Best Moonlighted Poems
Godwin Adizue Ibeh
(1937-2017)
Mr. Godwin Adizue Ibeh
Aged 79 years
Was and is
My beloved, doting father
“Is” because he remains
Spiritually present
Present
In my memory
Present
In pictures and mementos
Present
In my dreams, smiles and tears
Present
In my prayers and imagination
His spirit
Hovers in the air
Above me like a hummingbird
His presence felt
At the mere mention
Of his name
Mr. Godwin Ibeh
Or simply “Daddy”
As I used to, and still
Lovingly call him
Or "Prof" by close friends
And acquaintances alike
Was a Nigerian-born
Naturalized American citizen
Migrated to the United States of America
In 1968
A bearer of many titles
Hobbies and accomplishments
An alumnus of Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio. Graduated in 1970
With a BA in Psychology
An alumnus of Xavier University Graduate School
Cincinnati, Ohio. Graduated in 1975
With an MS in Correctional Psychology
An alumnus of University of Nigeria
Where he also taught Psychology in 1981
Received a PhD in Education
Specializing in Guidance and Counseling
He also moonlighted as a probation officer
A writer and a taxi driver
A father of four
First-generation African-American children
From oldest to youngest
Mildred
Yours truly, Edward
Stephen
Jeanette
A grandfather of three
A father-in-law of two
A former-husband
Of my beloved mother, Rose
An avid collector of hats
A voracious reader
And collector of books
A lover
Of jazz and classical music
An intellectual
A sage
A mensch
His personality
Avuncular, warm, and humorous
His smile
Radiant, brightly beautiful, beautifully bright
His laugh
Honest and infectious
His mouth
Spoke no evil
His destination
Heaven!
For he’s a child of God
And has led
A good, successful, fulfilled life
Gone, but never
Will be forgotten
Rest in peace, Dad
I will miss you...
Categories:
moonlighted, death, eulogy, father, how
Form:
Elegy
Startled I see my dream again tonight
Awaking from within me deepest fright
Creeping from out my misty eyed slumber
The beast inside me began to lumber
Catching myself in front of the mirror
Your eyes beside me, your shrieks of terror
Wax smelt courage, your trigger finger slight
Now you see me in a different light
Soft moonlighted skin dotted with twin holes
For my ravens guide me to sinful souls
Now conjuring up your holy spirits
Refuse you the truth because you fear it
And yet again I wake a lonely Knight
My dear, come here, promise I won't bite
Categories:
moonlighted, dark, fear, horror,
Form:
Sonnet
Jasmine blossomed
from the concrete of heaven
while angels sing soft melodies
that land on the intimacy of my soul
My eyes left perplexed
captivating the presence of this beauty
from a gentle smile that falls from the petals
of this delicate flower
The warmth of my heart, declared
from the rays of the sun
and shine my aura with pleasant moonlighted conversations
that Eden has excited me with
I'm lost in the trance of this moment
brought upon the rain from the clouds
that fog all existence of impressions
left behind in departed memories of love
The roses in my garden have expired
to leave way for this fresh plantation to grow
indulging it's direction to a whole new production
of spiritual maturity
I may have fallen in love with a desperate recognition
my past has barricaded in the sands
from the sight of this acquired exhibit
that delivers passion to my universe
I'm left in purity for this appeasing flower
to teach me examples I've lost in the historical moments
of my sanity caused by the white wine
that shut out the seeds of my obliterated memories
Blooming the center of my tender retentivity
with a sensual touch that calms
the reflection of the beaming solar system
the world has equipped to my spirits
Declining all invitations to submissive pain
I've known in the past
and accepting this development as a greeting
to a new born creation
She is my flower and I am her essence
and together,
we conform in collaboration
to create a presence of ravishing affection
Exposed in this garden of perfection...
Categories:
moonlighted, lovelost, flower, flower, garden,
Form:
Free verse
April showers, shaking flowers;
`A la belle `etoile.
Always wishes, almost kisses;
`A la belle `etoile.
Whispering hush, carefully rush;
`A la belle `etoile.
Shadowing near, moonlighted here;
`A la belle `etoile.
Two dark doors down, then out of town;
`A la belle `etoile.
And then you smile, at least a while;
`A la belle `etoile.
Categories:
moonlighted, happiness, places, time,
Form:
Shape
His full name was Bern Bernard
He was an imposing bodyguard
From a few scuffles he was scarred
But nothing serious in that regard
Walking down the boulevard
Showing off his business card
He also moonlighted as a lifeguard
You’d be safe in the pool or yard
You couldn’t help but love Bernard
He was the most proficient bodyguard
Any fear he could effortlessly discard
Have any troublemakers easily disbarred
AP: 2nd place 2020
Posted on February 27, 2018
Categories:
moonlighted, confidence, hero,
Form:
Monorhyme
You walk away within a moonlighted sky
Not many shadows passing by
A turning glance just for you
to wave goodbye
That was the last of the memories
Within a lingering kiss upon your palm
Sending it my way
As you get ready to depart
Sadness fills me as you leave
I know I will see you again
Not wanting to watch the news
You never know when something will happen
No newspapers delivered to the door
you never know
Denial all the way
Denial all the way
Phone calls from strangers
just as bad Fearing the worst
Hide and delete
Just in case it bears bad news
Door bells and knocks
From behind hidden blinds
I don’t know you
I don’t want to respond
Eighteen months without human contact
Thinking others wont know
The turmoil and sleepless nights
Wondering and waiting
Until I know the call is from you
Short-lived and awkward
Just glad to hear your voice
Tears down my face
Uncontrollable happiness
Weakness in my knees
Never before so knocked over
with the sound of your voice
Pretending you next to me Holding me close,
Cradling my fears
Until my eyes grow weary
And I snuggle deeply into sleep
Goodnight my love I hear you say
Keep my memory always
Talk of me often
I will always love you
Goodbye my dearest
My last words to you
How I wish this was not true
See you soon, always yours
I will only see you in my dreams
Categories:
moonlighted, absence,
Form:
Free verse
Get Well Soon!
For Madelyn McKay, this May!
M~magical, moonlighted May
A~ asteroids, in the sky play
Y~yacht club lights flicker on the bay
5/2/2021
~1~
Categories:
moonlighted, dedication, health,
Form:
Acrostic
You walk away within a moonlighted sky
Not many shadows passing by
A turning glance
To wave goodbye
That was the last of the memories
With a lingering kiss upon your palm
Sending it my way
As you get ready to depart
Sadness fills me as you leave
I know I will see you again
Not wanting to watch the news
Just in case …
You never know when something will happen
No newspapers delivered to the door
Just in case you never know
Denial all the way
Phone calls from strangers just as bad
Fearing the worst
Hide and delete
Just in case it bears bad news
Door bells and knocks
From behind hidden blinds
I don’t know you
I don’t want to respond
Eighteen months without human contact
Thinking others wont know
The turmoil and sleepless nights
Wondering and waiting
Until I know the call is from you
Short-lived and awkward
Just glad to hear your voice
Tears down my face
Uncontrollable happiness
Weakness in my knees
Never before so knocked over
Just with the tilt of your voice
Pretending you just next to me
Holding me close, Cradling my fears
Until my eyes grow weary
And I snuggle deeply into sleep
Goodnight my love I hear you say
Keep my memory, always
Talk of me often
Tell them I will always love
Goodbye my dearest
My last words to you
How I wish this was not true
See you soon , always yours
Categories:
moonlighted, family, loss, me, voice,
Form:
Free verse
Why do you run from me?
What it is you’re afraid of?
Just embrace the feel, of a moonlighted love
Your Insecurities, don’t mean a damn thing to me
So don’t run away, Just believe in me
Make yourself at home
Woman, silence that cell phone
Now that we’re alone, I’m all
Yours Baby
Rubbing your body, Run my fingers through your hair
(Ease your mind, its plenty of time)
Let your lips touch mine
Nightfall To Sunrise
You’re the star upon my eyes
I wanna fulfill your wants
And provide your every need
Nightfall To Sunrise
I’ll Erase the doubt and lies
I had to realize (I had to realize)
You’re my Divine, Nightfall To Sunrise
There’s no place I’d rather be
Than to have you beside me
Baby Make me high, off your love
I’ve waited patiently, so don’t you rush the sacred
Don’t run away just believe in me
We can dance this dance forever
(It’s now or never)
I have big plans for you
There’s nothing I won’t do
Leave that past in the rear view
Let our souls talk, they have so much to discuss
(Embrace the feel, Believe in me)
My heart is with you
Nightfall To Sunrise
You’re the star upon my eyes
I wanna fulfill your wants
And provide your every need
Nightfall To Sunrise
I’ll Erase the doubt and lies
I had to realize (I had to realize)
You’re my Divine, Nightfall To Sunrise
I wanna fulfill ya deepest wants
I wanna provide ya every need
Ease ya Mind
I wanna fulfill ya deepest wants
I wanna provide ya Every need
Ease ya Mind
Categories:
moonlighted, art, black love, for
Form:
Rhyme
By day, I followed her around and watched her every move, for she was bigger than life itself. But when the sun went down, she would change into her uniform and go out into the summer evening. Busing it she'd go to the local factory and work on an assembly line. They made confectionery sweets there, and when the boss discarded them for being broken or imperfect, he allowed the staff to take them home to their families. I'd sit at home doing my homework, waiting for her shift to end. Quite often I would be too tired to stay up until midnight and since I had school the next day, I'd go to bed by nine. In the morning I would find a box of pastries called Palmiers in french palmyè, sitting on the kitchen table waiting to be enjoyed.
When the sun came up we would both sit at the kitchen with a tea in hand and talk before I had to go to school. When she hugged me she smelled of spun sugar with a touch of fixative from yesterday's hairspray. All around her was a peaceful presence, as I enjoyed the warmth of her capable strong hands. That was close to sixty years ago and still today if I stand by a bakery counter taking in the scent of cakes and sweets I can still recall my mother and the way she moonlighted just to make ends meet.
Another feather in my cap of feelgood memories from days of yonder. Tune in tomorrow for another story in my lifetime.
The End.
Categories:
moonlighted, spoken word,
Form:
Narrative