These are my musings and observations on my daily life, loves and the laughter that are all a part of my experience of living now in the shires of England.

Monday 12 March 2012

Commonwealth Day Celebrations


What Commonwealth? What Celebrations?

Well, this event seems to have gone mostly unnoticed. However, the Queen celebrated it by attending a Commonwealth Day Observance Ceremony at Westminster Abbey. There were also several members of the Commonwealth nations in attendance: Hugh Masekela, a South Africa musician, performed at this particular gathering of global peoples.

This moveable feast, is celebrated annually on the second Monday in March, and this year the theme was Connecting Cultures. The service in Westminster Abbey was to ‘explore the golden threads that tie together people from every continent, faith and ethnicity.’ This was achieved through a mix of world music, dance and personal testimonies to around 1,000 selected heads of states, official dignitaries, faith leaders and school children.



In the past there were national exhibitions and parties to celebrate this connection within Commonwealth countries, now there is a whisper in the British media to mark its occurrence. I wonder if the origins and links of the Commonwealth have, at last, become an embarrassment to the British monarchy and nation.

The Commonwealth (aka the colonial British Commonwealth) was first set up in 1949 with eight member countries. As of today, 12th March 2012 - Commonwealth Day, there were 54countries that were members of the Commonwealth. It is now referred to as the modern Commonwealth because it is now an association of free and equal member from independent countries who are linked by shared values, goals and equal votes in all matters.

Queen Elizabeth II, marking 60 years as head of theCommonwealth, said: “This year, our Commonwealth focus seeks to explore how we can share and strengthen the bond of Commonwealth citizenship we already enjoy by using our cultural connections to help bring us even closer together, as family and friends across the globe."



My question is, ‘What does the Commonwealth mean to you?’ To me it does not mean anything sweet or pleasant. The bitterness of colonialism still resonates in daily life – especially in the failure to give a rounded historical account of the colonial times in British schools. This leads to ‘unconscious bias’appearing in the everyday life of people whose only real experience of African, Caribbean or Indian life comes from the Eurocentric education or the occasional story of forced economic migration heard from a grand-parent.

I don’t think that the Commonwealth ever had any respectability, I would further suggest that it has now lost all veneer of respectability. This muted celebration confirms my views.

R.I.P. Commonwealth of Nations. The wealth of nations is anything but common.



Sunday 11 March 2012

No more - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


No more

Instinctively the hearts knew
before the minds could speak
the nonchalant searching
through the sea
of beating souls
was matched
*
there will be
no more
            waiting.

(1996)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012 

Saturday 10 March 2012

untitled - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan



Because when
All is
Said and done
There is nothing to be
Added to
Relieve your
Deeds – you are a ...


(1996)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012 

Thursday 8 March 2012

International Women’s Day – My Celebration


Some women make a big difference in a small area, other women make a big difference on a global stage. Women are making differences all the time in their homes, in their communities, in their jobs. Women’s lives are different – they speak for themselves alone and at the same time they can also speak for thousands of voiceless women who share similar stories.

One such woman, Ellen Kuzwayo, also known as ‘Ma K’, gave up teaching in 1952 when she was required to teach her pupils “what appeared to be very poisonous to their minds” following the introduction of the Bantu education act in South Africa.

Ellen Kuzwayo refused to be intimidated by the apartheid system, she found a way to make a difference as a social worker and campaigner for equality in the Transvaal. She was also a tireless activist for women’s emancipation. Ellen Kuzwayo, phenomenal woman, resisted inequality in all forms and she continually fought for the rights of women in South Africa.

I celebrate her history because she speaks for thousands of other women as well.


Another woman whom I admire and want to recognise today is Annie Lennox. She is a political and social activist, humanitarian as well as a singer, songwriter. Annie Lennox is renowned for raising awareness of HIV/ AIDS in Africa. Her work included increasing education and health care for those affected by sickness in Africa. Annie Lennox worked as an ambassador of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign where she did her part to raise the global awareness of HIV/Aids, this work was also enhanced by her performance in two 46664 concerts and by her being a part of the Make Poverty History Campaign.

In 2011 Annie Lennox was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Inspiration for Women awards ... and she’s nowhere near finished yet. Annie Lennox is also a phenomenal woman.


Wednesday 7 March 2012

Phenomenal Woman - Poetry by Maya Angelou



Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,   
The stride of my step,   
The curl of my lips.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,   
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,   
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.   
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.   
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,   
And the flash of my teeth,   
The swing in my waist,   
And the joy in my feet.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,   
They say they still can’t see.   
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,   
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.   
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.   
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,   
The bend of my hair,   
the palm of my hand,   
The need for my care.   
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.


By Maya Angelou (from her collection: The Complete Collected Poems)

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Woman Alive - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


Woman Alive

There are diamonds
in her heart
along with dreams
you dare not start ...

There is moonlight
in her walk
there is passion
in her talk ...

There are rainbows
in her eyes
there are dances
in her thighs ...

This woman has
excitement in her smiles.

(1995)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012

Monday 5 March 2012

Miracle - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


Miracle

A moment passes
a minute flees
the hour slips away
the day is gone
the month retreated
time moves without delay.

The world is ageing
before our eyes
there’s nothing we can do.

As this miracle takes place
no one notices the growing     d   i   s   t   a   n   c   e
between us two.

(1995)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012

Sunday 4 March 2012

untitled - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


Poetry – untitled

powerful emotion conquers knowledge
you are my truth
terrestrial heart loses its edge
Naomi for Ruth

planets fear the literary drought
desire ignites
erratic heart thumps and shouts
awaiting invite

established reason vanquished
without effort
lifelong sense is banished
to live in yourt

reaction to your presence
in mind or sight
drowning with concupiscence
desired outright

(1998)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012 

Saturday 3 March 2012

The World’s Song - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


The World’s Song

The world is my guide, I’ll always want more.
It makes me run around in busy streets: it leads me up and down
crowded motorways. It unsettles my soul and  leads me in the ways
of gross wickedness and greed for its own purposes.
Even though I travel through the most dangerous areas of the cities I am
not afraid because I am never alone, my gun and my drugs keep me
safe and content.
The world is open to me, I can sit with those who hate me because
of my worldly power; I have so many benefits and opportunities I
can’t count them all.
Without a doubt I will be dogged by fear and uncertainty all the days
of my life but I will stay in the way of the world for ever.

(1997)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012 

Friday 2 March 2012

The other woman - Poetry by Marjorie H Morgan


The other woman

The other woman
was so loved
she had a special place
away from those boring friends
away from those public places
away from those ordinary events

The other woman
was so loved
she had a special time
much later
later than was promised
later than was convenient
later than was kind

The other woman
was so unloved
while waiting again
she took a special look
over
all that was missing
all that was ordinary
all that was promised

The other woman
so loved herself
that she found a special place
in the open
with ordinary events that were convenient
with kind friends in public places
with missing promises that ended waiting


(1996)
© Marjorie H Morgan 2012 

Thursday 1 March 2012

Catalysts


Waiting for other people to do something, or anything, before you do something is about waiting for action to take place so that your reaction can follow.

It’s about following.

But it’s only concerning incidents that follow once the main event has taken place.

The complete situation is like a chemical equation: it’s all in relation to being a catalyst or a reaction.

Depending on the catalyst the reaction can be rapid or slow, and at the end of the reactive process the catalyst remains the same. Given these facts, I think it’s worth considering whether I want to be a catalyst for change or merely have a reaction to change imposed on me. The reactive element of this process is usually altered at the end of it while the catalyst remains the same: able to cause reactions within different environments again and again.

With that choice to make I’d suggest it is better to live an active than a re-active life.

It’s March, a new month, so that can be a catalyst, can’t it? I think the start of each month means a spring into action ... doesn’t it?


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