Lines Composed in Rainy Season

By -

 


Land of many colours and contrasts;

Desert of dusty brown in off-season;

Battered black and broken with wind and fire. 

But wait the rains in their time, 

And yonder before us lie verdant valleys

Endless stretch of wood and grassland,

Amid which countless streams run,

Sparkling in the sweet morning air! 


In cultivated fields, women and men, daily

Rejoice in the dignity of their labours,

Children hop and play around every homestead,

With unfeigned delight and innocence.

Herds of lumbering cattle graze across lush plains

And what a delight to the eye to behold

Every flower and blade of grass with pleasure, 

Enjoy the very air they draw!


My heart leaps at the sight of the meadows!

The warmth of the breeze heals,

The fragrance of budding flowers stirs,

The blended notes of birds and insects,

Refreshes and cheers my drooping soul,

I am enthused by the very mud I trod

And the sight of fields in bloom

Sends the blood to warm my cheeks. 


When in sweet contemplative solitude 

I muse upon this blessing so bestowed

And think how all this will soon be charred 

By the wildfires of her obstinate sons

Then does the blood boil in my breast

And the fumes rise to choke me.

So I do hurry from my burrow

To behold her face in fair season

Ere the sight is taken from me.




Other Poems Celebrating the North of Ghana

The Seasons at Home

The Baobab Tree

On Behalf of the Trees

To the Lizard, an Ode

Harmattan

A Tale of Buluk

The Song of Atuga

Halting Words for Nab Ayieta Azantilow I

Collecting Termites

Bird Scaring

Tethering Goats

Gleaning Groundnuts

Cracking Groundnuts

Farming Hymns

The Mighty Abelikpien

The Call of the Stream

Feok - the Hallowed Festival of the Bulsa

The Morning after Feok

The Wailing Bride

The Matrimonial Dance

Unsung Heroines

A Moonlit Night

Village Songs

The News in Ghana


Comments

  1. Ghanatta Ayaric10:14 am, September 10, 2022

    Vivid imagery. I can see the land in my mind's eye, and it's as beautiful as captured here. I can hear the humming birds too. Sweet home sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Martin11:32 pm, September 10, 2022

    A very good composition. Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Recent Posts

Give Your Sons Difficult Names

By -
“Give your daughters difficult names. Names that command the full use of the tongue. My name makes you want to tell me the truth. My name does not allow me to trust anyone who cannot pronounce it right.”       — Warsan Shire  —  When I was young, I heard names that made us stop and listen Akanlakum, Awadiirima Names that made us think and think Agyiabadek, Asuiyakomi Names that made us pause to reflect Akanvariwon, Akalaawomba Names that made us gasp in wonder Asuikanpuilikum, Akumbolisimi. But now my ears are burdened with unfamiliar words Monotonous droning that leaves the spirit dry Meaningless mutterings without thought or intent Without root, stem or crown Many invoke the Godhead in fashion, without true reverence; Awen-this, Awen-that, Everything-Awen Godly names without godly lessons, Like the fake imported dresses we wear, sparkling, but too short To cover our shame and too light to shield us from the cold I long for ...
Read more

Buli Series 1 - Introduction with Alphabets and Basic Sounds

By -
Image
Buli is the language of the Bulsa ethnic group in the Upper East and North East regions of Ghana. The name Bulsa is also spelt in official documents and elsewhere as Builsa but this author and many others believe that spelling to be quite incorrect.    With regards to this series, let me say from the outset that I am not a language expert. This series is not a study of the origin of the language or its syntax or any of all those things that help people to learn a language in detail. In effect, therefore, considering my lack of training in language or linguistics, this endeavour may be described as a headstrong attempt (in the Buli Language;  zupagruk tuima) .    My  zupagruk , however, comes from the motivation that it can be the force that would propel the more qualified ones to come out with the best material that can help us read and write Buli well. This is, therefore, more of a kindergarten introduction to the language.   If you ...
Read more

The Emperor's New Clothes

By -
Image
“God chooses things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise and chooses what is weak in the world to shame the strong” - 1Cor1:27 (my translation).   I visited a library for the first time in my life when I was 13 and in J. H. S 1. Then, my small stature coupled with the fact that I was new and not very confident restricted me to the children's section all through my adolescent years and even beyond. Nevertheless, I was really enjoying the stories in that section. My favourite story was;  "The Emperor's New Clothes ” by the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. I do not know exactly why it was my favourite then. Perhaps because it was so hilarious (the thought of a king walking down the street naked). Today, I remember it and love it not because it is so hilarious (for it is no longer so to me) but because it speaks volumes about society. I have come to learn a lesson from it that I can’t forget. The Pl...
Read more

Ash Wednesday

By -
Image
The day and the hour draws nigh  When all shall return to Him  Who did form them of word and clay  And did give to  all His own breath  And set them upon the earth to tend  And to possess it for a time.  Before him, all shall stand  Bare, silent, helpless.  Fear, you sons of men, tremble!  Fall prostrate before Him.  Shred the malice of  your heart  And drop that haughty look  For of all nails that did stab Him;  That vain look is most piercing.  For what are thou, son of man?  A puff of smoke, wisp of air, dust That lingers but for a moment  And vanishes without trace.  Why do you now risk His wrath?  And court His just fury?  Take this ash upon the brow  Bend your knee and look not up  But hasten to declare your fault  And wail in lamentation:  "Spare us, O master!  For our guilt is heavier  Than ever we ca...
Read more