BlackMan Time

Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

I started to write a poem about the joys of Mother’s Day
But then I remembered my mother died a few years ago
So I thought I’d still write the poem for all mothers,
But then I remembered my mother died a few years ago

So I began and words appeared at my finger tips
But I still remembered my mother died a few years ago

And then I thought what would my mother wanted for Mother’s Day?
So I turned on my memory projector to remember my mother’s life
Like a fast rewinding film I saw many happy scenes unfold
A smile or two replacing the frown from creasing up my face

And then I was aware words was still appearing at my finger tips
While the life of my mother continued to rewind in my mind
The face, the eyes, the smile, the mannerisms, the motherly quips
Pity none of the words rhyme, let alone this uneven line…

So I think I should abandon this idea as a fruitless exercise,
Cos I’m still remembering my mother died a few years ago,
And even though the weather man said it would be hot and sunny,
It’s suddenly started to rain from out of my eyes…
For I remember my mother would have wanted only three things:
Just for me to praise God, a good woman and be happy…

Happy mother’s day all you living, loving, caring, mothers,
My mother would have wanted you to be really happy too!

Everybody is entitled to an opinion but it’s not every opinion is going to be relevant when it is received so will have a feeling of being not worth listening to. Maybe even pointless!

Opinions are not facts – they are usually based on beliefs. Opinions based on personal experience, although being potentially truthful is still nevertheless a personal point of view and still represent someone’s personal viewpoint or perspective.

This BMT blog for instance is an outlet for my personal thoughts and all of the opinions expressed here is either based on my personal experiences, what is happening in the news or even stuff I invent to illustrate certain points, issues or predicaments.

Good Faith

I write in good faith but sometimes I get people asking me to prove what I write. Usually, these come from people who do not agree with my point of view.

I never feel the need to justify what I write, particularly my non-news opinions. However, sometimes I do justify what I write but usually to illustrate where I’m coming from or how that particular opinion is relevant to a given situation.

My opinion is just that and you don’t have to read, agree with or embrace me with your approval or disapproval of what I have said. But, I present a comments box below each story so that you can make a comment if you so wish. I have never yet removed or censored a comment submitted, however much they have disagreed with anything I have said.

Comments Box

Whether you think my opinion is worth listening to or not, is really up to you. Whatever opinion you want to form of me after reading my opinions are also up to you.

From this point onwards I will even put an article rating feedback bar at the bottom of each post so that you can anonymously indicate how much you like what I have said.

Now, tell me, ain’t that loving you?

People ask me all the time: “Hey, BlackMan, where do you get your inspiration from?” I’m always happy to tell them that I get mine from life and living!

On reading this blog some are initially sceptical that my life appears so action-packed and eventful.

But, if truth be told, all of us may actually live similarly eventual, action-packed lives. The only difference is I write down some of the instances of my life adventures on screen!

Just travelling from A to B in the course of a day’s journey is enough to give me ideas to write about. Flicking through papers, listening to news, conversations with people who track current affairs, business, trends – all inspire me.

Ideas Generator

Regardless of what else that may come my way; I can always rely on my own brain power to generate ideas too. Here I am blessed because I don’t seem to ever run out of ideas.

They say success is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration and it is true. You do have to work hard to generate new, fresh and original ideas to be successful.

I cannot (and do not) sit and wait for inspiration to come because that’s not how this inspiration thing works. You have to prepare a framework for inspiration so that you can leap at any opportunity as soon as any appear.

Just for the record today’s blog was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend in the Caribbean who suggested the title and I filled in the content!

Sweet inspiration; don’t you just love it?

I hate being in love,
sometimes,
For everytime I meet someone I like
I go through torture,
wondering,
if every word she say is truth
especially when we’re apart
for a start.

Yet when we’re together,
sometimes,
She loves me with an intensity,
that wipes all doubt,
right out
of my mouth
and my head
until I’m dead
and I rise again…

It wasn’t the best of years. It wasn’t the worse of years. But, for all its faults, it was actually the year 2008! At the stroke of midnight last night all that we knew of last year passed swiftly into another realm of the space/time continuum and voila 2009 was ushered in like a thief in the night!

What were we glad to see the back of?

• An escalation of youth inflicted knife and gun crimes?
• Falling house prices?
• The continuing devaluation of the pound?
• The energy services combining to put up gas, water, electricity at the
  very moment people are feeling the economic downturn the most?
• The police getting away with murder, as usual?

What are we looking forward to?

• Barack Obama’s swearing ceremony on January 20?
• The continuing fall in house prices?
• Hooking up with a good woman and creating our own world?

Maybe!

These thoughts were interrupted by the sound of bombs going off in the distance…
Read the rest of this entry »

There was a time when writing objective articles for a newspaper or other publication, meant something. It felt like you were the sheriff in town and your job was to serve and protect the

The most I was hoping for when I began this BMT Blog was a place where I could store my thoughts and ideas; maybe even resolve one or two issues exercising my mind.

What has actually transpired is that I have discovered a channel through which my writing has given me the discipline to write regularly each day to deliver words that are being read by a fair number of people.

Essentially, however, I am writing about really personal stuff so the fact that anyone reads me is quite exhilarating!

As we enter December I am encouraged by the fact that I have also stuck to a resolve to write at least one article or Blog thought per day.

I have so far written 336 articles this year, with 30 days to go before the end of this leap year. Believe me this is a tremendous fete! Writing regularly obviously develops one’s skill but overcoming the various challenges to write this often is much harder than it sounds.

I will keep going until I reach the end of the year, then I will decide what new writing challenges, if any, I will set myself for the New Year!

When you know how you can use the power of words in different ways to your advantage.

Take the following sentence as an example:-

“There’s a slim possibility that I may spend the Christmas and New Year periods in a warm climate country instead of my current home location of London, England.”

Did you see how I was able to suggest that London is cold in comparison to an unnamed other country? I did this by contrasting the weather types in both locations without using the word ‘cold’ to describe London.

I achieve a similar ’sleight of hand’ everyday in giving personal information about myself without giving away certain key details of my life and/or the people mentioned.

This is obviously to protect myself from potential hackers and identity theft. But it is also to prevent anyone who knows me reading the blog and identifying themselves, unless they have specifically given me permission to do so!

Obviously those who know me and feel all they need to do to keep tabs on me is to read my blog each day is actually going to be frustrated by not getting current information.

I can’t say much more about this without revealing my hand, but suffice to say the best way to know what the latest is in my personal life is to ask me, personally.

If you’re really getting the idea of this you’re next question should be: “Where are you thinking of spending your Christmas holidays, Mr. BlackMan?”

Some people are given the gift of voice and can sing along with birds and blend in with nature’s orchestra. I’m not one of them.

Some have a way to paint and can capture the most lucid of images from memory, dreams or simply looking at a scene. That sure isn’t me.

There are those with the power to hold complex mathematical calculus in their heads and calculate the power of a number to the nth degree and be accurate to within a few decimal points. Are you kidding me?!!!

Then there are those who have a way with words and can use them in any given situation to influence, inform and entertain or even to destroy a concept, person or thing without much thought. I now believe I’m one of these people.

Our education is delivered through words and in our daily lives words in the form of newspapers, magazines, etc., inform us of news and developments around us.

The fate of romances are often decided by our choice of words at key moments; in marriage (and death) ceremonies words are the device used to convey feelings and seal our fate. There is no getting away from words…

However, people often underestimate the power of the word when every statute of every land across the world is passed in court houses and government offices, using them. Yet those who do not understand this power choose to dismiss words as being “nothing”…

All I can say is I give thanks for the word and I always God for the wisdom to use them wisely as the the pen is much mightier than the sword.

I hope words never fail me!

Being a writer doesn’t give me the right to pass judgement on people or situations. The most I can do is give an opinion but unfortunately depending on the reach of my audience my opinion could prove too influential for its own good.

There’s no telling who or what may come into contact with my opinion and take it up and use it to their advantage.

The best that I hope for whenever I write something is that somebody will read it. After reading and digesting it I further hope it will inform, educate, instruct, enlighten or illuminate them about whatever topic I’m writing about.

Thus, it is a responsibility (add gift, blessing and privilege!) to write something and to have it read by many. But I cannot allow myself to only write the kind of things that people will love; I have to write unpleasant, controversial and on the edge stuff too.

This is, of course, a fundamental right in any free thinking democracy. But with such freedom comes great responsibility.

It is always a good thing to keep this in the foreground when I write.