My Poetry Diary

The African night is here; A season for every pack; The shadow - a mere mirage I can bear; Which the dawn would hack, The African night is never dark, It illuminates even for the blind, It's another busy time for the black, Some holy hours only the brave climbs. The stories of the sage, A catalyst that brightens the night; With the richness of Africa age; A manifold of beauty from Olumo height, Though the sun has set, The night has turned to light; Even with the darkness I would rest, There is light in every single night. The African Night is never silent, The festivities of the fours and twos; The harmonious peace among the violents, African nights spring up courage and truths; Let's cuddle around the burning logs, To savor the sweetness of African night, With beats and melodious songs; From the chants of our sacred rite. Poem: “African Night” by Olorunleke Odubote

On a steady breezy night, Yet a silence at such a busy sight, The Last Frog leaped and moan, From the pains of our stinging stones. Now I know why the sudden silence, Still the Last Frog sings with no vengeance, With the stings, she performs her usual rites, Staying awake to make a sweeter night. My Amphibians with Silky Soft Skin ! How can we be so cruel and mean? We kill their little young jellies; With chemicals and scathe to their bellies  This is what my people has done, Mercilessly contaminating their pond, Even the toads and salamanders are all gone, My dear Amphibians family severely torn. My countrymen let's save the frogs, Every single soul, stop destroying the logs, You and I can make the Amphibians rise, Let's save the frogs because the Mother Earth cries.

On every 21st Day of March, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) marks the World Poetry Day, as a day to celebrate one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.  World Poetry Day is a celebration of poetry, literature and free speech. The day is aimed at encouraging creativity, inspiring the teaching of poetry and restoring a dialogue between poetry and other arts, such as theatre, dance and music. According to the UN, one of the main objectives of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities. This year, “Gaffystone eMpire” in conjunction with the author of this blog: Olorunleke Odubote (twitter handle: @olorunlekeogo) and other young talented Poets in Nigeria will be making some beautiful poems that would impact the world for peace, love and unity.  This is part of the goal

I stand my ground this day, Where my persecution laid at rest, All stones and pebbles to thy grates, My clansmen blood dusted my crest. On this same earth I stand, Nauseated by the beam of war, In-between my rival clans I stand; Pierced to dust like a desert whore. I stand firm though with feeble legs, Like an iroko with lashes of wind, Will my ancestors take back the curses of this land? Where the partridges no longer sing... This day I stand, Like a veteran of the Savannah; Let's adorn our emissaries with a clean mitre, Before they traverse those border mine-lined of Sahara. My placard laden neck will stand, On this course of appeasing our clans, Beyond the grave of unmarked martyrs; I stand for Peace and unity of all clans.

Lethal flames, Unholy smoke... Un-toothy gaps, Cancer poked. I had you once, Now I quit, You had me choked; Wantonly to your pit. So enticing, Warmly to my chest; But my lungs shrieked, Next to my dying nest. Michael smokes like a chimney, But yet to sick a day, Now his son and neighbors are dying; From inhaling the lethal hay. The youths of my clan, Never heed to public health call, The Hollywood spirit dictates, Cigarettes shackles and tentacles lures. Though I am fastened to your grate; And my breath heavy and stinks.. Inside me is lonely and black; Yet I quit at my gravestone brinks. Still don't know why I smoke, I had Wrong peers and bad passages, WHO, USAID and JCI preaches; I should have listened to their messages. For you it's never too late, Stop smoking and free from its lust; You can quit, yes you can; Before you and friends turn to dust.