Come and taste the charms of aging   
when solemnness cloaks the air
penning finely wrinkles
along with whitened hair

Come, inhale the purging wisdom
that wraps the golden age
painting rare endeavors
to write on a pallid page.

Come erase the widened sorrow
the years insist to draw
into eyes with laughs
lest tears indwell and grow

Come on, let us ride with courage
Don't shy away a grace
parents went before     
with steps and constant pace.    
 

A destructive cuckoo in the nest
trouble causing what he do best
he'll put your patience to the test
with one eye open he like to rest

Loves being an annoying pest
mischief chasing with zest
I'd like to cough him of my chest
My temper he play with and molest

I held him longer on my breast
my favourite, my maternal lust
my confession hidden in his dust
Love so explosive, I could burst

There was a time I could walk into any pub in Sydney
And meet someone
Be it the pool table,
A discussion about the bosses
Or whatever

It doesn’t happen any more.
People go to pubs in groups
And don’t accept intruders.

Something has been lost
Which I can’t quite define.

Perhaps it is me,
Looking old
And assumed uninteresting.

Mirrored mountains gleam
Ripples erase reflections
Water moves away

There's nothing like
mama's love
warm and sweet
on rainy days

There's nothing like
mama's love
softer than rose petals
on stormy nights

There's nothing like
mama's love
purer than fine gold
when you yearn mama's arms

Mama's love
gone, warm and sweet
softer than rose petals
purer than fine gold

Rest in peace
dear fine lady
we all love, missing you
forever in our hearts

We are always here
for each other
whom we love
like does no other

then one day we are gone forever
we still hope no one will forget us ever

as stars we are framed in heaven too
how love abounds for all of you

as Loved wishes
a Happy New Year
individually
to each friend like you …

even when its winter in the North
far up north is clad in snow
true well wishers follow us
forever
where ever
we may go…

II

A man reported his case to the law
During a festive season of the year
Of harassment by subterfuge
At the veranda of Monsieur Jonathan

Kids were making a roofing mat
When suddenly, masquerades appeared
The children ran inside the house
Ekpo broke the door, the kids fainted

As simple as this case might seem
It was a challenge to the plaintiff
He couldn’t speak in English
On this case which brought tension

It was cold
The scarlet-dyed sky
Dissolved in the grayness of rain
At that moment,
I began to love
The evanescence of such powerful color.
I have loved that moment.
I was a wandering soul
With a heart shut to silence.
I wanted to cry
But the sky cried for me.
The even emotion that flowed
Like a turbulent river under the bridge,
Condemned the reasons
And set free to the chained heart.
After such moment of pain,
There was a sudden silence -
Quite deafening that I wanted

Time divided, quadrants four
season's desires show nothing more,
along with fate directed into threes;

past, and present, future tense
ceases making any sense!
Add lady fortune's magic, if you please!

I must of course, to my dismay
admit I do not know the way,
but fortune's hand slipped, that! Her only flaw;

at every moment you will learn
miscalculations tend to burn,
your shield is safe, but do not lose your claw!

~

One Sunday evening I remember,
Just a little before night ‘twas exactly twilight.
I walked till I found this chick
Trying hopelessly: jumping, hopping and squealing
Hoping to get out of the gutter hole
In which mother hen has left her
After so many failures in bringing her out, or so I thought.
I would help her out,
But my weary legs would not yield to my mind;
Because I like the chick is trapped and shackled in the dark
Prison of my thoughts;
Shouting, screaming and stretching forth my hands