Ode in Awe...

We have come to praise God
But all I want to do is praise you

Your face is the joy of morning 
For I hope it brings forth Smiles
Smooth as a stream running
Or your hair on for miles

Your legs are like the road untraveled 
Bearing endless joys unravelled 
Such as your fingers
A long memory that lingers...

 Your eyes bear the glint of élan 
As the Opal waiting for dusk
A golden cob still in husk
A Princess awaiting a crown

We came to praise God
All I did was praise you...

Written in Awe
Inspired by The Lady I Do Not Know
Clasfon,NLS Bwari
2:8:15
Circa 4:00pm

Of Life and Determination...

Like ants we climb 
Up this hill of life 
Burdened by what we know not
Held aloft by twines of fate

Though our paths be washed away
On we trudge through the sludge
Though our belief may move and sway
In the end our success shall judge  

What shall we see at the top?
Is there a top?
Do the Gods sit there and look upon us?
And make jest of our Sisyphus curse?

We know we cannot say
But what we can say we know
Come rain or snow 
We shall find the bread for today

For we live for today!

Inspired by the Struggle...
Nnaemeka Ugochukwu 
@IamTheEmeka
11:04:16
Circa 6pm

MAGA

Everybody in the neighborhood knew Okechukwu was greedy. Everybody except Okechukwu himself. He never considered himself as greedy. He saw himself as a business man. A shrewd business man.

He knew people called him greedy. He knew they whispered and laughed when he opened his shop even on Easter Sunday. He knew his friends had called him aka gum when he had left the Catholic Church because the priest had made him a member of the launching committee for the new church building.  And he did not mind that the pastor of his new church scowled at him whenever he put his well squeezed 20 naira into the offeeing basket (which happened to be all the time).Let him vex.
His friends laughed whenever he told them that none of the money they gave in church ever got to God's hands; all they had to do was look at the pastor's new car.
Let them laugh. They had also laughed when he had used the small money he had to buy the 8 by 6 foot container. Six months later, they were borrowing money from him.

He was not greedy. He was just a businessman with foresight. It was not his fault that other people did not have the kind of instincts he did. He always knew what was going to happen before it happened. Like when the bakeries had gone on strike. He had arranged to go to Minna and buy bread. That week, he had made a killing off bread alone.

Two days ago, He got wind that the pure water manufacturers were going on strike.  He had quickly taken all the money he could lay his hands on and bought 500 bags of pure water. He had bought 200 cans for dispensers. So, when yesterday every other shop in the neighborhood had run out of water, he had hiked up his own prices.  It was not greed, it was just good business acumen and foresight.

When the customer parked in front of the shop, Okey knew he was about to make a killing.  He could always smell opportunity from a mile away. It had nothing to do with his big nose.

"Welcome Sir '

"Thank you. I want to buy water. These dispenser cans. How much?"

"It's 1000 sir"

"1000? haba na"

"Its what it is o. You know they're not producing again."

"OK.  Gimme 5."

Okey smiled to himself.  He hadn't expected that the man would agree to 1000. This one was an easy money. He quickly helped the man load the cans into the boot.

The man counted out ten 500 naira notes and handed them over.  Okey kept smiling. Every money was ok to him, but mint was the best of all. He would keep it special and not spend it.

He pocketed the money. Another Maga just paid.

Outside,the customer got into his car and smiled. He dipped his hand into the glove box and counted the money there. At least he had managed to spend 5k of the counterfeit money he had bought from the mallams in Wuse last night.

LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT OF YOU...

I sat awake last night and thought of you
When stars abound and doubts were few
With an audience of fear you took thestage
Your face author, title and page

Last night I thought of you...

If the winds sang your name,
Would the mountains sway to the beat of your heart?
If flowers grew on this concrete,
Would you be a Rose?

Or a thorn for the groping heart
Quick to wound like Cupid's dart
Never to heal
Like a bite to an Achilles heal

Last night I thought of you...

If I brought you the moon on a string
Would you sit with me and watch the mountains sing?
If I made the clouds write your name
Would we write an ode to the rain?

Last night I thought of you...

If you read this
Would you understand
That last night I thought of you...

Of Love, Lust and Loss...
Written for She Who Must not be Named
NLS Bwari
Circa 10:10, 16:2:14
@IamTheEmeka

Pleasant Confusions

It's funny how a few words can spoil your whole day. In my own case, the words that had spoilt mg entire day were the ones I had just read off my phone. The text message told me she wasn't coming. She wasn't coming because "something had come up with her boss". "She" was Tolu, the girl that was supposed to visit me today. 

I plopped down on my chair and looking down in between my legs, I realized that I still had an erection. I hissed. The "something" that had come up was probably that she was going out with her boss to service him. Women! I didn't blame her though, it would be a pity for that ass to waste. I looked around my parlor. I was impressed with what I saw; the 32inch LG tv was new and gave the place a smart look. The place was even smarter today as i had cleaned up in anticipation of Tolu's visit and the sexual romp that was to follow. Both of which were never going to happen. I hissed again. 

I had to arrange for another girl. Someone had to put Junior to sleep i thought looking at the bulge in my shorts. Which girl was available? I was 28, living on my own in a one bedroom apartment with a parlour and kitchen,I was working at one of the numerous consultancy firms in the country and reasonably good looking so girls weren't really a problem for me. I was quite good at the skirt chasing business as a matter of fact. But this was a generally dry time for me. I had just paid my rent to my wicked landlord and decided to hands off girls till I was buoyant again. 

Tolu had been an indulgence. Which hadn't worked out fine. The damned rent! If not, I would easily have breezed into town with money in my pocket and...I let the thought go. And the rent...I had to collect my receipt from the evil man. 

I headed outside. The compound was a spacious one and contained just two buildings and that of the landlord. The other building had been taken though the people hadn't moved in. I had taken the building as it was the only one i could find that wasn't crammed with 20 or more rooms. I guess that was why the landlord had charged the outrageous amount. But that wasnt why I didn't like him. I didn't like him because anytime he was getting the better of you, he did it with a look in his eye that said he was enjoying screwing you over. 

I crossed the empty space and got to his door. The building was quiet as usual. The landlord had no children and stayed Alone with his wife though they weren't so young. At least the man wasn't so young. His wife was quite young and pleasant. She was churchy and always covered her hair.

She came to the door as I knocked and told me that her husband wasn't around but that I could come in and she would search around for the receipt. I agreed and stepped inside.

  As I walked in behind her, I noticed for the first time that she wasn't bad in the way of shape either . I smiled. 

"Gimme a little time let me check for the receipt in his room".

'Ok'.

As she turned and headed for the room off the dining area. I smiled again. I knew the chance of ever getting within a foot of that ass was lower than my bank balance, but it didn't hurt to dream.

 Growing up, I had read tons of stories in Hints, where the tenant had gotten to screw the landlord's wife. I fervently prayed for the God of Hints to grant me a miracle. 

'Tony'

'Ma'

'Please come in here and help me search,I don't know where this man hid the receipt'

'Ok ma'. 

I stood up from the cushion I was on and headed the way I had seen her go. It turned out the door led to a lobby. I looked left and saw a door standing open,I entered the room. 

   What happened next could have fit nicely into any of my porn driven adolescent fantasies. My landlady was standing by the door in short red towel. I could literally have picked pieces of my jaw from the floor.

"Tony, can you help me service my engine?"

Before I could answer, my phone rang. I hurriedly pulled it out and hit the red button. But the ringing did not stop. It got louder and the vibration kicked in. I looked up and the scene before me faded. 

I was back in my sitting room and my phone was vibrating in my pocket.

Damn. 

My hormones must be going crazy,coming up with a dream like that. With my land lad of all people. Shaking my head. 

I pulled the phone out of my pocket and it stopped ringing. I checked the the missed call. Tolu. I sighed,why was she now calling me eh ? I hit the call back tab. 

"Tony, are you still at home?"

"Yes"

"Ok,I'm coming. I didn't go with my boss again"

She didn't bother to wait for my muttered "ok" before she cut the call.

Yes! I pumped my fist in the air. I was back in the game. 

I did a quick scan of the parlour and decided that everything was ready. Only thing left was to take a shower. I sprinted up from the chair and headed for the bathroom. Halfway, there was a knock on my door. I was tempted to ignore it. I didn't want any wandering visitors at the moment and I was sure Tolu couldn't have gotten here that fast. Or could she? Better to check. 

I headed for the front door,unlocked my protector and unbolted the door. 

I looked straight into the eyes of my landlady.

"Tony,I don't know what is wrong with my car. I think it's the engine. Can you come and help me service my engine?"

 

I CRUSHED MY HAPPINESS

Here the Sun rises slowly

As if it wonders if she's worth the effort

But rise it does,upon the earth scowling 

Day and night in eternal sport

Upon the butterfly's wings

Colorful as an Ancient Prince

Fleeting as my thoughts 

Light has come to the darkest pots 

You're a beauty to behold

Cornucopia of reds,greens and Gold

Birthed of heaven's own brush

Making gardens of brambles and brush

But where were you last night?

When Joy left and hope took flight 

When the earth as my face lay in frown

I didn't see you then,as I can't now

For before dawn was born

I crush the caterpillar at my door

Written from the Pit

16:1:15

@iBlaqprinz

4:30

Last night,Our blood boiled

And we took up arms in aged battle 

Alas, when we parted

Moses's Rod lay between us

Who was Pharaoh?

And who was Jew?

So, we lay

Bodies cold, tongues sour

Sacks filled with grit

In the chill after a pour 

And when I heard the footsteps of dawn 

And Soleil sought us

I sought to mend that which was torn

To make my part yours

And my touch was a stone in a pond 

And once again a battle raged

But this time, Our fires burned 

All as a cock bore his message 

4:30

Musings of An Insomniac

Nnaemeka Ugochukwu 

@IamTheEmeka

Written For & Beside Her

5/8/14

Circa 4:30am

# end