Poet of the Week: Nelson Matthew
Callous LeadersWhat can make a man a stone?Who perceives the plights around,And is fit to root them out,But callous stand he does embrace.Though he goes abroad in pomp,And he sees how things in yond’ are steered.When he’s back,He’s still himself.Then the ‘twinkies’ there abroad,Which he relishes so much,But which he fails to replicate at home,These […]
Callous Leaders
What can make a man a stone?
Who perceives the plights around,
And is fit to root them out,
But callous stand he does embrace.
Though he goes abroad in pomp,
And he sees how things in yond’ are steered.
When he’s back,
He’s still himself.
Then the ‘twinkies’ there abroad,
Which he relishes so much,
But which he fails to replicate at home,
These he grabs at the slightest chance.
Though he likes the night sun abroad,
That drives the city’s stream to life.
Untold darkness he prefers,
For his kinsmen here at home,
Even the life-giving bed o’seas,
Which he flies in need to get
He doesn’t deem fit to avail his land,
Even when it costs him naught
What can change a man so hard
Compelled he must by all to work
And fulfill the noble role he holds.
Nigeria
A ‘lucky’ place to be born,
Where corruption is a solid mock,
Where leaders have turned predators,
Where poverty is made the oxygen,
And penury, carbon dioxide.
How can so much wealth
Bear forth deprivation?
And independence, enslavement
If the answer be in religion,
Then shall its adherents be exonerated?
Yet, they aren’t.
Now to you O tribe I’ve come.
Who holds promises of a kindred care
There must be an answer here.
For you could not be part of it.
Ah! Basic needs your children lack.
What shall quench this quest of mine?
If the predators could act as one,
To make good their ‘patriotic’ acts,
Then in the unity of the preys,
Shall my lingering quest be quenched,
And my case will rest for good.
Procrastination
In occupation’s sea
Am I lured in sensations’ tea
To task suspension give
Against my heart’s intention sink
What course should I have,
In this dilemma served?
If in it my belly thrives,
Shall I for it later strive?
Though affirmative is the consensus,
I shall take a second look.
My heart is at home with the thought,
To make this tempting bait my guest,
And though it amounts to a debt,
Which for sure I must later ‘pay,
When it’s time to defray,
My body shall have profited from the play,
And have no trouble to repay.
O you occupation’s sea,
I shall give in to sensation’s tea,
And to you suspension give,
And my heart’s intention shall not sink.
Do you think you are a poet? If yes, send five poems of not more than 100 words each to [email protected] with a bio-data that includes your journey as a writer and two good photographs.