THE TRAVELLERS

You don't need to worry

we are not in a hurry

our lorry left early enough

though we are heading for Warri

and of course, Port-'arcourt

We are not worried

that by ten

we may not know fury

By then

We could only be weary

Or hours after then even: merry

And asking for cherries or fresh berries

We don't need to board any ferry

This lorry is cool enough, dear

never dusty, never too domestic

It's never lousy, dizzying and devoid of history

as you render and tender

we do not trust it's so

It's only too dream-like, too romantic

 that even the aged among us dance

in golden silence.

We might be late now

but we are lateless

let it be heavy rain coming

Or a brooding darkness calling

by then we could be hairy

or hours thereafter merry.

Josiah's: Man Barthosa, oil pastel, 1987

TRAVAILS JUNGLE

Two thorns on a brown thumb

One thorn in a brown thumb

Three thorns and red fingers

A joke can kill!

Nsukka, the journey

your check is in the mail, ha ha

jokes can kill

jokes can cure

For pain is only in the mind- hello

Second chance, always a miracle

Second choice, never a miracle, never admirable

Nsukka, the journey

Nsukka, the return? Now

Fast food dinner

Walk in the streets

Talk in the streets

Unusual bills to pay

Talk in the streets

Walk in the streets

Lost years in travails jungles

Why some men hit their wives

And wonder so long that way

As the rise and fall and fall of a falling hero

Fuels souls with inspiration

But doesn't knowledge breed dominion

While the rise and fall and rise of a rising hero

Feeds all with aspiration, yet

Increase in knowledge may beget denominations

Studies I & II: Rain Machine, ebony wood, leather, acrylic on board 1996
12"x49, 12"x52", 1996

FOREST PATH

To "A maala for its proverbial ways

Nnsukka class culture

Visual Communication Class of 1997

'Nza, the little bird

That has from the ground

Flown to perch on

Nka earth mound...

Is he not still

On the ground?'

One of us asked;

…from its little beak

came a lasting song:

'A cook

In a hurry

To lick the fingers...

Are fingers meant

For the rafter?

HOUSE OF HUNGER

To 0/u Oguibe

during those years at Nsukka

WHEN water

Spills, life

Is in circle.

When soup

spills, the stomach

Is empty

Who shall

We Blame?

RAINMAKING

            A Rainmaker

Immersed his stone

            And vowed it must

Be a gloomy turn.

            The celebrant

For the sun's porridge

            Face, had

Another paid;

            A tussle blindness

Stirred, and the day

            Was lost.

Ojemba: Moonwatch, acrylic on board, 32"x42", 1997

SEASON

FOR WHEN the eye

Of the ear'th

Throws down

Its spears

And the waters of the heaven

With its tears. We

Lift our hoes to the hills

And we

Lift our baskets from the hills

For our land

Is rich.

SAID PECKER ON MOON

The sun has sunk

our eyes rest

from the porridge day skies

we can sight

and count with leisure

all the heaven's stars

1 2 3 4 5...it is full moon

boys and girls are coming out to sing

and dance to moonlight plays

it is full moon now

There, poises the disdain

clasping his tool axe

the kin who pecked fire wood

on a Sunday

we are Catholic here

of sons and daughters

of God, trinity

there poises the disdain kin

with open mouth begs abstinence

from this sin

or is he crying

or is he laughing at the trunk

where no more rests

er where never may rest his axe

with crooked ribs

with fair firmness he clasps

his axe, his tool

how long have you been there

wailing, waiting to be heard, freed

earth's mirrors hear the plea

repentance in a heart obliges

and er.. obligates.

PALM-WINE TAPPER

1997/98 National Youth Service Corp (NYSC)

Ugbokolo, an artist-teacher’s experience

There goes

The madman, passing the market

Advancing Ankpa Junction

With gages

Fastened to his bicycle with utmost care

For the contents

Are intact, undiluted

He is drunkard himself

For he taps and drinks his wine

With any one who could offer a little amount

            He is mad indeed.