stranger

tell of the fire in the plain/spread with roar/plaintive strains cut us to our earth/once thief now cold mercenary for Allah.../child has brought shame to...the name of who he calls... Almighty...Peace Bringer/this harbringer of decay ...he../feeds maggots already fat on pestilence of our own hands.../this son of our land.../he has taken his stand and../thought up ways for the world to get caught up.../in rage that will consume his own brothers.../grandmother in hiding shudders.../black lace sari symbol of funeral song written in sand outside clay hut.../ah!! again...you have made mama cry.

stoic

strength from
an age before me
carries me
and
guides me away from
that hate that
would take
my life
if
i
let it
now i slowely regain
joy i find
in
honey green tea
and
leafy conversation
chioma's laugh
ozzie's legitimate consternation
temi's depth
teekay's constant affection
love's slow obliteration
of
any doubt
that the heart in me lives on
i am made for love and music

for koya the gatekeeper

i can hear
your voice
in my feet
walking me
through
underbrush laced with a
thousand thorns
remember when
you
talked me through
my night terrors
candle of comfort
hand held over yours
we ran with no shoes across scorpion sands
together
my friend from then, here... till ever
i swear i can not love
you
more than
i do now.

these early days

warm
gold flecked warm irises
from center of his sweet heart
this sweetheart
called
man from the song
is
warm
his words flowing into my mouth
i already
feel
warm
kisses from his
head
he says;
"can we walk...?
your
heart is yours to keep
as long as
you let me sleep...
inside your womb
hide inside your hand..
be
warm"
and
i
slip hand into
backpocket of his
faded jeans
and i
walk with him
and my
tiny palm against
his
firm buttocks feels...
warm.