The archive Silent Passion Poem by O. Wonodi · 1970 SILENT PASSION O. WONODI The springs well out waterdrops;drops from the sky measure the hoursof your undue discretion, hourslost between contending thoughts.And I that brought amuletsstimulated for a dance of nervesstay your many moods and the silence of passionsunspent, slips through rubbing and caressingfar-flung desires back to lifelike bubbles […]
The archive New-Living Poem by Sam Onwuka · 1970 NEW-LIVING SAM ONWUKA Hopping on light feet over twigs over hoes, stretchingTo the wharf I will go from.AH! Hastening as if pursued, hunted by the wiles. The sound of laughterAcross the hilltopThe distant resonance of drumbeats ever receding I come in all furyFollowing the signaturePicking from […]
The archive Birds Poem by C. ’Tunde Ladipo · 1970 BIRDS C. ’TUNDE LADIPO On a stroll along the avenueThe time is exactly noonAnd above in the skyBirds of the same featherAll flock together When the day is fineI always watch the timeTo behold their sightWhich is just bright Birds of the skyOf no definite […]
The archive Africa Shall Sing Again Poem by Sam Onwuka · 1970 AFRICA SHALL SING AGAIN SAM ONWUKA GraduallyLike a slow kindling logA tree trunkRaising slowly, unwillinglyFireFor the harmattan. We had waited like the maimedWaited and had waited to the brinkTo the moment of despairAnd all seemed failingTo breakThe chill of harmattan. Editor’s note: First […]
The archive No Easy Roost Poem by Odia Ofeimun · 1970 NO EASY ROOST ODIA OFEIMUN Home, a flight of bouldersre-enacting the dire and fermentof rhythms from whichyou have always sought escape; —the sadness of slouching mothernakedin the rain of your muzzled wishes— home; Where, in the dark reachesof a past-drenched will,you find a motive for […]
The archive Sleep of Innocence Poem by Odia Ofeimun · 1970 SLEEP OF INNOCENCE ODIA OFEIMUN Another hawk tears through the wombof the night— gruesome go-crashof a million soulsin the speech of automation,the thrust of a monster-thoughtjolting your sleep; Comes oppressive silence,convulsing the selves in wild sensationsof prostrate-innocence, guilt. Mooning love, do not wakein this filthied […]
The archive “Pool-Game Na Wa” Poem by ’Sanmi-Ebora Ogunjobi · 1970 “POOL-GAME NA WA” ’SANMI-EBORA OGUNJOBI (Written Pidgin English) Oh! which kan blow bin thisFour Pounds don go this week againE no include that oneWey I pay on banker “Arsenal Ah! Failing to draw”Tottenham “Sure banker”Liverpool “Oh E no draw”Wessex “Yes he enter”Two out of […]
FAREWELL TO MY KINGDOMorA KING’S LAMENTATION Of once renowned ruling ancestors bornSo early forested great race of Glory to runLate to me revealed by that aging sageSoon born, soon by uncles engageBut enviable crown of Kingship was in latter years to wear Still toilsome now in this crowning yearSo from hand to hand this Kingship […]
Is the glass half full or half empty? You’ve likely encountered this as a personality test. Optimists see possibilities. Pessimists see lack. But that framing can be too rudimentary. Before deciding how to describe the glass, especially if we’re going to drink from it, we should ask a more important question: what’s inside it? If […]
Young Vic’Adex, 2009 There are parts of my childhood I can only understand backwards. At fifteen, understanding wasn’t available to me. Only rebellion. I had lived lines like, “I was 13 when I chose death over my father.” I meant it. Everywhere I turned, people insisted that honouring my father and mother was the secret […]