THE OTHER WHIFF OF GRAPESHOT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I saw the makeshift sandbag whistle past
At an angle too wide to count
At once I picked up my three pinons
And like a wounded lion, shot off to Babylon.


Copyright 2011

UNLIKE A SAPELE

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Don`t mistake me for a sapele
A sapele is a plant
But I`m not
I think and feel and act
And I have dominion
Before me the sapele is nothing
It`s speechless
Powerless
Impotent
So how do you liken me to it?

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

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

NIGHTMARE NIGHT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The night was dull
And there was a lull
No woman was nearby
So standing on the porch all alone
I cried out: 'To hell with the devil!'.
Suddenly the devil appared before me
Naked
Stark naked.

Copyright 2010

DEAD END

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

It will all end as it began
Poorly and squarely
Even the kitchen boys dressed in white
Won't see the cup before it's buried.

Copyright 2010

WHY SHE LEFT

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

Was Florence not there?
And you did it by yourself?
Didn`t you read the notice on the shelf?
Or were you only thinking of your huge fare?

Copyright 2010

TOO BAD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I saw the skylark strike its only birdling
Far away from man's naked eye
Yet close enough for virgins to see and wail
Standing by on tiptoe yet unseen
Were the Lords of the Flies
Too full of garlic onion to chant.

This little hand of mine so poor at cuddling
For a long time silenced like the deadly sky
Kept tabs on the illfated campaign trail
Like the wounded king of the jungle and his beleaguered queen
When their spies let off those shrill cries.
Since far off hills look green, musn't we all rant?

Copyright 2010

HOW MANY THEY ARE

(For Adamu Musa)

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

There will be twelve
If we dare and delve
But there will be nine
If we consider the new mine.

Copyright 2010-03-17 Idem

OUR COMMON GUILD

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

I suggest we quit
But not with the quilt
Lest we be filled with guilt
For betraying the kilt.

Copyright 2010

WHY WE ENLISTED

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

We didn’t spot the stars
We missed them, those sparkling crossed bars
It wasn’t just because of the sky
It was the mist.

Forget about star wars
Today’s talk is about fast cars
We wanted the stars for Christmas pie
But he decided we should enlist.


Copyright 2010