WATERS OF ORIGIN

Once  .  .  .

My eyes saw what they refused to believe

I waited like the long travelled Saharan camel

Thirsty and thirsting. . .

I longed and panted like the deer

For waters of clean origin

Once. . .

My eyes saw what they refused to believe

The human sacrifice to the gods,

The sacrifice of an osu

Blood must be spilt!

The land must drink

Once . . .

My eyes saw what they refused to believe

The dotted leopard playing with a lamb

The spotted cheetah eating grass

Africa must remain Africa

The birth of all mankind

Once . .

My eyes saw what they refused to believe

The sugar coated skin of my queen

Beautiful as the palm tree

She I saw

And my eyes refused to believe

DARKER THAN WHITE

I paint you with my words

Ugly or beautiful,

Good or bad.

I still paint you

Who says?

The book of life is not black

Or that black is not life

The gods

They call dark black

And night. . .

Even black is pure

Says the gods

FOR THE GODS

I laugh…

I laugh not alone but with the gods

For they have confirmed

That a leper can also marry a princess,

That a beggar on the floor is blessed than the rich man on the table

Beautiful things are not for all

And not all tongues taste honey

For the gods are just, yes they are

The youth’s arms, strength they give

His cranium, but a pinch and sallow

The old men, wise sayings give

Their arms, but a bleak shadow of vigour past,

An old man’s rag is costlier than the youth’s shiny garb

Yes, the gods are just.

I seek depths,

To see, to touch, the realm of ancient wisdoms

But what man dare aspire to the gods’ status?

I am but minute, humbly taking the hand that I am dealt.

Written by: Mbamalu Socrates

Edited by: Adediran Adeyemi

THE STUPID BOY

There he sits cross-legged

Cigar in mouth; a smoking god

Love, they say is for fools

He included

Who is she?

A lucky bitch that doesn’t know she is a lucky bitch

And he?

The stupid boy that accepted her

Two they came…..

Preaching his love, not Christ’s

A golden calf to be bowed to

They, myopic and blinded in vision

He puffed and puffed again

Two idiots who knew he not

Aaaaaah, he the stupid boy

Always falling in love

SPIRITUAL JAUNT

Upon this hilly sunlit path,

I walk through the jagged rocks,

My body stiffens!

To Africa’s roof

Abode of the gods

I trembling walk

I carry a sacrifice

Pellets of god’s tears, drop

They thunder!!!

Barefoot, I walk

No mere task for a mortal

Yet, the immortals must be seated

I trudge on,

At the rooftop

I drop the sacrifice