Fist clenchedToenails coilingTeeth grindingBody curledShivers hold the centre of my beingIn this bearable cold Odomankomah gave…to cool us B. And so I wonderI wonder how weak bodies thrive in snowAnd so I wonderI wonder how those people think us poorAnd so I wonderI wonder how they can leave their poorest…to tend to our poorAnd so […]
Sɛ nsuo nim sɛ ɔbɛtɔ aduru asaase so a …anka w’ammuna ankata ne so wɔ fɔmSɛ ɛwia nim ɔsrane so mfasoɔ a …anka n’atɔyɛ ɛnnum ewiase hyirɛnEpue ne atɔyɛ ho mfasoɔ gyina aniwa soNyansapɔ yi hia nsaneɛ pa…wɔ abrabɔ mu B.Enti nya akoma pa …na fa nsusuyɛ paEnti bu nnipa biara…na dɔ firi w’akoma mu […]
Once upon a time, aboa AdankoLived proud and acted as though the world hosted ɔno ara nkoAnd so he disrespected ƆwansanAnd refused all admonition of atwesanThinking its cuteness above all B.He woke up one beautiful day to roam only to find for himself an adukromWhere he thought was a blessing like Eden tromAnd so he […]
“Golden ringsNew IPhonesPerfect heelsHot handbags Branded clothesWonder watchesGlowing sunglasses”I will buy no pressure for myself please IIAs long as my ordinary clothes can cover and protect…and fit to walkAs long as my advanced yam can call and text…and post and readAs long as my perfect eyes can duck the sun…and see to walkI won’t act […]
Composure is easier done in an audience seatNot in the ahenema of the angeredBecause the blood which boilsAnd the heart which flipsAnd the head so toyed with…do not extend to the onlookerSo be cautious in the seat…in the seat or stand of the onlooker IIFor you might slap where the victim insultedYou might maim where […]
As the earth wheels to times unknownWith its anger so visible shownThrough its disasters which we term overblownLet us take a cue and work to help it calm IIFor Cornflowers have seen droughts and floodsBunchberry has seen a heatwave killing manyThe Golden Wattle has burned in catastrophic panic and destructionAnd now The Red Carnation suffers […]
Once upon a time, aboa SonholiSaw Kɔntutu and spat in a town called FoliSonholi went on to insult KɔntutuTook a basket and made sure he did it butuAnd went ahead to taunt it IISonholi called Kɔntutu atantandeɛCiting her hairless neck as ahuhudeɛTaunting it until she wept kro kro kro kroSome Nkokɔ advised him with empathetic […]
Long life has taught me to give thanks to my maker…at my lowest IIMany temptations have taught me to exercise enough patience…at my lowest IIIHurts upon hurts have taught me to wait upon a viable solution…at my lowest IVLife which burns has taught me to wait for quenching rains…at my lowest VCowardly situations have taught […]
In your heartbeats are songs of peace…some my gait uses to walk in happy harmonyTo chart the course of fulfillment IIIn your heartbeats are the chorus of tenderness…the verses of care…the quotes of loveWhich root me in you IIIIn your heartbeats are our vowsUnspoken but writtenUnoutdoored but knownTried and trueIn white and blue IVIn your […]
Nkontompo nkɔsoɔ yɛ nkontompo ntaesoɔEno nti ɛti sɛ ɛdan a n’ase guo ngyina pintinSɛ nkontompo ho da hɔ kakraabi aNeɛ ehiaa ne nokware asɔsɔ Ɛnfa ne tintin ho…ɛbɛ dwiri aguDe animguaseɛ aba B.Enti adɛn nti na wo nkura nokware?Nokware ase yɛ duruNe fapim gyina pintinnNe dan si pi si taNa enni animguaseɛƐhyɛ annuonyamNokware tumi ma […]
There are people fishing in the sandThere are people molding in riversThere are people walking in the skyAll bragging about their future achievementsWonders will never end There are people singing with their rearThere are people eating with their hairThere are people thinking with their thighsAll in love with the idea of productivityWonders will never end […]
Public opinion is mostly like the wavesThey push so hard forward…only to recede when they hit the dockAnd it is so so frightening IIThey can cheer a deathAnd turn around to condemn itThey can root for a talentAnd turn around to boo itThey can criticize a thingAnd turn around to okay itThey can detest a […]
Afuti Yibɔɔ is prayingPraying for good things to happenAbla his daughter is also prayingSaying great things must happen IISir Richard White is workingHoping great inventions will happenHis daughter Penelope is watchingLearning and helping for great inventions to happen IIIGod the judge watchesAsking why some of his created brains are callingGod the Master stretchesWondering why some […]
Remember when I wore body hugging clothesAnd you complimented me?I wore it because I loved how it looked…in my mirrorNot to please you IIWhen you looked at my lipsAnd loved the red hot lipstickIt was flattering but I did it for meBecause my mirror clapped…and showed me photographs of a beauty IIIWhen I wore my […]
Hajia, when a Muslim man tells you he’d marry multiple wivesBelieve himLive not in the hope of a bluff to feel the tips of jealous knivesWhen his promises rain to your perfect love dim Hajia, he told you no lieHe spoke from the prideful praise of his fatherHaving lived through the quiet storms of his […]
Many yearn to see GodAnd like spiders building webs in the airThey worship and bow and revere and love GodOnly to descend from the spirit to our dear world without careTo insult and hate and spit and slap the helplessI see no God in the careless and wicked III see GodI see God in the […]
Dear Leslie, I was born, like a saint into a Christian home –For colonialism had taken over and thawed somewhat…before my birthBut I now live as a traditional worship sympathizer…and worship the actions of good people See, I was a devoted ChristianBut the more I grew, the less I saw God in the actions of […]
Y’ɛde nsɛmpa atena fie ama nsɛmbɔne abɛ yiyi wɔnTe sɛ nkranteɛ, ama y’aboa awe wɔnAfei nsɛmbɔne na ɛreyiyi yɛn yi o B. Y’ɛde ntamapa atena fie ama ntamago abɛ tɔ yɛnAfei yɛn ahenewa na wɔn hyehyɛ ntamago ma yɛn ɛrebisa sɛ adɛnƐwɔ ahenefie a adane nkoafie yi o D.Y’ɛde suban pa atena fie ama suban […]
Dear Aliu Mahama Street, I have seen you from your so so to your asphaltMany questions hover in my mindI’d like to ask if you don’t mindAt this time when darkness is a great clothAnd sapiens’ rest is a great assurance III fear none todayFor the sleeping Nkrumah students embolden meAnd our great wall promises […]
Once upon a time, an asoridan mu akuraBoasted that he had the protection of asɔre aburaAnd so nothing would befall itEven if the worst problem tried to hit it IISome of his friends tried to tell him adwobrɛwBut he shoved them off with “mo yɛ mrɛw”And went on to run his mouthUntil his words went […]
It is only the worst of handsWhich push a feeder into the abyss of deathWanting the best of praises with bandsIn a celebration so far from birthYou sure will live long! III can imagineI can imagine the horror of feeling like one…who has outlived her worldly welcomeI can imagineI can imagine the feeling of seeing […]
Like the sun which rises to fallLike the moon which shines to dimLike the water which solidifies to thawLike the winds which grow wild with fury to calmLike the waters with waves which recedeLike the ships which sail to dockLike the birds which fly to perchLike the clouds which form to rainLike engines which work […]
Once upon a time, AkyekyedeɛAnd Ɛnwa were found in a tight atwɛdeɛWhen asked whyThey couldn’t tell a lie IIAkyekyedeɛ accused Ɛnwa of yiyɛWhen all he thought of him was fɛfɛƐnwa said his opponent should try and be fastSince he had a hard shell which can last IIIAkyekyedeɛ also asked if Ɛnwa has had some nsaSince […]
Green leaves are falling While some brown live like strength kings…on shaky treesThis speaks boldly that life knows when to take…each no matter our plans 2.The winds that can blow to axe a strong leaf…might spare the seemingly weakThe airs that can blow to axe a strong leaf…might strengthen the weakThis speaks boldly that life […]
Once upon a time, an OdwanSought the mandate of the jungle to become Ɔhene of the ƆmanThe people saw his humilityAnd equated that to his leadership abilitySo they gave him the mandate to ensure their own peace and liberty IIHardly had a day gone by did OdwanStart to radically change things in the ƆmanMaking his […]
Yɛresu amankuku a Yɛgyina aman ntɛmEfirisɛ nea ani ahunu na ano pɛnsɛTe sɛ aburo de twerɛ nsɛmNea ewiase nhwehwɛanim de yɛn aduru ni o o B.Sɛ yɛre ma akyɛdeɛ a Yɛgyina ani ne ano ntɛmEfirisɛ nfoni nni hɔ a, nsɛm tumi dani adɛmkyɛmKyekyere nsoroma to twene nkontompo abusia ntɛmNea nhwehwɛanim de yɛn aduru ni o […]
Once upon a time, Akokɔ always hunted Akroma mmaMaking Akroma feel brokenThat Akokɔ used her mma as its meal tokenPutting her in moods which sadness had frozen IIAkroma cried unto Nana NyameAnd he listened but asked for Akokɔ’s opinionAkokɔ told Nana Nyame that she too dreaded her unionWith her predators whose pecks hit hard like […]
Once upon a time, aboa KɔkɔsakyiLooked strangely at aboa Ɔkɔreɛ akyiAnd asked why he too can’t be known for strengthWhen they’re almost of the same length IISo he raised and looked at ne nsa akyiAnd flew at Ɔkɔreɛ akyiTo follow him to wherever he wentBy advising himself that there’s nothing the other can do that […]
LiveLive like the air…so fair and free LiveLive like the rain…so cool to the touch LiveLike like a swordLive like an awardLive like a board…which life writes on to teach LiveLive like an eagleLive like a doveLive like a hen so fierce and caring And as you liveRide on the wings of justice and loveTo […]
Oppositioners seize every opportunity to tauntWhat in their places, they’d have found difficult to flauntBut stories never changeAnd same places are traded for same stories electorate never find strangeStill, life goes on IIThey glorify aggressionCastigate corruptionThey have a repulsion for needsBut power sees them swallowing promising seedsThey crave instabilityBy subtly supporting anarchyBut the sun goes […]
Some blessings are for a timeAnd get lost along the wayTo help brighten a historyWhich had no visible ray IIAnd so I remember you now in thanksgivingSeed of mine now planted to shineAnd so I remember you without sadnessA part of me now part of the heavensAnd so I remember you and copeA heartbeat which […]
A poem to a film artist – KWAMENA ANSAH ABOAGYE by the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) ILife is many ways in oneAnd one in many waysYet you found many lives in many ways… many ways in your one lifeTo create smiles and laughter… mentorship… lifetime bondsTo bless many, many lives to live their bestKwamena […]
Maame Afua nyinsɛn ɛmmere a na ne kunu Kofi Afransɔ ɛne ne mpena Ama Duku nso awo ɔba barima ama n’atene. Na wɔn nyinaa te Baawie kuro mu. Na Maame Afua aware mfie nson a na ɔba biara mma. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne kunu sɛ w’afa afuro no, Kofi Afransɔ de abofunu aniwa hwɛɛ no soro […]
When you walk into a placeAnd your hormones enter a raceTo have a fond…and to bondRestrain and cool it down till you get familiar with the terrain IIBecause many have regretted bonding with the wrongAnd have felt urges so negatively strongTo snuff the lives out of their mistakesAs anger do them bake IIIBecause horrors rush […]
Ɛmmerɛ bi a atwamu Na Agya Sasabronsam kuro ne Akrofikuro bɔ hoObiara a ɔwɔ Akrofikurom tuu wɔn abusuafoɔ fo …sɛ wɔn nhwɛ wɔn ho yie wɔ Sasabronsam hoEnti na wɔn da to wɔn pono mu danwii …ansa owia akɔtɔWɔn ne wɔn mfɛfoɔ na ɛkɔ afuomuKɔ nsuomuMpo kɔ gya wɔn nanNso na mentimehoase na ɛyɛ wɔn […]
She sits sadly in sorrowful sympathiesDrowned in the chaos of make-believe empathiesWatching actors wear shoes of charactersTo play with her emotions IISurrounded by tissuesShe pouts her lips to share in their kissesAnd shakes with tears to cry their separationWhile concealing her loneliness beneath the reason of her tearsAnd she makes it an evening ritual IIIAkua […]
Eyes within see what eyes without do notAnd it counts for a lotAnd so fears drive actions in situations unclearForcing innocent citizens to act grasses of fighting elephants IILensesEyes within see eyes without as enemies. Who fears not what they know not?So sometimes wars are made on scores unknownAnd fought on unthoughtful groundsJust because I […]
Set your mirror to fit your frameSit, and set yourself to fit it sameNow look, do you like who you see? IILook right within into your heartAnd survey the yearning hidden in that heartClimb right up to thoughts in your headDo you like what you see? IIINow look through you to the outbursts of your […]
Will Kabul rise from this fall?Who will make that rising call? IIFrom Herat to KandaharMashar e- Sharif to JalalabadHands hold hearts as chests run wildIn a chaos only horrible heads thrive onSo who will call the rise from the fall? IIITorn between a worn out power…and a vicious powerDrones carry bullets to avenge deaths…by suicide […]
With my forgivenessI hope you purge your heart off negativityWith my forgivenessI hope you find your soul lost in the bitterness of guiltWith my forgivenessI hope you find your way to your true desiresIn the vehicle of a clean heartWith my forgivenessI hope you see the real road to your successAnd discard the thorns of […]
As the beard of the Tulip burnsAnd they yearn for priceless peaceImpala Lily which turnsKnows peace is not for lease IIBecause hunger in peace is better than hunger…with the pangs of warBecause anger in peace is better than anger…with the angst of soresBecause danger in peace is better than danger…added to the pangs of warNothing […]
Sɛ me yɛ wo mpa a …bɛ yi me nnasoɔSɛ me yɛ wo gya a …fa nsuo bɛ dum me Sɛ me yɛ w’ataadeɛ a…bɛhyɛ me kosi me gu muSɛ me yɛ wo nsuo a …sɛbi, bɛdane me wo gyonsɔSɛ, sɛbi, wo gya wo nan nkoaa deɛ…wotumi we me nkaseɛ, sɛ me yɛ wo nam […]
There is a weight in some adjustmentsWhich crushes the will to liveBecause it sits on the flow of sane agreementsAnd forces broken hearts, to unpardonables, receive IISuch weight can force hard tearsSuch weight can breed much fearsFor when night suddenly turns dayAnd birds are forced, to on their trapped trees stayDeath tiptoes to turn the […]
Mark itA word loses its weightWhen it peaks and it’s used as baitSo rate a word to know its stateBefore you commit to its meaning IbThere a beauty standsKnee deep in the pool of her own tearsReiterating the fears which rains on her dayDue to her belief in the word forever IIForever today can mean […]
In a room of a thing…are two stories…that of the room and that of the thingIn a room filled with people…are countless storiesSo if you find yourself surroundedChoose the best stories to feature in IIFor there can be goodThere can be badThere can be ugliesThere can be beautifulsThere can be rightThere can be wrongThere can […]
When winds of the past blow…into the tsunamis of the futureAs the airs of the present watchLet deeds clap for seeds unplanted…seeds which grew out of the dust of our loss IIWhen ghosts of our past…look for the fetuses of our futureAs we sit and playLet lives clap for death…in a comedy worthy of the […]
I know what eyes and ears take inMind scripts to cast us as characters…in dream landBut please…cast me not in these scenes IIPlease cast me not as a lass in the TulipOne chased for wearing few parts of my skinAnd beaten and stoned and killedIn an embarrassment denser than the worst I’ve experienced IIIPlease cast […]
Every nation has its TalibanSo before eyes widely open to sensor sympathiesAnd mouths incense tongues to utter obscenitiesLook within your sovereigntyTo identify your Taliban IIForget Corona arresting the will of the worldThe Rose has moral TalibanWith freedom reaching peaks of a boundaryless worryCostus Spectabilis has its own TalibansFrom unseen and seen hands in public coffers…to […]
Oh, how hearty His hall hails!Ah, how hot His horns howl!Oh, how high His heaven hisses!Yieee, how hateful His holiness hosts! As He hovers heavily around His hectic house, …hectic house of horrendous happenings! IIKindness kisses kids – Key-morals killed in knowledge!Happiness heckles through hoaxesHorrors heap like higher hillsHums of hundred hymns turn hysteriaAs hope […]
If a water lily promises to let you drownDon’t think it is just bragging to have you frownFor it knows all the deep parts of river townsAnd can drown to crown itself boss of your deadly frown IIIf a mosquito promises to give you malariaYou don’t go thinking it has only a small areaIt can […]
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