SHADOWS AND GHOSTS

Am an illusion

i can be anywhere
on top of the Himalayas
where you reside
coldness is your synonym

life is a dud
sometimes
or is it so often?

or i can stride the Sahara
sunk in its sublimating smother

happiness the fabric
sorrow is but a scratch
on the substance of life

but you can not out-run
your shadow

or can you

© September 2012

LEOPARDS & LEGENDS

You came
of own volition
to this our abattoir
a slaughter house of sorts
or a theatre of dreams
where hearts bleed
and souls drip

94 minutes is all it takes
its all it took
your spots to erase
your claws to recoil

now,
with the roosters silenced
the Ingwe-lets totally Divasified
you bow in a mockery of victory

subdued
you stand in the green regalia
the powerful hue of legendary Mahia

who are you to imagine victory
in a place so secure?

 © September 2012

TRATTORIA

Pollo Carciofi Piccante
oops! and ouch!
i just bit my africanated tongue
pronouncing this order

a yard away she smiles
and nods me on
am encouraged
dear Italiano
the waiter smiles

now let my feet dangle
as i savour the city's jumbled
freedom

outside
beneath the balcony
nairobi friday madness rolls on
unpertubed
unaware of the calm serenity above

Trattoria

 © September 2012

ANNE

Nightness sneaks upon me
like an old man
the allure of youth has but
a bitter after-taste
in my once supple lips

am now all but gone
in a tight embrace with the wind

behold the moon mourns
and the sun blinks
sunset sings a welcome dirge
i am a star
you are a meteorite

welcome to Nirvana

© July 2012

LOVE AFTER LOVE

It is difficult to out-sprint the deer
in love you said must try
i was a marathoner
unable to catch you

so i stood by the forested path
where you left me
holding on to the silhouettes
of dreams deferred

the village destination so close
standing beautiful against the sunset
our eternity grew up into nightmares

now,
good and whole and bubbly again
you take notice i see
but i am a marathoner still

so lets just love from a distance
it is safe this way
nobody gets hurt

a second time at least!
love after love

 © June 2012