CHAINED

Don't chain me down with your words
Don't hold me down!
You tear me into shreds
Like a threadbare rag

When you bark orders at me
I shrink
And withdraw into the shell
You have caved me in

Don't look me over
And spit your malevolent decibels
When you are caught like a child
With his hand in a pie

When you stare daggers at me
I look, frightened like a mouse
And take to flight
When I hear your heightened crescendo

Don't look me over!
Don't hold me down!
As you shake and rumble
Like a volcano ready to explode.



WRITTEN BY:
Uduak Otongaran.
Uduak-otongaran@outlook.com
08066010521

THE BROKEN RIB

There goes the broken rib
Of strengths- unknown
Un-sormountable courage
To walk paths none dare
On steps, stripped- her ego lay
Calm to the stare of toads
And tongue of chameleons
But she forced her trods on.

She treads, she prods
Forcing her crushed ego on
For the walk of faith on broken stairs
Crushed, stripped, bared
Wasted- a man's broken rib
Broken- as egg shells
Shells inimical to strengths- of women
Yet, she forces her proddings on.

Of grace, she is a swan
Her strengths: not of muscles
Neither in ached joints or bruised feet
Swimming in seas of purpose
Legacies and full waists
Braids computing figures on a sixth scale
Weakness is strength- strength is purpose
When you force steps, implored on.

Mediocrity dies a thousand deaths
Timidity is barnished to exile lands
For she must win hearts
In her daily walk and work
The levity of tasks- not minding
Accolades are her dearest wish
If Maya, Ophrah, Serena and Adichie lives,
The resilience of women must live on.

WRITTEN BY:
©Uduak Otongaran.
July, 2015

picture by Nigel Pavitt

AFRICAN ROMANCE

I thought I knew it all
The legends of love hall
Smiled at my fall
The horrible mall
My childish thoughts

She was as soft as flagon urn
I was as stubborn as a gaul
Many times made her mourn
Too proud to give it all

I kept my heart from all 'harm'
She ditched it in the swarm!
All her smiles that were warm
Filled my heart with worms

My tepid troubled thoughts
Soon tasted cold darts
From cold rooms and empty spots
That reminded more about love lost
Than the recreation I need for my beard

I wish i learnt how to love
Not hide from loves gloves
Her warm hands are now cold
Colder than my troubled home

Ima ankana nkara!
Ima mmi anforo uyara
Ima mfo ano iduo esit.

PERSUASION

Who should you trust brother?
Your mother's brother?
Or brothers from another mother?
This wanderings make me bother
Your allegiance hangs in the hotel
Your meetings in various brothels
Isn't love....its a cudgel

Have you forgotten Mitchell?
What of Michael?
Our cousins the merkels!
How could evil be in bethel? !

Who should you trust?
Your blood or your guts?
Your friends? Or your own?
Son of my mother! You're grown!


Your friends don't love you
They could sell you
Your friendship has passed becareful
Listen to our counsel
Be the son of the council

ANOTHER GAZE ANOTHER CHANCE

My heart is a flutter of buzzing flies
Ceremonial lilies filled with butterflies
Loaded with lies
Make my eye cry

How can butterflies hurt?
How could comfort be this hot?
How would joy suddenly flop?
How did butter and flies become a word?
While you were here our world
Faded and truth were debated?
Trust to friends were traded
Anonymous stalker berrated!

Ufan ima mmi
Inighe nwan owo
Ini iso odudu
Anyan idem etukudo!
Sai! Andikpe nduduai!

While we are here......
Should we stare?
Should we pray?
Who is the prey?
Where is the lair?
Before you doubt my flair
I give you my hair!



For thosewho are not from Akwa ibom state
the 3rd line says my friend of love
sweet wife of another
 the future of power
the long slender body for the 3rd son
I have goose pimples
this form of praises are used to tease ladies on how much you love them

BUCKLE UP!

With open eyes she wailed

Brackened feathers in polished nail

Soon broke hell

The pounding of life made her frail

Previous advices ring many bells

Immediate lies derailed



Cold words laddened in sweets of butter

Vengeful regret choked words she could utter

The butters stink of gutter

Sweet fantasies no longer bother

To smile when she sees her lover brother

With open eyes, red shook the shudder



I've spoken million silences over her mission

In anger and submission

Silence over commotion

Truths over pontification

We learn in mistakes from exacerbation

The experiences reminds the action

Will it change us? Would it hurt us?

Brackened feathers of polished tears

Silence became the fear

It's too late to regret

You broke our heart

What do we have to debate?

HEALING HANDS

Let there be no Shame

In thinking about your name

Every actions take its blame

Life in its intrigue is a game

let no shame, Shame the realm



Let no Shame be your ambition

Competition is the new innovation

The issues of life unfolds like television

so many lies, yet much deception

Let no man Shame your ambition



There is no shame if a man shed tears

Atleast the pain he can afford to bear

If he bears pain, don't be the source of his shame

In tears, excuses shouldn't be mixed with blame!



Before you accuse, study the ruse

The victim and the abused

There is no shame in truths and fuse

The moment lies is infused

Reconciliation is hard to review