PRISONER OF LOVE

How do you waltz in circles
when your legs are bound?
How do you dance in shackles
to the rhythm of free men?

Maybe prison is just another metaphor for ecstasy,
for the slinky smile that creeps on your lips
when you read a text,
or the blush that smears your cheeks
after a phone call,
or the tingle in your toes
at the flash of a diamond ring.

Maybe to be chained
is to be free.

-

THE DINING TABLE

is where we draw strength from swarthy fingers. Here,
food is served on a platter of ashes by snowy owls. Beady-eyed

beings wary of our linked, lively bones.
We mould our lips into a crevice,

ready to say grace, the way maroon cells are moulded
into a language, and echoed by split veins.

"lord, bless this food of flaming orbs.
let our spittle be an adhesive for the panegyrics broken by hunger."

in this unity of jutted tongues,
archives of rain unlock.

flames are swallowed up in
hiccups of thunder.

The orb smothers, and reveals
a people. purified by fire.

-

How do I describe a woman
who nurtures her family through
smiles and sighs, fears and tears?
How do I describe a woman
who pours her all
into the lives of the ones she bore
without holding anything back?
How do I describe a lover of God
and a helper of men?
How do I describe a Mother?

Mom, if I were to talk of your fierce undying love,
time would have to stay still.
And if I were to talk of your unending patience
and commitment,
the universe would probably have to go on a break.

So today, I can only describe you in few words.
Tender. Loving. Divine.

-

PROVERBS

I walked through the coals
of my grandmother's proverbs,
and my life became a paradise of scars.

"any sheep wey walk with dog.."
is the opening hymn of my youthful troubles.
say, friendship is an exclusive invite
to a dinner party of regrets.
I gave the street a handshake,
and it drew me into a hug of vices.

"..go turn to dog"
now, my body is lined with fleas of drugs and lust.
slowly, it morphs into a shadow,
a testament of a broken sun.

-

when he spins his thoughts into a rainbow
they reach out to the Word to glow.
they mount on the wings of verses
and take swift flight into the universe.
say, he's an eagle with the beak of tongues
sharp-eyed with insight in his lungs.
or say, he's a compass for others to follow
a trajectory for nations unborn.

-

BKPW Mentorship 4.0
Task For The Week.

sometimes, the earth responds to grief
by watering its flowers with tears
/say, rain is a syrup for pain/
and sometimes, it spins a rainbow
and drowns in a tub of colors
you should do the same
pour out pain in glassy tears
shine when broken

-

let time melt into a poem
and let memories be still.

take two spoonfuls of realms
and make a broth of ruth,

esther, and the prostitute
who writes diaries by the window.

add a spice of grace and nails
blend into love and a cross.

inhale the steam of death
and life.

taste.
and let time move.

-

BKPW Mentorship 4.0
Task For The Week.

(3 Lessons Learnt From The Previous Mentorship Class)

1) Expressive art communicates the writer's intentions, emotions and feelings.
Impressive art, on the other hand, is solely written to impact the audience, and relate with their emotions, not necessarily the writer's.

2) A writer must always keep his (or her) audience in mind. Do not write for yourself only, but for your reader too.

3) Poetry, like any other art, should be appreciated, rewarded and monetized.

-

Convictions are hefty beings, like bouncers in a VIP event.
They stand at the doors of power, of wisdom.. Of fire. You try to walk past them quickly, but they shove you into a corner and ask,
'Where is your ticket of faith?'

You can hear the music inside. The jazz of angels. The laughter of Elders.
You check your pockets, fumbling for a card, an ID, a ticket.. Something.

You see 'Good Works', but the bouncers hiss.
You see 'Service', but they scrunch their faces.
You see 'Love'.
You see 'Death'.
And their eyes narrow.

'Well, we'll allow you in. Just this once'.

-

I offer this body
as a casket for light.
I hope your breath is strong enough
to turn it
into a garden of sunshine.

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