This is my second book and I'm pleased that it is out on Amazon kindle and paperback.
Monday, July 3, 2023
Sunday, January 29, 2023
BOOK RELEASE: Stormy Side of Things
The story I wrote years ago I modified and is now a children's book.
It can be found on Amazon Kindle and print across several markets.
Support is appreciated.
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Stand By Me
This black love story touched me so deeply. Not because I know what it is to lose a baby, though I know a few people that have, but because for a significant other (Karega) to put themselves aside to be able to love their significant other through such a transformation makes me curious about attaining such an elevated love. I'm almost jealous. Those who know me can attest, jealous is a word not used by me. I have learned that we all have different journeys in this life and many times the grass is not greener. However, after experiencing pregnancy and the birth of the best thing that has ever happened to me, stretch marks, stretched breasts and sleeplessness aside I can say the love that he aspires to give her, I aspire to get.
Months ago I started writing this poem about having such a joy in my life and how parent's love survive the loss of a child but it seems my love is unable to survive the healthy birth of one. What a peculiar development. To love someone for years, make a baby in love and what should have stitched you closer seemingly ripped you apart. Forgive me, it's not the baby, it's a number of things, things from me and him but if a honest conversation will ever be had about everything without blame or ridicule, that remains to be seen. But oh to be loved after the transformation of a body you knew your whole life that morphed in an instant, must be nice. To be forgiven, even in your missteps, must be nice. To be respected, to be taken care of without question...must be nice.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
A Missed Embrace
You had the opportunity to embrace me,
to grab me by the waist despite the thick unsettling air between us
"Settle it" I whisper with my eyes
but you look through me
perhaps you saw an enemy
but you did have the chance.
The chance to hold me like you once did
when things weren't so uncertain between us
when "I love you" wasn't mere formality
when holding me would resemble normalcy.
For you must not see,
my attempt to hold you close.
Lacking the vernacular,
to expose myself to you
the way I should
the way I used to
because of the wall you built
I built one too.
If only you hugged me
standing in front of you wouldn't feel so lonely
bare
I was exposed and you didn't see
how I yearned to be close to you
when I've drifted so far from me
You missed it, the opportunity to embrace me
when I needed it most
when we could've fixed what's broke.
Now the memory of the moment
means nothing more than
a missed embrace.
©Tia Clarke 2020
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Penis Photography
Is it going down in your DM? Well ladies, capitalize! Invest in a camera and some lights then tell those guys you can help them market those mini minds of theirs even better than they can, FOR A PRICE.
Someone has already gotten a head start (hehehehe). Soraya Boolbaz, a New York photographer has taken "dick pics" to a new level. She is a professional penis photographer that trended on the web (when I first started this piece). The abstract artist has shocked me, and I'm guessing onlookers everywhere, with her approach to taking penis pictures. The more I type it the stranger it seems. However, one of her pictures has sold for about $10k. Yup, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS....I'll pause while you all search Amazon for photography equipment.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now, imagine taking your man (or someone else's man - no judgement here, no really, judgment) to a studio and letting them whip out JR get him all dressed up and let Boolbaz make JR look the best he's ever looked. Boolbaz says, "...I can make a personality out of penises." Well HOT DOG (lol) That is exactly what she does, aiming to make men feel sexy and good about their bodies Boolbaz dresses up penises in tailored outfits and personas of their own. And with names like Frank Salami and Woody Wilder, what's not to love?
I'm not totally on board but I dig the creativity. Who thinks this will catch on? Based on Bahamian men turning into practicing Catholics when it's time to dress those penis' in other attire (strap up guys) as well as some responses I got; in The Bahamas I say never, but ya never know how the wind may blow ;-).
Friday, October 5, 2018
Butterflies Aren't Love (Part 1)
they lied
they said I would know when I met the love of my life
that butterflies would gather in the depths of my stomach
clutter my mind
and take
my
breath
they lied
they said when he looked at me my steps will become unsteady
that these same butterflies would suspend me ten sky scrapers above ground
never to bring me down
and take
my
breath
they lied
they said when his eyes meet mine they will pierce my soul
that I will tingle all over your body
butterflies, will erupt like a volcano
and take
my breath
I've learned
butterflies die,
and those feelings are based in the flesh,
at best, an attraction
a collision, the worst wreck you never saw coming
one you couldn't stop
butterflies are merely a bomb, their wings
the ticking of the clock
and when he walks away, the clock
stops.
Butterflies aren't love.
©Tia Clarke 2017-2018
they said I would know when I met the love of my life
that butterflies would gather in the depths of my stomach
clutter my mind
and take
my
breath
they lied
they said when he looked at me my steps will become unsteady
that these same butterflies would suspend me ten sky scrapers above ground
never to bring me down
and take
my
breath
they lied
they said when his eyes meet mine they will pierce my soul
that I will tingle all over your body
butterflies, will erupt like a volcano
and take
my breath
I've learned
butterflies die,
and those feelings are based in the flesh,
at best, an attraction
a collision, the worst wreck you never saw coming
one you couldn't stop
butterflies are merely a bomb, their wings
the ticking of the clock
and when he walks away, the clock
stops.
Butterflies aren't love.
©Tia Clarke 2017-2018
Update on Life/Death
It's been over a year since I've written anything on this blog, and in general I haven't penned my thoughts in a while. There have been a number of life changing experiences though, the most tragic being the loss of my grandmother.
September 28th 2017 my grandmother died.
It still feels fictional. There are no profound words I can say, no words of encouragement to others or poems of nostalgia. I can't even describe it.
Her escaping this world makes sense. Losing her was a pain but she'd gotten all she needed out of this world. As I continue to navigate this treacherous terrain it's a wonder she was able to hold on for 91 years.
September 28th 2017 my grandmother died.
It still feels fictional. There are no profound words I can say, no words of encouragement to others or poems of nostalgia. I can't even describe it.
Her escaping this world makes sense. Losing her was a pain but she'd gotten all she needed out of this world. As I continue to navigate this treacherous terrain it's a wonder she was able to hold on for 91 years.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Be Alone...Without Being Lonely
Some of us find it a herculean task to be in the company of ourselves. Yes! If you fall into any of these categories I mean you:
1. Must have company and gets sad without people around.
2. Always looking for group activities and can't remember the last time you did something solo.
3. You annoy you
4. 28yrs old, 7 partners - hasn't been single from 1990. (if you do the math you'll see how crazy this is)
Mind you the list can go on - I just can't, I gotta make my point before I lose ya.
So here it is, we find it hard to embrace being without a partner or friend or some other body because we become sad and lonely maybe even depressed. The yearning for companionship every minute of everyday can prove to be more detrimental than you think because once the person or people are gone, you feel empty. And "empty" is the operative word here because I'm not saying being in the company of others is bad or wrong, I'm saying without them, you are a shell of a person not even you can recognize. So taking care of them, doing what they like and melting into them all became the centre of your world without you ever developing yourself. It essential that we are able to be whole without having someone else there to complete us. When you think about it, if you are a person that feels you need the company of others you'll realize that they are mere distractions for what's really going on with you. Sometimes we haven't dealt with a loss of some kind or some other trauma and being alone forces us to relive and ponder about those sometimes painful realizations. I want to reassure you though, being able to be alone without the feeling of loneliness is a gift that we can give ourselves that will never become stale, played out or boring. You have the opportunity to develop skills and talents you never realized you had. You may read a book that changes your life. There's so much of you to discover.
And yea yea I know it's romantic and Hallmarkesque to tell your loved one, "you complete me" or "you're my better half"
trust me I get it. You want that person to know the depth of your love for them. However, we must be reminded that if you are not our best selves, we can potentially be toxic to others. We should not lose ourselves in a person. If you are a whole, you don't need them to complete you and that way, that person is a BONUS. Everyone likes bonuses!!
So embrace the gift of being happy with you. Learn your strengths, improve your weaknesses - find your passion and ignite your own fire. When you have time to yourself, don't feel lonely - This is YOUR time. Once you learn how to do this you'll fight for that alone time, and being alone CAN NEVER BE LONELY.
1. Must have company and gets sad without people around.
2. Always looking for group activities and can't remember the last time you did something solo.
3. You annoy you
4. 28yrs old, 7 partners - hasn't been single from 1990. (if you do the math you'll see how crazy this is)
Mind you the list can go on - I just can't, I gotta make my point before I lose ya.
So here it is, we find it hard to embrace being without a partner or friend or some other body because we become sad and lonely maybe even depressed. The yearning for companionship every minute of everyday can prove to be more detrimental than you think because once the person or people are gone, you feel empty. And "empty" is the operative word here because I'm not saying being in the company of others is bad or wrong, I'm saying without them, you are a shell of a person not even you can recognize. So taking care of them, doing what they like and melting into them all became the centre of your world without you ever developing yourself. It essential that we are able to be whole without having someone else there to complete us. When you think about it, if you are a person that feels you need the company of others you'll realize that they are mere distractions for what's really going on with you. Sometimes we haven't dealt with a loss of some kind or some other trauma and being alone forces us to relive and ponder about those sometimes painful realizations. I want to reassure you though, being able to be alone without the feeling of loneliness is a gift that we can give ourselves that will never become stale, played out or boring. You have the opportunity to develop skills and talents you never realized you had. You may read a book that changes your life. There's so much of you to discover.
And yea yea I know it's romantic and Hallmarkesque to tell your loved one, "you complete me" or "you're my better half"
trust me I get it. You want that person to know the depth of your love for them. However, we must be reminded that if you are not our best selves, we can potentially be toxic to others. We should not lose ourselves in a person. If you are a whole, you don't need them to complete you and that way, that person is a BONUS. Everyone likes bonuses!!So embrace the gift of being happy with you. Learn your strengths, improve your weaknesses - find your passion and ignite your own fire. When you have time to yourself, don't feel lonely - This is YOUR time. Once you learn how to do this you'll fight for that alone time, and being alone CAN NEVER BE LONELY.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Duet HD.mov THROW BACK
Hello everyone,
It's been too long, but I'm back and I am throwing alllllllllll the way back to when Robert Johnson gave me the confidence to get in front of the camera and perform two of my poems. Two very different poems I might add. I guess he we wanted to show my range. We also have an appearance from my honey Louise (cause she been in love with him and supports everything he does).
So drum roll please as I share with you: Duet #getintothisafro
It's been too long, but I'm back and I am throwing alllllllllll the way back to when Robert Johnson gave me the confidence to get in front of the camera and perform two of my poems. Two very different poems I might add. I guess he we wanted to show my range. We also have an appearance from my honey Louise (cause she been in love with him and supports everything he does).
So drum roll please as I share with you: Duet #getintothisafro
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)