Bow legged blues
I wist I knew you earlier
I should have now been wiser
Bow legged blues
confounding and disturbing
our settled ways
Yet exhilarating and liberating
the spirits in my soul
I watch them bask
in their bow legged ecstasy
and walk in be-bopping lop-sided gait
their charm and
transparent harmony
turns the sugar in my mouth to ashes...
...and I long for the bow legged blues....
(If I had crossed this
bridge much earlier
I should have now been wiser, much wiser)
Dec. 1986
THE MIGHTY
HOUSE
The panels of the mighty house
started slowly, closing
one against the other.
we the transgressors
had annoyed the master
The entire house - I gathered was going to explode
(Our bluff had been called)
The master I mused,
gave no quarter
'bout losing this magnificent house
I this I thought was funny
"Why" I asked him - "why this affect
are you not bothered 'bout the cost of this edifice?"
"Shaddup" he growled
"You'll go down with the house"
So I shot him thrice
in the chest
but was sore amazed
(he glared unmoved!)
"Hey Buddy"
I queried indignant
"Why didn't you drop..
thrice I did you shoot"
"Ask them"
he growled
"I'm not the any-how type"
The ugly creature with
the voice of gold sniffed
hurt me I thought he verily would
dark with a clumsy nose it was
It moved rather its snout and sang:
will it never end
will it never slow down
this life we're living
these things we're doing
The singing caught on like wild fire
on and on we sang all night
And so I had met an ugly creature
who for no reason I had to fear
yet I cowered and kept my distance
I'm harmless it appeared to say
and once again it beautifully sang
will it never end
will it never slow down
this life we're living
these things we're doing
Fire!
The ugly creature caught fire
So I pulled my shirt and to him ran
and tried to smother his pains
with a sad eye he gazed at me and groaned
will it never end
will it never slow down
why all this pain
do we suffer in vain
Alas Alas the singing had stopped.
Why am I sad for all those lads
who no longer sing the creatures song
too much too much intensity
they ran out of control
So we were given a second chance (to make amends)
and show them our worth
(and the ficklest amongst us
to the master ran -
with open hearts
Him to love)
BIG POCKETS
I had a dream the other night
I craved to know its end
What became of big pockets
who wanted not to share
The land was rich for every one
why garner Gods gifts with laws
The brothers had stated
with solemn resolve
and this I believe
was a cry to be loved
We'll not enter next century
We'd die than cross
with no dignity
Their long awaited spine
I justly will opine
was good news for Old Kwame
wrapped in heavens lame
The brothers at last
had grown a spine
and braced against the blast
First things first
They learnt at last
Their cross was theirs to move
the comrades decided
and acted in concert
"we'll not cross next century
we'd die than cross with no dignity"
Phase one was planned
in comic detail
"we'll hide away from them
We've been hurt
for far too bloody long
and we must let them know
No blacks were seen upon the streets
of swinging I'goli
with nothing to absorb
their waves of hate,
Their hate returned to them
(and their folly was
there for all to see).
Big pockets
sauntered to the cities of night
which serviced the cities of light
"all right my fellows lets talk like men
lets talk over these things
there’s time and tide for everything
its our turn to be
white!
Phase two was planned
in solemn details
"we'll not buy nothing new
we'll starve
the markets of our funds
and starve ourselves of food
Those bloody fools have got to know
their turn will surely come some day
we've been hurt
for far too bloody long
How long shall this bloody song play!
And so the brothers went hungry
In search of peace and dignity
time for them lengthened its breadth
Big pockets again turned stones to bread
"all right my fellows
Big pockets said
Lets talk as men (over these things)
These laws I met when I was born
Be glad to have strong neighbours as I"
And Time it was for the final duel
The brothers shook with anger and rage
"The land is rich for everyone
This land belongs to us"
They took a stance of little romance
Though some may this dispute
Its theme was death on a Jumbo scale
But that was when I woke
They'd solemnly resolved
with death on their minds
to rid the earth of their presence and love
What became
of the sad eyed brothers
What became
of their dignity
With the tide and history
on their side
Their turn I know
will come some day
c. 1985
THE GLORY OF GOD
The glory of God
has hired the beauty of the hills
for the sake of my eyes
The riddles of science
for my mind
The Music of the bards
for my ears.
The Glory of God Comforts me.
The roar of the
ancient waterfalls-
the roar of the majestic machines
as they forge their way
across the seas
and skies
remind me
of
The glory of God
The Glory of God
has borrowed
the wisdom of the sages
for the sake of my heart
SUNSET&
DARKNESS
Generous splashes and splashings of orange
across the horizon and far beyond -
fanning out an endless tail of wonder
photon by photon
The far away images
I commune with in solitude
are snatched from my sight -
by the gently settling dusk
It is the sun which has betrayed
Its Sunset!
Your laws are steadfast!
I'm overwhelmed.....
.....What a grand show that sunset was!
Summer 1987
JOSHUA
Amongst the gods
It was said
"Don't sow the seed of humanoid"
Amongst the enlightened
it was decreed
Lets keep our warmth within our bowels
Amongst the gods
were those who said
Lets test to see
If love can breathe
Amongst the gods was such a rift
"Why can't you see oh Jo-shu-a
I have to see
Oh peers of light
If love can live with history
without blemish with only faith
to guide his senses and his whims
I have to give to lowly man
a dream of love
and watch him grow
I want to show that love is true
That love can live in hearts of men.
1987
They stabbed my flesh
one after the other
with knives of steel
which never stained
They cut my heart into many pieces
Her cuts were the deepest
My love was false
my ideals wrong
or so they sang
in their
war songs
They started to thresh and pound
the pulp that once was me
They hatred me
they hated me
so much I hated me
And with my dying breathe
I sought to be like the saints of old
Lord God forgive their sins
Cos no man ever good
could cause men good as these
rally together in hate
Lord God forgive their sins
But me!
Let I roast in coals
THE HOSPITAL
It was a hospital like all hospitals
and I hated it like I hated them
I lingered outside by the portals
Awaiting news 'bout my femme fatale
"Oi!"
I saw a finger pointing at me
"Come here"
"Me?"
"I got a message for Jesus
Tell him I'm gone"
"Tell him I tried, Failed but tried again"
Tell him I was hurt a lot but little cried
Tell him I trusted none but betrayed myself
I smiled through adversities
and wept through festivities.
I stood not a chance..
.. but stayed to the end"
and with eyes lifted upwards,
he spoke these words
(which made me cry)
"Bless the doctors for finding no cure
None can say I ran away"
JESUS AND THE
TUXEDO
With
both hand in his pocket,
He said with understanding:
fleeting sorrow upon his face,
followed by joy that none could faze
and in gentleness he wailed
calling in four syllables
(A name I knew had two)
He spoke of a smiling
happy Jesus
He spoke of a Jesus
in a Tuxedo
Waiting on you
waiting on me
In gentleness he hummed
Jee-ee-ee-sus
I have a lovely thing
he said
(his hands deep in his pocket
on his face a spreading smile)
I got lost in my prime
My vanity had honed to
fine point an ego
and reality was sent on holidays
and
my ego In its wickedness
did my naturalness erode
quite truly I learnt
how worthless life could be
but
always was he there for me
That's the reason
I sing and call
in four syllables
(A name I know has two)
KINDERGARTEN
The
lies I lived,
The dreams I dreamt
were full of air
and zero substance
Back to kindergarten I
went
to aim anew at the horizon
Time and tide wait for
none
so why should I - my own life mourn?
TIME
The
time by me is always right
Sake of others makes me wait
Oh darkness darkness
quickly fall
That I may unite
with the one I love.
NINETY WAYS
I dream of ninety ways
to show you my love is true
to give you all that is good
A million days and I'll still not get enough of you
How many times
must I say i love you
to show you my love is true
day and night
I'll be at your beck and call
to show you my love is true
to give you all that is good
Ninety ways...
Kongi (Tribute
to W.S)
To
our shame,
we succumb
to the lesser man
mediocrity ruled
and Truth died
stupidity was entrenched
and we lost our lustre
To our shame
we shelved our beautiful name.
True it was that in
the warmth
of homes embrace
surrounded by kith and kin,
lofty words and their motions
swayed our hearts and
intoxicated our realities
But always was it
too cold outside
and In Lagos and her sisters -
you would be a fool
and your ideals
your identifying cap....
So to cover our
shame
we succumbed
(with the hypocrites)
and mediocrity
became our Fathers name...
But scattered
though scant
especially at nights of unimportance
'the fools' in their caps
(made ugly as gnomes)
could be found in the back alleys
of our forgotten slums...
stripped of their dignity
regaled for their honesty
they mused without
mirth
at the country of their birth
"We lof our Contree we no go lie"
but old country was
deep in sloths throes and sleep
Twas one October
afternoon
The gnomes had a full bright moon (I saw it!)
twas before evening - well before seven
when Wole Soyinka was shot into heaven
Thank you Kongi
TO MY
INDESCRIBABLE FRIEND
(The call)
Your glory is boundless
colourful and ceaseless
I'm gentle
so are you
we are gentle and full of meaning
and like the full moon
our glory
our latent glory
awaits the misfortune (of night)
to show its worth....
(patiently awaiting the dawning of love)
(The answer)
I was there
I have been here
standing alone
did you not notice the smile on my lips?
Its true!
I watched you falter and fall
I saw it all.
In the evening time
when the sun went down
I saw you cry
But always
in the night time
was your name called laughter.
(The testament)
Indeed
my melody changed...
with a gentle sussurus,
the shy tide entered.
Asking no questions
bringing no answers and...
...my tears
became my laughter
and my reward
was a gentle feeling.
Love thy
Father (Ed's
note:Love thy Father 'Cos he might just be saying: )
What do you know?
How do you know?
Why do you know things
I wist you didn't?
I do not hate you
But I wish you knew that:
“…the part of me you
yet do not know
may be the part
you’d like me for…"
If Jesus has a smile on,
It would be just like yours
I look in your eyes - your gentle eyes and
I’m
captivated by your life.
I’m ashamed of who I am
Of how impatient I’ve been with you
My son
My glory
My beautiful son
Three words only:
I love you.
PAINTER MAN
Painter man
painter man
run come hurry with your brush and colours
painter man
there's a story in my soul
Help me tell it to the world
My heart overflows
and I cannot gather words
I feel the feeling of all feelings
Painter man
Softly go gently on your colours
There still many more to tell.
Tell it well and tomorrow,
some may leave their shells and follow
My heart overflows
(and I ) cannot gather words
I feel the feeling of all feelings
Painter man!
Red and orange make me happy
Painter!
yellow lifts my spirit higher
Green and blue remind me
of the beauty of creation
my heart overflows
(and) I cannot gather words
I feel the feeling of
all feelings
I feel the feeling of all feelings
I feel the feeling of all feelings
Painter man!
Sail on gently with your colours
- you told it well.
c.1985
THE MIRROR
The real me
lurks around somewhere
in craniums crevices
You see me and think its me you see
I am a phantom of .. you see....
......of me......
and I stand in front of the mirror
wondering about the anti-world..
and there you seat in your anti-world..
wondering about your anti-you
So where were you when I walked the streets
in search of gold and crawling fleas
and so you accost and puzzle me
only when before a mirror seat I
and so I seat wondering
who's real - me or anti-me!
MALTHUS
We pointed at the waiting sky
across which shrieked a Viking motor
set as it were to form a hubble
far above the skies and clouds...
......His eyes were closed until he spoke
"To think all these came from here"
- tapping his foot on the tired old earth
The earth is fighting back at us
Billions of matter of feckless waste
staining her bowels and oxygen cycles
And with aid from an impossible flu,
The earth proves malthus again erred.
Give a prayer here a prayer there,
point for point the earth must win
With tears in his eyes he muttered slow:
"Come Lord come!".
GEM IN YOUR MIDST
Laughing all day to kill the pain
seeking the dusk to lay gently down
hoping for luck for love for peace
The gem in your midst is crying for warmth
7 years gone and still the pain of lonely striving
and soulless walking
I'm still walking walking all round town
(my soul is willing so am I)
But I am crying crying no more
(my soul is willing but my heart is dead)
The gem in your midst is crying for warmth
the spark in your midst is smouldering in dust
the dust in your midst is
swirling and tossing and
shaking the faith of the gentle ones
and the gentle ones like the spark in your midst
will smoulder too soon in the dust of your iniquities
...and with the loss of the diversity in your midst...
you'll crumble as you have in the thousand years past
Africa be gentle to your self.
17/3/94
TIME
The time by me is always right
Sake of others makes me wait
Oh darkness darkness
quickly fall
That I may unite with the one I love.
COME TO ME
Come to me
Never end
Help me manifest all my feelings
I need to know who I am!
Where do I belong?
I want to be good
since I have but one life -
even if no one remembers
flying high
drinking deep
of your love
(screaming my fears away)
Teach me always to smile
That way I'll never grow old
living forever
on my solitary journey
to the stars
Come to me
Don't go away...
Who am I
To whom do I belong
I want to flow free
blending in harmony with all that is good
Living true
finding what's real
absolute love
absolute grace
I'll live like a wild dove
I want to mix with the light
I want to fill every where
blending in harmony with all that is good
NINETY WAYS
I dream of ninety ways
to show you my love is true
to give you all that is good
A million days and I'll still not get enough of you
How many times
must I say i love you
to show you my love is true
day and night
I'll be at your beck and call
to show you my love is true
to give you all that is good
Ninety ways...
LIVE & DIE IN SAN DIEGO
(THE FEELING MOVES ME)
Let us fly just this once
we ask your guidance
we don't want to mourn our lives (while we still live)
Theres a shadow hanging over me
I waste my time fighting it
Surely
I can recreate the world in which I live
Send a feeling to move me
To make me do great things
(To) live and die in San Diego
San Diego...
Just the other day
Three aged worn out mages
came to me in sad broken images
Death to the sinner
they said
comes as wages
I don't want (to go) back to square one
I never ever want (to go) wear another frown..
Send a feeling to move me
To make me do great things
(To) live and die in San Diego
San Diego...
The feeling really moves me
don't let it fade away
don't let go away
why can't it be this way
Always
Don't let this feeling end......
THE BUM (TONY CURTIS)
The world may turn down upside down
and wallets may fall out from my pocket
friends may betray,
my salvation delayed
But I'll still strut around
I'm a king-sized bum.
My heart was made in spring in heaven
My head was made in a halo called ego
my loins were tempered with a fire called Eros
Ah! let me strut and be happy here!
(Things can't go worse for much longer!)
W.S (Tribute to Wole
Soyinka)
To our shame did we succumb
to the lesser man
mediocrity ruled
so veracity died
stupidity was entrenched and we lost our superiority
To our shame
we shelved our beautiful name
True it was that in the warmth of homes embrace
surrounded by kith and kin,
lofty words and their motions
swayed our hearts and intoxicated our realities
But always was it too cold outside
and...
In Lagos and her sisters - you would be a fool
and your ideals your identifying cap....
So to cover our shame
we succumbed (with the hypocrites)
and mediocrity became our Fathers name...
But scattered though scant
especially at nights of unimportance
'the fools' in their caps
(made ugly as gnomes)
could be found in the back alleys
of our forgotten slums...
stripped of their dignity
regaled for their honesty
they mused without mirth
at the country of their birth
"We lof our Contree we no go lie"
but old country was deep in sloths throes and sleep
Then one October afternoon
The gnomes had a full bright moon (I saw it!)
twas before evening - well before seven
when Wole Soyinka was shot into heaven
Thank you Kongi
ITS MORNING
Its morning
my fears are forming
If there is money in my pocket,
I can't feel it
But I've got to get up
I've got to win my bread
Today
Its afternoon
I've gotten used to the light
my silly little fears disappear in the air
but my cross feels heavy
an around the corner is calvary
With no money you get scared
you ask is this the end
and the sun keeps beating your head
Your arms are heavy as lead
but they're children to be fed
they must not live the life you lead
Its evening
the suns gone down and I'm..
back in town
had a man sized day
I'm happy I'm satisfied
but in the morning time
my fears will come again
With no money you ger no friend
you ask is this the end...
DEBATUM
Two gentle men
of lofty attitude
crossed each other soon enough
not caring if they hurt ir shamed
they bantered on about themselves
said the negro to the eurro:
Your ignorance harms the world
Your prejudice opens her sores
your arrogance makes me happy
lets me know you will fall
Replied the Eurro
paternity in his manner
Complacence in his speech):
We need each other
you & I
pose for me
I pose for you
and due to our different heritage
I think we'll do things better still.
CAN YOU SEE ME!
CAN YOU SEE ME!!
Rock singer
the hours you spent in your lonely room
are now seconds
seconds
mere seconds before the sonic boom
boom!
boom!!
I hear you I'm no longer blue!
Time
Time
twas whispering away
I could never win
but I'm fine
now I'm fine
and I await my turn
to rule your mind
Boom boom
Can you see me!
Can you see me!!
HEAVEN
Master!
The cold I feel inside
chills me I can't decide
Master!
Master
I know how your love feels
Oh never from me make it flee
Master
Master
I know half the things I do are strange
But theres no turning (back)
(For) I have crossed the bridge
Master
I want heaven!
Make me strong
Let me do no wrong
Are the roses red
are the grasses a rolling wave of green?
Are there fountains? Do the waters run still? Is there time to kill: In heaven
I know half the things I do are strange
But the kingdom of God
has to be won everyday
I want heaven
don't let me be too weak
Oh I'd love to seek
The things I've seen
None comes close
to those I've heard
I love heaven
But its far away!
So far away!
THE OLD CROWD
The old crowd has gone
we talked aloud
and had some fun
Gone our separate ways
I am counting the hours and the days
I am alone at night.
I walk past where I once sat
though I'm lonely I'm not sad
they paid their dues
I was not so lucky
The Old crowd has gone
I walk the empty halls alone
Boy we had so much fun
But time does wait for nobody
from
"Aka-Olisa"
by
Kenob Don Lee
unpublished