PLAY MAKER(winner
poem of the month)
He is the maker of my state
A master playmaker
Asked to excel
Became a rebel
Prayed for to be a warrior
Now he’s harvesting preys
I make mistakes in dozens
Twelve of them at once
Like disciples on a stroll
Walking across a sea with no other
color than red
The shores told tales that they came
back well-fed
Forget that they were forced
Forget about that class, forget you
were first
Papers do nothing, who do you know
Impeccably dressed, impeccable
English
That is not the make of any honorable
I know
He is the maker of my fate
Powerful in a way that is perplex
I will not bore you with a tale, my
story is complex
Just find me a moonlight, promise me
the sun at dawn
Garnish it with silence
It makes everything perfect
Idumota was left to itself
Atop the bridge springs forth
boutiques with floors for shelves
We may find thoroughfare hard to come
by
But the prices are cheap, so I am
encouraged to come buy
So leave scarcity of space a problem
for sirens to resolve
When the president comes to town,
normalcy is dissolved
He is the winner of my game
A brute of a tactician
Brothers become united against their
friends
Temples are ignited, faiths have to
follow the trend
Ablutions, then absolutions
Redemptions, followed by what men
will not define as revolution
If hence a thief emerges
Conscience becomes like a ship
observed to be submerging
Margins become neither fair nor
delicate
The blind and the seeing are never
the same
You paid to be admitted, see what you
became
A doctor’s reverse
Bliss in an alternate universe
Love conquers all, but tongues and
faiths
He who believes in neither recruits
both
Described as gentle as a dove
Not till he tampered with the till
And his friends stole to their fill
Not till we are left with the bill
Till our paper started weighing half
of its former size
Did morsels of commonsense descend
It wasn’t enough to go round
Some of them are still going round
Requesting to have their corruption
back
Never cutting objective slacks
Showing clearly what their nation
lacks
They are the real playmakers
Those men with purpled thumbs
They are the makers and masters of
their fates…
Akeem
Adetayo Oyalowo.
///////////////////////////////
YOU (worthy of mention)
You are the maker
Of all my dreams
Good and bad
You make them all
You are the weaver
Of all my nightmares
Day and night
You weave them all
You are the harbinger of all my
distress
Over and over
You bring them on
You hold on to the choices
Like a predator to a prey
Choices you dole out to me daily
Here’s my dose of bitterness today
In measured blows
And careless words
I swallow it with no doubt
It’s for my own good
Love’s warmth
Have become icecuffs
There goes another incomplete
Gift standing in the way of your
Rage
I swallow it with no doubt
It’s for my own good
You set a table of
Blame before me
In the presence of
Your family
I swallow it with no doubt
It’s for my own good
You plague my heart
With Gold and silver
You turn my smile
All the way around
I am under the shadow
Of your cruelty
I swallow it with no doubt
It’s for my own good
You are the maker
Of all my dreams
Good and bad
You make them all
Kemibon
//////////////////////////////
SOUL LAUNDRY (worthy of mention)
1.
sometimes
i forget you exist,
and
when i re-call you with the suddenness of thunder out rain-swollen
clouds,
i
want to drink all of you in one big gulp, then retreat into myself like a
collapsed tent so i can
envelope
you fully,
digest
you slowly,
absorb
you completely...
till
i see you in the mirror.
2.
so
let the rain
wash
my soul
with
its persistent water-song
wash
my soul
so i
can be born again for you
wash
my soul
so i
can be first touched,
only
touched by you
wash
my soul
so i
can be whole again with you
wash
my soul
so
my first kiss would be with you
wash
my soul
so
that when you pull my shirt to the side to kiss my bare shoulder,
it
would be a first
wash
my soul
so
you can imprint all over me with each kiss to my forehead,
each
long bear hug when i don't even like you,
each
caress of the small of my back so i shiver like i'm cold,
each
tickle when you're feeling naughty just so you can watch my eyes light up in my
outrage,
each
foot rub after a crazy day,
imprints
so deep,
the
holes you leave are yet again filled by you,
loving
liquid and soul-filling solid,
turn
by turn,
time
after time.
JOY CHIME
/////////////////////////////////////
I WILL WRITE A PRAYER (worthy of
mention)
Right now. I decide to write now. Just write. Write a poem. A story. My story. Write wrongs. Right wrongs on paper and see what's left of the ache in my heart.
I will write a prayer.
In this book I am me. No other persona
Just me. This loner
friend to many, but friends are funny
but at least they are not lovers
leavers-in-throes who
genuinely love you
prove it with all their being
as long as milk and honey flows
and the promised land still looks green
Our hallelujahs will be loud
and not quivering unless
we choose to impress
the source with our vibratoes
This is a prayer
the effectual fervent prayer
of the righteous make them
into kinetic atoms, but the prayer
of a sinner is an abomination
unto the long-suffering Father
of everlasting lights
I become the bird of the air
I will not worry for what I shall eat
or drink today
I will be greater than John the baptist
I will survive on Kulikuli
and Garri and I will give glory
to the Many-breasted One
I am in an attitude
of worship and thanksgiving
I am glad. Sadness is not
my strong suit. I should have plenty
to worry about if I really
really think about it. My daughter's
first birthday is tomorrow
and I have not a dime
to my name. But I will not end a sentence without another hallelujah!
I will say to this mountain
of money "Come hither!"
and I will have what I say
because I believe in the Sun
of Righteousness who arrays
the lillies of the fields
Nnennaya will be beautiful tomorrow
with a beautiful yellow lilly bow
on her hair band
she will smile into my eyes
when she sees her beautiful cake.
This is a supplication of faith
for favour. This is not the work of faith. I have done that too
and still do. My mantras bring
a smile to my face and joy
to my heart even now as my hand
treks beside my mind
For I know the thoughts I have for u
Good thots. Nothing is evil
in my heart concerning u.
I wish my words will be enough
to sway u.
He wants to give us a license to love
the life we deserve.
Right now. I decide to write now. Just write. Write a poem. A story. My story. Write wrongs. Right wrongs on paper and see what's left of the ache in my heart.
I will write a prayer.
In this book I am me. No other persona
Just me. This loner
friend to many, but friends are funny
but at least they are not lovers
leavers-in-throes who
genuinely love you
prove it with all their being
as long as milk and honey flows
and the promised land still looks green
Our hallelujahs will be loud
and not quivering unless
we choose to impress
the source with our vibratoes
This is a prayer
the effectual fervent prayer
of the righteous make them
into kinetic atoms, but the prayer
of a sinner is an abomination
unto the long-suffering Father
of everlasting lights
I become the bird of the air
I will not worry for what I shall eat
or drink today
I will be greater than John the baptist
I will survive on Kulikuli
and Garri and I will give glory
to the Many-breasted One
I am in an attitude
of worship and thanksgiving
I am glad. Sadness is not
my strong suit. I should have plenty
to worry about if I really
really think about it. My daughter's
first birthday is tomorrow
and I have not a dime
to my name. But I will not end a sentence without another hallelujah!
I will say to this mountain
of money "Come hither!"
and I will have what I say
because I believe in the Sun
of Righteousness who arrays
the lillies of the fields
Nnennaya will be beautiful tomorrow
with a beautiful yellow lilly bow
on her hair band
she will smile into my eyes
when she sees her beautiful cake.
This is a supplication of faith
for favour. This is not the work of faith. I have done that too
and still do. My mantras bring
a smile to my face and joy
to my heart even now as my hand
treks beside my mind
For I know the thoughts I have for u
Good thots. Nothing is evil
in my heart concerning u.
I wish my words will be enough
to sway u.
He wants to give us a license to love
the life we deserve.
Phillip “Doktuh FEEL” Chukwu
///////////
CONVERSATIONS (worthy of mention)
Talk walked up to me, says,
"Yo! I think am losing it"
"Huh!?"
"Bro!... look, conversations are dying"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Bro!...am 'dead' serious!"
Conversations are dying,
They are dying daily,
in hanged telephones lines,
Facebook threads, vicious trolls
They are dying daily in noiseless noise, on high-speed internet highways
They are dying,
daily with heads buried in phone lights.
Couples on candy crush; thumbs on thread mills.
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
drowning in voices of irate mobs
fueled with gasoline, chagrin of grinning corpses
They are dying daily
with every question answered
by the barrel of a racist cop
They are dying
every time we redraw the
map of a new world.
They are dying here too
with starched egos in 'hollowed' chambers: Charlatans in Caftans
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
amidst the muffled voices
in screaming headlines,
They are dying
with the harsh tags that elevates cuisines to front burners,
They are dying with Schizophrenic characters who turn scrambled message boards
to idols slaughter slab.
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
in minute silence for dead batteries
power cuts to transistors,
monologues we sit on transformers to discuss ,
They are dying
with eye sockets glued to flat screens,
Excuse for wives burnt offerings
They are dying daily
with our broken moral compass
In a well connected world, where we have the sangfroid to build walls.
I took a long walk, hoping to get lost,
lost in my thoughts, mid way I got stuck:
"Conversations are dying
They die in metaphors,
They died in this poem."
Talk walked up to me, says,
"Yo! I think am losing it"
"Huh!?"
"Bro!... look, conversations are dying"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Bro!...am 'dead' serious!"
Conversations are dying,
They are dying daily,
in hanged telephones lines,
Facebook threads, vicious trolls
They are dying daily in noiseless noise, on high-speed internet highways
They are dying,
daily with heads buried in phone lights.
Couples on candy crush; thumbs on thread mills.
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
drowning in voices of irate mobs
fueled with gasoline, chagrin of grinning corpses
They are dying daily
with every question answered
by the barrel of a racist cop
They are dying
every time we redraw the
map of a new world.
They are dying here too
with starched egos in 'hollowed' chambers: Charlatans in Caftans
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
amidst the muffled voices
in screaming headlines,
They are dying
with the harsh tags that elevates cuisines to front burners,
They are dying with Schizophrenic characters who turn scrambled message boards
to idols slaughter slab.
Conversations are dying
They are dying daily,
in minute silence for dead batteries
power cuts to transistors,
monologues we sit on transformers to discuss ,
They are dying
with eye sockets glued to flat screens,
Excuse for wives burnt offerings
They are dying daily
with our broken moral compass
In a well connected world, where we have the sangfroid to build walls.
I took a long walk, hoping to get lost,
lost in my thoughts, mid way I got stuck:
"Conversations are dying
They die in metaphors,
They died in this poem."
ADEOYA AJIBOLA
////////////////////////////////////////////////
UNMOVED MOVER
He
thirsts for my prayer
not for
my blood
He is
appeased by my love
not by my
death
for deep
wounds, a deeper love
His
answer, finds my prayer.
The wine
of his power
pour in
full strength
into the
cup of his Word;
Prophetic
spirit in Aggadah
Priestly
voice in Halakhah
Kingly
fire in Rhema
Spoke
forth existence
Trees
behind trees
hedge
here, Oaks there
seas
before sands
Sun here,
stars there
Beasts
after the least
Let us
appreciate the firefly
for cold
light, on old night
Ancestors
of nature; mountains
eldest
daughter of spring; fountain
Sing,
sing, one of Eden’s songs
the sea
of doubt fled,
as the
forest of fantasies heard
anthem’s
fiery vision of
The
foster children of Valhalla
Laud the
forge,
The
redeemer of man,
I am the crown
of beauty
and what
delight nature must feel
I am
here, you are there
indestructible
ground of all that is.
My maker,
my unmoved mover.
Michael Achile Umameh
///////////////////////////////
THE MAKER
What made you heartless?
Deaf to the cries of the voiceless
What made you senseless?
Blind to the suffering of the helpless
What ripped you of your sight?
What fruit did you bite?
Zombies sing daily of your might
Dancing with delight
Stupidity redefined
When the time is right
Day will no longer argue with night
For Justitia would have regained her blindness
That the pot may regain its sense.
Two twos will once again be four
if earth kicks those fools off its floors
Even hell may refuse to open its doors
Useless tools
Baboons
amidst fools
ignorance rules
millions of kettles covered by empty pots
insignificant dots
who made us soft?
bartered
battered
As slithering snakes
juggle the stakes
Who will fumigate?
Who has what it takes?
To make...
Erhio
What made you heartless?
Deaf to the cries of the voiceless
What made you senseless?
Blind to the suffering of the helpless
What ripped you of your sight?
What fruit did you bite?
Zombies sing daily of your might
Dancing with delight
Stupidity redefined
When the time is right
Day will no longer argue with night
For Justitia would have regained her blindness
That the pot may regain its sense.
Two twos will once again be four
if earth kicks those fools off its floors
Even hell may refuse to open its doors
Useless tools
Baboons
amidst fools
ignorance rules
millions of kettles covered by empty pots
insignificant dots
who made us soft?
bartered
battered
As slithering snakes
juggle the stakes
Who will fumigate?
Who has what it takes?
To make...
Erhio
////////////////////////////////////////////
MAKER
Hold your dreams to achievement
Don’t loose your knot from the
rope
Keep your mind active and
determine
Just be rest assured of your
dreams
If you are not determined to succeed
You will be pursued outside the
box
Cherish the love for your greatness
It all depends on what you see
now
The future is meant for the
optimistic
But to the pessimistic is a threat
Only the strong survive the
battle
With the baton to win the race
Every body is invited to
participate
In the quest to manage their ego
Hold onto your dreams to succeed
As though matters to your destiny
Everything comes simple and easy
Don’t look on your past mistakes
Pick up the broken piece of work
Amend your mistakes to correct
them
It is just a matter of time
Then you will shine like a star
Even when your passion is exposed
It will take you plenty of years
To amend and correct your steps
Be focus and be determined
You will still shine like ‘like
The bright firmament of the stars
“pidgin”
If you like to succeed
Abeg try to work hard
Pass your mama and papa
Dem don make your life work
Work am pass dem
U go see say life na turn by turn
UBONABASI
//////////////////////////////////////////
MAKER
Prepare to meet your Maker
A threat for some and a relief
for others
Something new is kindled in their
eyes
A feeling yet to be named
It was not fear
Fear was running scared
For this nameless so named
A name not yet understood
I will not name names
Do not ask me
When we discovered our consciousness
In this place where we come
together
We play maker
Making with what was made over to
us
Nothing new made
Only new forms
Changing forms guided by rules
within perfection
Discovering something new
Within what was, is and will be
A journey within time
We will form heaven or hell
In these places
Where we discovered our
consciousness
A home to dread or embrace
Ifeanyi
Okwosha
///////////////////////////////////////////
THE WATCH…
I
once had a bad watch
And
watched as time got corrupted
The
hour stopped every sixty minutes
Creating
second hand realities
I, a
self appointed watchman
Consulted
with the watch maker
How
do I correct the times?
How
do I reset the this watch?
My
fourth
He
simply told me
the
watch was too old to perform
The
wheels rusty to work
He
asked me to get a another watch
New
and reliable not a second hand
Another
old watch will also disappoint
Unfortunately
I
have to wait for the four year cycle
When
the watch shop opens again
Olamide
Santos
//////////////////////////////////////
MIND BUILDERS
I looked
through the needle eye
Into the
orange eyes
I saw doors
to poems
I looked at
her loud beauty with the thoughts in her mind
The magic
they played mesmerized the eyes, thinking and feelings
The theme,
phrase, rhymes, connection and allusion all play their parts
And all her
creations, makes poetic aroma
Proving her
existence
Showing
beauty in truth
And truth in
beauty.
Their
makings
Like metals
through fire they melted to become one
Bundles of
imperfection
Creating
perfection of thoughts, as a weapon of the mind
They get
refueled by words.
They fought
boldly and whenever they got tired,
They drink
from each other’s stream of strength,
To gather
strength
Now, they’re
unstoppable, tornado,
Destroying
every words on their way,
To bring
life to the society.
Everything
revolves around you.
Oh Mind! You
are the ceaseless, the most craving
the most
duping
You make us
laugh or cry or shout or enjoy
You play
with everyone just like a little toy.
Yet we make
polychromatic words out of you.
FLORENCE
//////////////////////
MEMORIES
Mango
reminds me
of Mangoro
Which speaks
stories of
memories
Long
forgotten
Ever
cherished
I sat at the
balcony
At Magbon
Washing
clothes
Of sweat
and pain
away
And I
thought of
The One
always in
our thoughts
Though we
push
Him away
Him,
The Ever
Lasting One
Who sends,
The Amazing
Grace
To Agbe Ile
Onitiju
Him,
The Sunshine
Who sends
help
To me,
The deserted
one
Him,
Our greatest
Art maker
Who has
taught me
To declare
that
I am Art
Him,
Kaptain
Afrika
Who rescues
us
From arm
And so I
stood up
to rinse my
pain
and not my
sweat
for thirty
minutes
and more
And again
I forgot Him
The Maker
Of sweet mangoes
Best grown
in the bushes
of Mangoro
Abiola Bonuola
/////////////////////////////////
MAKER-
Words put together in right order
Making them new
Constructed, arranged, made
The maker- a Poet!
A tabula rasa
Creation ex nihilo
Appropos of nothing
And out of the clear blue
The command to let, carried forward
The maker- the Maker!
North and south
Demarcated by a thinning vaginal line
Representing different universes
And versions of history
The Koran in the Atlantic
The Bible in the Desert
The maker- a lord of the realm
and his journalling concubine!
Rotund, resounding oratory
Calculating, conniving logic
Ponderous, pondering inevitability
And finally, received on a platter of wood
Independence or in dependence
The makers- Founding Fathers found wanting in
the scripting of history.
Boys in jackboots
Who ought to be playing with guns
in the field, not negotiating rules of
governance
Black gold, devil's excrement
Resource curse
Less than civil servants
Public servants with private interests
Collapse of structures, strictures and
systems
Endemic, epidemic, pandemic, cultural
corruption, stealing or other pilfering of our common patrimony.
Chief the honourable minister
Kinsmen and Foremen
No longer at ease and all the rest
The makers- all the above; hapless
politicians and helpless civilians!
Aluko, Achebe, Ekwensi
They were all right!
ANDREW WHYTE
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