When you get to the king’s palace
My brother
Whenever you get the chance to sit and dine with the king
Do not raise your shoulders so high,
So high above the level of your head
Do not ask him for too many favors
Do not stir up old quarrels
Never should you reflect upon the past bone of contention;
Remember all those who helped you-
Those who introduced you to the king
And his cohorts
Do not eat hastily
Nor drink noisily
In the presence of the princes
Uphold your beautiful, courageous character;
Do not deflower the young princess there
Do not stand or leave the presence of the king
With crumpled shirts or an unkempt bow-tie
Many lives have been lost before you gained acceptance
And recognition to stay in that glamorous palace-
It sounds though like Pyrrhic victory in my ears:
Our gains do not outweigh our losses.
May we sing the glad song of Moses?
I shall be consoled by the long stretch
Of the dotted semibreve.
Written by Ebenezer K N Baiden- Amissah
P O Box LG 1254, Legon, Accra.
Telephone 0245310380/0201257024
the tallest I’ve ever seen was in primary
towering like a General in the military
a haggard expression of pain and disgust
the needle like leaves his ooze would discard
he seemed so staunch in his camouflage and upright salute
the pinecones resembling a grenade assault
as curious children do, to climb we were too eager
mystery lay hidden somewhere in his evergreen erect figure
the teacher would soon be called to the rescue
climbing down now an impossible chore
some disciplinary action would be enforced
he wouldn't even be swaying in the wind this unmoveable force
then one day the war would finally be won
it took a couple of grades of broken bones and casting stones
high up in his clutches where our balls would be stuck
he would be uprooted and loaded onto the back of the truck
but when he left, the school grounds seemed so empty
he had retired after generations serving this country
that's why it now felt like such a pyrrhic victory
in hindsight, he was truly our sentry
08-23-2015
Contest: Charlotte Jade Puddifoot's Trees Personified