Friday, November 20, 2009
The Soapless Opera
Of lovers’ hands tightly locked
On to each other they cling
Spouse’s hair tenderly stroked
The hand a facsimile of a wing
Towards the sunset they walk
A block they are, an item; a thing
But are in for a big shock
A pipe dream in the offing
A Soap- less opera it is…
Divergent visions each bare
'bout friendship and true love
Vowing solemnly always to be a pair
Swearing upon the sky up above
Yet when goodbye kisses they blow
And at the corner they disappear
Part time lovers suddenly bellow
Running obliviously to endear
A Soap-less opera this is...
By Clifford B. Okumu
Friday, October 30, 2009
Upon the mountain
Upon the mountain of excellence
My weary eyes strenuously gaze
Allowing no miasma of despair
My vision to impede
Albeit far-flung it seems
Attaining that height
Remains an inherent mission
Over ambitious perhaps, you may
Prefer to disdainfully tag my ego
An idealist in principles
Unrelenting in endeavors, alright
So my bottle of optimism’s half full
See, as you may wish it half empty
I tread on thin thread-like ground
On the verge of fissure
This voyage en route the sky
Though stretched, my destination
I must reach, on that mountain
Zenith I reside
Abbreviated it; Cliff, that’s me
And you,
Wonder what’s my impetus?
Step by step, grip by grip, and
This dream will materialize
Cold, freezing cold it is but I endure
Looking down where I hail
From distant it is, the apex
Where am headed to, appears
Just a hand stretch away
Then I’ll be up, up there
Upon the mountain, my providence
By Clifford B. Okumu
“When it rains”
when it rains
back in time my mind
journeys to the day at
the bus stop we first met
that day from the downpour
your hair you shielded with
a beauty mag on your head
leaving me laughing
my stress away
but being a gentleman
who cares my umbrella
I invited you to share
bliss feels my heart
when it rains
when it rains
in retrospect of our
first date I smile
across the table of the
open roof café our hands
we held, a wish that it rain
when we kiss you made
and indeed it did
your lips on mine under
the rain hot they still felt
oblivious of other patrons
close to each other
we danced our bodies
tenderly stroking
for you my body aches
when it rains
when it rains
about us making love
I reminisce and you
yearning for the day we
in the rain would bond
how to the shower
I you would drag just
to have a semblance
of that desired moment
what a sight to relish of
the water rolling down
your skin its place
wish I could take
nostalgia floods my heart
when it rains
when it rains
melancholy reigns
my heart into pieces
uncountable breaks
for contain I can’t the
abyss that behind you left,
but blame you I can’t
for tears I made you shed
in the rain me you waited
from that trip in time
to return yet I didn’t
down your dimpled cheeks
tears rolled, my role the rain
took and wiped them away
remorseful I always feel
when it rains
By Clifford B. Okumu
Why the sky is blue...
This I deduce from what we gone through
You’re the reason the sky is blue
But never had I seen this obvious clue
Some say to the sky the ocean reflecteth
Say I the joy your eyes relentlessly showeth
To my face then upwardly bounceth
Once you cried the day turned murky
All halted, melted everyone irky
Luck you brought me the seemingly unlucky
Smoothened a life I once called rocky
Indeed nature adores thy personality
I too do like you so much in proximity
Never leave my side lets be an entity
Shine in my life shine so bright to infinity
Color the sky azure paint it in superfluity
“The portrait of a nation”
A Portrait of an impoverished
People, emaciated children’s
Mouths flocked with flies
By the stench of hunger attracted
Flies that edifice another layer
Of lips, atop the thirst cracked ones
Stomachs that have not been
Home to food for days on end
Hopelessness a feature obvious
On these innocent beings faces
A portrait of an impoverished
People, scavenging for left over
Meals heaped upon filthy bins
Brawling over it akin to lions ripping
Apart the only gazelle in the feral
Aware that, they know not where
From the next meal cometh, and
The dusk dreaded, for nights are
But spend out in the cold on
Pavements, the only known home
This masterpiece conceived by
The elite of the people, coined to
Details impeccable is nothing
Worthy of global exhibition, yet
In the museums of our minds
They linger, with the brush of
Impunity more paint is smeared
Red, shed in PEV, ended in IDP
Then wiped the green in MAU now
Behold, a portrait of looming draught
By Clifford B. Okumu
stubborn heart
listen to me
heed my advice
its safe no more
to fall for them
no, listen please
don't be stubborn
your stubbornness
only will hurt you
make you spend
your tears for
unworthy courses
would you listen to me?
at least just this once
for last time you blundered
your pain i had to share
believe me its not
funny at all so
stop laughing
remember how
ailing you were?
you were just about
to cut the silver cord
yes, that time with her
you would have taken
me along with you
and am not ready
not just yet
so believe me when
i say you need a break
you might have healed
yes, but the scar
the scar could turn
again into a fatal wound
forget about doctors
they too can administer
a fatal injection, so
stay away from them too
alone you may be
but not necessarily lonely
so my heart, don't let
me down...LISTEN !!!
by Clifford B. Okumu
“Safe Zone”
Wrapped in self pity
She lives in constant tears
Entrapped in failure mentality
She treads on imaginary fears
Her world a virtual cubicle
Deficient of breathing air
To the darkness a tentacle
Enrolled herself by despair
Perennial pain she endures
In her safest zone
Her best friend, her Ego
Her side she departs not
When she lacks a place to go
Her mind is the best spot
They converse in a dialect
Only she and ‘herself’ know
She conforms not in intellect
A snub of the social flow
She is a lone runner
In her safest zone
Flaunting isn’t her fashion
Parading not trifle trinkets
Sororities hated with passion
Forbade touching the wickets
Her clique chosen with care
At the most they total two
Her burden if given to bear
Your own you wouldn’t too
A heroine indeed she is
In her safest zone
To hearsay she is deaf
Only lips show the motion
She partakes of no beef
That circulates in acclamation
Love, to her non existent
Her heart an empty shell
To it an active dissident
Hears no wedding bell
She clings on self adoration
In this safe zone
By Clifford B. Okumu
nothing like you...
I’ve seen roses so red,
but your lips?
i've seen chocolate brown,
but your skin?
i've seen perfect alignment,
but your teeth?
i've seen nothing like you...
i've felt moist surfaces,
but your skin?
i've felt hot vapor,
but your breathe?
i've felt warm embraces,
but your hug?
i've felt nothing like this...
i've seen eyes beautiful,
not like yours
i've kissed lips so sweet,
not like yours
i've touched hands moist,
not like yours
i've encountered nothing like you
by Clifford B. Okumu
“LESLIE (the Acronym)”
Lovely work of God’s creation
Beautiful and worthy of adoration
Every sparkle beams with brilliance
No man can put up defiance
Her spectacle is such an experience
Endearing a smile has she
Cute dimples you can’t miss to see
Eyes whose mesmerizing gaze
Never will cease to amaze
But hearts to incessantly blaze
Sumptuous lips she does possess
Making her a charming princess
The nose definitely adorns her face
Not at all lacking in grace
A sight to behold and embrace
Light is her complexion
A silken texture of sensation
Her hair long, black and well done
Nails aptly polished with tan
Up to lick them anyone can
Incredibly alluring are her looks
A phenomenon like none in books
Likeable, Kissable,
Hold-able, caress- able,
Touchable, loveable
Every man’s dream come true
An explanation why the sky is blue
To uncover you men will endeavor
Many your splendor to insatiably devour
Few to slowly but surely savor
By Clifford B, Okumu
I REFUSE TO WRITE ABOUT LOVE
I refuse to write about love
A subject common to masses
Yet my sentiments compel me
To inscribe my grievances
I refuse to write for one fact
The fear of being perceived weak
For love is termed a woman’s thing
Yet I must portray a manly streak
I refuse to be an open book
Decipherable even to non-book wormers
Again am unwilling to be a sitting duck
Because love breeds vulnerability
I abhor the abject mystery in love
Experiencing indescribable emotions
Incorrigible hunger for reciprocation
But knowing not if you are loved in return
This Love makes you write love poems
And it’s for the same damn reason
I adamantly refuse to write about love
Seemingly I can’t control my inner person
But I promise to write about love
The day I will comprehend its genesis
I will surely speak about love
That day I forget the word, Nemesis.
By Clifford B. Okumu
Facebooking – mania
A day begins with a log on
Status updated on phone
Mention something about the morn’
Or the night just gone
If still sleepy say it!
Sleepless night it was that’s perfect!
You have nothing to spit
Ooh... Up you just make it!
Think something catchy
Make peoples thoughts itchy
What do I write…? “Life is bitchy!”
And comments flow… “Wow! Great Ritchie.”
In the Mat update your status
“The tout really pissed u!s”
“Am on a plane to Kansas”
Or, “Wasee niko na Marcus”
The real maniacs come in
“Niko lunch Pizza inn”
“Who wants Chapati Maini?”
And fellows hastily comment in
Profiles they edit frequently
From single to engaged hurriedly
Changes reflected on the wall aptly
Then married to now single instantly
Work productivity dwindling
Majority of staff facebooking
From morning to evening
Somebody has been nothingning
Friend requests clog notifications
From known to unfamiliar relations
Then invites flow in succession
Man! Isn’t there auto deletion?
When you think you are done
Think twice my dearest fan
Someone just sent you lunch at one
Ooh, lunch ya power… eat, if you can
Come think of it positively
Birthdays are spent cheaply
Wishes on wall sent profusely
Birthday Cards are dying off rapidly
Momentarily this is my dissertation
Next time will give more elucidation
Just pointing facebook is an addiction
AND SHE JUST KEPT QUIET…
I told her it was impossible
I and the other one are inseparable
Our love for each other indelible
Defying her is unimaginable
Making her cry is unacceptable
And she just kept quiet…
I, she wanted for herself
Demanding the other one I shelf
I looked at her indeed she was an elf
If she thought I’d listen to her useless self
“For your information I decide for myself”
And she just kept quiet…
I stood up and told her to leave
Politely of course didn’t end up in a heave
A hug she offered and I did receive
In return goodbyes kiss her I had to give
Living me with the guilt that her I had to deceive
And she just kept quiet…
By Clifford B. Okumu
AFFECTION… AN AFFLICTION
My heart, to her she demands I surrender
That I refuse, I don’t supply tender
I feel not what she feels nigh nor yonder
This, her I have told to ponder
But no, affection is afflicting her mind
Cry she does, we time to spend
Cannot, I too busy weekend till weekend
Text on phone nocturnally she send
Lies I reply and 'goodnight' I append
But no, affection is afflicting her sense
An occupation love is, one should commit
Demands too damning I won’t submit
Of course then, that of 'sensual summit'
Nature of work cannot regularly permit
But no, affection is afflicting her patience
Decry I her openness to love thoughtlessly
Contain she can’t a weakling supposedly
Obsession I call it she’s idle and lonely
“Make yourself busy” I tell her amicably
But no, affection is afflicting her personality
By Clifford Okumu.