“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, None but ourselves can free our minds.”

That was Bob Marley quoting Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1937) in his “Redemption Song” (1980). Mr. Marley’s lyrics consist of many quotations, Jamaican sayings and proverbs, woven into his thoughts. He was good at that.

Redemption Song is one of Bob Marley’s most popular songs, and it was just him and his acoustic guitar.

And today in Jamaica is Emancipation Day, August 1. A national holiday, light and bright and with a willful breeze that comes and goes. We had a really meaningful shower yesterday, the rain determinedly pressing down on our battered and exhausted lawn, as if to make up for the months of bitter drought. Of course it didn’t make up for it entirely. But it brought the garden to life, and beat the dust into submission. The air feels softer and cleaner. The birds (who have…

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, None but ourselves can free our minds.”

That was Bob Marley quoting Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1937) in his “Redemption Song” (1980). Mr. Marley’s lyrics consist of many quotations, Jamaican sayings and proverbs, woven into his thoughts. He was good at that.

Redemption Song is one of Bob Marley’s most popular songs, and it was just him and his acoustic guitar.

And today in Jamaica is Emancipation Day, August 1. A national holiday, light and bright and with a willful breeze that comes and goes. We had a really meaningful shower yesterday, the rain determinedly pressing down on our battered and exhausted lawn, as if to make up for the months of bitter drought. Of course it didn’t make up for it entirely. But it brought the garden to life, and beat the dust into submission. The air feels softer and cleaner. The birds (who have…

Journal page.

Carla Dawn Dunlap – She s writing poetry and creating visual art works before she ever went to school. Her love for poetry has never wained throughout her life. In her mid teens she began writing seriously and to this day the Poetry & Prose which she shares with the world are considered highly spiritual and sacred to her.

Gossamer strings

weaving between

emptiness,

the lace

slides

beneath needles

as I stitch air

into beauty.

I was inspired to right this after watching a recent episode of New Girl with the theme of acting like a grown up and what that actually means. In my opinion all of the characters are ridiculously and hilariously immature. So is the proof you are an adult in the things you have i.e. a mortgage, a car, a pension is it in the way you act i.e. admitting you are all having a crappy night out and just want to go home and watch your favourite box set together?

My 30th birthday do was meant to be a big night out in town but people cancelled as they were skint or self conscious of going to bars on a Friday night or working an early shift in the morning. It ended up being just the five of us at home with Spotify as the DJ and a few bowls…