CHINYERE - THE GIFT OF GOD

CHINYERE - THE GIFT OF GOD

I heard her clearly through the thunderclaps
Amidst the roaring of the Christmas winds
The tumult outside would deafen the blind bat
Surely Odumankoma's flashing torchlight blinds the night owl

I could hear the whistles of the Ancestors rustling the trees
Maybe it was a salutation from my grandfather
Or my father saying he was proud of me
But I could tell my ancestors were at peace
Their presence an awesome warmth

I had called on the benevolence of Odumankoma
The man called "obaatanpa", indeed a mother
For desperation drew my soul to grief
Laughter could not escape my lips
Not when I longed for Odumankoma's masterpiece

O that Odumankoma would bless me
I would not care for looks in the least
But I would lay no more in anguish
And my troubled heart shall be at peace
For I would dance to tunes of life

Alas! I did hear her clearly
For I heard Odumankoma's answer
It was the cry of a Star
The gift of The Creator to me

I asked for a child
He gave me a daughter
I asked for a commoner's baby
He gave a priceless gift

Her cry reverberates in my heart
A sound that brings tears to my eyes
Her name is Chinyere - Odumankoma's gift
Forever unto me a treasure
She is the Star that brightens my world

(C) Osei Owusu Emmanuel
12th September, 2017

Dedicated  to Star Chinyere Solomon

THE PASSERBY

THE PASSERBY
We built him a home
We are a hospitable nation--
The passerby deserves
A comfortable rest

He comes and goes
With our belongings--
Pulls down our walls and place
Our mats on streets

He  clothes us
In black and red garments
Joyfully he flaunts
His blood stained teeth

Promises sail on
Our tears to chase his steps----
He's incarcerated for life
Behind political tongues

Then the sun comes
To dry our tears--
Whitening our mourning
Garments
Erasing painful memories

Promises sink into dry land
Wounded hearts heal

We are a peace-loving nation
Yes we write again to June-July
To bring our guest
For we enjoyed his stay with us!

©Sarpong Kumankoma

RUBY

RUBY
I shall descend
the deepest valleys
searching . . .

I shall ascend
the highest mountains
searching . . .

I shall walk
the driest desert
searching . . .

I shall swim
the deadliest sea
searching . . .

. . .searching
for the god of gems

I shall enter his  palace
searching . . .

.  .  .searching among
his daughters

searching
till i find one like you
to shelter in my heart forever.

AGYEIWAA

AGYEIWAA
There i  s a rhythm
Drumming in my heart
Can you rap to it?

There is a poem
In your beauty-lit eyes
Should I read it to you?

©Sarpong Kumanakoma

Dear Dream Girl.

Dear Dream Girl,
I sail on turbulent waters
without a life jacket
and my boat is already full
with dreams and pages--I have
a ghost to shame and
a widow at home to console;
wait for me at the shore ahead.

Home still stands on no pillars,
the roof still weeps when rains
come out to play-- my bowl is full now
because she at home eats
hunger and drinks tears; I am
clothed because she wears tatters
and bare feet.

I journey in the company of night,
my eyes are alive and yet do not see,
I depend on a sight borrowed
from the Ever-burning Heavenly Lamp-
I have a ghost to shame
and a widow at home to console-
day awaits me at the shore ahead

at the shore ahead I have built my mansion
there awaits a smiling widow--
do not jump into my boat now
lest we sink and get washed onto
an undesirable shore ahead
just sail ahead of me (in your own boat)
and with the same Lamp that guides me
until at the new shore, day welcomes
a wealthy vetpublishedpoet
whose twins patiently wait
in your blessed womb.

©Sarpong Kumankoma.