The archive Sweet love Poem by Umar Bello Katagum · 1992 This I must coughTo say I love andCherish you.When the blue cloudIs pregnant — readyTo descend with rainsOn to our fertile landFor the seeds to germinateAnd grow — basis of ourFood tomorrowMust you linger like a passengerOn transit to unknown destinationOr accept me in […]
The archive Ode for the pilgrims Poem by Abba Gana Shettima · 1993 They traversed to Allah’s sanctuaryAnswering His divine call of gloryFrom lands far and near to the qiblaAlgerians marching against new imperialismSupported by Afghans against MarxismIn partnership with Egyptians against atheismAre brothers to Nigerian unbelievers in secularismAll in alliance with Bosnian muslimsWho are […]
The archive Uba Nguemoo / Ageba kela Poem by Tiv Traditional / Anonymous · 1982 [Tiv traditional poem with line-by-line translation and stanza commentary] Uba NguemooKpehe shor ke kpya kpa doo gaUba NguemooKpehe shor ke kpya kpa doo gaYamuel Yashi a nongo amo shongi. Translation / English rendering:Uba NguemoI’ve divined into my pocketbut the result […]
The archive My love Poem by Ifeanyi Omeni · 1991 When in the heat of my angerI behold the exquisie beauty of your faceA myriad of emotions assail my beingAnd my anger evaporates ina wisp of smokeFor your presence is soothing balmI sacrifice my evil natureAt the altar of your captivating smilesFor your love has […]
The archive ABEOKUTA Poem by Olawale Obadeyi · 1987 Where the hilarious harèèGenially guided the erringFeet of the new-callerAnd heaven-high hills Tell of their mightymoulder’sWondrous wits.Where rustic rafters a Steady roof-hold forQuaint abodes providedAnd the hunter’s houndTreasured as the blacksmithHis Ewiri at the smithyWhere the legendary Lisabi satIn conclave with fateAnd both in mutual affirmationIntoned […]
The archive My love Poem by Uguoyoke Cosmas Sonny · 1993 I must love my loveFor love is lostI must love my shieldFor the arrow is shotLike a sick-baby I layAnd know no joy nor sorrowBut is comforted When depression, humiliation, praise andTorment strikeI call on you as though divineBecause you know the cureAs mother […]
The archive Zainab Poem by Suleiman Zailani · 1993 All of a sudden the bird singsPraises instead of condemnationSpasmodically respondingTo magnanimous rays shootingForth from your eyes. I stalk warily approaching youAnticipating a mirageOnly to beholdInstead of a moving shadowA pool of tenderness. Inference indeed erroneousThe desert is a fertile turfFecundated with a noble heartThat harvest […]
The archive Drummers Poem by Diyel Garba · 1994 Listen to them once morePlaying on the taut drumOf human passionAt the cabalistic covens. Fingerplug your earsNot to hear the siren tattooOf gamto which shearsOff human reason. Beware the leopard’sAwesome membraneThat excites the heartTo hanker forStreams of gore. And do not heedThe primitive messageNo, do not […]
The archive Elegie on Mris Boulstred Poem by John Donne · 1987 Nor will this earth serve him; he sinkes the deepeWhere harmelesse fish monastique silence keepe,Who (were Death dead) by Roes of living sand,Might spunge that element, and make it landHe rounds the aire, and breakes the hymnique notesIn birds (Heavens choristers,) organique throats,Which […]
The archive Paranoid at New Year Poem by Molara Ogundipe-Leslie · 1992 Paranoid at New Year Molara Ogundipe-Leslie Misfortune drapes the head!are the mothers flying stillrelentless heartlesshurtle down a hillwhen the year turns itsunderbelly of newness?will you impale meon the new days’ teeth? EDITOR’S NOTE First published in Citizen, 6 January 1992, p. 72, in […]