A WISH (Poem)

I wish the sun upon this land will forever set

And the clever moon will take eternal rest

I wish the stars will lose their fading light

That darkness might lay its wonted nest

I wish the history books were better written

That I was in deed a hero not the outcast villain

I wish yesterday’s record can easily be undone

That myself I might rekindle to never be alone

I wish the sky will never again weep in pain

That there might never be such thing as rain

I wish the soggy clouds above will dry and drain

That rainfall might never be seen again

I wish our paths never had crossed

That my story you never did know or read

I wish we never grew close or get accustomed

That from you this piteous me was hid

I wish the rivers will overflow to blazing flood

That the waters might raze this land for good

I wish nature itself had long been murdered

That my glum like wildfire might spread abroad

I wish myself I can erase as a forgotten folklore

That it come to early end this sorry tale of woe

I wish to dream and to wake no more

That this nightmare might forever be gone

Poem by: OLA OGUN

SIZWE BANSI IS DEAD (Book Review)

Sizwe Bansi is dead is a short play by Athol Fugard that depicts the indigents lives of the blacks during the golden days of apartheid regime in South Africa. The story begins with Styles reading a Newspaper in his Photoshop while also recounting his ordeal of having to work at Ford Motors, his former employer and how he eventually had to quit in other to become an established photographer whose shop happens to be next to a funeral parlour.

Styles further recounts the dignity of his profession, giving details narration of how he helps bring to life the dreams and pride of his folks, which the apartheid regime had successfully striped off. His monologue was eventually cut short by the intrusion of Roberts, who had come to take a photograph, which he intends to add to a letter that is to be sent to his wife back home. Following a series of events that is majorly characterised by a mastery use of flashback, the author then reveals that Robert’s true name is Sizwe Banzi but he had taken the identity of another man (The real Roberts) in other for him (Sizwe) to be able to live and work in the city. It’s a very short but interesting book with just about 44 pages.

What I find to be most interesting about this book is how Fugard was able to tell a beautiful story with very few words. In addition, his proficient use of flashback and symbolism is admirable, as he was able to effectively criticize the apartheid regime without necessarily pointing direct fingers or raising any government eyebrow. Lastly, the play also employs humour as a useful tool to get its message across. Sizwe Bansi is Dead remains one of the most artistic depiction of apartheid South Africa till today.

Review written by OLA OGUN

BLUEBIRDS

Boggy Bluebirds beneath the happy sky

Fly high and wide in bubbly gust of flurry flair

Like friendly furrows bidding a gaudy goodbye

Here and there they sprightly swing with charming cheer

Flapping fiercely their warmly wings with much spry

Like a blissful band of mannered men wryly walking on air

Though the dreary sky seems dismal, dull and dry

Yet the scenic scene is such that catches the eye

Like the twinkling tease of twilight when dusk is nigh

The fresh feeling at cockcrow when dawn draws near

It’s a gushing gaze of gorgeous splendour far above on high

A hallmark of harmony; a soothing story all ears must hear

Behold! Boggy Bluebirds beneath the scenic sky

Like a band of winged men wryly walking on air

A gaze of gorgeous splendour far above on high

It’s the mystic magic of nature for all to glimpse then stare

Poem by: OLA OGUN

A DIRGE TO HOPE

Yesterday the sun rose

It began to darken our days

Brighter and bitter, its rays did burn

To more darkness our days did fall

Today the sun is risen

And our days cast in shadows

Yet silence is all we say and do

Nothing under our polis is new

The cock forbids her tongue to crow

Our dogs bark not again

The lion of old roar no more

And the free have rejected freedom

None to bear the torch

Nor torch them to cinders

Those pious gods that ever betray us

Alas! Silence is all we do and say

Tomorrow the sun will be brightest

And our darkest night will visit

Then shall we fall and stumble astray

Whishing we said what we fear to say.

Poem by: OLA OGUN

You’re still human!

A new wave of season just arrived

A new dawn of time it is

Welcome! Well – come!

Says the warmish ticking clock

But make not that grave error

Supposing this change in time is more than it seem.

You should to self-deceit, to wishful thinking consent not

Nor slide down that gullible boulevard

Leading to the utopian land of hopeless promises

Fall not again into those delusive clouds of falsehood

Nor be snared by your hoaxed imagination

Thinking this new dawn is more than a mere continuation in time.

After all, it’s just a change in calendar,

And you my friend are still you!

Let hope die not, nor should it glow beyond reason

Lest you become its prey, aye a poor victim of hope

Dream not much, lest it be difficult to awake

To reality, the truth that bluntly stares men down

To sanity, do hearken and be not that spaceman

That flew too close to the sun.

Days gone by had myriad new dawns

Tomorrow, another soon will visit

After all, it’s just a change in calendar,

And you my friend are still human!

Poem by: OLA OGUN

The Joy of Joyful a Season

 
Not many a time comes these few moments

When all seem gleeful and bright

When merriment becomes our sole delight

These scarce seasons wholly make our best times.

Not many a time have we much tenderness

Forgetting all that made us different

Sharing amidst ourselves the greatest gift

LOVE, which is all that made our kind humans.

Not many a time have we been full of life

Feasting amidst folks, with our being made worthy

Not many a time have we been so happy

’cause we choose to ignore all that made us sad.

Not many a time have we the perfect excuse

To embrace joy; to live! And not just survive.

OLA OGUN