Because The Crag was Near

By -


I was happy when the long

Awaited rain started pouring.

But the soft shower soon matured

Into a strong fearful storm.

I saw the roofs ripped apart by the

Horrendous winds that blew.

Like a Gazelle in search of water

I run in search of the Crag


Read: Village Boy Impressions - Hustler in Accra 


Glad I was to see the sunshine.

Before long the warm friendly planet

Had grown into a sulfur furnace.

Soon enough the burning heat set

My frock on fiery, fatal, flames.

Turning my flesh into roast beef

I rent my clothes in fright

And flew in search of the Crag


Read Here: Village Boy Impressions - Televised News in Ghana

 

Then I saw the kinsman’s hut

That seemed so hale and hearty.

I was weak but I knocked and kicked

Until the door seemed to open.

But where was the headman?

He was gone, gone, never to return.

Strange eyes stared ferociously at me

So I sped in search of the Crag 


Have you read: Village Boy Impressions - Vipers?


Then I saw the pious one on his knees

So I held onto the hem of his

Garment, waiting in hope for  

My bleeding heart to heal and mend.

But he opened his eyes and said

“Sorry my dear, the Angel has left town”

I rose with a heavy and broken heart

And groped my way in search of the Crag.

 

Village Boy Impressions - Topsy-turvy


Then I heard a voice about me in whispers

“Why do you keep searching,

When I have been so close?.”


Village Boy Impressions - To the Lizard


Then it was as clear as crystal

When the storm could not soak me wet,

And the sun could not scorch me dry,

When the kinsman could not devour 

Nor the pious one condemn,

It was because he stopped them short.

My tears dried and my heart soon healed

Because the Crag was ever so near.

************************************************************************

 By Oparebea Maafo


By the same poet: 






Comments

Post a Comment

Recent Posts

A Lively-Minded Journey Pt. 1

By -
Image
It was my first visit to the Nkwanta North district and it began like any other day. My mission: to support other members of the Lively Minds Technical Team to set up the GES Lively Minds Programme in the district. We were at the stage of Training of Mothers popularly called ToM. At 7am, we left the hotel and drove into the town to get breakfast. When the cars stopped, one of my colleagues walked over to our car and informed us that those in the first car were going to eat fufu but he wanted porridge. Fufu at 7:00am? I asked. Interesting. "But there is also waakye and ‘raster’ porridge," he added. I told him I had taken a cup of coffee and I had an apple in my handbag. The driver burst out laughing. “Hahaha!! We’re talking of food and you say you have an apple?” We all laughed. Everyone eventually bought some food and the fufu team returned to report that it wasn’t ready. So we drove to the education office to meet the district team (DT) and begin the day's work.  I me
Read more

Halting Words for the 'Early' Jacob Adongo Atambilla

By -
Image
When evenings in Sandema were dark, His footsteps on the road were heard, On journeys long with his Bible in hand, In Faith and works he showed the way. From Kori number 1 to number 2 both, From nearby Kobdema to far-off Kalijiisa, Across streams to Nyaansa and hills to Suwarinsa, A weary pilgrim on many treacherous roads. With girls and boys, men and women, With Roman Catholics and protestant folk, With those of faith and those without it, All their sorrows and joys he shared. A gentle voice, a helping hand, Knees that bleed from kneeling in prayer, A soft cackling laugh, with seamless teeth, The perfect listener, with limitless patience. Long upon an empty stomach he went, And defied both the devil and his lieutenants, His Bible and faith were his only staff, Upon them, he leaned and hoped and prayed.             Read:  Village Boy Impressions - Fathers Hail the man Jacob Adongo Atambilla, The son of Atambilla of Bongo Gorogo, Who today
Read more

What is in a greeting?

By -
There was an old man in my village who didn’t like to be greeted “Saliu’wa?” (Good morning?), or for that matter good afternoon, or good evening. He preferred to be greeted in the traditional exchange which entail a recital of enquiries about a person’s health, and that of their spouse, children, siblings, parents, other relatives and even neighbours. As children, we took delight in arousing his anger by shouting “saliu’wa!” at him from a distance before we took to our heels and run for dear life.
Read more

Why the Chameleon Has a Broken Head

By -
Image
" Why the Chameleon Has a Broken Head & other stories of Asuom " is the second in the  Asuom Series  which seeks to present 'Buluk to the World' by translating the popular folktales of the land into the English Language to reach a wider audience and hopefully enable them to be integrated into mainstream educational texts in time.  Content:  The Book contains the following tales:  The Fattened Rams of Agoabiak Which is more important – Age or Wisdom? How Asuom Got A Handsome Mouth Asuom and the Three Herculean Tasks Asuom and the King's Roofing Beam Asuom and the Honey Tree Why the Lion Hunts Other Animals The Gossip Trap Why the Chameleon Has A 'Broken' Head (I) Why the Chameleon Has A 'Broken' Head (II) Read an Excerpt from the Book below.  "It was then that Abunoruk arrived. Everyone was so busy debating and making their own constructions of how Asuom brought the beam home. They took no notice of Abunoruk who made his way to the king and
Read more