join me, the view is amazing.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

“Clean As You Go” (poem / poetry)

When I put my foot down, it disturbs the dust,
I take a step forward and almost trip up,
It’s blocking my exit, I can’t get away,
I guess I must face and accept this decay.

For a long time now, I’ve acted oblivious,
Let problems pile up, now their scale is ridiculous,
They’ll be no more sweeping stuff under the rug,
From now on I’ll face things head on, and clean up.

For those of you in the restaurant industry, you may well have already heard of the term that forms the title of this poem, for those of you who are not in the know, the method of the same name basically ensures that mess doesn’t build up, that they don’t run out of clean cooking implements, crockery or utensils, and that surfaces remain hygienic.

This process also bodes well in life, as I’m sure we’ve all had moments when our negligence in matters that required our attention, eventually made for a much harsher outcome, when we were finally left with no alternative but to address them.

If we all acknowledged and began to process things in the short term, such as our emotions; pending tasks; debt; bad habits that negatively impact on our health or loved ones; obstacles; ignorance; fear; foolish pride; and other harmful issues; this world would be a much better, more united and less turbulent place.

Here’s to being proactive; openminded; less judgemental and fearful; more open and honest; more loving; more understanding and compassionate… here’s to a brighter future for us all.

Love and Respect always,

Following Whispers.

💕 Like 💕

💕 Follow 💕

💕 Comment 💕

💕 Share 💕

If you enjoyed this poem of mine, I recommend you Follow my Blog or Website (see side-bar or bottom of page), so you don’t miss any of my future pieces (I share a couple of my new ones each week), and you can also check out my previous free poems, by clicking ‘Posts’ from the menu.

For those of you wanting to enjoy my exclusive material, you can find out all about my published poetry books, including my new release, “Poems That Move You” by clicking ‘Books’ from the menu, and it’s worth a mention, that if you follow me on Instagram @followingwhisperspoetry you’ll find some of my shared poems, a great poetry loving community showing love, and much more!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: