AFRICA AWAKENING ONLINE MAGAZINE

 Ukpong Nsikak Andrew

Word Words

Can your soul hear those words ?

Words spoken from your heart

For it came like an angel

With no blaspheming clues to ponder

 

I heard those words

And my heart gladdened

I heard those words

And my heart opened.

 

Fragrances of those words

Mesmerized me like a love song

You made promises of care

Vows that would rethink a soul.

 

I tripped, I trembled.

I freeze, I surrendered

But now I know

That words from the mouth

Are not the same like words from the heart.

 

Ukpong Nsikak Andrew

Love Ballads

Love bites

Love hurts

Love stains.

 

When it bites

It keeps a wound for remembrance.

 

When it hurts

It makes provision for healing.

 

When it stains

It leaves a long time smell

Of invisible desire.

 

Ukpong Nsikak Andrew

How deep is your Love

The sea so deep

that it houses the fish

The sky so high

that the birds could reach

The forest so wide

That it harbours all creatures

How deep is your Love ?

 

The necter,

A feeding place for the butterfly

The nest

A resting place for the birds

The web

A protector for the spider

Where do you place your Love ?

 

Your mouth

Does it reflect your hearts thoughts ?

Your foot-steps

Does love direct her ?

Your action

Does it show love?

Think more

How deep is your love ?

 

Ukpong Nsikak Andrew

None could

Who could withdraw the will

Made from the throne of grace

None could !

 

Who could fight his power

And live till the end !

None could !

 

When he says Yes

Who could say No

None could !

 

When he lifts us up

Who could put us down

None could !

 

Who could tell his ways

Nor knows his will

None could !

 

Who could share his throne

And deliver a perfect judgement

None could !

 

Who could be like him

A blemished lamb

Whose blood redeemed us

From our inquities

None could and none would

 

Ahmed Dodo

Bread and Butter

 

Some want bread, others asked for,

Butter - bread and butter they insisted.

Look more closely - many are hungry,

Praying only for water to soften their taste.

Some have bread, others have butter,

While many dont have a piece of corn.

Bread and Butter - toasted daily on selected

Plates, aroma whispering pass many nose.

Take a look with open mind - many clouded

Tears are masked away on helpless faces

 

Not Afraid

 

Hard times, stormy days, trials, pains,

And sorrows - not afraid, time would steal,

Them silently away.

Lost, threat, hunger, worries and bites.

I am not afraid - just part of those,

Things that come and go..

Let the day come and the many challenges,

Along - I am not afraid as long as the air,

Is still free and the sky up there.

Mistakes, failures and distresses - still not,

Afraid - I am alive and still watching their,

tricks with open mind.

I tell you - I am not afraid of the many things,

That goes on and on aroung God's free land,

As long as smiles are still free.

 

Charles Opara

Okunrin Ejo

 

Huge black stains

In the sullen azure

That warns of rains

Throng over valleys and verdure

Where they find repose

For their dismal assembly

Thick dark undergrowths

And deep dark valleys

Receive its fierce embrace

With matching ardor

This is the dreaded fortress

Said to harbor

Snakes of all species

Viridian clusters wide and dense

Off tall iroko trees

Shield out sunrays like a reclined fence

Giving dark shades under their canopies

The clouds above making them more intense

Here, day never seems to break

And with everything so silent

Nothing seems to wake

But the night in torment

The lash of a whip

Sounded like a clap ot thunder

Again silence starts to muster

Then folllows a flash of lightening

Giving a seconds luster

To the ground so frightening

 

Wooden crosses ?

This was once a burial ground

The night hisses

An eerie piercing sound

Like the buzz of many snakes

Seeking and smelling out danger

The ground shakes

To the sound of something even stranger

Starting out like whistling

Then fading like a squeal far away

Again the treest start bristling

And leafy branches sway

For no apparent reason

The sound of whispering spirits

Reach deep inot the night

Chattering in their cold disparate voices

Causing falling leaves to take flight

A billlion souls lament :

"We will continue to dwell in vengeansss"

"Until justisss is enthroned"

"Malisss gets her sentensss"

"And out deathsss are atoned"

Destiny is perturbed

For eons the hissing noise persisted

"Hearken"

"Put usss to the tessst"

TO BE CONTINUED