LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

lights, camera, action

how can I start

poetry from the heart 

cannot be wrenched out

like the body of a snail

the talons of fear grip my throat

the thunder in my belly growls

the lights burn my eyes

dim down the lights

so I can't see you

when darkness envlopes me

my voice goes into action

the grip around my throat loosened

the words flew out like smooth as silk

lights camera action

CLIPPED WINGS

She was shackled at eighteen

Young innocent and blind

She never listened to reason

Through rose coloured glasses he seemed so kind

She though his jealousy was a sign of love

But as usually happens, he clipped her wings of a dove

She changed because of those chains

Her petals closed no more to bloom

The light in her eyes locked behind a watery gaze

Her heart was filled with permanent gloom

He had clipped the wings of the dove

She grew thin with a heart of stone

Saw no joy in his kind of love

Felt no happiness with his wealth around

He clipped the wings of his beautiful dove

She killed him!

She cried

Not from inside but tears that quickly dried

The caged bird cried “liberare”, Free at last

The cry of freedom, emancipation and liberation

His death was her salvation
No more would he clip the wings of the dove

Free at last

Acquitted

“Crime of Passion” they said

With new wings of a dove

Reborn like the phoenix

She would soar away

To enjoy her freedom

Never to be shackled again by love

The total bliss of L I B E R A T I O N

Free at last

Free at last

BABY FATHER

The tough man put his gentle harms around his babe
"Don't cry" he said as he rocked and covered her with his cape
one arm shoved is gun under the cushions
Mr. Gangsta, the baby father

He looked into her eyes full of tears
and said "my baby have no fears"
forgetting the eyes that looked pleadingly when he pointed the gun at them with no mercy
No one in the hood could do what she could,
Bring Mr. Gangsta to his knees because of her tears

He put her on his back to rock her to sleep
Mum was at work to get food for them to eat
Her soft breath on his back calmed him down
and he swore to protect her, his darling daughter
as he shoved the gun deeper into the sofa

KONONGO KAYA

MAN

............. I don't love you any more
you've grown too fat
I don't like your hairstyle
... it looks like the back of a rat

MAN

............I don't love you any more
You are so boring
Its easier talking to a stranger
early in the morning

MAN

............I don't love you any more
you snore when you sleep
Even the food your cook
will make a starving man weep

WOMAN

...........I know you don't love me
so I will make a move
to find myself someone
who will get me in the groove

WOMAN

.............I know you don't love me
I don't love you either
I'll make my way today
to where the grass is greener

STRANGER

........I love you Woman,
would you be with me
I like the way you are full bodied
no thin girl has turned my head
nor made me feel so wanted

STRANGER.

.........I love you Woman
your hair is so pretty
I love the way you talk
and make my heart go flitty

MAN

...........WHERE ARE YOU WOMAN

You are mine

I love you I love you I love you
don't leave me for him
You can snore all you want
Your hair is the best
your body so nice and plump

WOMAN

.............GOODBYE KONONGO KAYA
You only want me because he wants me
You say you love me
but he loves me better
maybe next time you meet a Woman
you'll treasure her
and treat her better

(c) Mariska Taylor-Darko 2011

INNER SELF

Searching,

What am I?

Who am I?

Why am I?

Searching.

Created by the Omnipotent

I decided by I AM

Before the beginning of time

Created from no copy

The Mystical Magical Omnipotent

Chose me

Is She in me –?

I am in Her image because I am female

But is there a gender for Omnipotent?

The all powerful,

All seeing,

All understanding knows

Why?

What?

And who I am

But I am still searching

I try to live like my master original

To be good,

Kind,

Loving

Understanding,

Spiritual

And concerned about my other companions

Who are also created by the Omnipotent

Linking us like the bees to the pollen in the flowers

Like the streams link to the rivers that join into the sea.

Searching

My spirit hovers at night searching for answers as to who I am,

Why I am and what I am.

One day I will know

When I go to see the Omnipotent

Who will tell me why I was,

What I was and

Who I became

(c) Mariska Taylor-Darko 2011

The Chief

Nana Ahwew VII - Tufuhen of Abora Wiomoah - Abora State - Central Region - Ghana

Fontomfrom, Fontomfrom 

Nana ɔrɛba ooo Nana ɔrɛba ooo 

The king sat on his throne looked around at all that was his home. 

Heavy is the head that wears crown.

The weight on the shoulders will wear him down. 

The spirit of the ancestors are with him. 

He has to bring the spirit from within to help in his rule

To protect his stool and win the hearts and support of the people around

 Nana tinasɛ, 

 Nana brɛ brɛ

 Nana brɛ brɛ

kete- kete- kete- pan

(c) Mariska Taylor-Darko 2011

Mini Mini Shoe Market

The sun was bright It was hot and sticky

 Market traders were out

 Customers being picky

 Suddenly in front of me

 Fantastic colours appeared 

Dazzling my eyes

 I saw the trader whose road side shop was

 Full of multi coloured shoes 

Every shoe had it's own story

Fruit Glorious Fruit by the roadside

The wonderfully colourful fruit

designed by God to entice the eyes and mouth 

call out "Buy me now"!  I am fresh, 

No pesticides, 

No GMO, 

No forced growth to ship abroad,

The fresh fruits, 

Rejected for export and considered imperfect 

But fresh for home use. 

Don't mind them, 

I am perfect for you,

"Buy me! I am yours!"

Rhythms of Poetry in Motion

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