samedi 27 novembre 2010

TODAY`S IMPRESS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Your is a cut above the rest
That`s why it`s the best
But when you reach the crest
It will be at my behest.

Copyright 2010

THE MILKY GLARE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

This is not the Milky Way
That`s why it`s the best
But when you reach the crest
It will be at my behest.

Copyright 2010

CHAMPIONS WITHOUT A PODIUM

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`re the champions
Not because we carried the day
But because the day carried us
When we`re called up to the podium
Will there be room for everyone
Or will the surface be too small for our numbers?

Copyright 2010

THE MISSED LINKS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I know the rest
Even if I don`t know the best
In a country like this where everyone drinks
What can you do when the boss loses his links?

Copyright 2010

TEST FLIGHT


By Tikum Mbah Azonga


The roller skaters are gone
They sped past ages ago
With their shirt tails flying
And their velvet canvass shoes glistening in the sun
Like the oiled skin of the Negro woman
We didn`t ask why
But we knew their Cossacks were in tact
Tomorrow when the legion commander asks
We`ll stick out our tongues for him to see.

Copyright 2010

samedi 20 novembre 2010

THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS VANGUARDS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The vanguards are out
Out with impunity and a vengeance in all their spendour
Each carries a policeman`s baton
They come forth with a common goal
To make the chairman
And not unmake him
To unearth him
And not bury him

They`re armed to the teeth for the bout
Despite their abject innocence and apparent candour
Although they`ve never been to Clapton
That`s because they carry a common goal
And like a single man
They want to achieve it with no whim
They won`t even for a kingdom re-baptize their boss, "Tim"
Neither will they offer him a mere Sim
That`s why today they`ve sworn they`ll make Paul Biya fear him

Copyright 2010

vendredi 19 novembre 2010

THE DOG STORY

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I didn`t tell him anything
I`m not a sell-out
So if you think your crosses have remained unanswered
Then ask the village dog
He knows best.

Copyright 2010

jeudi 18 novembre 2010

ALONE WITH THE SAME HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

(Reminiscences of an old nursery school rime that left a lasting impression on me).


I saw the house that Jack built
I saw it with my own eyes
But I found no rat in it
However, I found scattered grains of corn
Strewn all over the floor
As if the rats had just visited
Apart from that odd find
Nothing else lay in the house that Jack built
So I wondered
Should I trek all the way to Nottingham
To see what legacy Lord Byron left
Or should I contend myself with
The leftovers of the sour malt
And the loose white hairs from the beleaguered cat`s body
The footman said he preserved?
And why should I believe him anyway?
I didn`t see the dog, nor the man, nor the priest nor the maiden
But as I came away disappointed
I heard ringing in my poor ears
Children`s deafening voices singing
This is the house that Jack built.

Copyright 2010

mercredi 17 novembre 2010

GRANDMA`S KNEE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

One more sound
Just one more
And you`re dead
You can trust me.

If God`s world wasn`t round
And all axe men weren`t one
Then everything on this earth would I dread
Even grandma`s knee.

Copyright 2010

THE QUEEN`S THING

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It`s not a stereotype
Neither is it media hype
It`s something stolen from Halloween
Just for the queen
My queen.

Copyright 2010

MOMENT OF LAMENTATION

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I don`t know where she went
But I know she fell sick
Since like spilled B.P. she`s slick
I know we`ll lament.

Copyright 2010

MOTHER`S OLD STUD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The car was jammed in the mud
nd I, frozen like a chicken in the fridge
But when I crossed the ridge
Like Le Niveau Seuil of Monsieur Zask in Besançon
Mother immediately sent for her stud.

Copyright 2010

DEBT REPAYMENT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

When the debt is settled
I`ll free your brains
But for now, you`ll stay nettled and nestled
Until we hear the quarrel of the rains.

Copyright 2010

FLASHES OF A FATHER`S COFFEE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Coffee also blooms and blossoms
When it`s time
That`s what my dad told me
And that`s what I saw.

If you live in the upper rooms
And each day imbibe a drop of lime
You`ll also prefer coffee to teat
And you`ll detest cubes of ice that refuse to thaw.

Copyright 2010

THE MOON AT NIGHT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The moon is an old man
The old man with the poised axe
It`s such an exquisite beauty
But why only at night?

Copyright 2010

PEARS AS MERE URCHINS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I don`t like pumpkins
But I love ripe pears
When I`m in tears
They serve as my urchins.

Copyright 2010

THE HIDDEN CLAWS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Rain drops are a toothless dog
They don`t frighten me
So save your breath for your porridge
I`m not the cat that bears its claws.


Copyright 2010

THE LITTLE SURPRISES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

What then surprises you?
Nothing?
And you think you exist?
Why don`t you try the summer camp?
Or the princess` early wine?
Forget about special needs
Leave that to the Faculty
Try tripping over steep rocks
And flying into New York at night
Try interpreting the symbols of Bismark
Try all of those
I assure you you won`t be the same again.

Copyright 2010

OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The crown`s too heavy
I need to shed a few more pounds
But if they`re made of gold
Then by all means, pile on more.

Copyright 2010

THE FON`s young wives

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We were near the end
But not dead
When the first Nchinda yawned
And we thought the cat was found
The Fon pulled out a loaf of bread
And his young wives he started tending.

Copyright 2010

WHERE SINGERS CONVERGE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ours is not a House of Exile
Not another one!
As if we didn`t have enough of them already
We also have our artists, authors and top class labels
We are all stars in our own right
We sing wherever we pitch our camps
That`s why we are also freedom fighters.


Copyright 2010

mardi 16 novembre 2010

THE RIGHT SHOPPING LIST

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Momentum is not the only answer
Forget about ligaments, prefixes and Stonehenge
That is all history
So, who wants to live in the past?

Whether your page is original, aboriginal or cardinal
What we yearn for is a flat top with a round chisel
An odd man`s tie without knots
And above all, the cloth in which Jesus was wrapped.

Copyright 2010

THE SEARCH FOR A CANDIDATE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Mine is a multi-faceted prism
The primary aim being dreams without visions
We don`t care so much about big picture crow bars
What we rate highly is critical acumen
And the ability to lead
So if any man recognizes
The right candidate in himself
Let him step forward now
Or for ever hold his wretched peace.

Copyright 2010

GAMES IN HIGH GEAR

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We all watched the games
We watched them from the emperor`s porch
And so missed nothing whatsoever
They were grandiose and highly choreographic
The Koreans weren`t there
But it didn`t matter
Because we had the Chinese, friends in deed.

Here for once
Paper documents didn`t matter
Although we had them
It was just for form, a mere formality
And of course, when the Commissioner came out
He didn`t ask for them
He instead asked for a shot of whiskey.

THE RICH RAT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

No, My rat is different
It`s not a church rat
It`s a bank rat
It doesn`t feed on home grains
Nor the priest`s sacred wafers
It feeds on money
Bank notes,paper money
Coins
And even the bullions
So it`s a rich rat
It`s richer than all the others put together
It lacks nothing
And has everything.

Copyright 2010

lundi 15 novembre 2010

HOUSE ON LIES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It`s a black house
Sun dried bricks
Not the dreaded cement blocks
And it`s all for lovely Alice.

I`m a church man, not a church mouse
So if you come here full of tricks
Don`t bank on my new clocks
All the things you say will be termed, "lies".

Copyright 2010

GOD OF THE UNIVERSE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Glory to God the highest
For none can rise higher than him
If he orders me tom swim
Who am I? Am I not here to give him my best?

Copyright 2010

CASH POINT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The processing will go ahead
If you`re too heavy to rise
Then remain in your seat
But when our cashier comes round
Don`t rise.

Copyright 2010

THE WEDDING RING

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

When will it come
And by what means?
There are no more obituaries
And no more door men.

Copyright 2010

FOUR COMBS FOR THE ELDER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

This is the breakthrough
For those from the loo
But just in case you have a blue comb in your bag
Report to the Senior Church Elder.

Copyright 2010

GOLD FROM IDENAU

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

(For The Principal of GHS Idenau)

These are no hidden treasures
They`re just pearls from Idenau
If you trip on just one of them
It turns into pure unalloyed gold.

Copyright 2010

OUT OF THE BLAST FURNACE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I`m so fired up
The horrible cold means nothing to me
If you thrust me in the blast furnace
I`ll melt it, simply.

Copyright 2010

samedi 13 novembre 2010

L`OMBRE DE DIEU

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

L`ombre de l`obstruction plane
Au-dessus de nos têtes
Et pendant trop longtemps aussi
Si le bon créateur tel que je le connais
Revenait en catastrophe
Que lui dirions-nous ?

Copyright 2010

LES SPERMES DU DIABLE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Les spermes à eux seuls ne comptent pas
Ce ne sont pas les millions de flèches attaquatoires
Qui nous forceront la main
Que non ! C`est plutôt la main de fer du prénommé
C`est elle qui frappera de son seau
Chaque maillon qui volera en éclats.

Copyright 2010

EVOLUTION

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Y a-t-il donc évolution ?
Ou est-ce une simple agitation ?
Alors, que dire de la froide lumière de notre paroisse
Et de l `affreux changement climatique ?


Copyright 2010

LE PARCOURS DE L`OEUF

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

L`œuf caché peut exploser
Tout comme l`œuf cassé peut éclore
Oui, il peut toujours éclore
Le pape ne se brosse-t-il pas
Cinq jours par semaine ?

Copyright 2010

MES POINTS FAIBLES

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ma jupe est mon courage
Mes ailes d`or, ma cure
Ma nouvelle boucle, mon boudoir
Et mes cercles poétiques, mon Dieu.

Copyright 2010

LES CRAINTES DE MARGUERITE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

De quoi est-elle amoureuse ?
Eh bien, du plein et du vide
Du firmament et de l`âme
De l`aile du moucheron
De toutes les peurs sacrées
Des premières brises royales
De la Nouvelle Angleterre
Mais surtout de la reine Elisabeth.


Copyright 2010

vendredi 12 novembre 2010

THE DICTATOR`S AGENDA

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`re no tin pot yes men
No, we`re modern day rulers of the first order
Between us and the founding fathers
There`s only a thin line
Thicker than the Chinese wall
We don`t rush our citizens
We push them
We don`t feed our children
We starve them
When the next nobel peace winner is announced
I`ll surely be the one
I`l get it for a job well done.

Copyright 2010

OUR RAY IN PARLIAMENT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

What did you expect?
That the roof would fall on my head?
Then you got it all wrong
Like Ray.

Unless you work it out in retrospect
You`ll have to exchange your possessions for lead
Because if parliament goes hung
Then we must all apply for leave of stay.

Copyright 2010

THE LONE TRAVELLER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

She came by herself
Unescorted
If you were expecting the baby nurse
You`d have to wait for ever.

Copyright 2010

THE BARTENDER`S BILL

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The bar is tender
And the bartender, sober
If we insist on the receipt
He`ll go downhill.


Copyright 2010

THE BENIGN SIGNATURE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He doesn`t have to sign
That`s been done
So if the bite is only benign
Then let`s treat it with the scraped bone.

Copyright 2010

COD FOR DINNER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The fight is over
So let`s stop the bickering
If you`re [problem is hunger
Why? Then pluck off another cod.

Copyright 2010

THE DIFFERENCE IN COLOURS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

A yellow ball isn`t the same
As a yellow balloon
Both are round, yes
But one is near
And the other, far off.

Copyright 2010

TWO MEN UP

By Tikum Mbah Azonga
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The vice chancellor stood up first
And he did so without any prom ting
When the stewed then rose for thirst
Everyone was yelling and pointing.

Copyright 2010

WORTHY ACT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`re proud of ourselves
Single handed, we brought them home
And now their wives are gone
What more can we ask for?

Copyright 2010

CONTRASTING RULERS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I may be hostile, wild and drab
But I`m also smooth, intimate and loving
That`s precisely why I`m neither Mao
Nor Mobutu.

Copyright 2010

CHANGE OF FREQUENCY

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I love cross-cultural activities
Not like Chalm Potok, though
But when my feelings change
I emerge all covered with chalk.


Copyright 2010

DIALOGUE BY THREE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I thrive on family circles
Even if they fail to rime
That`s why long before the Chinese arrived
I had dialogued with two prisoners.

Copyright 2010

THE MUTE TIN

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

At the top right-hand corner
Lies a tin too full to open
But just in case the door bell rings
Let the frying pan burn.

Copyright 2010

OUT OF THIS WORLD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I`m not an odd creature from outer space
Although I walk on sidewalks and curbs
Fromm the time I weighed chimps
I was a Delaware buffalo.

Copyright 2010

jeudi 11 novembre 2010

THIS BREAD OF LIFE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Benchmarks aren`t really what I dread
No, rather it`s tentacles
As long as the wrong men serve as receptacles
I`ll live on three things only: bread, bread and bread.

Copyright 2010

EMBLEMS THAT FLY

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Unfold the emblems
And let its folded wings fly
Just as our old woman hems
So shall we rollick and frolic.

Copyright 2010

SET IN CONCRETE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I won`t wink
neither will I blink
Even if in my dream
I swim in ice-cold cream.

Copyright 2010

RACES APART

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I`m the midnight owl
That`s why all day I howl
If you want to bring out all the widgets
You must turn us all into midgets.

Copyright 2010

THE LAME GAME

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I know the game
But not through the telephone
That`s why when I read Volpone
I limp as if I were lame.

Copyright 2010

THE LEAVE OF ABSENCE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
If you`re sure
Let her http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifgo
But if in the end she becomes a foe
Then be sure your son will wear a tonsure.

Copyright 20410

THE UNSAID WORD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

They didn't`t say so
If they had
I would have voted for the left
And reds would have been history
Why on earth do you think
The president, our president
Hides his beard?

Copyright 2010

OUR QUICK DRINK

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I washed it down quickly
I gulped it down
And like the honourable member of parliament
I left the room giggling.


Copyright 2010

THOSE PROPHETS OF DOOM

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

They`re simply criminal
That`s what they are
A few more of them
Just a few
And this generation will be lost
Wiped out
Buried.

Copyright 2010

WHAT I EAT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I buy a lot of roast plantain
And I eat a lot of garlic onion
But when it comes to singing in the rain
I long for the holy dominion.

Copyright 2010

LATER DAY DOGS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I cashed in on it
Why shouldn`t I have?
I too had been taken for a ride
That`s why I pulled down the blinds
So, today here where the Lilly birds sing without dancing
If another black dog passes by
We shoot it down
If no one else does
I will.

Copyright 2010

WE AND OUR WIVES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`re all in the cradle
Even the vice chancellor
So when the thunder birds reel
Our united wives will lift their velvet skirts and latter.


Copyright 2010

LE FILS DU PRESIDENT

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

La première pluie est là
On n`y peut plus rien
Arrêtez alors l`achat des œufs
Des pots d`argile
Et des bouquets des faubourgs
Lorsque repassera le fils du président
On oubliera tout
Y compris la pluie.


Copyright 2010

THE BOND MEN

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

These are the carry on men
Their word is very much their bond
And their tongues, pure unalloyed silver
If they serve wine
It drips like blood.

Copyright 2010

LE JOUR DU VOTE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Tourne alors la page
Si tu peux
Ou veux-tu d`abord une autre glace ?
Finie la nonchalance des électeurs
Alors bonjour le vote sans scrutin.

Copyright 2010

LE MYTHE DE SISYPHE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga


(A Monsieur Jean Thomas, Chef du Département de Français au Lycée de Bambili où j`ai eu le bonheur de faire mes études. M. Thomas était également l`un de mes trois professeurs de cette discipline dans le dit établissement. Il m`a tenu en Traduction (Version) et en Littérature (Albert Camus dans `La Peste`). Les deux autres enseignants étaient M. Fallot (Traduction – Thème et Littérature Molière dans `Le Misanthrope`) et Mi. Villaudy (professeur de dissertation et de grammaire).


Tourne alors le dos
Et toi-même tu verras
Comment on déchante un homme vaillant et valeureux
Est-ce donc un mythe ?
Peut-être, mais
A condition que ce ne soit nullement
Un autre mythe de Sisyphe.

Copyright 2010

LA FUITE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Le bâton que tu cherches est encore là
Et le sang que tu vends est déjà pourri
Alors, que vas-tu faire ?
Fuir ?

Copyright 2010

LE VIDE DU PERE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Entre l`Eternel et le néant
Il y a un vide
Pourtant ils sont pleins à craquer
Frappes la nuit, ils résonnent le matin
Alors, n`attendons-pas le président fondateur.


Copyright 2010

PLAQUE-TOURNANTE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ici les femmes ne parlent pas
Elles gouvernent
Les hommes ne se taisent pas
Ils chuchotent.

Copyright 2010

LE TEMPS ROI

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Le concept du temps est
Furtif, futile, élusif et aléatoire
Si seulement on pouvait s`en passer !
Mais hélas !


Copyright 2010

WHY THESPIANS ARE WRONG

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I don`t know who a Thespian is
But I know Theophilus is one
That`s why I moan the rapid disappearance
Of glyphs from the surface of the earth
But if all you care about is an accolade
Then for God`s sake
Stop all hair implantation.

Copyright 2010

THE MISSING LINK

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It`s no surprise ending
We all expected it
Call it cause and effect if you like
Only tell us where in all of this
Space, time, style and suspense
Can overthrow tragedy, theme, symbol and tone.


Copyright 2010

GODOT`S TWIN

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The stage directions are mediocre
And I know it
Otherwise, where is the caste?
Where are the prompters?
Or must we always wait for the director
As if without the bishop, mass can not go ahead?
Have we forgotten about Godot?

Copyright 2010

HITLER`S SOLUTION

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Inferences are not the final solution
The Fuhrer would have used them
But since all he did was hem
All liquids to him signified absolution.


Copyright 2010

SIGNES EXTERIEURS

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ce tâtonnement
Ce vacillement, je vous le jure
N`est qu`une voix étouffée mais enviée
Lorsque bruleront les détritus
Je commencerai a noircir mes nœuds.

Copyright 2010

UN PROVISEUR CHEZ KODOCK

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Je suis un homme qui pleurniche
Oui, et ca fait quoi ?
Si seulement ce pays était démocratique
Je ne m`engerais pas chez les Kodock.


Copyright 2010

OF TREES AND BRANCHES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The mangrove trees hand too loosely
They have no hornbeam
Nor sad-looking birches
They bear broken ewers of red
Etched on canvass without Velasquez
If you ask me, frankly
I`ll say everything here below is jaded
And crustaceans are the same as daffodils.

Copyright 2010

WRONG WEATHER READINGS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I love cream-coated cookies
And idyllic pictures of the pope
When the wind blows in cyclones
And we mistake latitudes for longitudes
Then stalactites also become stalagmites.

Copyright 2010

THE PRESIDENT`S ELECTION

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I shout
You shout
He shouts
She shouts
We shout
All of you shout
They too shout
All of that for the president`s victory.

Copyright 2010

THE HOLY SCROLL

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Not one said it
Not a single one
Not even the archbishop`s right-hand man
So when the Central Committee envoy entered
We all rose and folded our Holy Bibles
Then we put them back in our bags.


Copyright 2010

mercredi 10 novembre 2010

MEN UP IN ARMS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He was raving mad
And I could understand him
For the Sabre rattling cabal
Had gone too far
Not down stream
But up stream.

Or was I dreaming?
Shortish inconsequential bar women
With hollow and shallow assignment gadgets
Too sun burnt to charm us
Stood in our way
Brandishing air tickets
Without the return coupons.

Copyright 2010

PUSHING LUCK TOO FAR

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He was raving mad
And I could understand him
For the saber rattling cabal
Had gone too far
Not down stream
But up stream.

Copyright 2010

mardi 9 novembre 2010

A CHOICE POEM

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The next poem is yours
Even if you have cracked hands
But if you use a newspaper
Then blot out the word, "dog".

Copyright 2010

THE FIRST WALK

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`re not dehumanized
We`re just men on foot
Our gowns are heavy
That`s why we`re heavy.

Copyright 2010

MY EARLY DAYS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Saturdays as days are too sullen
And Sundays too chaste
So when next I rise
I`ll smack down your curious chronic dress.

Copyright 2010

THE STATIONARY TOE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

My poor chins are an old padlock
And my stiff upper lip, a crate of beer
I don`t have any paper clips
And I don`t have a clapper
But this me, I have a swollen toe.

Copyright 2010

TRAP DOORS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I`m afraid of carriage doors
They`re worse than the butcher`s daughter
Although nowhere near London`s subway doors
But still, I loathe them like Celtic wafers.

Copyright 2010

SOME ODD POUNDS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The bunsen burner wasn`t there
So out of the infernal farmlands
Came shadows of death
Archaic critical thinking
And antagonistic Ezra pounds.

Copyright 2010

dimanche 7 novembre 2010

MEN WHO REFUSE TO GROW UP

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Not all men refuse to ride high
Some dig in their heels
And immediately sign the attendance register
Only those who enter the room with wet pants
And whose only word of honour is "Huntingdon"
Talk tongue-in-cheek
By so doing
They think they`re spiting the former prime minister
Yet at the end of the day
When the balance sheet is drawn up
They will be the only ones with protruding shirt buttons
Rounded red faces, distended and dehydrated bowels
And worn out trousers that refuse to buckle.

Copyright 2010

THE QUEEN AS MESSENGER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The queen has come calling
She came personally
To announce the good news
About her signing up for Facebook
Isn`t that wonderful?
How modern could our one and only queen be?

It`s nothing to do with politicking
It`s just Tender Loving Care, all personally
And nothing compared with the daily chunks she hews
That`s why she will bring to book
Anyone who proves to be unbearably awful
And doesn`t know the difference between a bee and "to be".

Copyright 2010

samedi 6 novembre 2010

A GIFT TO REMEMBER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

My, how thoughtful of you!
And how very nice of you!
This is just me, this gift you have made
It`s me in every way.


You didn`t have to, but I know you for being blue
You were careful enough not to make it a shoe
Yet it`s squarely within the trade
And like my mother`s market day pots, it`s made of clay.

Copyright 2010

TILL DEATH DO US PART

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Dearest
You mean a lot to me
In fact, you mean the world to me
You`re my world, my universe
My life
My all
I thank you for being there
For being there for me
And for being yourself
If I had my way
I would remake the world
And wind the clock back to midnight
In that way
You and I could start all over
And grow up again together
Live together
Love together
And die together
On the same day
At the same time.

Copyright 2010

A LINK THAT SHOULD STAY FOR EVER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

This is an editorial I wrote in Issue Number 051 of Business and Marketing, published in Bamenda, Republic of Cameroon. It was published as a follow-up to the visit Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo had just paid to Cameroon

Without any doubt, the visit Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid to Cameroon last month was by far the most significant international event that happened in Cameroon in that month. One reason is the weight of Nigeria on the African continent. Nigeria is black Africa`s most thickly populated country, having over one hundred million inhabitants. Furthermore, the large size of its economy also makes it an unmistakable giant. But perhaps above all is the importance of that country in relation to Cameroon. Although Cameroon shares a common border with six countries, Nigeria is the one with which it has the longest border. Significantly, the two countries share a common coastline , a semi-Saharan vegetation and desert type climates.

That is why the peaceful resolution of the border conflict between the two countries has received so much praise worldwide. Both presidents had the foresight to take the matter to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, instead of allowing the situation to degenerate into a war as has been the case in some other parts of Africa. The peaceful option is also just as well because each country has a fairly large number of its citizens living in the other country.

This was President Olusegun Obasanjo`s first official visit to Cameroon since he acceded to the helm of affairs in Nigeria. Of course, he did not hide his feelings and joy about it when he was in Cameroon. The trip gave him the opportunity to meet with some of his countrymen and women – an opportunity which he used to advise them to be law-abiding.

Although the Nigerian president has gone back, the positive echoes of his visit still remain to remind everyone that the initiative was worthwhile. The several working sessions that took place between delegations from the two countries will continue. The hope is that the brotherliness also goes on for a long time, if not for ever.

Copyright 2010

AN EXCHANGE ROUTE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Exchange me for a sheep
Not an oak tree
That`s because I`m bound
Bound with Maformusong
And bound with Epasa Moto.

When the time comes, listen to the deep
And, of course, prepare the fee
In that way, no one will you hound
But if your days are long
Then quickly send for Otto.

Copyright 2010

SETTING THE STAGE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

There`s nothing at all
There isn`t any such thing
So for nothing, don`t drown yourself
Stand tall and walk shoulders high.

However, if the great call
Don`t take it for a fling
Check all red books on your shelf
And then let the twins - and only them - vie.


Copyright 2010

THE VILLAGE ROGUES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It wasn`t a quarrel
It was the dog`s mistress
And the wooden cradle
That was when his infirmity came in
And that`s why they called us rogues.


Copyright 2010

TARGETED FOR OPPRESSION

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

There`s no compunction
Rest assured
I`m not from the galleys
I only participated in the straight session.

The rest is history
So forget about Cyrus, the trumpet
The sullen senators, the choir mistresses
And the abandoned Turkish fleet.

Copyright 2010

THE MAN WHO ATE PYTHON

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

(For Sammy Oke Akombi)

When a man eats python
It`s different from the woman eating it
The man steels himself against all forms of love
And goes out of his way to challenge God to a duel.

Is it then a matter of internal plankton
Or the eternally singing girls of Sandpit?
Anyway, it matters little unless it`s not the treasure trove.
That`s why for love to blossom, we must add fuel.

Copyright 2010

MA BETE NOIRE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ce que je déteste
C`est l`abus de confiance
Et l`abus d`alcool
En tout cas
C`est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.

Du point de vue psychologique
Et très foncièrement d`ailleurs
Je suis forcené
Laissant tomber mes mystifications soporifiques
Et mes sorties nocturnes et noctambules
J`oublie les inflations d`antan
Les foutus bourgs saintongeais
La fraicheur inégalable de l`Hôtel La Fraicheur
Et les beautés enfoncées et rustiques de Paris.

Copyright 2010

DE GRANDS COUPS

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Sans grand élan aucun
Ni grincement de dents
Il ramasse son collier de perles
Et d`un coup, il disparait dans le vide
Alors, quelle fortune, dites-vous
Mais pourquoi ?

Copyright 2010

JOIE DE VIVRE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

La joie est en nous tous
Même les fous
Il y a en abondance béatitude, agréments, entrain
Plaisir, volupté, extase, plénitude
Contentement, gaieté, jouissance et apaisement
Laisse-moi donc m`épanouir.

Copyright 2010

AUTOUR DE CONFUSCIUS

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Il y a confusion
Ah oui ! Et surement !
On parle, mais de quoi ?
Foules, fables, groupements
Bandes, terres et syndics.

Finalement, quel être irascible !
Ou est donc la sensation de bonheur ?
A la fin, quel gâchis !
Et qu`elle peine sèche !
Pourtant je ne suis pas Confucius.


Copyright 2010

ATTITUDE VESTIMENTAIRE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

J`enfile mon label bleu
Seul, tout seul
Et sans rien d`autre
Je ne suis ni sorcier véreux
Ni poète timide.

Demain lorsque passera notre bon gueux
Et sans tenir compte du niveau seuil
La faute sera la votre
Et celle de tous vos peureux
Mais croyez moi, je ne serai pas limpide.

Copyright 2010

MON PETIT TRAITRE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Cet air bruyant me trahit
Il me laisse sans aiguille
Et sans les fameuses étincelles
Lorsque nous serons tous des anges enlacés
Même le Canard Enchainé
Ne pourra pas nous déchainer.


Copyright 2010

DES PAS CADENANSSES

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Je chemine vers la sortie
Alors laissez-moi vivre ma vie
Plus jamais je ne reviendrai ici bas.

Même si je suis l`héritier barbelé
Je suis également le flot d`antan
Et j`ai horreur du détritus.

Copyright 2010

MES PROJETS D`AVENIR

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Si j`étais Président de la République
Je ne changerais pas d`habits
Pour qu`on me remarque tout de suite.

Si j`étais riche
Je donnerais à manger aux pauvres
Et jamais aux riches.
Qui dit mieux ?


Copyright 2010

MA VERITE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Je ne me trompe pas
Et je ne suis pas présomptueux
Je suis magnanime
Et porte bonheur.


Copyright 2010

LE COEUR DU QUAI

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Ce petit cœur que vous voyez
Ne manque pas d`audace
Il est loquace
Mais connait bien le Quai d`Orsay.

Copyright 2010

MARCHE A RECULONS

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Marchons sans mourir
Ecrivons sans fléchir
Parlons sans ambages
Discutons sans langue de bois.

Ainsi pourrons-nous rectifier le tir
Travaillons non pour nous enrichir ni nous embellir
Mais pour déposer nos bagages
Et d`un bond, doter nos jeunes d`une immense foi.

Copyright 2010

MON CHEMIN VERS LE HAUT

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Dans les nuages de l`au-delà
Où brillent de tous feux les sept lunes de miel
Et me rappellent le Mont Adamaoua
Moi, je me taillerai la part du lion
Et pour tout couronner
Je me doterai de sites paléolithiques
De frasques d`excellence
De leaders sans creux
Et de voies oblitérées.

Copyright 2010

vendredi 5 novembre 2010

COUPLES AS FLOATING APPLES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I`m not money-minded
So, put back the three pistons
That`s what friends are for
Even if they`re miles apart.

Although my snow balls may be rounded
My wife and I are no pinons
Neither are we omniscients
We`re just two apples floating on a cart.

Copyright 2010

SUNNY DAY, THIS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Oh what a bright day!
Yet no one to switch on the strobe lights
So what about the diploma?
Do we dowse it
Or do we starch it?
And what if the sleeping giant wakes?
Shall we then pull up the stops<
At what time?
And at what cost?

Copyright 2010

THE COWRIED GIRL

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Have you changed it
Or have you simply maintained it?
Lazy you!
When shall you grow up?
And pull off your own fly whisk?
And perhaps a few cowried girls?

Copyright 2010

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

They used me
They used me and dumped me
In turn I enveloped them
I stuffed them in and dropped them in the ocean
Like lead
I finished them.

Copyright 2010

SETTLED SCORES

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We nailed him
And sent his people packing
But if it comes to vetting
We`ll simply send for Konglim.

Copyright 2010

FROWN ALL OVER THE PLACE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We`ve gone up
But we`ve also come down
So if you want to grow up
You must get rid of the frown.

Copyright 2010

ONLY FISTS WILL SPEAK

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

That`s all
No more, no less
So if you want to be Twist
You must first raise your right fist
For all to see.

Copyright 2010

GEARLESS YEARS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

For ten thousand years
This world has stood still
While Biya dictates his will
But he hasn`t shifted any gears.

Copyright 2010

FROM THE HOLY SEE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Where the hell is he?
Is he here
Or is he at the Holy See
And you think I should be seized by fear?

Copyright 2010

A WORLD OF ABJECT DROSS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It was a cross
Not a kick
It looked like the BP slick
And an America full of dross.


Copyright 2010

mardi 2 novembre 2010

THE PASTOR`S STAND

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The calendars are here
But not the chalices
When pastor comes, and I know him
He`ll refuse to conduct the service.

Copyright 2010

NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PRINCE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The air is messy
So what do you expect?
The prince won`t` walk in
Even if you send in the visiting princess.

Copyright 2010

WORLD OF NOTHINGNESS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We have everything
But we have nothing
Because of our greediness
And our aloofness.

Copyright 2010

UN PEU DE TENUE

Par Tikum Mbah Azonga

Je ne danse pas
Maman a-t-elle chante ouya ?
Ou est-ce deux poids deux mesures ?
Soyons justes, quand même !

Copyright 2010

TOGETHER WITH HIM

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We pray and we fast
We invoke his name
And hand ourselves to him
We`re his toys
We accept his will
If it doesn`t work today
It will, tomorrow.

Copyright 2010

A FUTILE ATTEMPT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

She kept it a secret
Until now
She`s let the cat out of the bag
Only because the heat is on
But as far as I`m concerned
It`s too late.

Copyright 2010

DISAPPOINTING GUEST

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He came as expected
But he came alone
And empty-handed
Where was the young teacher?
Where was the wine?
Where were the badges?
And where were the text books?

Copyright 2010

THE CLERGY`S MUTENESS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga
I smelt it first
And I told the pastor
But he wouldn`t believe me
Now that dog`s excreta
Is sprinkled all over the place
What shall he say?

Copyright 2010

ODD NUMBERS ALL THE WAY

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Three odd baskets
That`s all she sent me
And you think that`s normal?
What are three baskets? They`re not even thirty
Especially to a man who`s used to wielding fifty
They`re nothing more than a drop in the ocean
No, that won`t do!
Let him assume his responsibilities
And shame the devil behind him
There`s no use pretending
We want no more
Emperor`s new clothes.

Copyright 2010

lundi 1 novembre 2010

OUR REAL NUMBERS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

This is not all we are
But we are here
Like the librarian in Luton
That`s why we thank the good old teacher.


Copyright 2010

UNLEARNED LESSONS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He came
He toiled
And he left
We listened
We felt sleepy
And we slept.

Copyright 2010

GLORY BE TO THE TEACHER

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Be seated
And let your teacher rise
Let him speak without compromise
So that no one complains of poor treatment.

Copyright 2010

ALL WEATHER GOD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Give thanks to God
Give him thanks for the good day
Give him thanks for the bad days
Both days belong to him
They are his
By right.

Copyright 2010

LATE ARRIVING PASSENGERS

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We left them behind
They were too slow
We jumped on the bandwagon
And cut them off.

We chose the fore; and they, the hind
If they arrived late, how could they sow?
Only the alert and prompt enter the kingdom
Those are the ones we call the tough.

Copyright 2010

TESTING TIME

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

He read it aloud
Loud and clear
Some heard it and retained it
Some heard it and forgot it
Others didn`t hear it at all
When the time came
Only those who passed
Were promoted to the next class
The others stayed back
And started all over
From scratch
They went back to Square One.

Copyright 2010