Tuesday 24 September 2013

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.

Wednesday 18 September 2013

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.

Monday 16 September 2013

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

Monday 9 September 2013

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

Thursday 5 September 2013

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 


Wednesday 4 September 2013

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.