OUT OF THE CAGE

the birds will freely twitter
they shall be out of the cages
there will be the shattering of strictures
no more will the plants be potted
and mercilessly trimmed to the gardener's dictates
the wings will grow freely
the birds will perch on the tallest trees
there to take in the cool air

the devil at work

and now my people die
they die of neglect
arrogance is killing us
the arrogance of god given rulers
my people perish
poverty kills us by the million
while the devil enjoys the spectacle
hospitals lie buried beneath mismanagement
morgues are full of maggots
everyday my people suffer and die
tears in their eyes always
parents too weak to bury their children
the leaders are too busy to care
the devil is at work

still at it

listening to myself
listening to others
this mindless cacophony
thinking of ecclesiastes
that prophetic book
thinking of poly tricks
thinking of black and white
thinking of the american dream
thinking of illusions and lies
thinking of the white house
maybe the black and white house
thinking of the foul mouthed leaders
wondering what next they will say
that is the way it is

tumultuous times[stream of consciousness work!]

then you left in a huff
the living was getting rough
the vortex of violence
the raging fiery inferno
some say you ran away
the fire razing your home
that you had to extinguish
in the still of the night
you left for another country
that country called exile
there to face horrors of rejection
family ties brutally severed
the turbulence within
today the tumultous times still
the news from what was home
what is still home to you
the mind gripped by anxiety
the bags you pack and unpack
hearing of the fragile peace
hearing of self seeking politicians
your mind in turbulence still
conflicting stories reverberating
throwing your mind into a whirlpool
trying to bridge that gap
the gap between the truth and lies
the tumultous times dog you still
well you are not alone in this
the tired masses back home wait
dying in anticipation of respite
retaining that resilience still
swallowing that drug called hope
trying to look back into the future
yearning for a lustrous future
wondering whether the trust is misplaced
wondering whether the leopard changed spots
for the first cut was the deepest
for the cock will always crow
and the dove will always coo
waiting in anticipation of the good times
when the wounds will heal
when the african laughter will resonate
and the world will join in the fun

TWO POEMS FROM TURBULENT TIMES!

BARE FACTS

where do we fit
this scheme of things
these dog fights
the thugs at the helm
their concubines in tow
the fight for privileges
that is the whole story

NO DROWNING

never to drown these thoughts
drown these thoughts in euphoria
still in love with socratic scepticism
questioning the answers they give
espousing chameleonic caution still
nothing wrong with doubting thomas
the tortoise will complete its journey

A HERO

the story shall be told
the story of your villainy
how you refused to be a hero
then you stood at the cross roads
turned against the wailing masses
decided to go for the thirty pieces of silver
decided to get medals for buffoonery
the story shall be told
your children shall bear the curse
the trumpet of revolution is sounding

TOWARDS THE ABYSS ?

where are the God fearing leaders?

where are the true patriots?

where is that fountain of altruism?

where are you now nation builders?

what is the root of this avarice?

MARCHING ON

this is no time for lullabies

no, not at all

this is no time for euphoria

this is vigilance time

stay awake all you artists

be the beasts of burden still

remain the nation's conscience

though dirges may subside

do not let praise singing take control

the dangers of a personality cult

the dangers of unbridled power

the militarisation of our institutions

have you forgotten already

wake up men of time, wake up

this is no time for slumber

the future is calling, answer now