Stories Will Never Be Silenced

You made me flee Egypt

In search of a promise

Away from slavery

Away from fear

But with me now are tears

Away from comfort

Living with doubt

Walking on scorching drought

The army behind me

The sea before me

Oh, may the fires consume me

But then you said

“Stretch out your hand”

Since then

My stories never go silent

 ....

You gave me words

When my lips quivered

Away from innocence

Embracing harbour

You coated me with favour

Away from suppression

But living with depression

My dreams in suspension

My wounds behind me

The famine before me

Oh, may the cries deafen me

But then you said

“Stretch out your hand”

Since then

My stories never go silent 

....

You called me by name

I followed you

Away from hunger

Away from danger

Each moment in sweetness savoured

Away from the shore

Into the sea

The waves are suddenly bigger than me

The waters behind me

The storm before me

Oh, may the wind take me

But then

YOU stretched out your hand

And so

My stories will never be silenced.

SOURCE

 Written: August 19, 2009, Venus Speaks

Sisters Act

My sister Jemima had just passed the Licensure exam for teachers. The Lord has granted her favor. When I called my mother to congratulate her for my sister's success, we laughed about how that puts pressure on me being the older sister. 

Jemima's Graduation from her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education

Jemima's academic journey has amused us (to the extent of being hilarious). She went to the University of the Philippines for her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. After surviving it, (yes, you read it right. they say one doesnt graduate from UP, he/she survives) she swore never to go to school again. Today, she has two degrees in her resume. And can sleep better. (It was torture for her to wait for months to know the results.)

We have a younger sister, Jezrel, who is a nurse. Lately, we were entertained by the old photos of her that our Aunt posted on Facebook. She used to be pudgy and had satiated her childhood days with fun. Once, i cried when I heard Taylor Swift's 'Never Grow Up' because I missed the times when she was still a kid. I think older sisters will always wish the younger ones would remain as they are. 

When Jezrel was 4 ...and 23 :) 

You asked me how high airplanes fly

If I could bottle the clouds

And bring it home to dry

You walked around in a Big t-shirt

With a stick for a staff

Followed by kids like ducks

You played football

With the wall

Danced to Backstreet Boys

In the hall

You chose trucks

Over Barbies

Dynamos

Over dresses

And Bananas in Pajamas

On any given day

At eleven

You fell in love with Jars of Clay.

(I bend my knees

For them to have similar days)  

You Spoke

There was darkness

and nothing more

You spoke

and light came forth

(Who says You cant light up my momentary sadness?)

There was water

no land, no soil that gather

You spoke

divided, the waters broke

(Who says You can't gather the waters one one side

and let me cross the continents on low tide?)

There was no green, no grass

no vegetation. no patch

You spoke

and the leaves sprouted forth

(Who says someday there will no longer be food on display?)

The sky was empty

no sun, no moon, no stars in the heavenly

You spoke

the sun showed and the moon overtook

(Who says they can't be together to amuse me with a soulful rigodon?)

The waters were deep

void, black and no creatures creeped

You spoke

on the ocean beds, the sea animals nooked

(Who says the oceans do nothing but divide?)

And the earth was barren

no single thing was roaming

You spoke

and the earth was filled with noisy bleating

(Who says the world can never again be silenced?)

There was no image of You

no one to dominate the flock

You spoke

from the filth broke-

Adam

And out of Adam 

she came

and offsprings they bore

generation to generation

until

I came forth

and I ask

Who is God?

What is God like?

You spoke

and silence overtook