Open Your Eyes to a New Day - Poem

Lightly, nimbly, let's forget

The sad dream we dreamt in the night

Like the darkness that fades in the morning rays

Let's forget…

And then let’s open our eyes

To the morning light

Let the rain fall on our skin

And wash our souls within

Let’s awaken anew

With purpose and strength

Let’s open eyes

To a new day

A friend posted the first part and it inspired my reply. I later learnt that this first part was part of a Korean song from the late 1970s. The part in green is entirely my own.

The original is in Korean, so I'm guessing "Lightly, nimbly, let's forget/The sad dream we dreamt in the night/Like the darkness that fades in the morning rays/Let's forget…" is a translation. But here's the song via YouTube: Song Çang Şig- Unutalım

Special thanks to my friend Sara Ahmed for bringing these words and this song to my attention. Thank you for the inspiration :) 

Achievements & Setbacks in 2018 by Nada Adel Sobhi

I've set targets for myself and I have to admit to myself that I have failed several of them. BUT that was in February and a little in January.

This post is not about my failures but it is merely to highlight where I have fallen prey to procrastination and sloth. Even with the setbacks, there has been progress and it is important to remind oneself of the progress and the achievements not just the failed attempts at going forward.

In November, I hit a major milestone and made an achievement I didn't know I could do. I've been basking in that achievement since and that's WRONG! But to make that achievement, I've had to make some sacrifices at the time. Now life is back in the mix, which is making it hard for me to get things straight.

Sometimes, one simply wants to waste time. And as many already know, time tends to move slowly when you want it to fly past, and literally slips through your fingers when you want it to slow down so you can take a breath and work on yourself.

Time's a lot of curse words. But I digress. Time is not only to blame, but I'm to blame as well.

In February, I set my 10,000-word writing plan, along with some editing plans. Instead, I only wrote 388 words in Darya's story by pure coincidence.

Midway through the month, I decided I would not pressure myself. February is a short and busy month (half my team at work had holidays, I caught a cold towards the end) and it just wasn't working out.

I decided that I would let this month go, no targets, and no regrets (well slightly) and I would start March with new vigour and targets.

In January, I set out a few resolutions to help me track my progress throughout the year. I'm not moving as fast as I hoped; there have been a few setbacks, BUT there is progress and here it is:

·        I started attending online writing bootcamps and I'm working on improving my freelance writing

·        I've taken an online paid course to develop my career

·     I learnt that I need to create a writer's website so I'm planning to launch that in March (this month)

·        I've finished reading one short self-help book and I'm halfway through the second.

·        I've created my portfolio on Contently.

·        I've written around 3 poems in January

·        I've written a combined total of 8,377 in January (5,616 in Darya's story, 2,439 in personal articles on my blog & a 322-word flash fiction piece titled "A Boom of Blue" – poems excluded)

·        I've listened to several hours of Udemy courses in both January & February. Haven't completed any courses but I'm halfway through three courses, which I hope to conclude in March.

There are a few things on my resolutions list that I have not yet approached but there are 10 more months in the year and I will achieve them – God willing.

A piece of advice I recently came across was finding an accountability buddy for certain tasks. I've not taken that step yet because I'm trying to be accountable to myself first. I don't want to get depressed by not doing what I planned and simply skipping on my unnamed accountability buddy just yet.

As for the blog, I've been on an off, but the writing prompts are ongoing. I also have a few author interviews sent out and some underway. I'm still trying to finish up a piling list of accepted book review requests. You can check out the newly added reviews along with what's in the works here.

Now that I've made the admission to myself – I even have it down in writing, it's time to begin March with new hope, vigour, and willingness to improve oneself, and move forward with the resolutions (set forth on this blog :D)

The Tale of the Sand Unicorn - Poem

A traveller by night
In an arid silent desert
With nothing
But the sound of the howling wind

The sky is dark, almost starless
his thread of hope is fading,

Faltering,

Like his will.

He bows his head in hopelessness,

Only to raise his eyes…

The desert sand gathers,
Whirls and twirls in mid-air
A form appears,

A unicorn

A unicorn made of sand.
It neighs and in a flash
The sand falls to the ground
The creature materializes,

Becoming bright white

‘A Star’ is all the traveller can think of
“Never lose hope!
I will guide you!” it says.

It turns, galloping on the sand,
Leading the way
In the dark night

bewildered, the hope-awakened traveller follows
Reaching an oasis

The white mythical creature neighs,

Gallops towards the sky,
Spreads its huge wings
It stands in mid-air
Shining as the biggest in the night.

And so lives the Tale of the Sand Unicorn

This poem is a very old piece that I was able to dig up. It was originally written sometime in June 2009, but was re-edited 22 April 2017.

Wish you all a week filled with Hope and Fantasy (and Unicorns)

My Favourite Colour - Blog Post

The other day, I was asked what my favourite colour was.

I thought of the blue sea, the green grass, the pink of the unicorn logo for my blog. But every time I thought of a colour, my mind went to black, how it fit with all the other colours, how it blends and contrasts. It can go unnoticed or it can make stars sparkle in a black expanse of a sky.

The colour just kept coming back to me.

I love colours in general; I paint several shades on my nails; I've dyed my hair pink, blue and purple before; I can't take down notes with a single pen, there has to be at least two. I rarely wear all-black and when I do, I just a little of something else, a bright red or pink lipstick, green nail polish, a rose or labradorite necklace. Anything to break the black but still make it look good. Not a sad black.

I've written about black before, how it's a misunderstood colour. But the question lingered with me.

Yes blue and green are calming colours and I love mixing them with black, navy blue, beige or white. But I don't know. Black just stuck with me.

The background of my blog is black and I like it because it allows me to use any font colour I like – with minor exceptions.

It was a simple question. Colours say a lot about people and I wondered for a minute if I should say something else but I didn't.

I love all colours. All I want is to blend them right.

Takhayyal prompt #55: Welcome the Love

Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's weekly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal.

Valentine's Day is upon us once more (a few days from the date of publishing this post) and my friend and artist Yomna El-Mahany has a lovely artwork piece for this occasion. 

Of course, if you're an anti-Valentine's Day person, feel free to twist the image as you wish. Won't hold back your creativity!

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·    Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·     It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

Dreaming of Hope by Nada Adel Sobhi - Poem

Let the light flow in,

Fill my mind,

Flood my soul

With warmth,

Love,

Hope.

Awaken my numbed senses

From the darkness of despair,

The raging anger

Attacking my brain,

Sealing it inside itself

In a never-ending cycle.

Fill my heart with light,

Power,

Love!

FLOOD MY SOUL!

I close my eyes,

Smile involuntarily

An object appears in my periphery,

Somewhere far off.

The light falls to the background.

My smile widens

As my dreams take flight

Wind chimes jingle nearby

The sun begins to set,

An eagle soars above me,

Passing majestically by

In my mind's eye

And my soul within

I smile,

Love,

And dream.

Written 9 June 2016 

This poem was inspired by picture prompt no. 36 in the Takhayyal writing series.

Open the Door by Nada Adel Sobhi – Poem

Open the door

Let in the light,

Sing me a song,

Hold me tight.

Whisper softly in my ear,

Read my a tale or two,

Drive away my fear,

As you hold me close to you.

I fear the day more than the night

I fear the world when it says

I'm wrong and it's right.

Hold me close,

Don’t let go.

The world is changing,

Don't let me go.

Confusion, anger, lying and defeat

Slowly eat my shell, my sanity,

I cannot stand these cheats;

I fear an upcoming calamity.

Open the door

Let in the light,

Sing me a song,

Hold me tight.

Raise me high above the ground

Away from the world, away from it all.

Hold me close, so I don't hear a sound

Hold me tight and don't let me fall.

Wrap me in your light,

Teach me what is right.

Tell me what I need to do,

To be a better person, a better you.

Awaken my soul, my heart,

My body and mind;

Awaken my senses, give them a start,

Teach me how to be human again.

Open the door

Let in the light,

Sing me a song,

And hold me tight.

Written 8 February 2016 at 00:09

This poem was inspired by the above picture for Takhayyal writing prompt no. 28.

Enter the Light – A Takhayyal poem

Let the light seep in,

Softly treading on my skin,

Steps gently falling,

Slowly awakening my numb limbs

My eyes begin to see colours:

Of gold and green,

Blue and orange

Warmth,

A feeling long buried, forgotten

Colour

Streams through my being,

Singing a melody,

Washing away the greyness

Of my world.

Purple, pink and blue

Bathe me, bathe me,

Lights of every hue,

Awaken my soul

Within the crumbling walls

Of this human shell,

Replenish this drained body

Green, orange, lemon, peach

Revive my senses

Encase me in your colourful warmth

Make me get up

And breathe once again.

Written 5 December 2015 at 4:15 am

This piece was inspired by the first picture in Takhayyal 25 prompts. 

Colours - Takhayyal 19

The colours swam on the page. A rainbow of big polka dots jumping here and there. Then, a sea appeared, turquoise and turning darker deeper within. The sun shone perfectly, not too hot it scalds your skin and not too distant, you don’t feel its presence.

I could even hear laughter ringing in my ears and at one point thought it was my own.

Don’t burst my bubble.

Let me live and dance. Go round and round and round till I get dizzy and fall to the ground, to the green earthen bed. Let me close my eyes till my head stops spinning then open them to see the sun shining, radiating happiness, warmth, love and above all colour.

This piece was inspired by the above picture and is written for the bi-weekly picture prompt challenge Takhayyal.
As always comments are highly appreciated. And if you have the time, check out what this image has inspired in others here.