poem African

Xenophobia Can I call this an infection? Or that you are a copy-cat Since the ugly drums of xenophobia The river Gambia flows not to my smile Two of us had met And danced to the lonely lovers’ dance, sweetly without the sounds You and I,...

This is December by Obinna Chilekezi Laughter runs through the season ahead as marigold flowers smile their way with yellow teeth along bush paths In this smiling season A drunk dressed festive staggers homeward Strutting and smiling Like the marigolds A moony dog barks and barks at the drunk Who in bleeding...

Rainbow by Obinna Chilekezi Stars shift in their sockets and the birds no singsong still distressing the stone terrace with winds fanning downward and upward. After that heated noon the rains bathe the sky and the sky smiles widely appreciating the rainbow that was born. Good morning, birds by Obinna Chilekezi Kuku...

Food comes first by Obinna Chilekezi  Under the twinkle of his wifely burst Till truth became for him the sun of anger And of present hunger. Hunger befriends the land The land befriends hunger Our President, What months and power wasted. Change was what he promised. And change the...

Hyena for a neighbour by Obinna Chilekezi ~ I ask only for this: To look deep into my eyes And see the fascinating feline Awaiting a prey. These eyes have seen weights Of burdens, endless source tears But everyone needs a beginning, A fresh start, with some fun. We all...

Last night I dreamt by Obinna Chilekezi ~ Last night I dreamt I saw a ghost Me in your bedside And I the tear on the mask You the idle handkerchief In the hand of the bystander It hurt somehow To embark on a journey You know that you couldn’t...

Early morning rain (Updated)  It rained heavily this morning With showers, strong winds and sandstorm And the wind with big strong hands shaking everything At sight. There I perched. It rained, strongly And a bird in its apartment is drenched But it continues to sing sweet songs...

 The Bandit Clan ~ Hell should have known they were just a bandit clan! Clambering on board Another Presidential Change' All their weapons of mass diminution -to the last of the golden goose- Have ravaged our very common wealth Upon their vain ambition's vault   Why must we then, so commending them,...