Village boy Impressions

Today I glanced through my window  Silent and absentmindedly. All looked dull and familiar There, the verdurous crowns of many trees Here, the multi-coloured roofs of many homes And white idle clouds hanging lazily. So it was yesterday and the day before I have seen it all before. But did I? I queried. Blinking at the unsettling thought For I have never really looked At the sylvan glade outside my window Though I see it every day. Read:  Village Boy Impressions - The Seasons at Home So then, I stood to stare; At the deep, verdant green of the trees All lusty and still in the smokeless air. And yet, and yet, some are in flower! A thousand red and yellow blossoms On three trees just outside my window, Glittering in the early bright sunlight. At this profound beauty, I gazed and gazed! In awe of their contentment and flourish. A warm glow stole over my heavy heart And the weight of the coming day Was made lighter and easier at t

Head porters (popularly called 'kayayei' in Ghana) Photo credit:  NewsGhana I walk my beat in many cities and markets Up and down in the perspiring sun From Tamale to Kumasi Kejetia Techiman to Takoradi market circle The mighty Accra is my home base Whether it is Nima, or Mallam Atta, Agbogbloshie or Makola, I am there. Down I come with my head pan in hand. To tread the markets and lorry parks. From six to six each day, rain or shine. I carry my wares; other people’s loads Who strut daintily behind me Watching intently, anxiously Whilst I shout and nudge my way in the crowd, Lest I should be lost with their goods. Yet when I finally arrive, these opportunists, These women, mothers, genteel ladies and lazy men Even they, begrudge me my wage. Read: Village Boy Impressions - Unsung Heroines Tired kayayei find rest under a big truck. Read: Village Boy Impressions - Election Mangana Foxes have holes and birds have nests But I, a daughter and a m

With light nervous steps, he trod in  As one aroused from an upshot of gin  And stood abashed, a shadow ill-prepared,  His sealed quivering lips unassured  Whether it be fractions or tractions  Change of subject or m eaningless expressions  Pondering where and how to begin  Whilst they continued their din  Not heeding the unsettled guest  Framed in the doorway aghast  Clutching a heavy textbook  With a finger locked in the nook.  Read: Village Boy Impressions - Why God Does not have a Ph.D. A well-pressed shirt that daintily sat  And shoes black as night pat  Were all they could admire of him.  For he could neither add nor multiply  Save by that book he held to comply.  And he stammered badly enough  To send them reeling to the north.  He was thrust upon them without a session  And they could instruct him with fair revision.  But he messed up his very first lesson  ('He's killing us' she said)  So they bundled whatever

I took a walk down the village path And read the tales on its face. The morning after a rainy night. A thousand-tales told and retold In the marks of those gone before. Some full, some half trodden down Some giantish, some dwarfish Some clear, some blur, vanishing. All equally lie, telling their tale For who cares to read. Tales of hope, tales of fear Some of terrors and tragedies And many unhurried paces of romance. Read:  Village Boy Impressions - The Days of Bliss Long I stood reading the silent tales As far as the eye could see For many were the words on that path Speaking in varied pitches of voice Some speak in the center of the path; And leave deep tales in the dust Those are fast trodden under and lost. Others speak gruffly on the edges Brushings thorns and stubs and weeds And hardly leave an impression But the dying weeds tell their tale. By their effort the path grows.  Many prints diverge To the right and to the

I do my crying in the rain Shrieking with the thunder Howling with the wind So that my tears are washed away My sorrow is laid to rest awhile And peace returns to my heart But when the clouds are spent I wear a smile and walk around No one sees the tears in my eyes No one hears the pain in my voice No one marks the grief on my face No one knows the pain in my heart For I weep with the clouds And my healing is in the rain That washes and dries my tears With a million wet kisses I do my crying in the rain Not because I am strong But because I am alone Many weep on my shoulder I find no shoulder to weep on So I feign strength And wait for cloudy skies To pour out my grief in full He is strong, he is solid He can take it all, they say And know not that I am weak And poor and frail even as they But maybe not for I do not cry No, not open bitter tears as they Yet I too do cry I do my crying in the rain.

When I die, Cry not your heart out Nor weep any tears upon my grave I will not see you, cry for me now. When I die, Wear no sorrows or regrets And bear neither grief nor pain on account of me I will be singing Hallelujahs. Read: Village Boy Impressions -  Why Ever Do We Dream When I die, Do not come dressed in fancy clothes Smelling like a thousand lavenders I cannot admire you then, dress for me today. When I die,  Read me no long tributes,  And compose me no epic verses  I will not hear you, praise me today. Read: Village Boy Impressions -  The House in Balansa When I die,  Put me quietly in my grave  Give your money to the poor  And your tears to the oppressed  And leave me in peace and quiet to rest. Read: Village Boy Impressions -  Bird Scaring  

And behold, in those days one arose Wielding great power and fury With hair the colour of fire A tongue speaking many profanities And he could not be tamed or quieted His words darkened the sun by day And at night the stars were grieved And wept and fled to hide from him. Many that heard that voice unawares Were snared and alienated For they listened and comprehended not As indeed they were the words Both empty and noxious. Words that stirred hearts to hate, To division, and poverty of thought. When he shits the nations raged And even Melkor [1] cowered in Otumno [2]  For verily verily he is arisen To divide the nations and the peoples Light and darkness shall be as one And there shall be no day nor night For an age and a time. Read: Village Boy Impressions -  Election Mangana [1] Melkor is the first Dark Lord of middle earth (From the Lord of the Rings trilogy) [2] Otumno was the fortress of Melkor in the North of middle earth