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The Poetic Word

Put yourself first – Ode to Self-Care

A young female african-american woman enjoying a day at the park

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

Have you been practicing self-care?

Loving every inch and curve of your sacredness

Nourishing your scalp and the roots with essentials,

Loving your body right

So it can experience growth and self-repair?

 

Have you been drinking water to flush out toxins?

That has been cramping the veins that represent

Lifelines of purity

 

Have you cleansed the sound and mind pollution in the air?

Have you stepped out of the concrete jungle?

Crossed over the boundaries

To appreciate the land and other nature’s gifts,

Without any distractions

That mankind had built to consume the truth.

To shove skeletons in closets they had created,

For lies to exist…

 

Have you pampered yourself?

Singing healing songs of affirmations

While admiring your reflection here and there

Have you applied pressure on your feet and legs?

Decorated with battle scars

From the moment you step out of your comfort zone

Running towards and away from crossroads

Going in circles

Because sometimes that’s how life goes

 

Have you massaged your ears?

And cleaned out the wax of gossip and confusion?

Allowing your eardrums to dance to the rhythm

Of tunes of solitude and peace

 

Have you treated yourself to five-star meals?

Soul food

Food for thought

Fulfilling all the needs

To be an awakened intellect

Full time!

 

Love yourself!

Love, love, love yourself

Because we often put others

Above our self

We often preach what to do

But barely follow it

 

Love yourself

Care for yourself

This world is too harsh

For you not to put

Put yourself first.

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