The Trouble With Nigeria
When
The Arrow Of God is
No Longer At Ease
Things Fall Apart
The Voice of
The Enemy Within
Whispers At Dawn saying
Weep Not Child as
The House Boy named
Maru looks at
The Sterile Sky and
The People Of The City run after
Samankwe And The Highway Robbers up to
The Juju Rock
Where lived
The Black Hermit
A man begotten of
The Concubine
From A Crooked Rib
According to
The Cardinals -
The Interpreters of
The Shadow Of Imana
But the
‘Mine Boy’- a
‘Second Class Citizen’ from
‘Serowe, Village Of The Rain Wind’
And a master of
‘The Marabi Dance’
Who doubled as
‘The Collector Of Treasures’
For his King said it was
‘A Question Of Power’
And so there was
‘No Easy Walk To Freedom’.
‘The Grass Is Singing’, he said
Pointing at the
‘Arrows of Rain’ and holding
‘A Cowrie Of Hope’ to the
‘Devil On The Cross’.
‘I Will Marry When I Want’ just as
‘I Write What I Like’
And, being
‘A Man Of The People’, I say
‘The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born’
When I find
‘The Girl Who Can’ handle
‘Smoldering Charcoal’
And one who seeks
‘The Joys Of Motherhood’
And is not afraid of the
‘Dew In The Morning’
I will write
‘So Long A Letter’ to her
And together we shall explore
‘The River Between’ for
‘The Return Of The Water Spirit’
‘Gathering Seaweed’ at the shore
And ‘God's Bits Of Wood’
To keep ‘Dreaming Pachinko’ warm and
‘The Chattering Wagtails Of Mikuyu Prison’
‘In The Fog Of The Seasons' End’.
(Titles of AWS- African Writers Series books including poem title. Whispers At Dawn by yours truly included. Tribute to the Authors of those lovely books).
Copyright © Gerald Kithinji | Year Posted 2016
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