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Bernard Brakatu Poem
Gather all you can
Even through the harmattan
Oh It's annoying hay fever!
And the cracked lips it serves
Cough all you may
Sneeze it all out
For it's only an ephemeral reminder
Of the fortitude we have within
That we get bent somehow
Maybe cracked
By the elements of life
But never broken
So shiver not
Hang in there
Eyes on the skies, chest out
It's only for a season
Breathe deep
And suit up
Take the giant strides anyways
Through the fog
Soon you'll find you've garnered
Even through the apparent cracks
And the broken system
Strength immeasurable
Ineffable joy and clarity
That it was never a destination
But a story of growth and purpose
One of a bright and beautiful people
Too dazed by their own light
To break through the systemic fog
Clouding the apparent vision
Of the designer's perfect circus of life.
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2015
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
In the old woods did yang jump and laugh
For the weather was good for the fish he sought
In the ornate mansion did ying fret and cry
For wealth was the reason her parents fought
Deep within, she hoped she had a bit of yang’s peace
The hook was bad and yang hoped for a bit of ying’s wealth
To mend the old hook the fish incessantly did tease
The best did ying have but still suffered a fragile health
In a corner somewhere, yang knew something was missing
But simply dismissed the piercing idea of the impossible
Somewhere far, ying had that special feeling again teasing
But simply dismissed the piercing idea of the impossible
A fortnight in that picturesque made a deep mark
Which differences helplessly could not efface
The hybrid was strong and nothing did it lack
For it will take more than death for the mark to erase
The ying-yang was no respecter of time and place
It simply brought the dispersed pieces together
And carefully taught the proud to be mild and meek
In total obedience to the power of the love they seek
Like magic, it carried the two to the world they searched
For the odds of life and principles of man it defied
Creating a quintessential world where the duo perched
With only the strength and power of their love to be relied on
Like a lock and key, the pieces fitted exactly
Incomprehensibly making the impossible possible like a dream
Like an enzyme and substrate, ying-yang together grew perfectly
With its infectious power flowing about like a stream
Silently granting anyone willing the complete healing
Ready to free anyone from the rancor celibacy could not mend
It shows itself blatantly to a duo with a common feeling
And rewards those who listen with a jewel they can’t lend
A jewel meant for and only worn by two destined to wear
A jewel that tells a sad and happy story of a once blind pair
Who were deaf to the cries and screams of some power within
Instructing them with a map, to find their destined true love
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2007
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
It’s the smell of smoke
It sends its first warning
When we least suspect
It’s always slow but focused
It surely always creates a false impression
Of being far away
When it’s right beside us or behind us
It’s soft; nothing near hard or overtly caustic
It increases its intensity with bitter praise
It is almost always wrapped up
In a white linen of seeming admiral
It has a crooked laugh
Which shows up when it’s burning with glee
But is full of hate and contempt
It accepts pure kindness with a grin
Whiles it poans on how to meet the love
The pure love that gave a hand unconditionally
When it had no one and was the center of mockery
It comes with a mixture of hate and envy
It’s always the same
It has never changed throughout the years
It just appears with different clothes
And borne by different faces
It’s right beside me
It’s the crooked smile and the low tone
It was the silence I felt when I began to lead
It was the sharp plea and desire to learn
Not for learning sake
But to overtake and to strip naked
It’s the same peacock that boasted
And pushed me backwards to see the light
It is the same volatile gas
That burst out from it’s container with the slightest joke
And felt no guilt choking me again and again
It’s the inability to enjoy the pure gifts of love
It’s the joy felt at my slightest failure
It was the same pass received on the field
That left confusion and pain
It was the same envy that connived
To vote against me
It’s the insults I hear in my ears today
It was the same alacrity
That pushed her to rise and smite me
It’s the force that made him cheat
Just to humiliate me
It’s the reason behind my spectacle
And the faith that pulls me through
It’s the message that shouts in my ears
Every now and then
Reminding me of who I am
It’s the only reason I learn to fight again and again
It’s the candle that burns in my heart now
As I write with sweaty palms
It’s my only compass and my hard journey
The truthful evidence, that I’m almost there
Just a few meters away
From the promised land.
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2009
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
We came here pretentious, egoistic, hyper-inflated with our meager academic laurels and
filled with self-adulation of our GPAs
You saw us plainly; our minds almost blank like a tabular rasa, but you saw potential and
so gently humbled us with IAs
Under the aegis of your golden rules, we learnt to know when to be silent and when to
“Always say something”
We needed to know the anatomy of this new education in order to rectify the pathologies of
our time
With your fatherly scalpels, you dissected the courses into absorbable pieces
You nurtured us and gave us a rather microscopic view of life so we can appreciate the
people around us
Even when the rigors of the academics struck us dumb, you were there to repolarise our
neurons with your fraternal voice; “Think folks!”
When complacency and indolence set in, you shook us up in a booming tone “It’s your job to
know!” and whet our hunger for knowledge
You gave us faith and pushed us to our limits till we saw distinctions right ahead of us
When we were almost tired and the world saw us hyperventilating and palpitating with fear
of referrals,
You transfused us with more knowledge, healed us and saved us at the phase of irreversible
shock and resuscitated us to be the best we could be
When we were back on our feet and had something to offer, you stood by, reminding us never
to judge others especially our patients
But to strive to put a smile on the faces of others
As if that were not enough, your chemoprophylaxis for us was holistic enough
To instill in our hearts a strong sense of selflessness with high doses of patriotism
running through our veins
Indeed your love for us is broad spectrum.
Today our hearts are filled with utmost gratitude
For you have placed us at an academic altitude
So we can have something to offer our generation
Our lips will continue in ceaseless veneration
At your polymorphic roles in our lives
For you are our teachers, our parents and our role models
We may twist and turn the queen’s language in your praise
We may shower gifts and awards
We may mimic your voices and behave like you
All we want to say is “We deeply love you, our dear lecturers.”
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2008
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
Yes, life was then good and I had peace
Until in the dark, I was stabbed in the back
By the dicey devil whom I now hear tease
I’m left alone to handle my life with luck
Yesterday, alcohol led me into a gutter
Where debris of my past were left for me to gather
To be the map to the peace I search
Back into the arms of my childhood church
What about these drugs and girls I lust?
The gambling with which I have my pleasure?
To a life devoid of drugs, and even to fast?
Well, I hope it will lead me to that priceless treasure
To a place I can finally lay down my burden
Where I can finally watch the past crumble and fall
Where the living streams of water cleanses sin
Back to the one I love, unto Jesus will I give my all
On His mighty shoulders will I cast the guilt I suffer
And forget all the devil promised but failed to offer
As I jump and dance myself from the chains of slavery
To enjoy the peace He sacrificed on the cross of Calvary
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2007
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
Poca à poca you crawled
I stood dumb as you fouled
The golden rules
Only heaven knows
Why I stood still and froze
As you sneered and spat
Your rancorous venom all over the place
You forced your way in
Pushed and pushed
Till everyone stepped aside for you
Only for us to be entrapped
In your labyrinthine world of shame
Now you tightened corners of your web
Got victims
Smashed the heads of cronies together
And spat the spiteful venom on their hearts
Oh, to us it tasted like fresh honey
Only for us to remember it was too late
For us to regurgitate
Oh how my head hated
To see my heart find joy
In that cryptic ignominious world
Imprisoned with acerbity
As we watched your affected smile
Crack up in drops of laughter
We egged ourselves on
Hoping your random peccadilloes
Would not cause anymore pain
For you to gain
Oh how thankful I am
To myself, my head in particular
To get you to drink your own juice
How relieving for me it is
To se you languish in endless pain
May the nemesis of your sins
Be everlasting
Till you are divinely purged clean
By the Almighty Himself.
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2008
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
In the gray plantations, gaiety abound
Food and drink were superfluous a need
The little family did share every bit gathered
Perry and Merry slept not, till the nests were safe
In the quiet peace they prayed for that gracious day
Perry was conscientious and Merry gave her care
That joyful sunset when the quintuplet did appear
A wave of happiness did soar the air above
What a wonderful family they made
Terry, Ferry, Serry, Herry and Berry
As they beautifully soared after Merry each day
Their gray paraphernalia did display warmth
Until famine sent them to the greens one day
When Berry’s eye did blink and his mind carried away
To the world of color and wealth; beauty and fame
Opaquely covering its impiety and rancor
He would stay longer and glare at the beauty
Until he met Dicey, who said there was a way
But how could he contravene his family merits?
He was choking with the poverty and needed an air of wealth
At least a few wings for himself and the family will do
But Dicey looked dicey, yet Berry reserved his fears
To dare and surpass the thick cloud of indigence
Wrapping his family and creating bounds; above and below
Hand in hand, Berry and Dicey did fly to Patty the king
Berry humbly poured his plea till it flowed to Patty’s heart
But the conditions could not be ignored and Patty knew
The conditions were sacrificial; virtues for wealth
Berry did ponder of his priceless piety
Meticulously prepared for him by Merry with love
No! he said, as he suffered the repercussions of his folly
And endured the torturous disdain of that impure world
Back into the sweet arms of his humble cherubic family!
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2007
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
Speak to me lord and direct me
Carry me to the mountain high
Far from the city of destruction
Where I can lay on my knees
And bathe in your glorious fountain
Give me strength, Lord Jesus
Tighten my earthly shoulders Lord
Grease my joints, oh dear Christ
Help me stand
For me to live is Christ and for me to die is gain
Wipe my heart with your holy water
Purify me Lord, from any acerbity inwards hidden
Grant my soul humility, oh father
Grant me love and divine joy, my savior
Protect me from the acidulous activities of this cruel world
Extricate me from the evil deeds of the world
Set me free from any chains of the evil one
Fill me with light and strength
Radiate through me your abundant joy
Use me to enlighten the unrighteous of your grace
Thank you Jesus, for answered prayer. Amen
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2008
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
When you know all but can do nothing
When the essence of life seems to be questioned
When it appears the answers are crystal clear
But holding on to the solution is problematic
It means you're in a transitory phase
When your heart is being ripped into pieces
And bleeding you endure every passing moment
When thoughts of your loved ones
Turn into impulses for heartbreak
It means you're learning something new
When you know all the chords of an instrument
But can play no music
When you know all the right words
But cannot articulate your language
It means you've got a critical lesson to learn
When those closest to you turn their backs against you
And you are cognizant of your faults
When there is nothing left of your social life
But you try every now and then to smile
And you make an effort to brighten up someone
Then you're indeed growing within
When your creed which you uphold sacred
Is used against you
And for moments you feel you are the devil himself
Then you have lessons to learn
When your main weakness
Is used as bait to mollify your pain
Yet you budge not
Then you have grown a bit stronger
When all forces seem predestined to oppose you
Yet you stand firm to fight for the truth
Then my dear friend, you're indeed special
And you should endure the searing flames
Shaping you for the groundbreaking task ahead of you
Because you owe that to God, to the world and to yourself.
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2010
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Bernard Brakatu Poem
When the dawn of gaiety emanates
And sorrow seems to dissociate
When hard work is finally culminated
Distress seems to frown for revenge
When the past is cast into oblivion
And the present sews its shameless patches
Its ugly head appears to pierce through the seam
Breaking apart the lovely product of the present
On the verge of touching the future
A piece of the past falls
Spattering and interrupting the present
Preventing the midas touch of the future
When trust appears and seems to console
The present embraces it and clings on
And when effort propels you to future, trust disappears
When trust is neglected, present is devoid of future’s sight
When distress bursts out laughing, trust blames present
And present helplessly abnegates to trust again
With the touch of future as its collateral
But finally accepts trust’s betrayal as a wonderful plot
Copyright © Bernard Brakatu | Year Posted 2007
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