Uyi – Page 17 – SIMPLE WORLD

Barnawa Crescent

Lowcost houses
Zincs and ceilings
Nepa and light rations
Child dreams and nursery habits
Picking nose and run arounds
Girl chasing, innocence slowly dancing
Yes, a doctor
Yes, an engineer
Yes, when I grow up
All of that I want

Like yesterday, I remember
A tee, shorts and some slippers
Up high in the tree
Mango chewing, juice stains
Eyes wide, round like the world
Always staring, drifting with the savanna
Filling heart with wavy thoughts
Stop! There!! I see her!!!
In front of the sunset
Mama coming back from work
Handbag and goodies, cross checked
Race with full strength,
Up the hill, I go
Welcome, welcome home
Strong arms gracing growing bones
Her scent carrying the Nile’s warmth
Walking back
Feeling proud
A young King with my Iye’s guidance
Yes, I remember that
Supreme Ice cream, and
Suya if her day went well

Back home
Rumbling through Santana bags
Full of fruits and sugary things
Close behind, there he is
Back and forth
Pranks and chuckles
Best friends, both up to no good

Who Knew?
Just innocence draining
Childhood filling: Stories
Yes, I remember
Yes, a doctor
Yes, an engineer
Yes, when we grow up
All of that we want

Growing Apart

Out in the blue
Far into the sea
Against the tide
I feel you close
Your hair with the wind
Flowing to the east
I feel your skin
Where into?
Distance in between

Out with the sea
Your touch feels warm
Sweet like berry
Eyes feather-soft
Looking ahead
I feel you close
Your mind with the calm
Growing with the waves
I feel your heart
Beat by beat
We close the gap

Blurry sight, so
Hurry up and leave behind
the good things
You only worry about
the tags and bags
forgetting
we both will live forever

Stolen Innocence

Child by the stream
Hands on clay calabash
Fetching water for the next day
Plastic slippers soaked
Eyes innocent seeing
Mother calling for presence
Huts all joined
forming strength
A circle,
Fire and warmth
Food and night tales
Hear the owls hoot
Lions roar miles away

A star rotating, the child looks
Beautiful heaven, the child sings
Beautiful life, they all sing
Forgetting the star had moved
In a blink, death appears
Wings and fangs included
Fast approaching
Racing down

Girl, boy, child
Run fast
Girl, boy, child
Run fast

For, a drone beckons
Belly full with hungry demons
Watch as they come
Beeps from hell
Programmed by men
Death stars falling down
Bone souls flying up
A fire in full
Hell has arrived
Burning all in plain sight

Souls by the stream flowing red
All glittering with pain
Showing all
the greed of human beings

Internal Quest

Here, my story begins
One that commences with light
A galaxy full of eternal suns
Floating, burning up
Passion sprinkled all over
A quest that never ends
Destination unknown
So far away,
Thrust into the depths of life
My soul growing strong
Stars beneath my steps
Counting my pace
Forgetting how long it might take
Always a muse nearby, I know
Keep going, I hear
The mother ship draws nearer
I can feel her warmth
Her gaze, ever so welcoming

Flat Line

Eyes jelly juice
Red, only red
Filling up
Through the cracks
Streets merged, leaking
Out the within hate comes
Madness and lies
Dollar cent stores
High ends perfume
Glass, mirrors reflecting
A taste of the unknown
Tricks by tricksters
False alarm
Never awoke
In death,
Flat lined amongst heaps
Weight upon weight
Scattered to form a single voice

Only God Can Judge Me

For my sins
Only one can point a finger
I see my lies
Wrong doings to get myself better
Thoughts leading to self
Only one can put a finger
Am I wrong?
Yes, I am
Poor?
Yes again
Can’t find roof over head
Can’t provide for my people
Still I’m reaching out to sin
Seeking answers in the drink
Finding peace in the smoke

Still only I can live my life
Only one can put the finger
Who?
Oh you know
Only God can Judge me
Only God can Judge me
Only God

You know nothing
Only scratching the surface
when you look in
My life, my rules
My sin, my hell

I hope you understand
Only one can put a finger
Only I
Only God
In me, inner judgment
Self preservation

Hey, Life

I believe my dreams are real
Real enough to see me through to my tomorrow
Stars burn up, but
My love for you refuses to quench

Hey, Life
It’s true, I was made for you
You gave me a chance
I must return your kindness
For, I know how far I have come
Though, never further than you

Hey, Life
I heard what you said:
“Open your eyes and taste me”
Yes I heard
Soothing words, baby lullabies

Hey, Life
In the skies, in the clouds
In my heart, you remain
Choices have me looking wrong
Still you refuse to let me go
Why?
Answers never needed

Hey, Life
I grew in you
A spirit in a seed
Knowledge of your ways
has me enchanted of our beginnings
Pardon my circular ways,
but your love’s shining through: so bright
My muse for the night

Real

Time a tool
We all dance along
Different rhythms
Some further down the line
Others back setting pace
Those center, keeping shape

Believe me
I see your vibe
That fist punch to the wall
That blown out kindness

Society got you feeling inferior
You can tell me
Tell me what the darkness brings
Up the ladder you keep climbing
Up the wall coated with gold

Believe me
I see your vibe
All fluorescent with pain
The sky’s fallen
The sky has fallen
Got you locked down
Prisoner of the box

Believe me
Time is a tool
An answer to relieve some stress
Pour out the madness
Drain away the bitter taste
Dance with the rhythm
Lose their structure
And become real with good and evil

Simple World: Steppin’ Into Tomorrow

In a world that not been named, a man and woman held on their lips word formations of the forth coming generations. Without a single leaf, they both walked around the plains discovering new things. Planted or not, their eyes had been opened to understand the very structure of things made for hunger. Words could not be uttered, only hand motions: touch and breathe. As they walked a single thread attached to the back of their heads seamlessly followed along.
What was love when all they were all they knew? Waking up into each other’s existence. Questions were not needed. For names had not be harvested into thoughts.
A protective sturdy covered them both, so thick and full of layers that nothing not made from the purpose of the ways could puncture through.

So they stepped into tomorrow and saw death himself. The thread had been cut and nowhere, wherever, they looked could they find that protective shell.
A siren spirit rose up from the woman’s lungs rising high, a cry poured out from her lips.

“Death!!”
Where is destiny?
Where have you hidden her?
Where may I find her?
Lost in the gold, she bathes
Repetitious death
Lies of time”

do what you want, do what you like, do what you feel

I want to write like black Hemingway
Articulate like Achebe
Visualize like Armah
But what’s a brother to do?
When a meal never replenishes
Stress building up, filling brain

I feel like the black Hemingway
With the way I hold my liquor
With contempt and disgust

Write another verse
And call me a legend
I feel my time is near
To claim that title
To pursue my purpose

My minds wandering again
Far too off
Off onto an adventure
Searching for my next point
the center where my story may unfold