SEVEN STATIONS OF A CONQUEST
//
thirty-three and half years have I worn this body
but now, it’s wearing out//
II
this poem is a metaphor of the shadow of death,
and a boy running after his own shadow,
after a thousand echoes of his name
on the lips of fatigue, depression and repression.
//
in a cylindrical tunnel, life is a cyclic object
the boy is steering off//
IV
this poem is a broken smiley – a simile
of a broken boy like a flood washing the shores
of his own body in lucid torrents of tears
this poem tells a tale – the boy is not a stone at Gethsemane.
//
but this boy did find his name beyond space and time
he sees his destiny engraved on a cross, a hill far away//
VI
& I, when I saw that this body won’t go far –
this body of death, this mortal mobile casket,
I dropped it on the cross, I won this body
in the victory of the cross, I was in the picture.
//
& when the battle is finished, I became
the star directly above your roof//
BIRDS SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE
Cockadoodledoo cockadoodledoo!
Don’t be surprised, chickens laugh too
– Olayinka Samson Aremu
//
Each time the eagle on the coat of arm
decides to feast,
she sheds blood in place
of tears – we tear//
//
Each time she attempts
to feed her young,
she scratches the map in place
of the soil – we’re soiled//
//
We taught the eagle
to dictate a symbol of strength
but she feeds on our young in place
of corn – she’s cunning//
//
The eagles we enthroned
above our alms and arms
told us their beaks
are to prey for us – an hoax//
//
We are the preys, we pray too
in our language and they,
prey on us in their language
as we pray – they prey//
//
This country is babel
every language sounds like war
every bird has its tone
and diction, we, poverty – addiction//
//
The eagle preys in her language and the chicken
prays for her in her innocent ignorance
that elites and masses speak to God
in different tones – referent//
//
Birds of a feather flock together
and wear the colour of fiery tongues
that talk a language
to bear a bruise or – a cruise//
SamuEL Amazing Ayoade is an award-winning Nigerian Writer in all genres of literature, a spoken word artiste, multiple slam champion and author. He acts, sings and plays keyboard and guitar. He has authored a number of books including Girl In The Portrait (a mystery novella).
