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