EXHIBITION

A time when love

Must prove you

Productive

Strong

Worthy

To be pruned

The scissors

Snaps,

Its sharp steel

Blade

Slicing away

At the overgrowths

A lone tree now stands

Rounded to perfection

Bold green leaves

Firmly rooted

And specked

With

Ripen fruit

 That time when fire

Must prove you

Precious

Tolerant

Able

To endure

The flames

Rage,

Fiery tongues

Laving flesh off

To reveal

The hidden gem

A refined metal

Now lies

Nestled

In glory

Glowing

Bright

And beautiful

The time when ice

Must prove you

A possession

Treasured

Worth

The keeping

Cold vapour

Rises

Its fangs

Slowing the heart

Numbing

Yet preserving

The truss of grapes

Now is presented

After days

With juice still

Fresh

And fruit

In good shape

The time when the world

Must prove you

A misfit

Unwanted

Rejected

Denied

The jests

Increase

Their Spite

Grow

Tears

Freely flow

Seeming sad

Yet infinitely

Refreshing

The new creature

Now takes flight

Into light

Reveling

In warmth

That radiates

From within

Making her shine

When the fair

Starts

Tree,

Gem,

Fruit,

New being

Will be laid

On pedestals

Lifted high

Above

The rest

STEPS

Looking

Down

At my foot

Move up 

Then out

Letting

Joy in

As it lands

On

Fine earth

The move...

First

Of 

Many.

Soon

Old diaries

Will begin 

To collect

Dust

Which

Will be blown 

Off

When the child

Of a child

Gets to 

That faintly familiar 

Point

That was muse of those

Forgotten volumes

Only then

Will they

Be taken down

And read

After 

Three

Long

Nights

The sun 

Is risen

And 

Shadows

Become visible

But 

The immortal tongue

Of the wise

Guides

They say

Do not 

Regard

The shadows

Do not

Fear them

Oh how sad

The sun

Must be

To see

You tremble 

Before these

Knowing it

Was it 

That exposed 

Them all

If you'd  fear 

The snake,

Then 

You must fear

The snake charmer 

Even more

WONDROUS TALE

Can I stand 

Before you 

Right here

And sing

A solemn solo

Of one who

Found me

On a dark alley

All alone

Cold

 And dying

One 

Moonless

 Night?

Can I cry 

Refreshing 

Tears

As I tell 

Of the deep

Dark

Wild

Of terrors

Bloodthirsty 

Night creatures;

Present

At a gothic dance

Of horror

And I

Helplessly

Tossed

About

Like 

A rag doll…

Almost…

Almost…

Dead

Can I lay in joy now

And just breathe?

I cannot

I do not

Recognize me

Truly 

This must 

Be 

New

I smile 

At the stranger

In the mirror

And reach out

Wanting to 

Touch

The glow

In that smile

Is it

Could it

Be

It is

It sure is

Me?

Can I 

Whisper it

Speak it

Scream it

Write endlessly 

Of it

Can I….

Can I say it!

It is a 

Warm

Golden

Enveloping

Sort of

Feeling

That rose 

With the sun

And 

Spelt out

A new name 

For me

In the scroll 

Of the skies

Do you see

The 

Jubilation

I see

When I look up?

Do you feel

The peace that 

Settles

On my spirit

Like mist?

Do you just know

Deep down

Like I do

That it is well?

From now

Till the end

Of time

Do you hear it?

The sound

Of cherubs’ wings

Flutter?

Oh Can I…

Can I

 Tell you

This wondrous tale?

THIS SEASON

Seeing the half-naked 

Kids

Dance-walking 

Down the street

To the kiosk

 In that corner

To buy try-your-luck 

Balloons

With their faces 

White from 

Their morning baths

Is what this season is about

Catching the boys 

Toss knock-outs

Under Grandpa’s 

Old rickety car

At dusk

With their mismatched

Slippers and 

Oversized shirts balled up in the back

While they run for cover

Not knowing

Grandpa has seen them all

Is what this season is about

Turning on the TV

And hearing 

A local choir

Sing Hallelujah Chorus

In discord

Dressed in old robes

Yet smiling through

Their almost 

Sorry performance

And so you care not 

That they

Sing it wrong

Because their aged faces 

Are so jolly

Is what this season is about

The ringing out

Of Afehyia Pa

And the cheerful

Hope-filled

Afe-nkɔ-mmɛto-yɛn-biom

We hear all around us

Though the year

Had not been

One long sweet dream

Is what this season is about

So it is when we march up to 

Where one road ends

And another

Unknown path

Begins

That we, 

As one people

Stand and wait

Eager for the new

Saying in our hearts

May it be good

It is what this season’s about

SCARLET JOY

She cannot

Remember

What

It does

Not feel like,

This cancer

That eats at her

Stiff-necked,

Half-deaf

She pens

Words

That

Lie

Limp

On

A

Greying

Page

They come

In spasms

Like the

Throbbing

Of her sunken

Veins

They break

Her spirit

Cold

Tears

Betray

Her resolve

Death racks

The body

Of the

Poet

Death,

Her uncanny muse

Sprawled

Before the altar

She prays

Lead her

To the heart

Of Pilate's

Court,

Silent listener

Lead her

To

Scarlet Joy

THEY SAY...

The day came 

And ended

And I did not see it

Time stole 

Its way past me

While I dozed

Under fluorescent lights

They say a shadow 

Will cross 

My bed

And snuff out

My breath

While I lay here

Shivering

They say fear 

Will come 

Speeding 

Behind it

Circle my neck,

And wrench 

Sorry sobs

Out from 

My insides

They say it's horrid

When it lasts

That I should pray

It acts fast

That when everything

Starts going cold

I should just smile

And let go

They say that's so 

I'll look pretty

When I'm laid in state

That's when I knew

What it was

They were talking

About

The day came

And ended

And I did not see it

Neither did I see 

Death.

As they described

It

I guess

I'm going to be laid in state

With a look of surprise 

On my face

COMMUNAL HEART

Heartless, 

She starts

Her journey

Creating a heart

For herself

With pieces

From each soul

She encounters

She passes,

Leaving broken things 

Behind her

In frantic search

For another piece

To attach to 

A growing heartbeat

A little piece of sadness

A little piece of joy

A little piece of every being

That crossed her unlevelled path

She moves on

Leaving torn things

Behind her

Fearing to look back

At the bloody mess

She labours on

The warm treasure

Pulsing in her arms

A little piece of madness

A little piece of sanity

A little piece of every man

That stopped to ask her name

Soon she has 

A heart of her own

Woven from lives

That touched her soul

Fitting it,

Her chest feels warm

Loving its

Strange occupant

Making it feel at home

But she had been left

All alone

For all those who

Ever mattered

Were just pieces

Of her heart.

MUST WE...

Must we  struggle 

So much to reach a core

Must we wrench our hearts

Out in search of love

Must we bleed 

In rivulets

Down dirt-stained

Faces onto heavy chests

Must we lose this much

Moisture through sweat

And tears

Must we lie here 

Kicking our lean legs

In the stale air

Must we languish 

In waves of horror

Crashing against the rocks 

That line a filthy shore

Must we labour to catch 

A toxic breath

And swallow groans

While letting out

Tiny pockets of

Gas through clenched teeth

Must we, O dear God 

Must we suffer so?

ROUGE DISTRACTION

The apple

Sits atop an old book

 - its yellowed leaves 

Coated with decades of dust

The deep rouge of the fruit

Gives it a classic look 

of perfection

It sits there

Beckoning.

Mirror-surfaced

Red beauty

Looks ready to burst-

Taut with sweetness

Strange hunger draws me

To that scene

I sit

And stare

The seconds pass

A sigh escapes

Reaching out

For the food in sight

I eagerly devour it

Slowly

As the hunger leaves

The apple sits

And stares

HULA-HOOPER

Rings of different colours

Twirl round a tiny body

All in sync

At top speed in

A crazy harmony

The body moves

To guide the hoops

As they dance,

 Circling her frame

The audience applaud

And

Roses are thrown

At the performer's feet

An effortless stunt

They thought they'd seen

A graceful, exciting stunt

But life was her

And the rings her strife

And they all went 

Twirling - crazed.

Her world 

Was a stage

The people

An  audience

And she, 

A hula-hooper

SOME SWEET SOMETHING

Something rises 

From the dust

Wafts into hearts

Mending tears

And sealing cracks

Something emerges

From the ash

Wanders into dreams

Rewriting memories

And wiping off soot

Something opens up 

And pours pure joy 

Upon tired souls

Turning hearts

To doves

The stone 

To wool

Something comes down 

And breathes fresh dew 

Into dry mouths

Splaying rose petals

At our calloused feet

Something

Touches us

Some sweet something 

Raises us

That calm something

Sits with us

And gently whispers

"Peace"

It is that something....

That something...

That keeps me.

SILENCED

Sitting here

In deep thought,

The gentle breeze

Carries a tune

My whole life 

Was sang

In that song

While

Nostalgic tears 

Stung my eyes

I ventured out

Into the sun

And looked up 

Into the sky

With 

Trembling hands,

My tongue 

Stretched out,

I sliced 

That tiny member 

Off

Out with you 

You unbridled thing

Out with you

Now

You have made 

This song

A bitter tune

And made 

This wind

A pain

SHIPWRECK

Raging storm,

Howling sea

The ship is left

Unguarded

The winds hit 

Its bruised sides,

Dangerously 

Tilting

This way,

 And that

It dips 

And rises

Creaks 

And groans,

It hits 

Against

The ocean rocks

The rudder 

Has got

Its moment 

Of glory

Going wild 

With

No captain 

As a guide

The ship 

Will break

Into a thousand

Pieces

Scattered 

In the heart

Of the sea

All will be lost

In the vast 

Deep blue

…

The vessel,

Along

With the rudder.

SANITY HER BANE

Lost
 In a hazy valley,

The poet

Stumbles 

And falls

A familiar abyss

Beckons her

Where 

Some strange love

Was felt

Yet curious much

She yearns to know

What the light 

Has got in store

The possibility 

Of never finding 

Herself

And the waiting

Weakens her`

See, 

The poet is dying

Word after word

Palsied

For days on end

It is her undoing

This quiet she feels

The dam

Stands undisturbed

O break now,

Precious dam

Break now,

And fill this valley up

The poet 

Has lost her

Insanity

And normalcy

Devours her

She's

Stranded

In a daunting

Centre

Longing 

For 

A chance

To breathe.

MEA CULPA

Settling down 

Long enough 

To note 

My fear

Paying close attention, 

I hear

Dark voices 

Snicker in my head,

Knowing 

I will soon snap

And murder them

In cold blood

Their shrieks echo

A forewarning...

"Many more voices to be born."

A chant I get high on.

O this darkness...

Mea Culpa!

In the cradle 

Lies pain

Wrapped up 

Delicately

Comfortable in its sleep

I dread its waking

Yet I nurse it

Rocking

That daunting cradle

Back 

And forth

It creaks loudly

Taunting me;

"I wouldn't be sleeping for long.

Conscious 

Of my unconscious 

Anticipation

Of its waking

O this sweet agony...

Mea Culpa!

Before this canvas

I stand

Painting

A self portrait

Hours of brush-dipping

Colour dripping

Strokes 

And 

Strokes

And it's done

A canvas

Painted

Dark

Red

Its boldness mirroring me

"This is you, inside-out"

O this torturous vision...

Mea  Maxima Culpa!

Note: Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "through my fault". It is repeated three times in the prayer of confession at the Catholic Mass: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa — "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault".

CUSTOMIZED CONFESSION

“Anytime you say you’re coming over, I get very excited, eager for night to fall so you’d sneak in like you always do. It affects my concentration actually, because I end up fantasizing all through the day. Yes, that is why I always try something new when you come. Take the other night for instance. My hair in your fisted hand and my hands splayed on the tiled bathroom wall was a scene I had already pictured. Even the words you used, the names you called me…they had all been in my daydreams. 

Now about my husband, of course I’ve been lying to him just as he does to me. He came back from his yet again, month-long business trek last night, and I could smell her right from the shirt he wore, to the inside of his luggage. You know what that means right? Yes, he went with her, and the skinny female canine, bathed in that vanilla laced perfume of hers,  left that smell all over my life. If you pay close attention, you can even smell it in his car. I was angry! I still am. 

So, do not wear any cologne when you come again, my lover. I like the smell of man. I miss the smell of man. All I smell now is a very mild vanilla. Last night, we fucked silently, my husband and I. When you come…we’d talk dirty; plenty of dirty.

I came to tell you he will leave before the weekend. So Friday night is already pulsing as it awaits us. Can we do it under the open sky this time, on the roof? I hope it rains. I have always wanted to do it in the light rain. Bring some of that wine along. I still say it tastes different outside of these walls. It tastes better. 

I promise to be here early Sunday morning. I’d sit in the back and watch you pace in that pure robe, if you promise to stay till Saturday morning. For once, my night friend, stay till morning.

I’ve thought of murder countless times. Once, you were the victim. Don’t ever stop visiting. Anything can happen if you stop. It’s not a threat, more of a subtle warning. 

Don’t stop.

I have to go now. It was nice hearing you breathe. See you on Friday. 

And oh, have I told you I love you in that hooded sweatshirt you come in? I do. I do.

Ok, bye.”

 The white-washed cathedral stood on the hill, with the sun setting behind it. She slipped out of the wooden confession box, with the rosary still in her hand, made her way down the aisle and out into the dying sunlight.

NANTE YIE

Dip your beard in water

While that of your neighbor

Burns…they said…

Our kinsman has been

Swallowed up

In another’s fire

The dirge singers

Raise songs you penned

As if to forewarn us

Before sunrise

Fiada Fofie Ba!

Woakɔ mfikyire mpofirim dodo!

Their voices break out

Through the still sky

And call us, your children

To the town square

Dazed, 

Weary, 

Sad

We will douse our beards

In tears

Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor

We will douse our beards

In tears

As the travelers carry you home

We will sing your praises

On our candlelit march

To the river

Where

Kutsiami will meet us 

And upon your wish,

Ferry you across.

#Rest in Peace, Prof. Kofi Awoonor. 

You will be greatly missed.

DUSK

You’d hear

My laughter

From afar

Taste

Its sweetness

In the air

Long before

You reach me

And when

You finally get here

You’d see

That

I chose joy

Although I’ve lost

All the weight

I gained

From kelewele binges

And ice cream sprees

Although my skin’s losing

Its silk

And pain leaves my forehead

Creased

You’d find me seated

Content

With joy

Come join me

As I watch

The twilight from

The rooftop

Streaks of orange,

Flaming red

Tinge of gold

Coloring my passion

In the evening sky

I sigh

Deep inside

The beauty

Of sunset

Mirroring my life

Join me celebrate

A magical end

When you turn

That corner

And head towards

Where the heavens

And I commune

You’d know

I chose strength

Although my breath

Is labored

Half the day through

And I’m too cold

To keep my voice

Steady

Although my joints

Creak

And my nights

Are void of

Good sleep

You’d find me

Huddled up

Tough

With strength

Come join me

Beat drums

Under the moonlight

And watch the giant owl

Fly mysteriously across

The star-filled sky

With its snowy feathers

Teasing

The silver clouds

And tickling

The dewy wind

Join me

Make a wish

Upon the shooting stars

When you reach me

At the horizon

You’d see me merge

With the sea

And while dying

Live fully.

I MUST CRY

My 

hands 

Have been

 Bloody And 

Sparkly all at once

Precious stones stained

With Indelible blood

They came To spill

I must cry

Watch 

Me pet lions

And sip Sweet 

Wine from our vines

Cushioned in valleys.

Fresh waters and trees we 

Treat as gods - Beautiful sunrise

That hits my skin and shines it 

So bright it blinds you

I must cry

See 

Young 

women and 

Men Instilled with 

Morals they come here 

To break with their lies

And they turn around

And call us savages

I must cry

Wives 

Buy hunting guns 

And go down on their knees  

Handing them over to their husbands 

We give them power; we tell them;

“Come home with game, my love.”

And we fuss all day in waiting

Yet they say we are fools nd 

Come preaching untruths

That breaks the equality

We know

I must cry

Our 

Children

Hold our culture

Up high in their songs

In their dances in their 

Breath and baby-speech

Watch the mother tap rhythm

Into her sleeping child Watch 

Her coax him into walking

“Taa-taa” She says: Rhythm 

In our growth And they say 

We’re backward

I must cry

Our 

fathers 

Till the soil

Their sweat grow 

with our crops and

we share In communal 

Love. I take care of your itch

And you take care of mine. They 

Come and talk of individuality

And break our homes

I must cry

The 

Old warriors

Grooming men

To protect and not 

Destroy. Our old Queens

Feeding young girls hard-boiled 

eggs They must swallow whole, Yes 

Teaching them to nurture the delicate

Fiercely. Like the wild cat Transporting her 

Cubs to a safe haven by picking them with her 

Fangs yet they are not bruised - Amazing!

We are wild and gentle, brave and modest

We are Africa and they say 

It’s dark? I must cry

See 

I pushed 

Through debris 

To rise to this height

They stuffed me there

Burying me so deep I 

Wondered what they  

Were afraid of

And now I 

Know 

So 

I must cry

They must hear

What they fear

My voice

Africa’s 

voice

HIS ROBE

Running

Stumbling

Falling

Crawling

Skin scratched

By thorny weeds

Battered

Tattered

Clouded

Shrouded

Tears streaming

Down a hollow laugh

Mud on feet

Soot on hands

Dirt on dirt

Growing hurt

Screams lodged

In a stuffy throat

One lonely street

One dying lass

Arm stretched out

Straining

For 

The hem

IN THE HEART OF THE SUN

In the heart 

Of the sun

My heart 

Radiates

The warmth 

That

Pierces through

The chill

And 

Heats up your

Numbing fingers

Look up 

At my frame

In the heart 

Of the sun

My smile

Exudes 

Golden rays

That yellows 

The sunflowers

And leaves

 The river 

Glistening

Like diamonds

Look down 

At my reflection

In the heart 

Of the sun

My breath

Is the light

That hits

The greens

And makes

The mountains

Glow

Feel me

All around 

You

In the heart

Of the sun

Is me 

RED WINE

It is Joy that tiptoes in through the backdoor

 And steals its way into abandoned rooms of

 My heart and I wake up doused in smiles.

 It is love that spins out to the front and

Flaunts its wings, leaving microscopic

Particles   giggling   into   the

Darkness

Of     my

Stomach

It is Love

And joy

Mingled

In  a  glass  Of  Red  Wine.