SOLDIERS NEVER DIE: El Adde

Mortality as immortality

though the State might dither
sometimes
though the enemy might celebrate
sometimes
though the world might move on
sometimes

we know you are among us
in a place safer than that night
of chaotic transition

we remember you
and honour your galant sacrifice
that we may live
we remember you
and honour your blood

that we may breath.

soldiers never die

you too are among us.

© April 2016

EUGENE MARTIN: a belated memoriam

Good teachers never die, they say
they live on in the solitary yet shared memory
the gloom and cheer of academic hallways
and the confident gait of successful graduates

and now they say
you took that long limitless walk among the departed
how can it be that Summer '08 was a farewell
the final dinner @ adams morgan
the lunch @ the malaysian
the chinese and russian and indian embassies

so much fun. so much knowledge. so effortlessly delivered

good teachers never die Gene
they reside in the hearts of their brilliant students
the roaring laughter and periodic nostalgia
so you went

what more can orphaned fans do but cry
in silent acceptance of this pale reality

walk well among the spirits
be well among the elders
see down through the clouds

great teachers never die.

© March 2016

JANUARY 13: LAUGHTER

How can it not be
that our happiness intrinsically ties

to the laughter of innocence

slipping thru' the tenderness
of those supple vocals

staggered words uttered
in ridiculous imitation

rolling in defiance of all
all but limited linguistic limitations

two seasons of welcome
to this, our world Naimah

to laugh and cry in equality of blissful measure

blood is but liquid life
and the feeling?
this is eternal
we found bliss not just in breathless materialism

but in the joyful, infant rhythm of your beautiful small heart

two steps for two seasons
laugh on Naimah
the universe takes note.

© January 2016

SUNSHINE

Silence flows through
this cacophony of love
a shared existence
in life's twisted terrains

words fail
sometimes...

yet to know
that you may never know
is sheer sad-ity

thunder strikes
sometimes...

you're here as you are
calm and celebrated
joyous whirlwind
shake me now
shake me forever

floods rage
sometimes...

unbowed
Naimah smiles
for her beautiful mother

the sun?
the sun shines

© November 2015

FREEDOM AS BONDAGE

@sayafrica:
If the spark is gone
don't hurt yourself more
trying to be nice
cut me adrift like ice.

@Sangodala:
If you had cut me adrift
in error of judgement
uncertain of the spark
or its presence
confuse me no more
chase not my now receding shadow.

@sayafrica:
Am no eunuch
to be auctioned
nor alsatian
but a Spartan
the bullet to my body
or the pitchfork
to my head

@Sangodala:
You're child
of no lesser goddess
this now i confirm
if the Rubicon you must cross
let it not be to Waterloo
where Napoleon now rests!

@sayafrica:
Like Noah to Ararat
i too my must arrive
at a safe haven
far from the havoc.

© November 2015