MOTIVE the doors are open all dayyou may climb in at nightthrough the window whenthe night-watch is asleep you may walk in by the doorat noon when the shopkeeperis smiling to customers andplain-clothes watch your moves the doors are open all dayand whether you enter at nightthrough the window or by the doorat noon you […]
TOWNCRIER Crier that i amrailing the primeand cursing the ultimatei stand like pebblesitting on the carpet of the oceanwashed and littled bythe brush of the current. i sink to rise and riseto sink wailing for allbut hushed by themfor whom i plaintcrier that i ammy cries sicken my earsand, for a season, i resolveto cry […]
ANNIVERSARY This drearyanniversarywakes meto repeatthe stale taleof five cyclesand riddlesof eternity; am a sentrycounting outmisery ingrains of sand: when our yesterdaysare epitaphsand tomorrowsunexecuted willsthrills and drills,and life a longand drab balladof wrinkled days,let the sextontoll the sullen bellsfor a coldanniversary. Samuel Asein EDITOR’S NOTESource: Archiving (Nigeria Magazine, Sunday, March 1, 1970).
REBIRTH When night comes,Though some plyIt’s giddy heightsOthers their headsLaid to restTo be rebornOn the morrowFresh with ardourStrong for a new day;With sinew brightAnd ardour strongThe new day is embraced. Usiobaifo Eweka EDITOR’S NOTESource: Archiving (Nigeria Magazine, Sunday, March 1, 1970).
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 […]
EVENING SONG My heart is closest to youin this bright hourof eveningMy heart rememberspulling streamers of laughterthrough sorrowsUntil I know I see youwhirled above hard siltentwining me with God * EDITOR’S NOTE Source: ArchiviNG (Nigeria Magazine, 1 January 1987). The source lists Kwame Dawes and Gwyneth Dawes without assigning individual authorship; this archival presentation retains […]
MORNING SONG (For Aba) My heart is closest to youin this dark hourof morningMy heart rememberspulling threads of memorythrough shadowsUntil I think I see youcurled under soft quiltdreaming of me and God* EDITOR’S NOTE Source: ArchiviNG (Nigeria Magazine, 1 January 1987). The source lists Kwame Dawes and Gwyneth Dawes without assigning individual authorship; this archival […]
DAUGHTER There were no drumsno call upon the spirits,no dance, no adinkras swirledno antiphonal songsno damirifas heardno goat was killed,no libations poured,no celebrations for thepassing of the soul.Away from the village ofher kin,on caribbean shoreswhere two once played the tune,she sang alone. Gwyneth H. C. Dawes EDITOR’S NOTE Source: ArchiviNG (Nigeria Magazine, 1 January 1987). […]
SON (For Kwame) “And she sang mournfullyher voice shaking deeply,regret mixing remorse,sorrow with recollection.She trembled,the whole room trembled,the door criedthe chairs bent slowlylooking for himhoping for himnot seeing him.Then we all went asidesplintered points to a circlelinked by a single cord:sorrow, like the gray cloudsand we wept alonetogether**” Kwame N. Dawes EDITOR’S NOTE Source: ArchiviNG […]