Six more days...

Hey there! Here's a Saturday Post!

Once Again I say, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
© 2015 Tiffany Monique

With words, song & prayer,
Tiffany V

© Straughn Films 2011

Thank Rafiki

Hey y'all! Happy Saturday! Here's a post for ya.

How this...

© November 2015 - Thanks Rafiki

turned into this...

© November 2015 - That Turkey is Smokin'

tells me that God is real, and that the Lion King Turkey Blessing works!

Seriously, I thank you all for the amazing support and love throughout the year.

2015 has been a year of reaping. 

Some things bloomed beautiful,

some things passed on,

and many things went

into a new phase.

A word of caution,

and a promise

none of us gets out of this alive

So enjoy the turkey

and run this race to win

With words, song & prayer
Tiffany V

Exposed Nerves

Happy Saturday to ya! Here is a Saturday Post!

Exposed Nerves

There are a lot of feelings
Around
Going around
Making their rounds
Like the tide
Like the seasons
Visitors
Not residents
Emotions
In motion
Let them come
Let them go
Appreciate them
Make room for them
Share them
Evict them
Welcome them again

"Crush them darts and keep it movin'!" - Mom

"What you are learning is preparing you for where you are going." - Pastor's wife

"We need to get our nails did!" - Kristy O.

"Chocolate don't play." - Seddy Bear

"I'll cry for you." - Cece

"Ennnnnnnnh..." - Hubs

(Tiffanyzed to protect the... innocent?)

BTW, new logo and website coming... stay tuned! And don't forget to pick up a copy of 

Ugly Drawers, Pretty Panties - makes a great Christmas gift!

With Words, Song & Prayer,
Tiffany V

Body Fiction 1

To keep a promise, here's a bit of a different Saturday Post!

***

Six Separate Thoughts - Part 1

The shoes were pinched. They were jewel encrusted, heeled, and satin underneath her petticoat, but they were pinched. No wiggle room; certainly no air. Still, they were just too pretty to remain hidden under a dress encircling three feet round. Shoes of such beauty should be seen. Unfortunately for the young lady, ankles in this era should not.

Foolish intrigues amongst these powerful families annoy me, with gilded goblets and gossip, but I’m the part that makes the magic, and she paid with her toe.

In this guise, no one cares about me unless I hurt, fall off, or need painting. Foot hygiene bordering on the manic is the rage in London these days, so painting isn’t big here yet. It will be. Perhaps I’ll be put to use again. A new body, part of a new woman, a new time, a new future, a new past.

As soon as the deed is done, I’m leaving.

The slide-roll-slide friction of her gait was something akin to a rude massage. The relief when she sat down felt decadent, like butter on toasted bread. Unfortunately it was not too long before she was asked to dance by our conquest, ending my respite with an extended hand.

If I had a neck, I would have rolled it in preparation for the grand performance. Sensation ceased. A cinnamon and pepper spark inside my soul began flickering tiny fire, and while wrapped in perfect etiquette, I sent my yeasty dream up his spine, into the crook of the neck with the gentlest kiss of a single fingertip sensation, behind and then into his ear; felt more than heard.

“Mine.”

I returned bodily to the discomfort within her squish-pull-point lope about the ballroom. The sheerest curtain of frenzy fell around them, as if they were the only two in the room. A passionate air current ribbon wove tendrils around their never-touching wrists. The most accidental graze between the backs of hands, scandalous despite the gloves, began a storm of flipping fans, adding air to the fire. I claim full credit as the arsonist.

They’ll be married by Michaelmas, and her child will have a last name of good standing, within the same bloodline no less.

Time to go.

It actually works in her favor. It will hurt when I take my leave, and she’ll most certainly stumble. Perhaps there will be a fall, and the dutiful if not suddenly attentive fiancé-to-be will save her publicly. She’ll have a lock of her hair in his coat pocket before the end of the night.

It is a shame about the shoes though.

***

For Seddybear - This was fun!

With words, song & prayer,

TiMo V

One the Eve of our First Anniversary

Happy Saturday to you! Here's your Saturday Post!

To my other, in honor of his significance
She carries the moon in her womb
And the words in her wrist
And the skin of her mothers on her elbows and knees
She has her dream
Come true
And deferred
And he loves her
In the clouds
And on the ground
And under the ground

She carries the song in her heart
Which is still healing
She carries the sass in her hips
Which are still in pain
She considers her star shining
And fallen
And he loves her
In the sky
And in the resting mist
And in the bog

They don't understand the love
And they understand it all too well
They don't get to dance that way
Not all of them
But we love
For love is stronger
Than the burning heat of the sun
And the reflected light of the moon
And to the place of death

She carries the moon
And he walks with her
And He carries them both sometimes
With blood and gore and tears
With or without footprint
For sometimes
They fly together
And they stand still together
And they rest together

With words, song and prayer
TiMo V

Close to the Air

Happy Saturday Post!

Pushing up
Two centimeters 
Until the air
Not drowning
Is the same
As growing
From underground up
You have to do it
Or you'll die
And it is
Hard to do
But needful
Essential
Vital

Push.

A happy workday beginning -- © 2015 Tiffany V.

A Word with You Press' most current contest authors are anonymous. Try it. Just click here.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo V

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany V.

Springs of Joy

Just because it's hot
Just because it's not
Just because I'm here
I'll share springs of joy
Not because my stores are full
Not because my hopes are empty
Not because it's Wednesday
I'll share springs of joy
Autumn and Summer duke it out
Winter and Spring watch for their turn
The holidays come and go like candy
And I'll share springs of joy
Just because I'm here
Just because you're here too
Just because it's there
I'll share springs of joy

With words, song & prayer
TiMo

It makes me smile...

Choosing

On Bonnie and Dan's Wedding Day - Here's a Saturday Post!

For Boba and Darth

I choose to nerd out

Get the word out

And I am not ashamed

I will sing and cry with joy

No plots or ploys

Only love to blame

I choose my friends who love me

Who envelope me

In their gracious arms

And while we sing the Star Wars main theme

She marries the man of her dreams

Right there on the front lawn

Love you, Bonnie - Congratulations!

You found the droid you were looking for!

In transit

From Ugly Drawers, Pretty Panties

On your mark, get set, GO
Where though
A pioneer through life's paths
A journey from here to eternity
A wanderer through the wonder of the simplest moments
I am in transit
I am not easily surprised, but life has a way of shutting me up
The more I learn, the more I see,the more I wish for simple songs and writing
The less I want to talk, the more I want to ask
What do you want to learn from your life?
What do you want to teach through your experiences?
What do you want your legacy to be?
Let's transit together and share the load
Let's converse about our wonder-wanders
And save each other time and trial
Learning to lean, learning to bow, learning to pray
As we travel from death to life
Let's enjoy the story
Show me your battle scars and I'll show you mine
From the past, when we were stupid
Yes, even five seconds ago
I am tired of my ears being tickled
We are moving from ignorance to wisdom
Through trial and text and a multitude of counsel
I want to go hard after life and excellence
So that when I am old my age will speak wisdom
I will tell my younger ones from experiences
And so I go, and I will bring stories in transit

Inspired by the phrase II
From Ugly Drawers, Pretty Panties

"Danger is very real, but fear is a choice." - Will Smith, After Earth
I will say it
I will give no quarter to the lie
The bind
The one that says I must say less
Give less
Be less
Because it scares you
(and by the way, if you ain't "you", then don't take ownership)
I will give it
I will open my heart to the sunshine
The freedom
The joy
Even in a moment
(and by the way, if you've been there with me, cool)
I will feel it
I will wear the full armor
Not apologizing
Not compromising
Accepting everything that I am to you, with you, for you
(All the many "you's" out there)
I will choose
Choose life
Choose me
Choose faith in the promise
I will be the fearless one I once tried not to be because of you
(Though I thank you for the trip)
I will change
I am a shifting rhythm
In the poem of life
In the life of a poem
And I am not written by you
(Though I have been edited by "you" from time to time)

Choosing

On the off chance that you can change for the better

Choose to

On the off chance you can get the spirit and not the letter

Choose to

I sometimes have difficulty

Letting pain back in to hurt me

Forgiving is a daily duty

But I choose to

This one is not finished...

With words, song & prayer
TiMo V

Grafting

It's Saturday! Here's your Saturday Post!

Cut it out to cut it in
For the abundant life
Of both old and new
Two old
Become one
Anew
Renewed
With cuts, deep, and painful
The shoot can not seed
It is not of its own
It is cut out
And then
Cut in
The rootstock is the life source
The scion its sub-part
Under authority
Living off of that authority
There is no such thing
As a independent scion
Inosculation
Asexual generation
Cut out
to be cut in
To produce
Some 30, some 60, some 100-fold
It always hurts
At first
Being cut
And it hurts sometimes after
At the point of joining
But the benefit
Is worth it
Cutting out to cut it in
Cutting it

With words, song and prayer
TiMo V

The Great Duality

Happy Saturday to you! Here's your Saturday Post!

I dreamt this week that I was surrounded by deep water, but my living situation was a high hill with many buildings (think Minas Tirith in the Pacific). My view was sometimes from under the water, and sometimes from a middle place looking down. Family and certain friends were there, and I was teaching. I'm not yet at an age when grandchildren run about my legs, but I feel like it is always going to come down to that balance of duality; not undecided, but with singularity of purpose.

This fountain in me seems full
Grace
Truth
Christian
Pharisee
Family
Business
Pme
Qme

This journey is me feels forked
Heaven
Hell
Acceptance
Rejection
Paul
Peter
Joy
Dejection

I seek purification within and without
Heart
Life
Maturity
Childishness
Wings
Weights
Love
Indifference

I run this race to win
Get up
Go on
Learn
Unlearn
Build up
Take down
Win
Burn

The natural tendency is to choose one side
But I have
Can't you see
Hidden
In plain sight
Complicated
Simplicity
My shadows
Prove a light

When I lived on the East Coast, I told my older brother I was vacillating between staying and moving back to CA. He told me, "once you make the decision you'll have peace". It took about a year before I moved back, but from the point of choice, both options worked toward my goal. I was so scared for so long that people would beat me down for saying out loud the things I say, as if it were about me. I've been told this week, "Do you have any idea how strong you are; and how intimidating that is?" Would it were not so.

I'm human; cuts hurt. I am a phoenix too; only in Christ. I've been given a "talent", and I am duty-bound NOT to bury it, but to make it bear fruit. I was told by a pastor in Virginia, "you have kingdoms in you..." and that is one of the things that have driven me to write poetry, stories, emails, blog posts, dreams... It makes room, like an overfull vessel being emptied (and the relief is sublime).

It is not about me, no matter how I benefit.

With words, song and prayer
TiMo V

Go After that Thing

For the singers battling their own voices - here is a Saturday Post!

Go hard after it

Whatever it is

That one thing

Learn that lesson

Lose that weight

That one thing

For me
It has always been
To freely sing
But I am learning how
And I will now
Do that one thing

Sometimes too big
Out of control
A cannon ring
Sometimes weak
Cracked and raw
Songs in a sling

I've given it up
I've gotten it back
It's a trick on string
I scream notes
I cry music
Give it wings

I go hard
To learn and be
God-help-me-ing
My voice is mine
I'll die for it
My life to bring

My poetry - my alter
I leave it here
I'm promising
To use my voice
No matter the cost
For truth-telling

Go hard after it

Whatever it is

That one thing

Follow that dreamscape

Or escape the dream

Do that one thing

With words, song & prayer,

TiMo

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

Brave Enough to Share

Workin' that work and sharing my Saturday Post! Enjoy!

My friend told me today that she and her husband sat together and read one of my poems. She said they cried together in the reading. I told her I just wanted to tell the truth. That's why I write.

They even made a comment about My Violin of an Armpit. I am going to read it this evening.

I was interviewed by A Word With You Press for the Author Spotlight and I'd like to share that with you today.

My book launch party is in a few hours, and I'm so busy getting ready for it, I can't even be nervous about it. But those feelings will come. And I may write about them. Sometimes it hurts to tell what I'm seeing, doing, learning, or becoming. But that is the work. And I am humbled by the people who are brave enough to share their words with me. They inspire me to do more. So thank you all (song writers, poets, rappers, friends, etc.) for giving me the strength to tell my own story.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

At the Bottom

For your consideration - a Saturday post.

 © 2014 Tiffany Monique

She saw a heart there
At the bottom of the cup
But as she drank deeper
It changed into a triangle
Surely then
She had to chase again

He saw it blue
At the bottom of the glass
But as he looked closer
It changed to a defect
Surely then
He had to chase again

Surely then
She had to chase again
Down there
To the bottom of the cup
Surely then
He had to chase again
There is no freedom
Yet it doesn't seem as such

She saw love
At the bottom of the glass
But as she fell deeper
It changed into a jail
Surely then
She had to run again

He saw himself
At the bottom of the cup
But as he searched harder
It changed into a lie
Surely then
He had to find again

Surely then
She had to chase again
Down there
To the bottom of the cup
Surely then
He had to chase again
There is no freedom
Yet it doesn't seem as such

This piece is not quite finished. I'd like to think they eventually leave the cup alone. But they haven't told me that part of the story yet.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo

Tiffany Vakilian Joins BookDaily.com

Vista, CA August 18, 2015  BookDaily.com is pleased to announce that Tiffany Vakilian will be featured on the popular book sampling site – joining the ranks of the most famous authors in the world.

As a featured author, the first poems of Vakilian's books are now available to thousands of readers to sample – free of charge. At BookDaily, book fans can browse, search and read first chapters from a selection of more than 80,000 titles.

Vakilian is currently promoting Ugly Drawers, Pretty Panties a Black American book of Poetry published by A Word With You Press. Visit Vakilian’s website at www.tiffanyvakilian.com and their BookDaily page as well http://www.bookdaily.com/author/2389716/tiffany-vakilian.

Like many other authors, Vakilian is making use of the quick and easy tools BookDaily offers for writers to market their books.

Launched in May 2009, BookDaily has rapidly become the leading source of book samples by email. More than 10 million sample chapters have been distributed through BookDaily.com and through the site’s email subscriptions.  The site is a division of ArcaMax Publishing, the leader in consumer news and entertainment by email.

***   ***   ***

For information about A Word With You Press, please contact 760-500-5409. For media inquiries, please contact A Word With You Press at Thorn@AWordWithYouPress.com.

Babysitting

Here is your Saturday post.

It is a sparkling afternoon, with traffic heavy yet moving along. I get the call on the way and before I hear the voice, I know. The day becomes a cracked glass flute...Read the rest here.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo

Onward Looking

© Tiffany Monique February 2014

8-29-15 Book Launch Press Release

In lieu of Saturday post - here is the Press Release from the AWwYP (my publisher's) Website

‪#‎UDPPbook‬ ‪#‎booklaunchparty‬ ‪#‎workthatwork‬ ‪#‎HVP‬ ‪#‎AWordWithYouPress

The pun comes with the territory...

Dear Friends,

If you are anywhere in SoCal please join us Saturday, August 29th with our sponsor Highlight Video Productions, at 2575 Foothill Drive in Vista to help us celebrate the launch of Ugly Drawers, Pretty Panties, our darling Tiffany Vakilian’s first publication with us at the Towers that shine A Word with You Press flags.

This event will be a great chance to meet the author and kindred spirits, and to network with writing, media, publishing, and other professionals. It’ll also serve as a reunion of sorts for all North County writers, in particular the Meet-Up group Anti-Social Writers and Creative Misfits, of which Tiffany and I are members. She handed me the fiddle when the Oceanside towers burned.

(but it does make a good story. But definitely not a lire!) 

We expect more people than there are inappropriate puns at the Towers, so be sure to bring a lawn chair. Come enjoy a little live music and the camaraderie of fellow writers, artists, and friends. Tiffany will give a brief reading at sunset, and be on hand to sign copies of her book.

50% of the proceeds from her book launch sales that night will be donated to the Transformative Language Arts Network, promoting the use of spoken, written, sung, or embodied words to facilitate social change. And you get a woman’s ugly drawers and pretty panties to put under your pillow or sell on eBay.

In a perfect world, I would be flying in from Moscow for the event, but I’m on extended time out for bad behavior and locked in the Tower! But I will be there virtually, as will folks all over the orb.

AND we will announce the prize winner to our Beneath the Surface contest before the day is done. I do hope to see you and promise to be on my best misbehavior!

Fifteen bucks gets you a beer, a book and a burger.

With LOVE from the land of the double-entundra,His Moi-ness,The Thorntonator-in-chief​, thornificent, as ever

Pme & Qme

In honor of Seddy Bear Day, and because I couldn't send birthday flowers...

Shout in the cafeteria
All eyes on me
All I knew to be
Pme
In spotlight
Brighter
Than that shining on me
Painful even
She didn't see me
I was too busy
Being on display

Then Qme
A new me
Came up to the fore
Never before
And she found me
Refreshingly
Genuine
As did I
Authenticated through art
My self expression
Helped her express
Hi my name is
Let's befriend

And then the adventures
Academic and rebellious
God in the face of thesis
Linguistic
And inappropriate
God in the midst of trauma
Holding hearts
Lifting hands
My sister girl
My hashtag
Chocolate don't play
Today is her day

Don't think I'd be me
Had God not seen
To match our residencies
Many words past and present
Future poetry
Our friendship
Strong like oak
Meek like palm
And I celebrate on
Honored by her virtual presence
Let alone her in truth

Dartmouth, Burlington, Seven Mile, Arlington, Virginia, Plainfield - I've seen states (and states) with my friend Sarah. All I can do today is celebrate her honesty, her perseverance, her spirit, her comedy, her boldness, her bravery, her heart, her taste in food, in cars, in friends... It takes a strong woman to admit to being afraid, and wrong, and unafraid, and right. I've seen her do these things - and dance with random dudes at the karaoke bar in Burlington. I've defended her, been corrected by her, ran from what she faced boldly, and held the full weight of her praise. This one is a beautiful soul, and she calls me friend. Thank you God, for blessing me with such a diamond as her.

With words, song & prayer, TiMo

‪#‎UDPPbook‬ ‪#‎booklaunchparty‬ ‪#‎workthatwork‬ ‪#‎HVP‬ ‪#‎AWordWithYouPress‬
Book Launch Press Release - http://t.co/183kOoLHe2

A Royal Daughter

Had she been my own daughter, I couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become. I wish to honor her today.

I have
A good friend V
Standing strong
In the face of sorrow
And conflict
In the same
Situation
-I did not stand so
Bravely
She humbles me

She asked previously
For advice
About her situation
And after referring up
I told her
The best advice I could
"Walk out your royalty"
She did
-In the same situation
Shaped for myself
I did not

Kudos to my friend
Of whom
I am most proud
She is a living epistle
A post-it note
For my soul
A beautiful heart
Showing love
In a
Somewhat
Or Seriously
Unloving situation
I bow.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo

Forgiveness is an Amputation

Fanning away midsummer heat, here's your Saturday Post!

Forgiveness is an amputation

With phantom limbs

I've got some more cutting to do

I was told once and remind again

Try to be brave enough

To break your own heart

Embrace the pain and freedom

And never forget that

Pride and ego bind a wound

Habit is holding grudge

For that toxic tourniquet

One must make deep the cut

Forgiveness is an amputation

Sometimes with phantom pains

I've got some more cutting to do

But I am still running my race

The salty taste of things done in the dark cry out to be held forever, as if a tidal wave could protect a pearl. "It is a sin to lock yourself in a dark past when you hold such a light within you as your real self. Your free self."

With words, song & prayer, TiMo

Onward Looking

© Tiffany Monique February 2014

‪#‎UDPPbook‬ ‪#‎booklaunchparty‬ ‪#‎workthatwork‬ ‪#‎HVP‬ ‪#‎AWordWithYouPress‬
Book Launch Press Release - http://t.co/183kOoLHe2

Water Dream III

***Another dream of water***

I was at home with Biscuit, my dachshund. We lived on beachfront property in California, which afforded us spectacular views I assume. The light outside the house told me it was about 4ish, so I figure I was winding down my day, waiting for my husband to come home. I was writing and playing with the dog when the day became oddly darker.

I went to the back of the house, which faced the beach. Beautiful latte colored clouds were outside, casting an ethereal grey-gold tint to the sky and water. I became aware that the beach was strange somehow. Not empty of people, but still odd and and quiet. I thought to myself, Okay Lord, is it today? But God was silent, and the sea and sky would not answer. I just stared out, afraid to look, and afraid to stop. The tides were off. I didn't go into our small cement back yard, but I noticed that the water came up to the sand at the bottom of the wall before receding. In my dream mind, I considered the movie Deep Impact where the girl and her father stood on the beach waiting for the wave to take them. 

God didn't have to say a word. 

I knew it was coming, I just didn't know if I had seconds or minutes before it arrived. I went to the front of the house for some reason, when a chill ran through me, and I dashed back see what was happening on the beach. Darkness walked towards the coast from the horizon, and I was about to turn and call Tony when I noticed there was no water on the beach, only a shadowy wall that I knew to be a tidal wave.

It hit, and then receded. My windows didn't crack or break, and Biscuit was cool as he always is. The water was slate and salt and I knew the house was submerged because there were no bubbles. I didn't think about it at the time, but the windows in my house must have all been closed. I ran to the front of the house, waiting for the impending wall of water to claim me and all that was in the house. But the waters receded. I turned to face the rear windows, and the resting water was just at the top of my backyard mini-wall. I tried to escape via the front of the house at that point (silly child) and getting Biscuit past our metal fence was enough of a challenge that I picked him up. I knew another wave was coming and we didn't have much time, so I went back into the house.

Once again, the tidal wave exploded against us. Once again, the water was over the home. And once again the waters receded and I was safe. Shortly after this, mountains of garbage came towards our broken levy of a coast. People were outside looking and commenting on the state of our ocean. I wanted to laugh, and I wanted to scream at them for being stupid and unsafe, but I wasn't about to open my windows. The tidal wave of trash is what knocked my home off of it's foundation and pushed it through the city. We rocked in our house-sized crib all the way downtown...

The dream jumped to the next scene, where I was with my husband in his work-building. There were no windows. His supervisor wanted him to explain why we were going a certain way, but this really heavyset guy with ashy blond curls turning into dreads stood there in sandals, socks, cargo shorts and a tie-dye rainbow t-shirt interrupting him, letting him know that he knew we were saved and wanted to take us to get some water.

That's when I woke up.

*** *** ***

Subliminal response to my life or prophetic dream warning... what do you think?

With words, song & prayer, TiMo