Basil's Brain

'Bloody uneducated fool!',bellowed the shopkeeper to the back of a customer who disregarded a 'No Smoking' sign in his shop. The rest of us did throw him dagger looks but it didn't deter him from puffing away in the small confines of a grocery shop. When i got home,i thought about the words the shopkeeper used- Uneducated Fool. The man looked very educated and the shop was in an affluent part of the town. What could have made him blatantly smoke?. Could he be illiterate,perhaps?, or he simply chose to ignore the no smoking sign because he was arrogant and couldn't care less about others inside the shop? Then an uneducated fellow cannot be called a fool nor can an educated fellow be fine. i've seen well educated persons grabbing greedily at free handouts while the less educated crowd stood in line for their turn. Educators in my neighbourhood think nothing of open burning and one wonders if they are even thinking about the environment. The fact is, no ...

i'm brown What shade of brown? i do not know But i've been called dark all my life... i used to hate it in my younger days i got teased i encountered cruel remarks i was embarrassed by my skin tone i took my time... to wear bright colours pushing away pastels i embraced my beautiful appearance i'm comfortable in my skin...now i love my brown with all its black moles and warts i'm unique, i'm only one There is none like me People can stare or say speak in whispers i no longer care i take no notice of careless words Underneath...i'm special A beautiful soul like you and everyone else The colour of our blood...same i wish every person can see beyond...skin pigment It's just the surface not what lies within Shiny black Snow white Shades of any other Does it matter? Definitely not!

Fear of pain Fear of people Let it go prevent it from taking control Fear of change Fear of anything and everything Will it away do not let it hold on tight Fear is ever present to conquer to cripple Robbing you of so much...to win and gain Take stock face fear...full on It has no power Cease to treat it as such No one can be completely fearless Some fear is necessary... to keep one within parameters Halting foolish choices and pursuits Be in the know prepare, practise, pretend To beat fear the best you can you shall, believe it...and you will

So much needs to be done, so little time, too many people need help. Millions are collected, thousands are eager to volunteer and hundreds on the ready to make a change in the lives of billions. Donations and funds don't reach in time, necessities never do...leaving so many frustrated, angered and feeling hopeless. There are many who genuinely want to impact change and plain help yet the deep and dangerous divide in the form of red tape, internal politics, external pressure and influences from certain sources along with countless other reasons continue to exist to dampen spirits. The ones truly needing aid cannot be reached with the multitude of channels to cross and please!. What protocol?. What rules and regulations?. Created and enforced by an ugly, greedy and self-serving mob - to serve whose purpose?. The flash of cameras and coverage by international media gives the expectants glitz and glamour while thousands perish from lack of food?. When rank and power demand attentio...

A dedication to two wonderful girls...my beautiful friends :- Hugs exchanged yearnings of the heart...met Happiness flowed Laughter bellowed Each with a tale the long...the short Filling in the gaps between funny, sad, tearful, joyful Sharing was seamless caring plentiful Concern meaningful in sincere streams Two girls...and a third have journeyed...still travelling through lifes twists and bends Together to chide and cheer Change coloured many shades Our worlds altered many ways Through it all...we still remain Best of friends

The simple mind knows no extravagance only what's ordinary No gargantuan plans less is best leaving the rest The simple mind shuns excess prefers frugality Avoids crowds,noise garish overflows mired in deceit The simple mind revels in normalcy lauds honesty Rejects feigned popularity false traps full of hollow flattery The simple mind rejoices in innocence basks in humility Seeks no glamour questions all rumour Speaks in gentle murmur The simple mind suffers no fools tolerates all goons Cares not for cunning consumerism sly intimidation The simple mind is its own master An untainted bloom

This is what my friend said and i agreed with her. Too many people are in jobs they hate and it is to feed their kids,pay bills especially the mortgage and the car...to survive really. Life's a bitch! - the working world is the worst of it and i'm sure three quarters of the people in the working world would readily agree. The remaining quarter are fortunate to be loving what they do or are loving what they do because they know who to butter up. If you can stomach it in small or big doses then the workplace won't be a hell hole. i sound extreme?.i think not. Employers these days have unreasonable expectations and even ludicrous game plans. It no longer counts if you're plain hardworking, you also have to be hard at networking ie you must have a facebook or twitter account at the very least. Huh?. You must have a great sense of humour; [Read: To laugh uproariously at your boss's lame and often stupid jokes.] You cannot be too smart and if you speak your mind, well y...

i was totally touched and my eyes teared while i watched a travel show that featured the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) that was set up by former Hollywood celebrity, Scott Neeson in 2003.Scott is a father figure to the many slum children who live at dump sites. i wrote this to reflect what i saw and felt...and hope to emulate. Children scavenging to eke out a living not learning nor eating No shower no play Sleeping in a square with eleven others What shame such pain Ignored by all till a knight came Built a school promise with food shower and clothes To read, write and HOPE Smiles appeared belly full, mind nourished Tears amidst laughter gratitude to a stranger turned saviour He came, he saw and could not turn away A plight pulling at heart strings he chose to stay and help Reaching out wasn't easy but perseverance paid Kids fed, lessons learnt an education began A new beginning for so many From one caring being bringing meaning to ...

The lyrics...soothing The rhythm...mesmerising The minutes pass... in meditative magnificence Mind chatters on Soul drinks in calm Songs of silence... become my balm The heart thuds... melodiously The mind listens... to the chorus of silence Beautiful tunes making music... Songs of silence rejuvenate me Time stands... mind talks no more hears nothing Colours burst fills the heart Songs of silence and i become one... Pure magic

'This life is so cruel and I'm really sad',said a thirteen year old's facebook posting. i was disturbed to read it and wondered what could have prompted such profound words from a mere child. At that age, i experienced the ups and downs of adolescence but nothing so deep as to ponder on the meaning of life. Are children today truly leaving their childhood quickly behind to catch up with this fast paced life?. Are they being exposed to situations and circumstances that make them 'grow old' beyond their biological age? Amongst my teenage students with ages ranging from twelve to seventeen, it's common to hear laments on the unfair lives they have. They already sound defeated with the rapid changes taking place all around them. Though, there is a small percentage who are oblivious and totally naive to fundamental aspects of life, most are jaded compared to many adults!. Who is at fault here?. The parents?. The school system?. Social media influence?. The ...