Short Cowrie Poems

The little kitten pawed at the ground
Dug out the earth
The way its mama taught it
Then it squatted
And as though recalling something
Looked around
To ensure no eyes were watching

Its eyes met mine-
His, cowrie shaped and green
Mine, big, brown and curious-
And wide eyed
Perhaps horrified
It jumped away
And went round 
The far corner of the house....

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Nine rivers you swam
Bang, into the marathon
Now six rivers you row
Into the eternal riddle.
Thunder frog-jumps out of mouths
Rain splutters from pale sockets

...yestersay.
Now I adjust my backpack
In memory's frigate.
I try to smile
For I am not alone-nor ever will be-
You answer me in the tree-tops
And in the cowrie-dance:
I peep into tomorrow today
I crack the kernels
In the barns of years and years and years to come....

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How beautiful is she!

Her teeth are white,
sparkling in the Sun
as she expresses her joy
in her heart with a beautiful smile

Her eyes are as enchanting
as no story that has ever been written
or a painting that has ever been drawn

Here long, black hair
is decorated by cowrie shells
and river flowers,
making her to look like a goddess

Her skin is soft
and flawless, with exception
of a beauty-spot on her chin

How beautiful is she!...

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Idol is there seated plotting
cowrie shells baptized dollars
cow-hide suffocated with air
comfort women in their best
Cambridge fraternity with honors
commander with his platoons
sky-men in their spaceships
class room wizards with sleepy eye
Champagne , coca cola, carrots

These are the dying gods
that relax on high thrones
intoxicate conscience
roll away the Bible, Quran
and call on humanity
worship me, me, me alone
my kingdom I’ll give to you...

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They tell me I love you.
They say that when I laugh with you;
my eyes shine like cowrie shells in shrines,
my cheeks dimple in gaiety,
my pulse thumps rapidly like the drumbeats of the gods.

They tell me I love you.
They say that my legs tremble like a virgin sacrifice
when I meet you.
They say that my body sways towards you
like a falling leaf drawn to the ground.

They tell me I love you.
But what saddens me shadow of my dreams,
they don’t tell me you love me!...

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