Just the way you are

I have found a treasure in you

My honey Queen and sweet wine you are

I have waited for this day which came

Like sunshine through my rain

The choice is made and I will gladly keep

The lady after my heart I’ll tell you this

Hold my hands hold me tight

These two things I promise to always do

That your heart will know no pain

And mine will see no fault in you

If you be mine and mine alone

Only to love you

Just the way you are

Be A Hero

Heroes will dare

Heroes won’t care

Even if to use all they have

To peacefully register a concern

They are not terrorists, opportunists

They are always for the good

Never for themselves alone

They are never known

Until they are out

They walk among us

With challenges too

Yet a piece of them
Will always make the world go on  

                                                By Leander David

Mental Health is key

Between day and night

joy and pain

Between earth and sky

seen and unseen

Between peace and suffering

friends and enemies

Between you and I

there is no health

without mental health

Encouragement

Encouragement is to have the courage to move on

Show me the way

Suffocating yet enduring
suffering yet rejecting a hand that cares
only to seek and pursue peace
only to avoid the repetition of the dark past

like a sinister smile

waiting the appropriate time to strike

Show me the way and I will walk in it

to free myself from this hold

this chain that entangles me

This shame that marks me

like the name I bear

a mark of a tribe

yet alien to it  

By Emperor Leander David

If i allow in another drop....

It is my fault I caused it all

Doctors after the operation said I will die at the floor

If I allow in another drop of liquor

But can I pass it by

When out of the ward at last with the night

And on my tongue a welcome guest so nigh

Food is not appealing without you

Of course ‘’all die be die’’

Why fear death when it comes when it wants to come

Where are your footprints in the sands of time?

Life is real, our reward, our most priceless gem

Why die before your time?

Here I am with a friendly assassin

A raised bottle, having its bottom facing the sky

And with an opened mouth ready to receive its downpour

Another rush to emergency

Doctors were on strike

The end, your guess as good as mine

By Emperor Leander David

Dedicated to all those suffering all forms of addiction.
Seek help, hold on. It will be well.

I didn't remember

It is a new day mom

Tell me what day today is son?

Monday, not a day for church

Just another day of rest

Alright, water please, quickly.

Here you are

Thank you

Tell me what day today is son?

Not a day for church

Monday, a day of rest.

I need water to drink

It’s by your side

Aay yes, I almost forgot.

Son, what day is today?

You’ve asked me this already

And I did tell you mom.

I am sorry, I am sorry

I didn’t remember.



By Emperor Leander David

For his Mom and all who
easily forget.

To you who finds yourself

To you who finds yourself...

In the middle of nowhere

life brought us together

very close to one's wishes list.

Like an alien among potential friends,

an existence wrapped with feigned affection and adulterated smiles

my drinking cup filled

but a while for the sap.

In the middle of nowhere

have I found not only these

but more to life also

and true friends in the silence

that will speed me my journey through

The silence was broken

my space was encroached

only to learn something new

oh two hands that worked for a common cause

shared values and broke the spells of doubt and fogginess.

Once we will say good bye not to cry

not to give up but still to move on

even in more difficult fights.

Just a call away I will be there

My friend and colleague

who will soon be at the other side of my rainbow

So long, still cheers…    

From Leander David

Dedicated to Chantal Cleland

A fair well gift after her internship with him.

31/8/2018

Kofi Annan

A soul within

Now without

In his own frame

The morn in mourning

The eyes shed tears

Ears his voices bow

Where will he go

Where do we go

When before we go

Where the darkness hide

Wearing the smiles of the night

Waving its shadows in the light

Cheers he is free

No more struggles

Oh worm and dust

Rest after labor 

Awaiting a crown

Oh worm and dust

Sights and sounds

Peace behind footprints

Still linger on

Dedicated to Kofi Annan
By Emperor Leander DAVID

Hearing his death 18/8/2018

On on we go

Divisions, barriers
instructions, discriminations
i have found
very amazing.
Never to sigh
or give a cry
Brush it off!
...on on we go

Let them in
sit here
not here
is still there
you are there.
Keep calm!
Brush it off!
...on on we go

Smile
never get angry
keep your smile
but not within
Within is you
angry at you?
I don't think so
Brush it off!
...on on we go

Without choices

Smiles like tears
cling the lashes of the eyes
in between dreaming and waking up
the dusk and morn
where i stand with you
a decision to make
but without choices.




By Emperor Leander David
17.8.2018

heads hang low

voices out lisp

out of my sight

short of words 

Human train fall on me

From our hideouts and shelters

after the petty sales

On tables and raised tops

I want a train not to board

But on me to fall

Oh fall on me

I am coming to the city

I told them before I left

my return they wait

my money their hope.

We dress our hair

paint the eye lashes

polish the face to kill

With a touch that kills

that sweeps off your feet

oh thinking faculty

Quick money is all

Pain is gain

is joy when with money

the dirt on  the skin

cleaned by perfume

Human train fall on me

Fall on me and break me

I come with the night

the night is here with me

I fear not to lie on its rails

Standing with a cigar lighted by fire

Calling you my day, Oh night

that beautiful face that snares
only at night

take me wherever

lead me in whatever
and I’ll follow

I will go

I will not cry

Oh take me in, stay with me

I will go

I will not cry

Oh toss me a coin, palms yearn to grab

I will go
I will not cry

Footsteps in a locked room

Shaking and moving the drums

The ears vibration resounding

Such a noise in closed doors

Opened the tap of many waters

With a flash of the hand

Leaving the white pot clean

From this opened noise   

Footsteps pinching approaching

Louder when nearer

Into a locked room

Footsteps pounding receding

Then lower when afar into silence

Fear and love

I fear to say I love you
not because you are not worth it
You are love and more
an overflowing love you are
passing through my narrow watering channels
just to freshen my tendrils

With fondness

With fondness
in clarity
memories fresh
blowing my way
where its tenderness bloom
where I once met  a lover
there you will reside.

What is Silence

Silence is not only golden
It is confidence unpredictable
in the midst of worrying observers
which will strike precisely
like a sleepy cat

Melisa

When those fingers and faces
smiles and cheers
surround you
while you cut your cake
and blow out its flame,
they mean to say
that there will always be a home
far away from home.









Emperor Leander David

Dedicated to Melisa
on her brithday

2018 Unesco Poem of The Day

Wherever their alluvial soils desolately lay,

where the raging waters shrink,

there they long tarry,

within those binding boundaries of quick sand:

the winner takes all

loser stands small

only the strong survives.

Yet the staggering beggar

drops a coin in the hand of a blind beggar.

Swollen red eyes still flood their banks

and among your people your hunchback limps.

Many the waters that perforated through our hands

When we went to the water side with a cracked pot

Many the spoils of the enemy

when we lost after our fight.

There is hope

Hope for the weak and strong

Who here, a purpose and place have.

Victor and vanquished

and poor and rich alike

who will with us be

till the end of the years.

And while the battles still last

May it be well with us.

Emperor Leander David

21/3/2018

On the occasion of Unesco Day of Poetry

Life is full of surprises

We all need a friend
a best friend
Some may come and go
while others come to replace.
The best will always stay
waiting and hoping
for that bright time
correcting and healing
motivating not faulting.
Today if you have none
still be the best friend.
Life is full of surprises.



NB.

Inspired by Reina
13/3/2018

What you know not

What you know not might be nought
not when you think of it.

What you know not
like darkness, is scary, slippery and gripping.

A step in this darkness
like a million year's walk in eyes blindfolded.

Better it is, not taken
and better it is the humble pie to swallow
to pursue clarity and even make amends.

It pays.

No, not one.

Is there any excuse?
No, not one.
If even there be
I will say it not
I wont say it all.

2017 Unesco Poem of The Day

Pressing heavy on the shoulders bold 

in anger, bitterness and regret born

She marches on! 

Her whole life hanging on a hold

imprisoned in a wooden sieve

She marches on!

Weighed down by a baby at the back

lungs exhaling, sweat oozing up 

She marches on!

Weariness disfigured her face

not knowing how far a hand on a third leg will go

when the whole body it holds

She marches on!

While at her side the falling sun rays

a lip opens to close 

in a lost speech 

in unfound thoughts. 

Yet her screams follow her on

her feet painted by the noon dust

to send her hand into her mouth 

finding hope in her beating heart

Oh help her march on!

Eating with both hands

What about me 

who gave you all 

Mine and more. 

After all that 

why won’t you fly  

even if you will borrow 

those wings just for me

'Fair is foul

foul is not fair' 

The song of a woman 

with colour in her eyes

eating alone with both hands.

The Dancing Night

Smiling breast born with
dancing in her blood
Boils off its sweat 

even to pant
Loud cheering glances
precede her humble presence

which is engulfed 

in a never-giving up short strong arms.

Going is coming

dancing not stopping
meeting a happy night

The open sky reveals its womb
no blood nor chord
but fresh air guarding a starless night
A defeated prince 

who will come back with the moon

to fight against time and chance

To send the night packing

not with a kiss
nor a diamond flickering gaze

but a detachment
on a lonely seat.

Hands fell low in shamelessness
seduced by a speedy feet in hasty boots
Their blinded eyes reflect their cold wet reception

which none should emulate

I wait for you.

I wait , I wait for you

At the corner of this dim room

watching the time go by.

When, I asked…?

When will I get into your sparkling

waters that surround me?

I yearn, I yearn

but I don’t want to get wet.

My clean plate will one day be dirtied by food

Oh when, when I asked..?

To be there with you

and still different from each other.

To speak like you do and not lose my language.

I am, I am quiet

but I know what I want to say.

Just a little afraid of how it will go when I say it.

Will it go well…?

Oh I wait, I wait for you

A spoon already in my hand

while a cup of ice cream cools in front of me 

I wait

... for you

Solamente un sonido

Un sonido sólo,

“Dame una mano”

una mano vino

pero con un beso

Fuera del viento que me da la vuelta

por los caminos no conocidos:

de sonrisa y vergüenza

de franqueza proclamada y  enfado sumergido

donde el águila tiene en su mano la serpiente

vengo frente a frente a los dos.

Esta mano de autoridad y poder

me guiará a mi futuro.

no estará cansada o débil

pero se alzará arriba y encima de las estrellas.

Y con este beso que me ha influido

a aprender algo nuevo: un pueblo de otro continente y su cultura;

Aquí he encontrado una casa nueva, lejos de la mía

Alguien que puedo llamar a mi Madre

Ya se fue el antiguo

y ha llegado el nuevo

conmigo en el medio

entre una mano y un beso

andando hacia común destino.

¡Viva Ghana y México!

¡Viva La Embajadora María de Los Angeles!

¡Viva la prosperidad y la felicidad en nuestro nuevo año!

Dedicado a Su Excelencia,

La Embajada de México en Ghana
durante el día del Nuevo año

© Emperor Leander David