Short changed

I thought they were friends

That they would stand with me

And fight where I fought

But, they lied

They lied about that plan

They sold my efforts away

They blew our commitment

But, how they lied

They said the time was right

They bowed and vowed

They swore by the idea

And when they took that oath

They said it would be a union

But, they still lied

They sold it to the enemy

But, why their lies

They lied about that dream

And the vision we shared

The ones I trusted

But, why did they lie

Like vultures dancing at death

Smiling at my carcass 

The idea now scattered

But, they lied

 

Caricatures

They dance broken

Like sticks fragmented

And sing in inciting elation

Like teenagers in glee 

Caricatures dressed in style

Each parading his ethnic stronghold

Like a priced bull ready for slaughter

Caricatures on podiums

Acting with the finesse of maestros

Vows and promises they make

Swearing and sweating in excitement

Frothing in filth

Each of their words a lie

In praise of their tribal chief

They dance to the euphoria

Of their jubilant drunk masses
Each staggering in their own hatred

Drunk from their delusions of power

Incited by echoed fears
Drawing rage to their faces
Their fists ready to tear 

But when done, they'll return after ages

To the forgotten masses, in huge cars and cash

To bewilder the tattered village

In amazement as they zoom

Fast and furious behind hinged windows

To the safety of their guarded homes
To stir another round of bloodshed

 

My Odyssey

I will be gone, yet not for long

But let them know I’m gone

Try and teach them to know

Tell them of my tribulations

And the stories of my love

Bring them up in our ways

Until when they are of age

Show them the pictures

Of my conquests and loses

Don’t hide from them

My weaknesses and strengths

And teach them to be strong

Commit them to love and to respect

Ask them for me, to listen

To follow in the footsteps of their father

The grave, you must show them

And let them write the epitaph

A story of man, mortal like any other

But was man enough to be their father

Ask them to grow grass

And plant on my head

A tree to shade my home

Let them write my story

 

Laughter

You laugh like thunder storms

Roaring to lift your ribcage angrily

Your mouth stretched

To a shattering laughter

Echoing to arouse the dead

Reverberating in the dark

Like the laughter of the gods

Rumbling in the deep bellies

Of the ghost hills

Expectant with raw rage

Blowing like the angered typhoon winds

Pooling and scattering whirls of saliva

In oscillations of a scorned ocean

A crushing laughter, out pouring with fear

Cracking up your face to a distorted grin

Bulging out your eyes 

To suddenly burst to a stop

Dying out in repeated echoes  

 

Nostalgia

Vanished paths

Memories of old we lived

Of moments we shared

Running and tugging

Along rustic paths

From the village church

To the dusty fields

Oblivious of our vanishing paths

Vanished paths

So far in the yonder

Of a childhood we shared

Jumbling and muddling

Like a mad man’s gig

With giggles and mumbles

Naïve of our future paths

Our vanishing paths

Vanished paths

A past of our youth

Of dreams we shared

Now washed to the distance

Hugging and haggling

Like a pair of torn shorts

Caught in the dangle and tangle

Forgetful of our vanishing paths

 

Portrait

A portrait standing stitched

Hanging covered in soot

A relic from my past

Staring down at me

Like a parenting hawk

Perched above its nest

Its eyes scanning the distance

Emotionless from ages

Crumpled in dried dust

Hiding his once loud smile

Now distorted in texture

Like an aging cobweb

Standing on my wall

Unconcerned with my presence

Evoking in me emotions

Of his sonorous laughter

Now buried in old smoke

A portrait from my past

Still seated on my walls

Like an aging noose

Entangling our paths

 

Desires

Standing undetected

Behind tensed shadows

Anxiously awaiting your coming

My eyes Stretched

Creeping out of their sockets

To catch a glimpse of you

And trace your figure

Etching it finely to my memories

As I count each step carrying you away

Taking me with you

Step by step away from you 

Back again to my shadows