CORRUPT ENCLAVE

In a dark ominous night

Of a calm and prospering land

Flew a corrupt owl of bad omen

To the rich fertile soil he planted,

Corruption, tribalism, hatred and injustice.

And to the poor infertile rocky soil,

Patriotism, justice and charity,

He planted generously to kill the seeds.

In the light of the day,

The land changed,

Trees of corruption had germinated,

Grown and flowered everywhere.

The kind wise men of the land,

Ordered soldiers and citizens,

To slash all the trees on the land,

And to kill the bird of bad omen.

But, to spare its attractive eggs.

For tourism attraction.

After three days:

The attractive eggs hatched,

Into more cunning owls,

That escaped into the dark,

To destroy the land further.

LOVE ’S ILLUSION

A flood of memories;

Flows slowly but,

Deep into my head

I do remember well

Your deep dimples

That hid behind your smile

Your sweet voice:

That carried me into daydreams.

I remember your facial make up

Portraying hope and courage

Like towers hanging from heaven

So did your earrings.

Your black neat hair

Attracted all with eyes.

To have a glimpse,

If not a touch.

Wide open:

My eyes remained,

Slowly did I noticed

That you loved me not

But lust your biggest disease was.

Blame me not:

For like a bull from a slaughter house,

I fled from you

WISDOM OF THE NEUTRAL MONKEY

 In the wilderness of life:

Lies by, a jungle,

Full of giggling monkeys.

In groups:

So do they move,

Tree to tree they jump.

Superior monkeys,

Inferior monkeys,

All in one jungle.

The white monkeys,

Laugh at the black ones,

“We feed on cakes,

And you eat dirty berries,

Superior are we.”

They mock.

The black monkeys,

Challengingly say:

“Strongest are we.

Even though wild berries,

Do we eat.

We jump the longest.

Superior we are.”

“None of us is superior.”

Says the wise neutral monkey.

“Only our Maker: God is superior.”

“Black monkeys, share wild berries,

With the white monkeys.”

 “White monkeys, share cake,

With the black monkeys.”

All trees in the jungle,

Belong to all of us.

Share the trees,

For together do we live,

Together should we struggle.”

THE TONGUE

Like a box of match,

So is the tongue,

Small as he is,

Rumours he starts:

And spreads, like a bush fire.

Friends he makes:

Like the sands of the sea.

Like a plumb line,

He straightens ones path,

By portraying gentle talks

A pioneer of quarrels he is,

Causing total misunderstanding.

Through him:

Top secrets are revealed.

When tame less he proves to be.

He creates:

Confusion or order,

Love or hatred,

Action and words,

All to be implemented:

By the innocent body.

Hey! You who live,

Tell me:

Is there a sieve

That leaves the tongue purified?

A paste, which cleans the tongue

Leaving it modest and perfect?

CHEAP SMILE

‘Cheap smile!’

Yes! Your name is.

Never shall I buy a ‘cheap smile.’

To many:

A hot cake you are.

But to me:

Never shall I buy a ‘cheap smile.’

Cheap is expensive.

High his wages are:

Shame and confusion,

A big show off,

I have now confirm,

‘Cheap smile!’

Never shall I buy a ‘cheap smile’

Vile and rile,

Hides behind you.

‘Cheap smile!’

 Never shall I buy a ‘cheap smile’.

AFRICAN CULTURE

I see African culture,

Dressed in originality,

Being unclothed,

Into undesirable;

Cultural nakedness.

When shall we appreciate:

African beauty and decoration,

Nutritious traditional foods,

Our own dances and games.

Not forgetting guidance from our elders?

From the West,

We import;

Distilled water,

Sifted flour,

Milk powder,

And canned meat

Only to export our fresh products,

To be imported back as residue.

How long:

Like stooges,

Shall we imitate,

Every western culture,

Not minding the black holes,

That hides in our ways.

Give me a pen and a pencil,

But the spear: don’t deny me.

To guard my good culture.

Give me all sorts of books,

But the shield: don’t deny me,

To guard my good culture.