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

By Clifford B. Okumu

“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

Maniacs watch out or end in rehabilitation

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.