It grew tall and stout striking to sight

The sun shone on its muscular boughs

Sparkling all, its gold unending

The merry birds around danced

Not to touch nor their speech to be heard

Only their dropping showers

Which soaked the faithful tiny greens

At their expense at all times

To grow fresh and green.

Unbreakable ties

Again hands held hands

To remember days gone by

To feel that irresistible shock

That will make you not depart

But say good bye several times.

Shyness disappears without the light

The innermost thoughts and cravings

Ties two down when exposed

In a cordless fair pair- an unglued pact

That would linger on and on and…

And we only look on

we never saw it

As he looked up

And slowly

As he crawled away

And we only look on

His hands lifted up

And never a coin

In his palm to drop

As they pass away

EYES OF THE SKY

                  

All the sky is open to see

Her blouse dropping down her burst

It will remain

Like a mango tree in season

Yet without a fruit

Because all that fell

Has been picked

NO WAY OUT IN LIFE

              

If you blossom tall like oil palm tree

Your branches they will cut for its fruits

If you are at reach too

Your tenderness will they parade

After cutting into pieces

SMALL AND TINY BUT POWERFUL

Together they fight

Undivided they defend

Attacking when they are threatened

Even if they all perish

To preserve their ancient colony

An important thing in their lives

They are scattered everywhere like the sky

Together they are seen

Colouring the red earth with their shadows

Their strength in their countless numbers

Frustrates the strongest thing to retreat

A tiny thing to behold as they pass through

The creeks and crevices

The stony and rugged terrains

They climb without tiring

For water their souls to renew

Materially not eternally

Dark in colour as they are

New and old they all go

To sap under those ancient pot under the nim

Wherein dwell no enemy

But man who dries the well

The ancient source for survival

The ancient routs tread they

Unforgotten with the changed terrain

Unwanted by man as pest

Unpleasant feeling their sting

When trapped by their army

Their fight on the hilly plains

Far from home

Their dead bodies will lie

Where water from above will fall

Pass a moment of silence

For another batch of equal force

The search to renew their soul

Our astonishment their lives

The life of the termites

So small and tiny, yet

So wise and powerful

Frightens man when they invade

Happy Birthday

Could I ever live

after leaving ajar

the doors of this day?

Could I not have closed

If not shut completely?

having been so gracious , the sun

let it not be said of me

that my eyes did hear

and ears did see

this passing moments

once every 345

the promise

It grew tall and stout striking to sight

The sun shone on its muscular boughs

Sparkling all, its gold unending

The merry birds around danced

Not to touch nor their speech to be heard

Only their dropping showers

Which soaked the faithful tiny greens

At their expense at all times

To grow fresh and green under the dew.

Endure if you can't enjoy

In these moments

Wrapped up in a quest

I must not fail

With bone and blood

To form blood then bone

Smiles like infections

Will pull me along

My stern look

On a worn apparel

Designed to fit even in style

In these moments I recall

Merry not sad did I record

Warm thoughts expressed

By those carved calabash before her chin

Pleasing and possessing to behold

In there, he will swear

In front of all

But will run

Forgetting all

The gown, the ring and book

Think no more

When around you are

And you’ve seen her

There is no way out

Endure if you can’t enjoy to the end

Birthday Twist

Twisting this twenty

Countless coffee cups

Will we willfully wine

This thy true

God given gift.

The line in her hair

In between the black

The shining long hair

She combs even now

Until in between it

The only line is formed

That line drawn not

With ink nor colour

Brings forth her beauty

On her curved cara

Nothing like chance

I have believed nothing comes by chance

And knowing you have buttressed it richly

The unthinkable, what society has caused

And now must fight it with the unthinkable.

Little by little like flies on a sore

I deepen my painful wound

When all I have to do is to scatter them all.

As I review and ponder

Why all this from your question

Why I feel what I feel

Why I do what I do,

There was no answer;

Save a deafening silence.

So near I have come

So near I have come

Yet so far I now am

Fruitless seeds

Dead before they were planted

Though alive when them, they received.

Our many efforts

Like treated water flowing into the drains

Like water falling on the back of a duck

Remain my story

To either bear or tell

Clear indications I can see

Clear speechless acts

I can understand and expect

But difficult to let go

What is not working, your dream.

I lighted this darkness

Even with the faintest light

I sounded its bells in the market

Yet no one bought them

My dead seeds remain in the soil

On the heated tarmac and desert

Where no water is

But the winds

Away their nutrients blow

To distill the only oases, our survival

Rendering us infertile, our land

Oh that this vine will grow

Its wine to smear our chest

Our appetite to cure and men to make

Oh that we’ll not be

Like this land this desolation, our story.

Sunday morning

As majority will awake into churches in haste

On the crowded streets

Others to hawk or sit, their wares aloud

They will preach to the busy street

Their pesewas they will not lack

Those women in falling trousers

Their ankle covered with anklets

In the morning they will rise

Like children from their rest

Crying because they want to return to school

On Sunday morning

They will sell white handkerchiefs

Their groceries or omo tuo

If not at the bar

At home

Fumes like thunder

Thundering fumes

Like one from an old exhaust pipe

Choking dark fumes                                            

Irritating the uncovered eyes

My complains

For peace caused her wrath

My complains

Her displeasure all caused

My intentions

Lost

Her intentions

Unknown

Causes like foxes

Wild fires

Will blaze even more

Lightning fumes

Thundering fumes

Darker fumes of an older exhaust

Bleeding my naked eye

Have I to complain or contain

My five friends

Like a tortoise in race a hare

Not in haste to pass the line

Leaving his pearls unreached

But slowly with it

Like a duck in the falling rain

Steadily through the piercing torrents

My impenetrable feathers will me hide

And not get weary or tired of the fall

Like the ostrich I will not be

To hide my head in the ground

When my whole body

Face the shameful and hurting winds

Like the crab my whole body my home

My protection from the up sky

The unfriendly winds

But not man, his sharpened iron and fire

Like the eagle to fly up high

Up the cloudy sky

And forget not the fall, my precious golden eggs

That I will leave out there

Archibald

The sun will burn above

Like one with coals and faggots

But will blow to cool me

Your evening sea winds

As your thoughts through me pass

Touch my soul

Touch my soul and detach not

Sprinkle your moist clouds, not

Once, and depart not.

COWARDS AND HYPOCRITES

Cowards and hypocrites! They shot at us

Even if their lungs will break

Because they've been made a game and prey.

Anywhere they find themselves

A gun, they cannot hold, nor a sword draw

Yet cowards and hypocrites! Their sound to haunt

They smell of this refrain

Even from the distance

Sheer bravado without guidelines

Makes them think they can do

What they have no idea of.

If they can only hold a gun, or draw a sword

Before changing their situation

May we be cowards and hypocrites.

ON BENT KNEE

Many have been my night of loneliness

When solitude at an arm’s length

Stood ready to enter if called

On bent knees for a plea

In cool calm voice to appeal

Silent voices blurring on the ear drum

Only to warn, to chastise

To console not confuse

HAS SHE NOT KEPT QUIET FOR SO LONG?

Has she not kept quiet for so long?

Have I not said it all, the same?

My deep breaths, my tearful eyes

They still speak for themselves even now

Have you not seen it all, my hand?

Have you not measured it all, its length?

How my sweat never got dried up

For a future very gloomy even now.

Bear me witness, that clear truth

Coming out of that weary soul

Which will not be heed to

I know she knows I know:

Countless fruits from the stalk

Countless gifts on her table

Countless words of promises

Have still not paved the way

If she knows I know she knows

That what I know, she wants not to know

But from them whom she loves most

Her, they have loved little if not

At the moment when eyes see it all

Differently: beautiful and peaceful;

Can it all end, suddenly, so soon?

If wondering thoughts can breed it all

Moments shared would forever turn dreams

That ever happened but for a while;

Moments gone will they wish

Should they end with one who touched the heart.

Heh! Will she ever speak?

Hmn! Will it ever be for me?

She loves me but what is love’s crown

Which ends not at the altar?

What is love’s depth and foundation

Without a chance to trust and understand?

What are kisses which bears no fruits in the womb?

What are words flowing from the lips of a coward?

What are promises made not of the truth?

Many have been my night of loneliness

When solitude at an arm’s length

Stood ready to enter if called

On bent knees for a plea

In cool calm voice to appeal

Silent voices blurring on the ear drum

Only to warn, to chastise

To console not confuse

My heart still grows fonder forever

Its beat, still faster at her presence.

Has she not kept quiet for so long?

Have I not said it all, the same?

My deep breaths, my tearful eyes

They still speak for themselves even now.

DEEP DOWN THE HOLIEST HEIGHTS

Deep down the holiest heights

Above the abode of the salted sea

The moon will shine its shadows

Reflected by the barks and branches

Alone aloof, speechless silence

Meditated minds, busy fingers

A colourful loom of old

That the sun’s eyes shine

Very much like its own

My old age your old age

I will wake up with the itches

And will not complain

Very difficult the task to undertake

But will have to embrace it

Till the end because I’ll be there

Someday and soon

Bright eyes that will fade in colour

Seeing or not seeing with aid

And on bridges will beg for alms

For strong adherents to support

Will I be here

Someday and soon?

Aching limbs that soak up the bed

With tears holding on to a stick to walk

Waist that bends not without a support

A groan or even a proclamation to the maker

Who alone will come for them

Someday and soon

Will this be, my old age

Like your old age

And if it be can I resolve

Many have stayed to endure

Many more will have cursed its passing

With their love ones that day, if soon.

When the head is decorated with gray

And footsteps become feeble and frail

Imprisoned appetite

And attitudes

Will reap an everlasting peace or worry

Some day soon

our neighbours

Like a tortoise in race a hare

Not in haste to pass the line

Leaving his pearls unsearched

But slowly with it

Like a duck in the falling rain

Steadily through the piercing torrents

My impenetrable feathers will hide

And not get weary or tired of the fall

Like the ostrich I will not be

To hide my head in the earth

When my whole body faces it all

The shameful and hurting winds

Like the crab my whole body my home

My protection from the up sky

The unfriendly winds but not man

His sharpened iron and fire

Like the eagle to fly up high

Up the cloudy sky and forget not

The fall, my precious golden eggs

That I’ll leave out there

ON A LONELY FENCE

On this lonely fence

Stood there as if in glee but in beauty

No parade in the open sky

The open vast expanse

Because by the chill

Her feathers are clipped

An ill fated bird

The days came by

Like one having a pray after its tail

The nights were lonely beside the drenched tree

This rained on her all which was soaked up

It wet her eyes

Fallen rain from the leaves

Like tears from a broken tear gland.

As the moist winds blew above her head

Their leafy parts came near to tap her

To soothe those aching and weary limbs

Where the birds have flown without perching

And have lost part of their molten wings.

The dawn awaits you for its flight

Sending relieving kisses across the horizon

The pollen grains on those colorful petals

Give off their aromatic pleasure to the smelling senses

Charging the arid air and freshening its staleness

Will you still stay there on that lonely fence?

I saw longevity in your enchanted voice

And as you flap your wings in the heavens

They paid homage to you: the moon and stars

Because eternity drew nigh your molten wings

Will you still stay on that lonely fence?

The rains have seized

The vultures sit on their eggs above the tree top high.

The threshing floors abound in wheat

The brook, still fresh to see its sediments

Will you stay on that lonely fence?

Up,

Shake off the drops on your wings

Flap and fly.

Higher and higher into the breezes

Into territories not encroached and virgin woods

Into realms, dimensions and incarnations

We will be here awaiting your return

Go, go, go …

Till you can go no more.

© Emperor Leander David


NB

First publish by 'Our Empire' on Google blog

Made accessible to social media pages of
Walk The Talk Group/ JP International (Jubilee Projections International)
and their allied pages.

a head in a bow

I only bowed my head

And the eyes that met it

Joined in a grandiose salutation.

May they understand when I smile

And cry with me when those tears drop.

When the heavens open

Stay longer at my side

And not fail the gentle dew on me

With its showering voices.

The basket is lifted off the fowl

And still the same place, it lay

Waiting a hand to throw corn.

Who said we are under a spell?

Wake up! Those sleepy eyes

Move those strong trunks

Let them say!

Black is ours, let’s keep it

Let us say:

In dignity, in pride

Free from shame

To build and protect, care and guide

In our service to man, land and God

Long ago the basket is lifted up

Long has it been our stay at this place

Why this ache:

Waiting and

Waiting a hand to throw corn? 

FOLLOWED THOUGHTS

It was done a thousand years

Like today in his time

Appealing to the mind

The fertile ground that grows all things

Hate and love for a harvest of

Pepper and salt

The ground that imprisons and liberates

Why do you still hold me

After my hands in fetters you leave

A prisoner, a slave, this mental torture

This abuse I cannot escape

If I come not to you

Or through you,I pass not.

SHELLS ON THE SHORE

Among the shells

 On the shore

 which dazed

 my gaze

was you.

After I swore to you  

around my neck to put

it has brought us closer

a flickering necklace forever.

On my mind

Today

You’ ll know

My mind

All you’ll know

Of the future

Where I’ll be

With you

Or not

Bright or dull

That corner

Where I have lain

And saw no colour

No image no picture

Of

my dream

myself

In you

To be us.

the minds delight

Many more the minds delight

Expressed briefly penetrating deeply

The dusty minds in ecstasy

Soon to transfer its dirt

A lasting deposit if not sieved 

EL ENCUENTRO

Como un encuentro

El encuentro de Korle e insho

Se moverán como serpientes

Más rápido que las olas

Que han olvidado su camino

En los grandes mares profundos

Por qué tus lágrimas

Son muy tantas?

Por qué al caer causan inundaciones

Que los sietes mares

No pueden albergar

Puedo verla

La luz que asoma desde el horizonte

Descubriendo las fronteras guardadas

De los peces,

Los pescados fuera del mar

Frío están para recibir

El fresco natural

El sol, la luz natural

Puedo sentirlo

Está corriendo sin pies

Como serpientes en el desierto

Y pronto vendrá otra vez

El frío enfadado

Y nadie viene para librarme de su cólera

Hábleme de este fuego

Que arde en el alma

Y abre una puerta de paz

Para que entre

Pero nadie viene

Porque ya no entras por mi puerta

Por qué  andas cuando corro

Por qué ya no ves mi sol

Por qué ves solo la oscuridad

Cuando brilla mi sol

Dígame por qué

Llego tarde tu sol

Cuando ya tenía luz en mis ojos

Cuando ya guiaba mi camino

Aunque es poco luminoso

Bastante bien me dirige

Y convierte el presente en futuro

Dame más de tu pena y dolor

Que ahora está llena

Del aire que respira

Dame más de este pesar

Ojala hubiera más sangre en mí

Que saliera de esta herida invisible

Porque ya no entra mi puerta…

Como un encuentro

el encuentro de Korle e insho

gbushaa...

Moverán como serpientes

Más rápido que las olas

Que han olvidado su camino

En los grandes mares profundos

Ay si solo hubiera entrado

En mis mares puros y claros

Oh agua que serpentea

Nuestro encuentro

Una mezcla formaría

Y nunca se inundarían

Las orillas de mis ojos

Ayer vino el sol

Hoy me ha dejado

Y tú

Andas tú

Como está corriendo mi sol

Con todo:

Tu pelo largo

Tus ojos que brillan

Tus ojos que me dan besos

¿ por qué   por qué?

Por qué tienes luz en tus ojos

Cuando está llegando el sol

Puedo sentir tu miedo

Ya no me tienes en tu corazón

Todavía ocupo ese lugar en tu corazón?

Mis acciones muestran que no te quiero?

Te quiero

Te amo

Pero no puedo dejarle

Aunque te amo

Si el tiempo me permite

Que le deje

No me perdonaran los ojos

Si el corazón habla

La razón lo seguirá

Ya ha hablado

Y ya le he seguido

Ya ha pasado el encuentro

Pero todavía la laguna esté a un lado

Y el mar a otro

Sin el fuego de mi alma

Con inundado en vez de mezclado en paz

Por qué andas tú lentamente para recibirlo

Como un encuentro

El encuentro de Korle e insho

Se moverán como serpientes

Más rápido que las olas

Que han olvidado su camino

En los grandes mares profundos