Once upon a timeA porter carried a pot of blamesWhich bullied her with crimes…she had not committedThe pot could be heard in its announcements…at the East even from the West“It is because of you I beat my child to a pulpIf it hadn’t been for you, I’ll be richYou made me yearn to dominate my […]
Tag: Life
HANG IN THERE
At the wake of a new dawnWhere darkness replaces the new mornThose under its sky know…the foe they must kowtowOthers might act cats to hugOthers might act dogs to nagThey all get tired with timeWith notions of you being a whiner all the timeBut hang in there IIIt is only the skin wearing clothes with […]
They told me Nightingales sing like angelsSo are the best to listen to…when my spirit is low IbThey told me owls are the worst of themThey bring abominationsAnd are taboos spelt in bold lettersOnes I must kill and burn at a sightTo save my luck from draining IcThey told me doves are the saintsTheir presence […]
A hen goes food searching with its chicksFor every two rubbish it sweeps…it finds a grainUnpuzzle this puzzle using its tune I.Abscdeefeghkijs klamnnopd qrsstnuvewxayzkbas cbsdcoedrfetgfehgd ihsjitkjukjflkfmlsNmbonepotqpwrqesretsn utbvuewvrxwtyxhzya zaaganhbd icbjdokealfksmytneUohvpiwqdxriysnztg zyhxwevuatsrrqtpos nmilkn jihhgufesdctbalacebds egofhf ikhjlamornpmQshrteuwavxpwyizynxwg yshmgoazptnehbs ciioun vphjdoekrqwrxrilfd ayhbzocuadvrewdfxsGmuhnniotjpikql lrastluvl wxfzyeyzlxwt amugssbnehtd, cociuodpnjvfequkwsfrelxd ytaojnefd ahaovbwquvpsnoehbd II.Stwzuhvwanot cdtbehgle rqbpookjtvuh mnfgbeacldft ihtomhpsesby abscdaeft ghoijn klmnooppQrtstouvpwxpyzlzyexwd vuotsn rqspoenma lkojif […]
PRAYER FOR MODESTY
When the stage gets highAnd the camera light blindsI hope modesty still finds…me to stay, not to bid goodbyeFor life dragged me through the gutters for a reasonTo know many a seasonAnd work in the clothes of fairnessTo create an atmosphere to harness…hope in the strugglingAnd to sustain love in the heart of the strangled […]
THE CHICKEN BARBER AND THE TURKEN
Once upon a timeA full feathered star cock decided to have a neck shaveSome of its contemporaries thought it stupidOthers thought it fashionableIt did have the neck shave…using the sharpest scissors at the Chicken Barber’s ShopAfter that…shaving necks became fashion in Chicken Land IIMany talked about the neck shaved chickensSome said they looked better…with their […]
STRENGTH FOR YOU
Life’s hurdles can heckle like a gangster…I knowStorms of life can break bodies…to scatter spirits and beat souls to a pulp…I knowFears can stare into eyes to blind…confuse and infuse dangerous thoughts…I know all thatBut even in the face of life’s tsunamisLive to cross to victory IIJust like the sight of a tired walking river…at […]
LETTING GO
In this heat of memoriesWhere many a past monsters now model sorriesI look up to the future unknownAnd look back at the hurts I still mournBefore looking into the eyes of regretsI see the burning fretsAnd forget the foeSo I’m thinking of letting go IICarrying hurts are burdens set to stifle my growth…I knowA hating […]
THE BEAUTY OF HARDWORK
In the endThrough the bendTruth will out…to fight your bout IIIf you fendTo lend a mendWins will shoutTo stand you out IIIBecause life has eyesAnd sees your triesLove is an artAnd draws your heart IVNothing is left to chanceIn enhancing your danceIn the end, through all bendsHeavens make all amends VSo live rightAnd burn brightIn […]
POOR PLANNING
IaI will wrap you…yes, you leadersIn this parcel as LandAnd respectfully tell a satiric tale…hoping the mirrors of reflection…show you to youTo help right a path going wrongSo regrets can live in books…without using us as it’s guinea pigs IbOnce upon a timeRain was the best friend of landThey dined togetherAnd did everything together IILand […]
FOR THE GIRL
If you all connive to bar a doorBy stomping and hitting on its beautiful floorKnowing that is your one and only wayFrom life’s clay to your decayThen like the God of languages…create a word to suit your thoughts IIThe girl is mother of the biblical manWhose womb is the only barrier to cross extinctionSo if […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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! […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]