The Poet in the Poem

PART THE MAN

  The sun and all that is light,

  As moon with stars all grow dark.

  Clarity as sharpness looses sight,

  Blackness embraces and mind lack.

  Keepers tremble and men stoop,

  Grinders cease and are few.

  The limbs slowing to the stop.

  And what are teeth barely chew.

  As again clouds return after rain,

  The two window lookers grow dim.

  The whole worlds as a haze remain;

  For the eyes’ sight grows ever so thin.

  The doors to streets are closed

  And sounds of grinding all fade.

  Living excludes its exposed;

  And earned sound recedes as made.

  Men rise up at birds’ sound,

  But all their songs grow faint.

  Rise early till slumber is found,

  As hearing takes no more paint.

  Then men are afraid of heights

  And of the dangers in the streets.

  The unable body stays in nights,

  Safely home away from days’ hits.

  Surely the almond tree blossoms

  As the grasshopper drags along.

  The head’s fur age overcomes,

  Like it does the body to it belong.

  All desire kinds no longer stir

  As nothing else bears its fun.

  Overwhelmed not by all here,

  But by the ending of the run.

  Time takes a shade yet again

  As it is shorten with everyday.

  Hurrying is slower and in pain

  And waiting easier, a long delay.

  Severed is the silver string

  Or the golden bowl is broken.

  Pitcher is shattered at the spring,

  Everything here is forgotten.

  The wheel broken at the well

  And mourners go about the streets.

  When the eternal home takes the fell,

  As man goes amidst only wreaths.

  As the living extinguishes in all men;

  Dust returns to the ground it is from.

  And at the very earthly ebbing end,

  To God who gave it, spirit returns home.

  (Ecclesiastes 12)

  ONENESS

  Educate the mind

  And feed the soul.

  Where else do find

  Such daunting a goal.

  Bread for the souls,

  This bred their mind;

  Woven common goals

  Their oneness to find.

  NAMELESS

  People would all fall,

  Rise and again fall all.

  For dues nature pays,

  In this nature all dies.

  To the fine or stricken

  Stranger things happen.

  Mystery is life itself;

  God’s own other half.

  DEVIL

  Here thou are to rein in the pastured flock

  With sweeter tender grass and shaded pond,

  The falsehood in thy rule does only mock.

  Basking in the elongated moments’ bond,

  Thou make all thy bread from one rock;

  For not one of any is yours to be found.

  ISCARIOT

  Star of every Testament

  Chose him to his tenement,

  To quietly be a lonely key

  Whose shame is malarkey.

  WHO IS THE PAGAN?

  Beating drums sing their faith;

  Wailing faith’s revelry is late.

  Tears of men will disappoint yet;

  As prayers hover in endless wait.

  Spirituality is not religion and

  The spirit’s faith made the man.

  For here hinges hope men sang;

  They say who really is the pagan.

  MIRACLE DEFINED

  Faith small as a lil’ mustard seed

  Would lift a mulberry tree and a sea feed.

  Obedience, constant as air in breath

  Would walk water as land with its might.

  THE DOVE ON THE DISTANT OAK

  Further than man would reach

  Perch the Dove high on wood.

  That old acorn time’s search

  Created to fit man’s own hood.

  In the air up and so distant;

  Safe from man’s own filth,

  The Oak hosts for an instant

  That hatchling of man’s guilt.

  Seen and called with a but,

  Calm as it coos with love.

  If faith and love shows not,

  Then above remains the Dove.

  JUST BEING MYSELF

  When we simply had met

  After our identity had left

  Our bodies and minds alone,

  With knowledge of our own.

  God is that dual twilight

  We query as we delight;

  At dawn to seek favour

  Or dusk when we murmur.

  Who we show respect

  Builds as we do expect;

  Not on age but the score,

  As at present not before.

  We know just our own,

  Just as it is so borne.

  We forge ourselves on

  To form our own fun.

  We please ourselves first;

  It’s human that others’re next.

  In reverse we are selfless,

  And just as Divine, no less.

  ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN

  ALEPH

  Blessed’re they whose ways’re blameless,

  Who walk according to His laws and no less.

  Blessed’re they who keep His statutes

  And seek Him with all their heart’s truths.

  Nothing wrong they do or say;

  They just walk in only His way.

  Your precepts You have all laid,

  That they are to be fully obeyed.

  Oh, that my ways were steadfast

  In obeying all Your decrees cast!

  I would not be put to any shame then,

  When Your commands I consider, all of them.

  I will praise You with an upright heart

  And learn Your righteous laws by light.

  I will follow and obey Your decrees;

  Do not utterly forsake me Lord, please.

  BETH

  How can the youth keep his ways pure?

  But by living according to Your word sure.

  I seek You, Lord with all my heart;

  Do not let me stray from Your firm light.

  I have hidden Your word in my heart

  That I might not sin against Your might.

  Praise be to You, O mightiest Lord;

  Teach me forever Your decrees and word.

  With my lips I recount the total amount

  Of the laws that come from Your mouth.

  I rejoice in following all Your statute

  As one rejoice in great riches with youth.

  I meditate on Your precepts

  And consider Your concepts.

  I delight in Your decrees Lord;

  I will not neglect Your word.

  GIMEL

  Do good to Your servant and I will live;

  I will obey Your word and not sieve.

  Open my eyes that I may see all;

  Wonderful things in Your gracious law.

  I am always a stranger in this very world,

  Don’t hide from me Your commands and word.

  My soul is consumed with the longing;

  For Your laws at all times, I’m yearning.

  You rebuke the arrogant, who’ve cursed,

  Who stray from Your command nursed.

  Remove from me all scorn and contempt

  For I keep Your statutes as they’re meant.

  Though rulers jointly sit and slander me,

  Your servant will meditate on Your decree.

  Your statutes are always my delight;

  They are my counselo
rs and my light.

  DALETH

  I am laid low in the very dusty world,

  Preserve my life according to Your word.

  I recounted my ways and You heard me.

  Teach me Your decrees and answer me.

  Teach me to understand all Your precepts,

  Then I’ll meditate on Your wonderful concepts.

  With such painful sorrow is my weary soul,

  Strengthen me according to Your sole goal.

  Keep me away from all deceitful ways,

  Be gracious to me with Your law always.

  I’ve chosen the truthful ways of Yours.

  I have set all my heart on Your laws.

  I hold fast to Your statutes, O Lord.

  Do not let me be put to shame, O God.

  I run in the path of Your decree

  For You set my whole heart free.

  HE

  Teach me, O Lord, to follow Your decrees.

  I will keep them to the end without cease.

  Give me understanding, with all my heart.

  I will keep Your law and obey it in my act.

  Direct in Your command’s own path,

  For I know there I will find delight.

  Turn my heart towards Your statutes

  Not towards selfish gain and mistruths.

  Turn my eyes away from a worthless thing,

  Preserve my life according to words You bring.

  Fulfill Your promise to Your servant.

  That You may be feared, all You want.

  Take away all the disgrace I dread,

  For Your laws are good and bread.

  How I long for Your precepts in my life,

  Preserve me in Your righteousness and rite.

  WAW

  May Your unfailing love come, O good Lord,

  As salvation according to Your promise, O God.

  Then I will answer the one who taunts me,

  For I trust in Your every word and decree.

  Don’t snatch the truth from my mouth,

  For in Your laws my hope has worth.

  I will always obey Your law forever,

  I walk free for I seek Your precepts ever.

  I will speak of Your statutes before kings

  And I wouldn’t be shamed by their makings.

  I do delight in Your commands, O God,

  For I love them so, my Almighty Lord.

  I lift up my hands to Your commands, I love;

  And I meditate on Your decrees, set above.

  ZAYIN

  Remember, to Your servant You gave Your word,

  For You have given me this great hope, Lord.

  My comfort in my suffering is this;

  Your promise preserve my life as it is.

  The arrogant mock me without restraint

  But I do not turn from Your laws, but wait.

  I remember Your ancient laws, my God,

  And I find comfort in all of them, O Lord.

  Indignation grips me because of the wicked

  Who have forsaken Your law and are naked.

  Your decrees are the theme of my song,

  Wherever I lodge there they do belong.

  In the night I remember Your holiest name

  And O Lord, I will keep Your law and fame.

  This has always been my main practice;

  To always obey Your precepts and decrees.

  HETH

  You are my only portion, O Lord;

  I’ve promised to obey Your word.

  I’ve sought Your face with my heart all;

  Be as gracious as You promised, I recall.

  I have considered my ways all,

  And turned my steps to Your law.

  I will hasten and not delay, never!

  I will obey Your commands, ever!

  Though the wicked bind me with rope,

  I will never forget Your law and hope.

  I rise to give You thanks at midnight

  For Your righteous laws and might.

  I am a sure friend to all who fear You,

  And all who follow Your precepts too.

  The earth is filled with Your love, O Lord.

  Always teach me Your decrees, O God.

  TETH

  Lord, to Your servant do every good

  According to Your word as You would.

  Teach me knowledge and good judgments,

  For I believe in all Your commandments.

  Before I was afflicted I went astray,

  But now I obey Your word and stay.

  You’re good and what You do is good;

  Teach me Your decrees like eating food.

  Though arrogants have smeared me with a lie,

  Your precepts in my heart will forever lie.

  Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,

  But I delight in Your law so unfailing.

  It was good for me to be so afflicted,

  That I might learn Your decrees fitted.

  The law from Your mouth is more precious to me

  Than thousands of pieces of silver and gold I see.

  YODH

  Your hands made me and formed all of me;

  Understanding to learn Your commands give me.

  May those who fear You rejoice when me they see,

  For I have put my hope in Your word and decree.

  I know, O lord, righteous is every of Your law

  And in faithfulness You have afflicted me more.

  May Your unfailing love be my sole comfort,

  As You promised Your servant and his consort.

  Let Your compassion come that I may live,

  For Your law is my delight and I do believe.

  May arrogates be shamed in wronging me causelessly.

  I will mediate on Your precepts and law ceaselessly.

  May those who fear You turn to me,

  Those who understand Your decree.

  May my heart be blameless toward Your laws,

  That I may not be shamed for I am all Yours.

  KAPH

  My soul faints with longing for Your salvation,

  But I have put my hope in Your word in motion.

  My eyes fail, looking for Your promised way;

  “When will You comfort me?” I would say.

  Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

  I do not forget all those decrees You spoke.

  How long must Your servant wait for?

  When will You punish my persecutor?

  The arrogant dig pitfalls for me,

  Contrary to Your law and decrees.

  All Your commands are very trustworthy;

  Help me from persecution, unjust and faulty.

  They almost wiped me from this world,

  But I have not forsaken Your very word.

  Preserve my life according to this love of Yours,

  And I will obey every one of Your spoken laws.

  LAMEDH

  Your statutes and word, O Lord, is eternal;

  It stands firm in the heavens, not temporal.

  Your faithfulness continues through generations,

  You established earth, it endures on its foundations.

  Your laws endures to this very day,

  For all things serve You in every way.

  If Your law had not been my own delight,

  I would’ve perished in my afflicted plight.

  All Your precepts I would forget never,

  For by then You’ve preserved me forever.

  My Lord save me, for I am all Yours;

  I’ve sought out Your precepts and laws.

  The wicked are waiting to destroy me,

  But I’ll ponder Your statutes and decree.

  To all perfections I see there is always a limit;

  But Your commands are ever boundless, I admit.

  MEM

  Oh Lord, how I love Your law!

  Day long I meditate on it all.

  Your laws make me wiser than my enemies,

  For they’re ever
with me and will not cease.

  Than all my teachers I have more insight,

  For I meditate on Your statutes that enlight.

  I have more understanding than any elder,

  For I obey Your precepts not because I’m older.

  I have not departed from Your laws,

  You Yourself taught me what is Yours.

  How sweet are Your words to my taste,

  Sweeter to my mouth than honey paste.

  From Your precepts understanding I gain;

  Therefore I hate every wrong path again.

  NUN

  Your word is a lamp to my feet

  And a light for my path, I admit.

  I have taken an oath and also confirmed it,

  That I’ll follow Your righteous laws, I insist.

  I have suffered much, preserve my life;

  Lord, only according to Your words’ might.

  Accept, the willing praise of my mouth;

  O Lord, teach me Your laws I sought.

  Though I constantly take my life in my hands,

  I will not forget Your laws over all the lands.

  The wicked have set their snares for me,

  But I’ve not strayed from Your precepts I see.

  Your statutes are my heritage forever;

  They are the only joy of my heart, ever.

  My heart is set on keeping Your decrees,

  To the very end of things, I am on my knees.

  SAMEKH

  I hate double-minded men,

  But I love Your laws, amen.

  You are my refuge and my shield;

  I’ve put my hope in Your word sealed.

  Away from me, you evil doers, away;

  That to keep the commands of my God I may.

  Sustain me according to Your promise and I’ll live;

  Do not ever let my hopes be dashed for I believe.

  Uphold me and I will surely be delivered;

  For Your decrees I’ll always have regard.

  You reject all who stray from Your decrees,

  For their deceitfulness is in vain and will cease.

  All the wicked of the earth You discard like dross;

  Therefore I love every one of Your statutes, the gross.

  My flesh trembles in fear of You;

  I stand in awe of Your laws so true.

  AYIN

  I have done what is righteous and just;

  Do not leave me to my oppressors’ lust.

  Ensure Your servant’s entire well-being;

  Let not the arrogant oppress my well-being.

  My eyes fail, looking for Your stated salvation,

  Looking for Your righteous promise in every nation.

  Deal with Your servant according to Your love

  And teach me Your decrees straight from above.

  I am Your servant; give me some of Your discernment

  That I may understand Your statutes and commandment.

  It is time for You to act, O Lord;

  Your law is being broken, O God.

  Because I love Your command so much more,

  More than the world’s gold, than gold so pure.

  And because I consider all Your precepts right,

  I have come to hate every single wrong path.

  PE

  Your statutes are so wonderful;

  Therefore I obey them all in full.

  The unfolding of Your words gives light;

  It gives understanding to the simple in sight.

  I open my mouth and in awe gasp,

  Longing for Your commands to grasp.

  Turn to me and have mercy on my ways,

  As You do to those who love Your name always.

  Direct my footsteps according to Your word;

  Let no sin rule over me in this sinful world.

  Redeem me from the oppression of men,

  That I may obey all Your precepts, amen.

  Upon Your servant make Your face shine

  And teach me all Your decrees in time.

  From my eyes stream of tears flows,

  For they are not obeyed, Your laws.

  TSADHE

  Righteous are You, O good Lord,

  And right are Your laws and word.

  The statutes You’ve laid down are righteous;

  They are fully trustworthy and so courteous.

  My zeal wears me out and I am sore,

  For my enemies Your words they ignore.

  Your promises have been tested thoroughly

  And Your servant loves all of them fully.

  Though I’m lowly and despised, lord;

  I do not forget Your precept and word.

  Your righteousness is everlasting,

  Your law is as true as it is lasting.

  Trouble and distress have become my plight,

  But Your commands are always my delight.

  All Your statutes are right forever;

  Give me understanding to live forever.

  QOPH

  I call with all my heart, answer me,

  And O Lord, I will obey Your decree.

  I call out to You, save me my Lord

  And I will keep Your statutes, O God.

  I rise and cry for help before dawn;

  I’ve put my hope in words of Your own.

  My eyes are open to watch the night late,

  That on Your promise I may meditate.

  Hear my voice in accordance with Your love;

  Preserve my life according to Your laws above.

  Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

  But they are yet so far from Your laws I fear.

  O Lord, You are ever so near and set,

  And all Your commands are truly met.

  I learned from Your statutes long ago past;

  That You established them to forever last.

  RESH

  Look upon my suffering and deliver me,

  For I’ve not forgotten Your law and decree.

  Defend my cause and redeem me please;

  Preserve my life according to Your promise.

  Salvation for the wicked is ever so very far,

  For they do not seek out Your decrees as they are.

  Your compassion is so great, O Lord;

  Preserve me according to Your laws, O God.

  Many are the foes who persecute me,

  But I’ve not turned from Your decree.

  I look on the many faithless with loathe,

  For they do not obey Your word’s worth.

  See how I love Your precepts from above;

  Preserve my life according to Your love.

  All Your words are true and final;

  All Your righteous laws are eternal.

  SIN AND SHIN

  Rulers persecute me without any just cause,

  But my heart trembles at Your word with no pause.

  I rejoice in Your promise and toil

  Like one who finds great spoil.

  Falsehood I hate and abhor,

  But I do really love Your law.

  Seven times a day I praise You

  For Your righteous laws so true.

  Great peace have they who Your law they love,

  And nothing can make them stumble or shove.

  I wait for Your salvation hands

  And I follow Your commands.

  I obey Your statutes surely,

  For I love them so greatly.

  I obey Your precepts and statutes too,

  For all my ways are known to You.

  TAW

  May all my cries come before You, O Lord;

  Give me understanding according to Your word.

  May my supplication come before You;

  According to Your promise deliver me too.

  May my lips overflow with praise,

  For You teach me all Your decrees.

  May my tongue sing of Your every word,

  For all Your commands are righteous, Lord.

  May Your hand be ready to help me,
/>
  For I have chosen Your precepts to see.

  O Lord, I so long for Your salvation,

  And Your law is my delight and nation.

  Let me live that I may praise You,

  And may Your laws sustain me too.

  Seek me, I’ve strayed like a lost sheep,

  For I’ve not forgotten Your commands keep.

  (Psalm 119; Paraphrased)

  GLORY

  Glory, glory, glory!

  Man is nobody;

  Firm in his world,

  Where only he is lord.

  DIVINE PRESENCE

  Divine presence with wonder you reign,

  You formed and found from nothing this sign.

  Thy ageless gospel is straight, proven and true,

  Your pure and sacred spirit ever near, I construe.

  From the might of the sacrificial Christ

  Reached out to me path, light and sight.

  Holy Spirit blesses and guides mine and me,

  Sanctified into the waiting embrace of Thee.

  THE POET IN THE POEM

  The eyes see the tears,

  In response repelled are the fears.

  The flesh’s demand is so goody,

  As sure as it is of the body.

  The truth is buried within,

  Hidden from all kith and kin.

  The conscience ever tells a fact,

  As sure as it is of the heart.

  The brain’s constant thought

  Depends on how deeply it’s taught.

  Its reason is based on its find,

  As sure as it is of the mind.

  The spirit reveals the person,

  It eludes comprehended reason.

  The future will show the foul,

  As sure as it is of the soul.

  Interchanged as its suitor,

  It tells all about the actor.

  The poet mans the helm,

  The cruise his composed poem.

  Epilogue

  “I heard

  You in the garden

  (And) I was afraid

  (Because) I was naked;

  (So) I hid.”

  (Genesis 3:10)

  Alphabetical Index

  A

  AEON OF DEW

  AFRAID OF COMMON FEAR

  AFRICA

  AGAIN

  AGE

  AGE STEALS ALL

  A HOLE IN THE SUN

  ALIVE

  ALL HAIL THE ABIDING SPARROW

  ALMAJIRI

  ALONE

  AND THE MOTHER DIED

  ANGRY

  ASABA

  AVANT GARDE, CAUSE CÉLÈBRE

  B

  BIAS SELFLESSNESS

  BATTLE OF THE CELLS

  BBC (British Branded Civility)

  BIRD TALK

  BITTER

  BLIND SIGHT

  BLOSSOM

  BORN TO SIN

  BRAIN

  BREAD AND MAN

  BREASTS OF DOOM

  BREEDS

  C

  CAIN’S WIFE

  CEASAR’S OWN

  CHEATS

  CHOICES

  CLOUDS OF SALT (Hadarin gishiri)

  COMMON

  COMMON MONEY

  COMMON STORY

  CRESCENDO

  D

  DAMNING

  DARE DA MUTUWA (Night and Death)

  DATE

  DEATH

  DÉJÀ VU

  DEVIL

  DIFFERENT

  DIVINE HUMAN

  DIVINE PRESENCE

  DOESN’T GOD HAVE MERCY?

  DRY TEARS

  E

  ECLIPSE

  EGGS

  ELEGY OF OUR MUMMY

  EMMANUEL

  EVEN ODDS

  EYELIDS OF BETRAYAL

  F

  FAITH

  FANATICS LOSE FAITH

  FATHER

  FEVER

  FINE TIMES

  FIRST PAIN

  FLIES AND LIES

  FOR THE GOOSE, FOR THE GANDER

  FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

  FRET

  FRIEND OF FOE

  FRIENDS CHANGE

  G

  GAY

  GENESIS

  GLORY

  GOATS

  GOD DEY

  GOLD AND SILVER

  GONE

  GOOD GOD

  H

  HANDFUL OF CLAY

  HARVESTERS

  HEADS OR TAILS

  HEART DIES LAST

  HEARTILY

  HE REIGNS

  HOLY

  HOME

  HOPE

  HUMAN

  HYPOCRITES

  I

  IDOLS

  IN DEBT

  INKATHA

  ISCARIOT

  ISN’T HUMAN

  IT RAINED

  J

  JIGGLE BELLS

  JUDAS, PETER

  JUST BEING MYSELF

  JUST THIS ONCE

  K

  KING OF LOVE

  L

  LAND OF SAND

  LEARNING

  LEAVE (Bari)

  LET IT RAIN

  LIFE GUIDES PHILOSOPHY

  LIFE LINE

  LIFE’S FIRES

  LIGHT OF DEATH (Hasken Mutuwa)

  LIL’ SIM

  LITERATE

  LITTLE, LITTLE ANT

  LIVE

  LOATHSOME

  LORD

  LOST SEA GULL

  LOVE BIRDS

  LOVE’S LOVE

  LUCK SUCKS

  M

  MAN

  MANHOOD IN THE BUTTERFLY

  MANNA

  MASSES

  MATE (Kishiya)

  MIGHTY FLEA

  MIND

  MIRACLE DEFINED

  MONARCH

  MONEY AND THE MISER

  MORE THAN A CHILD

  MOST LOST

  MOUNTAIN

  MOUTHING PIOUS PLATITUDE

  MRS QUEEN, MISS KING

  MUSHROOMS ARE CONCEITED

  MUSICAL NATURE

  MY FRIEND

  MY WILL

  N

  NAMELESS

  NEITHER AS EITHER

  NIGHTLY

  NOTHING

  O

  ONE BIG SPORT

  ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN

  ONENESS

  OUR HOMES

  OWN TO OWE

  P

  PATHS

  PATIENCE

  PEACE

  PEARL

  PESSIMUM

  PHILANTHROPY

  PIGGIES

  PLAGUES OF EXODUS

  POETRY

  PRAYER’S AIM

  PREDATOR

  PRESENTLY OLD

  PRESSURE

  PROSTITUTES

  PSALM SONG

  R

  RACA

  RACES

  RAINBOW

  RELIANCE

  RIGHTFULLY

  ROTTEN, WRETCHED AND RIGHT

  RUNNING CHILD

  S

  SAME

  SANTA

  SAVED

  SHEEP TO GOAT

  SHEPHERDS AND SHEEP

  SILENT MIND

  SILENT IN SIGN

  SIN

  SINGLED OUT

  SINS’ WAGES

  SIR

  SKY

  SLUG

  SMART AND STUPID

  SMART FOOLS

  SO?

  SO FALLS A