In Memory of Lawyer N, 1999 - Poems by Peter Kayode Adegbie
- By Peter Kayode Adegbie
- Published April 27, 2010
- Poetry
- Unrated
Peter Kayode Adegbie
Peter Kayode Adegbie is a pastor, writer, filmmaker and cultural entrepreneur. He is currently completing a PhD in Creative Writing at Newcastle University. Peter's work focuses on building inter-generational and inter-cultural bridges; he is originator and creative director of 'Changing Perspectives Project'. He is also director of 'Culture Parade', a community interest company that provides a melting pot for communities to share their heritage, their arts, literature, drama, fashion and cuisine with the wider community. Peter as winner of the Northern Film and Media Capture documentary scheme in 2007 made the acclaimed documentary, 'Same Faces, Different Stories' for Community Channel. He is winner of Newcastle University Enterprise Challenge Award for Culture and Creativity 2009, and Dr. Tony Trapp ABC Award 2009. Peter who served as a Christian missionary in East and Central Africa for eight years is founder and senior pastor of Sunderland Chapel of Light. He is married to Theodora, a legal practitioner, and they have two children.
View all Entries by Peter Kayode AdegbieMarriage is a Miracle Here
Anna Kasumu is Kampala’s belle,
at last she is going to be a bride, lithe
like a gazelle, fresh like the stream
at first light, she laughs like a tinkle
of bells on a field of chrysanthemums
and her words dribble like early rain
when she announces her wedding to me.
I see joy dance in her eyes and love
stir her heart like new wine as we dance
around my office, priestly restraint cast
aside in the euphoria because, marriage
is a miracle here and Patrick Alonza
is a good catch. But she returns rigid
as a scarecrow, loose shoulder straps
and large insomnia bags, she sobs
torrents that run off my table, she’d failed.
No, Patrick didn’t know, she’d gone alone.
No, she’d never told him either of the night
at the Ambassador’s party when floating
on wine she spread her flowers under
the shower of the ambassadors guest.
One indiscretion and one major waste,
a scarred life and a marriage lost.
Marriage is such a miracle here.
Albert Matekiriza’s Choice
“I want to marry her.” He says,
His jaw juts out steady
his face like a sculptor’s work
set in stone, his eyes burn.
Albert’s love for Ruth Katelezi
is rich like the sea, it is straight
as a knife, it glows like a cluster
of stars on a dark night, it doesn’t
ebb even when she texts positive.
“Yes, I’ll marry her.”
“But she is dying”
“We’ll die together”
Her eyes draining and wet
shine in wonder at him,
at his thin smile
and clenched chin.
In Memory of Lawyer N, 1999
He clings on to life, hanging
his bones out daily till dusk;
a flood of thoughts drain him,
as he watches the sun’s lazy walk
through morning clouds, then
the long strides on craggy lawns
and the race across empty lots,
and sleepy houses on forlorn streets.
The city is tired, her regret
pungent as she yawns waiting
for caskets as men and women in
shades of silence clutch in vain at hope.
He scratches his leopard like spots,
his fingers rake a barren skin.
He peeps at the day’s end, remembers
his unsheathed dance, ever fresh
in his memory; now he can only
watch the sun scribble him a parting
autograph vanishing in his sky
behind where no one can advocate.
(C) Peter Kayode Adegbie