Man of Words — Hyeladzira A.B. Shaffa

The archive Man of Words Poem by Hyeladzira A.B. Shaffa · 1992 Man of Words Hyeladzira A.B. Shaffa · 1992 They give nightmares, man of wordsThings you do with bales of wordsLying pompous in lairs of thine con-dom And for the boldness of thineschemesWe survive on those crumbs ofpowerThe extravagance from thy word-dom EDITOR’S NOTEFirst […]

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Citizen of Words / Citizen of Poems — Nuhu Yarwa

The archive Citizen of Words / Citizen of Poems Poem by Nuhu Yarwa · 1992 Citizen of Words / Citizen of Poems Nuhu Yarwa · 1992 Citizen of Words Like a capsule holds a substanceWords and wordings are poemAs word preserves and defendsmemoriesEach and every memory:The good, and bad and ugly:Of resplendent words and word-ingsAnd […]

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Machine Talk — Charles E. Agu

The archive Machine Talk Poem by Charles E. Agu · 1992 Machine Talk Charles E. Agu · 1992 Do you remember meI am big, tall and newYou should know me. I can print two at twelveThousand per hourWe are two of the same kindBut not twins My sister’s name sounds Vicky!She can print two times […]

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Silent Passion — O. Wonodi

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 […]

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New-Living — Sam Onwuka

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 […]

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Birds — C. ’Tunde Ladipo

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 […]

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No Easy Roost — Odia Ofeimun

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 […]

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Africa Shall Sing Again — Sam Onwuka

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 […]

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Sleep of Innocence — Odia Ofeimun

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 […]

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Creative Process — Samuel Asein

The archive Creative Process Poem by Samuel Asein · 1970 CREATIVE PROCESS SAMUEL ASEIN Scented ideas floatingin the mind’s suspensioncourt my soul like an evasive ladyon a first appointmentwith love. Mosaic of hued ideastender-lipped wordssink and float, weights and balancesof flagellating conceptslike sperms dazzling vanishing pointsof intermittent illuminationsof glow worms; faint suggestions and rejectionsthe ravished […]

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