African Poems
Begin the Songs of Life with the End
by Ololade Raji
I once wrote a song I could but not finish…
Whoever finishes the songs of life?
But tell me, how? when each end begins with a new life lease?
I once met a man who paints only in shades and tints
Whoever applauds the silver greyness of the cloudless skies?
But tell me, whoever shuts out the radiance of the rainbow colours?
Ijangbon boldly pushes Odumare’s last limits, but as…
We know insanity remains the smallest room in the castle of audacity
......
A thousands ways to kill one cat
by Rukudzo Kachambgwa
I've finally caught up with the cat
which has been terrorising my chicken coop.
That little black witch of a cat-
lays motionless in the sack in which I have it bound.
I'm watching it like God,
My eyes are every where
Counting the number of fallen chicks
all the pieces of drumsticks layn to waste.
I shall boil the cat in hot cooking oil and then leave it for the vultures to finish off.
No, that would be much too expensive.
......
My ancestors ran
by Rukudzo Kachambgwa
My ancestors ran
Thats why I'm not American, or British, or Jamaican.
it's because, they ran.
Away from the slave traders
away from the greedy chiefs who clinged glass with the slave traders.
They ran...
That's why I'm sitting on hard bench with no money and wallet
That's why i will go home after writing this poem to no electricity
and no water
and no polony.
......
My ancestors ran
by Rukudzo Kachambgwa
My ancestors ran
Thats why I'm not American, or British, or Jamaican.
it's because, they ran.
Away from the slave traders
away from the greedy chiefs who clinged glass with the slave traders.
They ran...
That's why I'm sitting on hard bench with no money and wallet
That's why i will go home after writing this poem to no electricity
and no water
and no polony.
......
A thousands ways to kill one cat
by Rukudzo Kachambgwa
I've finally caught up with the cat
which has been terrorising my chicken coop.
That little black witch of a cat-
lays motionless in the sack in which I have it bound.
I'm watching it like God,
My eyes are every where
Counting the number of fallen chicks
all the pieces of drumsticks layn to waste.
I shall boil the cat in hot cooking oil and then leave it for the vultures to finish off.
No, that would be much too expensive.
......
Begin the Songs of Life with the End
by Ololade Raji
I once wrote a song I could but not finish…
Whoever finishes the songs of life?
But tell me, how? when each end begins with a new life lease?
I once met a man who paints only in shades and tints
Whoever applauds the silver greyness of the cloudless skies?
But tell me, whoever shuts out the radiance of the rainbow colours?
Ijangbon boldly pushes Odumare’s last limits, but as…
We know insanity remains the smallest room in the castle of audacity
......
