The Ingredients

What are little boys made of

What are little boys made of
Snips & snails & puppy dogs tails

And such are little boys made of. 

What are little girls made of

What are little girls made of

Sugar and spice and everything nice

That’s what little girls are made of

"What Are Little Boys Made Of?" is a popular nursery rhyme dating from the early 19th century.

The rhyme appears in many variant forms. For example, other versions may describe boys as being made of "snaps", "frogs", "snakes", or "slugs", rather than "snips" as above.

But little girls are ALWAYS “everything nice”, or “all things nice”. Wow!

According to Iona and Peter Opie, this writing first appears in a manuscript by the English poet Robert Southey, (1774–1843). But in popular culture, the line "sugar, spice and everything nice" has been interpreted in the song, “Daddy’s Little Girl” written by Robert Burke and Horace Gerlach and later recorded by "The Mills Brothers”,  in 1950.

Whatever the case may be, little boys and little girls have NOT changed… not by nature at birth, so they are literally “little” and untainted. Change comes with growth, standards, morals that are instilled and examples that are set; basically what parents, peers and the environment dictates.

Too many times little girls and little boys grow up too fast, and it’s not their doing, but different conditions decree such adaptation... even survival. Kids are adaptable because they imitate and emulate what they see.

For example, about 6 years ago, my grandson who was less than 2 years old, picked up my ‘old school’ flip cell phone and began to swipe the screen with his little finger. Of course that didn’t work, then after about 3-4 swipes, he handed it to me and said “boke, boke”!  LOL! Basically to him, my ‘good’ phone was broken! We all had a big laugh about that and I soon upgraded. Now, at 7 3/4 years old, he can show ME how to use my phone - text, emoji’s, download stuff, Google… the whole nine yards. Though, now his lifestyle dictated such knowledge and advanced use of technology, he is still the ‘little boy’.

You see, that rhyme resonates with me because as a younger ‘little boy’, he loved BUGS and snails etc.! It was nothing to see him pick up a ‘doo, doo’ bug, play with it... even put it in his pocket. And still to this day, he is fascinated by bugs.

Time brings about change, just as the lyrics of that rhyme evolved over time. But, the message and implication of that limerick DID NOT change… just as “little boys and little girls.”

~PJ Payne

HE DID IT

Have you ever just sat back and thought deeply about how everything around you is really so miraculously made? “That’s what my ‘coffee thought’ is about today”. It doesn’t matter how much it rains, hails, sleets or snows ,God forbids, His works are meticulously done.

It is reminiscent of how I grew up in a little country town where everyone knew everyone, truly giving homage to the common adage, ‘It takes a village….’ which brings me to this.

As a child when my siblings, cousins and I would visit our grandparents, we didn’t really understand that we were there, supposedly to ‘help’ them on their farm. Half of us didn’t know what we were doing anyway, and considered it a vacation and fun. I remember getting up bright and early in the morning, before the sun came up, grabbing a pail with chicken feed in it and taking it to the chicken coop to feed the chickens… the same chickens I’d chased the day before! But they laid the eggs I would eat later that morning for breakfast. The boys would ‘slop the pigs’ as they called it. But those pigs yielded the pork roast we would have for Sunday dinner. Or my grandfather would send my brother out, sometimes on wintry nights, to chop some wood to put in that old wood-burning stove. That firewood is what kept us warm when we would get up on those icy cold mornings.

But my fondest memory is those carefree afternoons when some of us, usually the girls would wander off into the field to play. My favorite game was to see who could find the first four-leaf clover. As I look back, I don’t think it really mattered who won, but my visual is lying in the grass, usually with wild flowers we had picked; naming the shapes of the clouds. I recall laughter and staring at the wondrous beauty God had created, from the towering trees to the birds and bees…

In the beginning He did it all! And now on my mornings, I remember. 

Gloriously!

I love my mornings

I love my days

And take into consideration

All the ways

That God has blessed me

To see another

Of His great works

One way or the other

For this could not be

Possible without Him

He did it all for me

On a wink and a whim

I’m taking it all in

Absorbing its beauty

Relishing in Him

What He does, without duty

And He didn’t have to do this

For you or me

Dirty rags are we

At His feet

I thank Him and praise

His glorious works

For mine eyes to behold

As each morning lurks 

Again and again

It never fails

Same time…descends

His Magnificence unveils

Glory

'Work It Out'

How can one handle situations or 'states of affairs' that you KNOW won't change... basically there is no sign of change in the forecast - not in your work sector... Well, something or someone has to go!

It never ceases to amaze me the things people will do. It never ceases to amaze me, the things you must go through when you try your very best to right a wrong that's imparted unto you. You're shown blatant unfairness as well as partiality; singled out. You try to focus on thoughts that are fresh and anew; especially in an atmosphere that has proven to be so unaptly suited for you. The air that surrounds you is so thick, you can cut it with a knife (so to speak).  What do you do when your work setting disputes work ethics? Run?

In the world today, a working environment has so many 'states of minds’. You don't know which you will face from one morning to the next, even from one 'face’ to the next... See, the humility you so suitably possess is sometimes tried or offset by others’ outwardly appearance of senility. Their inadequacies, lack of innate abilities, disrespect and just downright stupidity tries your patience.  

Although you may be suffering at the expense of your colleagues absurdities, you handle adversity and  what you're facing daily with poise and dignity. BUT, the human side allow frustration can beset you quickly! You look to whence cometh your help aggressively, as you "need help Lord", to endure, to secure, to procure and retain modesty and meekness. 

You’ve tried at best, to be calm ‘n collect in certain situations, but their unscrupulous behavior is a reality, staring you in the face. You can’t get around the ‘mess’ as it encompasses and infiltrates ‘your space.’ So…What do you do to regain composure and keep the little couth you still possess? 

You just keep your head up, breathe deep and ride the waves till the end of your voyage.  Daily you may  be tossed to and fro, but hold tight as He moves at His own pace. In Him you will find that refuge and solace, as He Works it out.

Blessings,

PJ

Petroleum

As a poet and writer, there is always something that inspires me to put on paper what's in my head. The bulk of my inspiration has come by seeing and listening to the works of some of our most renown Black Poets, namely Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. I truly believe most writers write through inspirations and experiences. Our heritage and experiences are the stepping stones for us as black poets to articulate our movement; convey our thoughts to print. 

Sometimes I feel as though I have so much to say and if I didn't have a outlet, I'd burst wide open... my brain goes much faster than even my fingers can wrap around a pen, type on a keyboard, or even my body can move, to express what I am thinking.

I've been writing since my kids were little and always thought of it as my "Coffee and Thee" moments whereas I spent time alone with a Cup 'o Joe, my Bible or journal and my inspiration-Thee. My thoughts utter, via pen, whatever creeps into mind at that time. today it's about children, so I've dubbed this my 

Petroleum

You are my inspiration

my source of rejuvenation

The sweetener

for my cup-o-tea        

The morning coffee

I think I need

The fuel that

jump-starts my day

are your little words

that pave the way. 
Our talks - easy for me

Innocence - freely for me

Refreshing

Fulfilling

A bond so close

for you, I'm willing....

Seeing you smile

carries me that extra mile.
Throughout the day

precious memories pave the way

Encompassing and

soothing my soul
giving me peace

lightening my load 

And when I began again...

You are my inspiration

my source of rejuvenation

Petroleum

~PJPayne

Together

The Mind

A terrible thing to waste

Genes

Nothing can take their place

The Soul

Innate ability to succumb

The Body

All encompasses One

Wherever the ‘mind-set’ goes

is derivation of the genes

But, empowerment from the soul

floods the body; then actions seem

to take on character and shape.

And in every light we begin

inadvertently, but cohesively, seeing

Wow, you’re my twin!

You and me

Mind

Genes

Soul

And Bod…..y

Connectivity

Collectively

Together

'Coffee and Writing'

FORTITUDE

The Devil LOVES it when he thinks he has won and you’re down for the count. Don’t give him an inkling of credit!  When ‘life happens’, it hits hard. My suggestion- "take the lick’n and keep on kick’n”!

Don’t give the Devil the glory for anything you feel has gone wrong in your life. When you do that, you are opening yourself up for more disasters, more mistakes, more wrong decisions, more seemingly unresolvable issues. Don’t let him in! Close that door of negativity. Leave no room for advancement of unconstructiveness, and pessimism. After you close the door, keep it under lock and key! 
Circumspectly, we even open ourselves up for blunders when we trust people. On the other hand, we just "open mouth, insert foot"!  Don’t leave access and room for disaster.   And by that I mean, watch the company you keep, you train of thoughts, your daily travels, circle of friends; even you facial expressions… sometimes the face tells the whole story; usually one you are not prepared to let go- “that’s a whole other book!” Lol.

Now, an optimistic view of the ‘stuff’ that happens is, maybe God is allowing it. You do know that He does allow us to go through difficult times, right? We may not understand it at the time, but ‘in His time’ we will understand.

Remember that adversity is always waiting; a happenstance away, therefore some things, we just can’t prevent. But for those in which we can, stomp on ‘em! 

Get an ATTITUDE of FORTITUDE and march on!

Blessings,

-PJ Payne

My Escape

I have always heard the term 'Experience is the best teacher.' Over the years, I didn't take that quote to heart, because when I imagined teaching I automatically relegated it to school or books. 
Those who knew me knew that I’ve always had a joyous, happy and excitable attitude about everything. Miss Positive. I saw the glass half full, instead of half empty. And that was and still is who I am. They seemed to think that I didn’t have a worry in the world… always there for the other person; a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a sounding board – All those things. Deep down, I HID. But, I had an escape.

Let me give you a peek into my upbringing.

I had a STRONG Mom. Single but took care of all six of her children. From the outside, you didn’t see the struggle. Her statement to us was “Never let’em see you sweat! Be steadfast stand tall in what you believe in"! I understood that completely and carried it into my adulthood and family.

Yes, just like the next fella, I had problems but just didn’t show it; didn’t carry everything on my sleeves; didn't have a permanent print of a frown on my forehead, Lol. It seems I always wanted to portray the zeal and zest for life, a renowned strength, the epitome of positivity and that’s the person I wanted to exude - to be visible to my peers.

But, deep inside

But, hidden within

But, to only my best friend

But, my bad experiences

But, to the only One I can depend

But God knows the key that unlocks my door... to my escape

“…it’s why I write”.

~PJ Payne