March 8, 2012

Reflections on International Women's day

The essence of motherhood....

God's love is also like a hen that holds her chicks under her wings!

Loving and caring comes naturally for the feminine of the species, and when we are children we are so comforted and protected in her safe arms.

That was a life of dreams and make believe, but I shudder to think what it was to be mothers, caught in conflict, disasters, war, poverty and sickness. I can imagine what it means to be ill treated by rough and tough soldiers at borders and check posts, the unscrupulous official with no morals or manners, to be raped and pushed around during wars that they don't understand, of cramped dwellings in refugee camps, of survivors of floods, earthquakes and tsunamis....
But the spirit of women is a never say die one, they find reason to sing and dance, in a world of their own, of colors, songs, movement and rhythm, of aroma, scents, beauty and laughter.

The spirit of women..

color, joy and fun...

the never say die one.....

They have made the world a brighter place to live in....

1st March, 2012

The Year gone by ....

Has it really been a year since I have written creatively? Or has it been just my laziness to post on my blog? Maybe I just wake up on Intl. Women's day.

201o and 2011 have been crucial years in my life, some experiences good some were not so good, and the best was that I retired from Government service. Not that I belittle in any way the 35 years that I spent with friends and my officers, learning and growing, struggling with promotion exams, while the children wondered what kind of exams is our mother writing all the time? It is just that it is great to be free and be an ordinary citizen.

These were years of widening my horizons to more global issues of peace with justice, church and its responsibility to nurture communities of peace, the responsibility of each and every citizen of the world to sincerely wish for love and harmony sans war, sans greed, sans unfair competition.

It was a year of the growing realization that mother Earth was anguished at the way we were treating her. The natural disasters and calamities almost every week was a harsh reminder that all our underground nuclear testing, the ravaging of her bowels to find metals and fuel, the destruction of flora and fauna, everything was a result of this irresponsible behavior. And she as every other good mother has still not abandoned us... she groans and yet struggles to feed her billion children and more, till she will one day fall and die as she will not have the strength to survive any longer for her children.

Romans 8: 22-23

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ²³And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves…….”

I DEMAND..

Yes, I would love to have My Space

A little nook that is me.....

To be myself, to potter around,

To experiment, to create, to plan,

To think, to meditate, to chew on,

To cherish memories, to dare to dream......

My Space....is absolutely mine

undefined by latitudes or longitudes,

by geographic or political boundaries,

Unmeasured in units, percentages, halves or fulls....

Because...

My needs are few, my responsibilities infinity,

My time is limited, my hope limitless,

My body is fettered,but my mind soars high

Free and feisty, like a bird in the sky....

My Space is my mind....

Limitless.....Beyond...

Time, Distance and Reality....

It is both you and me,

It is Sacred and Infinity,

Tread on it lightly...... it is also fragile....

It is my life.........

MY HALF....

I wouldn't ask for half my share,

My right, my inheritance, or the world,

But would ask of you and the human race

For just an "Iota of space"......

An Iota of Space......

In the vast expanse of your scientific mind,

That explores space,tracks planets, and discovers galaxies....

Let me be....

A tiny reminder of my dim existence....

Me, your daughter, a living presence!

An Iota of Space.....

In your brilliant brain that imitates God,

Decoding, modifying and cloning genes....

Let me be.....

A small voice in my mother's womb,

Pleading to live, I am God's child!

An Iota of Space....

In your romantic, generous, heroic heart

That is brave and gallant in any fight....

Let me be.....

a vibrant throb, a beating pulse.....

A speck of life that shouldn't be burnt!

An Iota of Space.....

In your world of Commerce, Cricket and Cars,

White collar jobs, Stocks and Shares,

So that I can be....

A gentle surprise.... that ME...

Though humble and weak, gentle and meek!

Could be clever and capable, competent and cool.....

In a world that could be 'OURS' instead of 'YOURS'

MY WORLD

What do I care for Riches and Rights?

Why should I yearn for freedom and might?

What would I do with my share and birthright?

To me it is naught....

IF....

I have your love,

To respect, regard,and honour

The many roles I assume

As sister, wife, mother,

As academic, career woman, or any other,

To cherish, value and treasure,

My life that I give to you....

My mind, my hands, my feet, my womb,

My waking hours, my many moods,

My pain and my sorrows,

My smiles and my laughter,

My songs and stories,

For,

You are my world, and this is my universe!

Dedicated to the Women of the World On Women's Day 8 th March 2010

Eulogised by poets, Immortalized by artists,

Praised by Philosophers,.....

Woman, you are, by far,

The best expression of God's creation!

You are the Essence of 'caring and sharing'

you are the 'Rakhi' of a brother's love

the 'Sindhoor' of a devouted spouse

the 'Mangal Suthra' of a sacred bond!

You are the 'Comforter' of a child

the 'Teacher' unparalleled...

the 'Goddess' unsung....

the 'Judge' fair and just!

And yet,

though loved as a mother, sister, wife, daughter

your innocent smiles, your joy and bubbly chatter,

Your precious world, built with love and laughter,

Crumbles as your dreams shatter!

Your little space

that you call your own,

is invaded, occupied, bulldozed...

and yet you strive on,

because you have embraced

the whole of humanity.........

to give birth and rebirth,

to nourish, nurture and protect,

This tiny, fragile "Flame"

that is called "LIFE"

note: This poem was written and presented by me on the occasion of International Women's Day 8/3/2010

Life is so beautiful

Life is so beautiful

I sit in the stillness of the night...
hugging the darkness close to me...
snug in the womb of silence,
loneliness shrouding my soul,
thoughtful,reflective,contemplating!

I think of the days gone by...
how colourful were my dreams...
how vibrant were my days...
how vivacious were my thoughts...
how eager my step!!!!...

Alive today, dreams half fulfilled,
do I call it a day?
Nay, I will give it my all
Till I breathe my last
still laughing,dreaming,positive..
because Life is so beautiful.....
I havent lived yet.....


Susan Jacob