Shameless Beauty

So apparently, I only ever write about love and heartbreak. So here's a poem NOT about love... well actually, it is, but a different type anyways. This is probably the most personal poem on this blog tbh, because there is NOTHING fictional about it and it's based on me (unlike most that are drawn from observation and mood - and sometimes hunger). Anyways... Hope you enjoy. x

Shame on me
For not being satisfied with my looks,
For accepting the standard set by the media
Acknowledging that I look nothing like the model on my television screen,
My make-up an outlier to the girl in the magazine
And let's not even try and match the princess in disney books.

No Angel.

So originally, I wrote this piece out of my frustration, but it turned out to be First person Mike Brown. Now I'm going by what I've read and how I feel, but in general theres a message here. I'd call it a tribute, but I'm not 100% sure if it's that tbh... Anyways... Here's a poem regarding Mike Brown

A 2:2 is NOT okay... but life will be.

I used to tell my mum that no one goes into an examination with the pure intention to fail, she'd laugh at me and tell me

'You know nothing Anto' (Shout to all the GoT fans) 

Thought I'd throw in a cheeky joke. Lol.

Anyways, turns out she was right, I got to Uni and well, while I won't say 'to fail', was their intention, it was simply to 'just pass'. Sad thing was I found myself in that category many a time. I'd be calculating scores I needed to 'just get this module over and done with.'

Anyway, I cleaned up this mentality and got on track for a 2:1. Whilst it was borderline too late, I also fell ill during exams. Long story short, I graduated with a 2:2. Along with those who were a couple % off a 2:1, I was gutted. Though I wasn't quite off the mark, I had mitigating circumstances, to which everyone's response 'Oh that's good then.' Well errmmm, no it's not. (Employers don't get that).

The truth is,  getting a 2:2 is not ok. 

The truth.

The truth is,

I'm nearly obsessed.

It's not 100% but borderline.

Like a macbook that's been charging but the light won't go green

I won't either

not with envy at least.

Not with sick either

Cos I have no reason to be that

Way about you, because we're not a we..

I'm in this alone, it's all just me

I create these things in my head to make me happy.

Autumn...

"Autumn days, when the grass is jewelledAnd the silk inside a chestnut shellJet planes meeting in the air to be refuelledAll these things I love so wellSo I mustn’t forgetNo, I mustn’t forgetTo say a great big thank youI mustn’t forget."

In primary school, this was one of my favourite hymns. I'd belt out the words at the top of my lungs. from the middle of the floor during assembly, legs crossed and full of enthusiasm. When you think about it, its such a great song. What makes it special is that it goes on about my favourite time of the year... Autumn. My last post talks about how september is my favourite month, but this is about my season. So here's 5* THINGS I LOVE ABOUT AUTUMN.

1. Colours. 
People say spring is the most colourful season, but I prefer Autumn colours. Spring is full of pinks and blues and other brights, but autumn has a solemn sophistication to it. With the darker ends of the spectrum glowing. Cranberry, Tan, Grey, Cream, Navy Blue, Deep Purple, Mustard, Burgundy....
And it's not just clothes! It's the trees and their leaves, it's the lighting and more importantly, it's the Food!!

2. Food!! 
To be honest, this really should be the first point. But this list isn't in order of preference. Nonetheless as the foodie that I am, food is important. Now as a Nigerian, there aren't that many foods that stick to certain seasons. Maybe fruits, but otherwise, that's about it. Nonetheless, I believe that Autumn foods stick out. Also, Autumn foods often overlaps with Christmas foods, so there's goodness for two seasons. Here's SIX foods for autumn (recipes soon come)

• Anything pumpkin. It's only right as Halloween is nigh. But pumpkin makes for spice and soup and pies and more. Why let it pass you by?
• Yams, sweet potato and all those tubers.  They make for amazing sides with casseroles and soups so which are dishes that hold the best of autumn crops.
• Butternut squash gets it's own cos it's either/or, it can be used in replacement of pumpkins or sweet potatoes, but it's more a veg. 
• Chocolate - to be fair, this is a cheat and chocolate is a year round food, but think desserts.
• Pies and crumbles - I've given you enough ideas for these... but get those summer fruits that are almost out of season and make a crumble or get the beef and butternut quash into a pie.
• Soup! - Every vegetable and even better combinations make for good soups. EXPERIMENT!

3. Harvest
Speaking of food, Harvest! That hymn was actually a harvest hymn. For those that don't know harvest is the time when farmers gather their crops. In simplest terms. But for me in primary school it meant donating to the needy, usually food and we still do through CAFOD.

4. Thanksgiving
This hymn is so relevant! It's telling us to be thankful and guess what's in Autumn? Thanksgiving! Okay, so Brits don't do thanksgiving, but heeyyy.... IDC. I love the idea of family/friends and giving thanks. Never pass an opportunity to do so.  Again, it celebrates food and oh... Turkey!!!

5. I could list more, but I'm gonna leave it to you instead- What do you love about Autumn?