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POETRY

YOU LAUGHING CHILD

I see your smilesLike bright suns sitting happily in dark cloudsSo I pause to look III see your laughterLike a happy go lucky heart…dancing amidst mourningSo I sit to stare IIIIn this slums where many a beauties…lie dead under the underarms of povertyWhat will be the price of your laughter…talk less your smiles?In this dark […]

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SOCIETAL LIES (Puzzle Poetry)

From Accra to BotwanaIs four stopsWhere Congo, Daresalem, and Ethiopia…lie respectively betweenIf France, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland and JakartaFollow in descending orderAnd each beginner is your key in exacting codes…in an all round A to J and A successivelyIf A is 1 and J is 10 with a chronology of alphabets and numbers in betweenIn 4, […]

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IN THE HARD DESERT

Adjovi loved her wealthEven better than her healthShe was like a kangaroo in many a big shopping mall…hoping from hall to hallBuying many a things never to be usedAnd many a few to be used and abusedHer parents never checked her spendingAnd so she grew up as an extravagant lady…loving her spendingShe was the boss […]

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THIS IS THE BOTTOM

This is the bottomWhere today’s hustle is the bridge to uncertainties IIThis is the bottomWhere Corona is naught but a sickness of the higher ups –A tertiary livingWhere none thinks of a possible chit…to reach its secondaryTalk less of its University So hands touch bodies to call for salesMouths call loudly caring not about their […]

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AT THE SOUND OF AN AMBULANCE

At the sound of an ambulanceMany a fears dance…in horrid guessesPainting pictures of gory messes IIAt the sound of an ambulanceMany a pitiable stories sprout in many a chanceTelling tales of families at war with deathHolding guns of prayers hoping to unearth…death in order to shoot and saveIf only human eyes were unblinded to death! […]

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ORDERS IN THE FACE OF ANGER

Once upon a time, A king met his subjects under the biggest tree…in his villageSome subjects started coughing like choking goats to signal doubt…of his rulingThe king in angerShouted that whoever coughs…even if it is he himself…must be beheaded immediately IIHe spoke loudly through his linguistBarking ordersShouting commandsUntil his throat itchedHe then felt it coming…the […]

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HP TJQ (Puzzle Poetry)

If an alphabet is the shadow of its previousAnd an ending is the beginning of its allThen many a shadows are together to find their true selves…in your hand IB hpttjq tjqt gspn uif ujqt pg jttvftBoe xpslt mjle b xjme opwfmjtu up bee ujttvftUp uif xspoh boe ps sjhiuUp fydjuf ps dbvtf puifst gsjhiu […]

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THE SKILLS OF LUCK

There are people who can blow air into gossipAnd turn them into a balloon fishTo poison a community’s mind against you IIThere are people who can craft newsTo suit your every boneHorror as your headgearCunning as your clothesSelfishness as your shoesUncouth as your underwearWickedness as your wrist watchAnd danger as your draft IIIBut there are […]

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PATHS WE CHART

TeethBite your tongue offAnd call your lungs…to lick your gums when they itch IIEyelashesTravel into eyesAnd call for fingers…to protect your spot when it hurts IIINoseEject your hairAnd expect dust…to stay off your nostrils in a whirlwind IVEvery bad anomaly…has a priceSo live the price…if you’ve guts to live your badLife lives on punishments and […]

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ABENA-KWABENA’S LAST LAUGH

Just as cocks never fail to crow at dawnAbena-Kwabena’s presence was always accompanied by ridiculeAnd fingers were happy to be seen pointingAs deafening rumours talked loudly…through heels of pleasureWhy?Because Abena-Kwabena was the oldest spinster in AmankroOne who men have thrown their tin atNever ever to be proposed to IIHer dresses were criticised as oddHer hair […]

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DON’TS

Lock no one in the cave of pityFor it puts clothes of low self confidence…and shoes of vulnerability on them IILock no one in the prison of hateFor it’ll make you their prison wardenBabysitting them and wasting your emotionsForcing life demotions on you IIILock no one in the abyss of utter gratefulnessFor it will lock […]

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VAIN ENQUIRIES

This dawn walk through the hidden contours of Sagnarigu…has taken a toll on meBetween getting lost and ridiculing misdirectionsI see you in all your tatters…roofless…gateless…floorlessYour stomach filled by weeds…which couldn’t have dared to germinate…in your hay daysAnd so I stop for this chat III can see the fading green paint on the walls of your […]

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THE KING AND THE SAGE

Once,A king saddled with many a complaining elders…of his courtVisited a sage at the feet of dawnIn order to fix his court into calmAnd satisfy his people with need IIHe complained of the terrifying nightmares…of his cousin pushing a dagger into his heartAnd blamed his supporters…for pushing him into the royal limelight…whose dark parts host […]

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WATCHING YOU LOVE ME

There is a beauty in seeing ice thaw…fresh from a hardworking freezerThat’s how I feelWatching you love me IIYour charm might be in you walking through the rainEven in your fear of thundersTo get me food I crave IIbYour charm may be from your smiles at my wordsEven when they’re soft, loud…or harsh IIcYour charm […]

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SOME BUTTONS IN LIFE

Life is a level playing fieldWhere many equipping hearts are needed…to aid our journeyFor we walk in beings before falling on earthWe ride on shoulders before learning to walkSo take a moment to learn what is needed…sometimes IbSometimes we need a play buttonTo help others view us…on best screens IISometimes we need the pause buttonTo […]

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FASCINATING TWISTS

Sometimes the story of a King excites not a kingdom…like that of the village drunkBecause he sits where the sun shines most…and sees not many below IIThe village drunk may be dirtyBut privy to minds and hearts…from all cornersAnd may even know of the cocroaches…which hide in gutters…their postures and fears IIIThat same village drunk […]

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PLIGHT OF THE BARREN 3

Parcelled gifts of smilesHurts grilled like well scented chickenHorrid reminders posing as beautiful songsShe lives the dream of horror IIEveryone is nice to DzifaThey politely tell her of their prayers for herThey subtly direct her to some facility or anotherThey jokingly ask her…when she will bless the world with a child’s cryShe wonders why such […]

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A SAGE’S STAGE

When scissors get lost in the jungleNaked molerats don’t bother to speakAnd so does the vultureIn the same wayWhen a mouse gets lost…in a fair and just jungleAll self respecting cats, lions…and their carnivorous othersWho have nothing objective to sayMust refrain from making as much a sound IIFor in the moment of tensionA little meow […]

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THE ROOM OF FEAR

Come out of the room of fearAnd you will find a strength to cheer…you into a vehicle whose determination steer…is made to strengthen your will IICome out of that room of your fearAnd you will see the nightmares…as mere scarecrowsYou’ll find your hallucinations as mere harmless shadowsAnd you’ll find yourself on top of the problems…which […]

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COMPLIMENTATIONS

DaylightDon’t dwell on destinyTo drown all doings in drasticsDownplaying dreams dreading sighting…in their buddingNeeding darkness to protect themYou can cover some breeding good to be unveiled laterYou can also cover some bad…to show only to the law…to be dealt with by its clawsTo keep the innocence of some intact IIDarknessDon’t dwell on destinyTo drown all […]

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SLEEP AND WORRY

Serene sleep is sweetSoftens spiritsSmoothens soulsSoars simplicitySometimes slices sorrows to stale sinsShines skinSo sleep in serenity IIWorry wrinklesWorry worsens woesWorry wickedly wrecks wishesWorry wretches winsWorry’s whistles work to wrestle wimps Work well to wrestle worry with wisdomAmoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © September 2, 2020

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CLASSES OF SMILES

Some smiles are kept in filesEnclosed, closedNever to be opened againTo help their bearers be sane IISome smiles can last for a whileBecause they were borne from seeds…watered to gain rootsPampered to gain stemsAnd cared for to turn flowersTo blossom till they wiltAnd they live on in revival of remembrance IIISome smiles can travel milesBecause […]

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THIS FRESH MOTHERLESS CHILD

She is walking in the rainAnd thinking herself basking in warm sunShe is floating on the happiness of pressureTrying her best to write her testsShe is thinking of building a mansion for her mamaOnce she makes it through her hard workBut fate has uprooted that dreamAnd family have blocked her knowing IIAn accident cost her […]

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RHYTHMS OF FRAGMENTED PALINDROMIC GENDERING

Let waters flowLet cocks crowLet winds blowLet children grow IIThere are:Many a murdrum of dreams of many a madamThere are:Many a mom in solo sagas of parentingWill the shallDo the canTo even the wow radar tenet…men make unbreakable and unshakable IIIIf there be minim level…of a stairless climbAt the noon of youthOr a civic rotator…to […]

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HOW CARNIVORES CAME TO EXIST IN THE JUNGLE

Once upon a timeAll animals were farmersAs some farmed maize…others farmed yamsMany others farmed potatoes…tomatoes…okra…groundnuts…beans…pepper and many othersThe jungle was a very peaceful and lovely place IIOne dayAll the animals woke up to see monkey on a treeThey hailed its prowessAnd loved its anticsMonkey, loving the attention…groomed and taught its family to climbBy two moons…all […]

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RELATIONAL CONTROVERSIES

Just as we love to neglect the earth due to its tenderness and careAnd praise the sky due to how far it isHuman relationships thrive on same controversyThe closer we are to anotherThe more we think them sinners…enemies…or least treat them with indifference IIThat’s why many suffer to build others in vainThat’s why many stay […]

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CARE TO BREAK NOT

In this momentWhere you live so succulentEyes are forcing hands to hide their ringsHearts are forcing heads to pull their stringsLove is parcelling lust to race your haveBut know…pulling yourself together is best…so as not to pull another asunder IIEveryone is greedy to have a love to cherishEveryone is needy to own a loving journey […]

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GLITTERS AND GOLD

Sometimes…we see the sky on earth…and the earth in the skySometimes…we see the flight of fishes…and stars swimming in the seaIgnorant heads call us madBut those blessed with additional eyes…see best the true forms of living Sometimes…frowns are smiles…and smiles are frownsSometimes…laughter is tears…and tears is laughterSometimes…life is death…and death is lifeIt is only the […]

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A WALKING MIRACLE

I am a multitude in oneI am one in a multitudeA solid, liquid, gas in a miraculous formMaking me a fit on this chit in life I am a multitude in oneWith a head, heart and handsWith a stomach, thighs and legsAll working with numerous veinsAnd capable bones in a successful livingLike a tree and […]

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LOSING GOD

Herbs helped heal hurting humansUntil underlings usurpedPower of its potencyDrowning doing with doubtsWorking words into wrestling winsGod the odd factor IIDue to fabrications for God’s contaminationMany a mind have veered from righteous pathsThinking the unrighteous a sure redemption Due to manipulations of fake prophetsMany herbs are now weeds…killed by weedicidesAs we search for antidotes to […]

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THE SENSELESS BUSH FOWLS

Once upon a timeTwo Bush fowls feasted on the farm of a wolfThey did so for yearsVanishing during ploughing and plantingAnd resurfacing during fruitionThe wolf laid many trapsBut none caught eitherFor they were so smart IIThese bush fowls deprived wolfOf many harvests of happinessAnd caused her many nights of tears…with dreamless sleepsNeed I mention the […]

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THE RULING PLAY PEOPLE

You now act like similes and metaphorsThe former taunting the latter of not having bridges…for smooth analogical transitionsThe latter accusing the former…of using vague means in analogies…and throwing dust in eyes that they are bridgesTo the latter, direct analogy is the bestWhile the former thinks it too cruelThese are the political play people …taking turns […]

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GOD’S DEFIANT BEST

God is sitting beneath the earthWatching his religious teachers…embark on senseless demonstrationsStomping feetClapping handsShooting words in gun onomatopoeiasDemanding for materials through fair or foul meansHoping to be shielded by the holy ghostAs they get away with crimes IIGod sees all you school prefects of churches…under the skirts of sisters…in the trousers of brothers…under sheets of […]

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IN YOUR EYES

In your eyesSighs turn to wave their goodbyesAs a couch awaits in a home I see deep within…with laps ready for my head…and hands ready to lovingly tap me to sleep IIIn your eyesLies I tell myself die with their ugly criesAs a cold bed beckons my warm bodyA smile without hidden qualmsA balm for […]

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KEEP YOUR WOW

Mouths have no brakes on any take…tongues will stir your issues like fufu…as teeth poundEyes will watch even in your sleep…reporting your snores…marking your turns…noting your wakes…jubilating in your nightmares…and mostly frowning at your smilesSo keep your wow…and let them keep asking how IIOnly those who study themselves to know their best…succeedOnly those who wield […]

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WHAT IF YOU MISSED IT?

Sleep of ignoranceHave seen many wake up…after blessed rainsMissing the favour of harvesting waterAnd saddled with mud from the ground of regretsPlease you, look and grab…before it’s too late IIYou complain of the drain and strain…of lonelinessWhen your neck is stiff from looking in just one directionWhat if your fate sits behind you…as you drill […]

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THE FARCE OF REVOLUTIONS

Until goats go on floats…demonstrating against gloats…of them in full boats…heading to abattoirsPeace will act deceased in this world obesed by hatred IIUntil chickens sleep their dawns…and receive crows from humansUntil horses ride their “owners”…till the soles of their feet lose their soulsUntil trees peel the skins of man…to boil for the healing of their […]

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BELIEVABLE LIES

We love believable lies…compared to unbelievable truthsSo we live in the lies and kill our truthsWhile praying through false channels…for positive resultsWhat is the formula for this crude mathematical hope? IINo one lies happily in lies…and expect to be comfortable in the grave of truthBodies and minds get comfy…with what they’re fed as time adjusts […]

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TOO MUCH TO PAY

“We build the field we grazed…before moving on to build us”Were the words which were the chewing sticks of eldersSo we lived like robots…and grew indebtedWe pay our debts…and are blindsided by time…which wheel us to old age and buy us rage…before our awakeningJust because we have too much to pay IIMother’s joint balmsFather’s eye […]

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WONDERMENT

They say life is not a race True Life is a teacher with a strange whip One that whips you when you trip By making all fake friends die in time of need Only to resurrect in success II They say light decorates a tunnel’s end True Because it gives excuses to all those lost […]

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WHY DIFFERENCE BECAME A FEAR

Once a god created a mouseIts squeaks made men meekBut time showed its destructivenessAnd same men began to freak out IIThen the god created a catIts mews wowed mankindIt also went after the mouseForgetting same god created themGetting applause and pats from humansTill fascination turned into indifferenceAnd mankind called for another kind IIIThe same god […]

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PREACHING THE PAGAN

“Prempeh My pastor says paganism is prison of soul Its profit is pain Its purpose is pitiable And its pleasure is a plague So you must convert or lose me” Mercy Opoku says without lifting her eyes to meet his II Conflicted, Prempeh prepares to meet her pastor on a rainy day He sits in […]

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SAD OXYMORONS

Ignorant teachers!Lawless lawyers!Partial judges!Murderous doctors!Farmless farmers!Flightless pilots!Unbankable bankers!Unpresiding presidents!Actless actorsWriteless writers!Unselling sellers!Driveless drivers!Wayward preachers!Snake sisters!Brutish brothers!Murderous children!Unprofessing professors!Are all like loveless lovers…cheating their ways into revered statusesHiding behind the cloak of fake tiesDeceiving the trying to fry in regrets…of not doing enough IIWhy is our habitat turning into a tree…with wingless birds?Why are chickens acting […]

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ALL IN REGRETS

There is a bunker in every soulWhere dreams, never to be realized screamParcelled in regrets never to be mentionedRegrets which add their marks to eyes…always as sadness IIThere is a basement in every spiritWhere aspirations see their expirations…through impossibility asphyxiationsAsphyxiations caused by fear…judgements made and unmade…procrastinations…failure’s future fussesAdding tears to pillows…like dawn dew added to […]

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ENOUGH OF THE DRILLS

Let the hurdles be still So I can, a little bit, chill And rest my poor bleeding quill Halt all the haunting bills So they stop dangling, in my mind’s eyes, murderous pills …which give cold chills For I have been through enough drills II There are flowery lives …I want to taste There are […]

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THE COMMON FOE MEMBERS

They bonded…bonded on their hatred like pins on a magnetThey bonded…drawn together by their anger towards him like flies on fecal matterThey bonded…overlooking their personal clashes…promising to crash and burn their foe into ashesAnd so they schemed and haunted himIn that big office IIThere was always tensionWhen they sat together for a moment without his […]

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A CYCLE OF HOPELESSNESS

Some people burned their skins …to begin a healing in your favour Some fried their hearts in painful guts …to lay a foundation for you to build But you’re now on the field …playing blame games …digging out the already laid …neglecting the land and emboldening enchroahers 2 One will feel you will scar you […]

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A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

See …he loves differently Raining dew to sew warmth …in my cracks II See …he loves differently …giving me space to trace my aces Making his valid cases in my accepting paces III See …he loves differently He craves my arms and trusts their strength …and loves my chest as a treasured pillow IV See […]

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SUNS AND DAYS

Some suns rise …they rise through clouds Some suns rise …they rise through rains Some suns are lucky …to rise through clear skies But some suns …some good good suns never rise to bless their days Still all are suns worthy of mention II Some suns shine They shine through their clouds Some suns shine […]

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OPINION SHOOTING

I thought common sense …has written boldly that stance determines chance …and enhance the dance of thoughts and tongues But tongues wag in nags to push our nation …to lag behind By engaging in tug of wars …dividing many a gullible in their support And forcing nobel hearts and capable minds …to climb the fence […]