Tracks from Before

It was in the pen
long long before
From thence came
the ritual force
It was of the den
long long ago
In it craves
our large ego

Independence:
A lonely way
to lovely rays
Parting of ways
Making forays
In the pen thence
in the den hence
Be it of past, present
or future
the tense won't work
sans culture, sans nurture

Independence:
A tortuous way
to make hay...
Leaving the cookie jar
and rising to par
All in the den
still by the pen...
Now for our say
sure in our way

Independence:
The tour of vision
the tear of forces...
And the tracks of honour
leading from before
Ahoy!


The stern message to poor ex-colonies is to learn not to forever-moan. Several of today's great nations were also colonized before! And we speak directly to our leaders and the media in the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, regions of the world. Wake up, folks....the sun is high!

We have legitimate claims to express apologies plus reparations, especially on the slavery mess, but we ain't gonna stay prostrate until and unless we got them...are we? The Jews didn't wait, did they? Now they're getting the best of all worlds!

If you do not say "I AM", no one will say "THOU ART"!

Now, ACP, arise-work-and-shine. Then, assert.

You Hold Me So

Clever chord, save this note
and show no soul our coat
Count years and cheers
but save our love...
from cold, biting cold

When they ask, if they ask
I'll speak not a word
When we have a you
and one be this me
Ha, it blasts!
They should make the fold
to sense the hold
As for this you, Dearie
I be grant them no dice


Holiday blues. I am just swinging with the new season, along. Normal, isn't it? Keep them Nosey Parkers away...and out...of your business - ya love!

The Crowd Is Food

Come to the commons
but which corner
you fit
Go to the corners
and grab what commons
design
Oh, it's election time
Sweet change can pay
Hear Hear

Ride on our banner
don't mind their stripes
Rise to the tenor
don't mime their songs
Yes, it's election dance
Smart steps can stray
Tear Tear

Buy for the commons
but spike up
the hype
Bite from their corners
and grab old foes
as new
Oh, it's election blues
High stakes be due
Fear Fear


As my dear Nigeria heads for her 2007 General Elections, a historic epoch of civilian-to-civilian transition through the ballot box, I am at once anxious and sober like many of my compatriots. Expected.

Then, I look back and around, home and abroad, and....a little ahead. Politics? Trepidation. Votes? Hope. I take the fear, the tear, and the hear hear! In that order.

When or how or what I feel, I commit to verse. Poor me!

Fare A-Sweet

How free we fare
riding all fear
How free we dare
knowing no fear
It is love, Precious
fly on
How new we are
spinning true love
How few we say
straining no more
It is soul, Honey
ply on
How cool it kicks
breaking all bounds
How fresh to splash
loving you on
It is God, Sweetie
pray on


This holiday season, may you folks take stock, and swim. It's the time for caring aloud, afresh. If you do, do. If you do not, check...do check again.

Be in love, people. And show it - okay, in your own way! Unique.

You & Me

There won't be tales
as the pull entails
We should be on at last
There won't be clues
as the clouds reduce
We will be out at last
Today is tight
but we made the flight
It is a price, a dice
Tonight be right
for we made the height
It is the prize, the size


How many times have you wondered how successful lovers pulled through? Well, the elders spoke before: Trust - through thick and thin! Tough? You bet.

And in marriage, ever more so.

The Final Train

Hail Democracy
tough though the march
I hail from my pained heart
I hail with hope
We hail from our low stool
We hail with pride
I hail! I hail! I hail!

Hail democracy
tough though the march
I hail because I know
I hail for me
We hail because we see
We hail for kids
I hail because I believe
I hail for country
We hail because we receive
We hail for time

We will vote
We will queue by sun
We will vote
We will troop in rain
Hail
We vote Democracy for us
not them
Hail
We vote Democracy for kids
not them
We hail! We hail! We hail!

Hail Democracy
It will sure come
Hail Democracy
It will sure stay
Hail, dear doubter
It will sure pay
If you hail as I hail
when I hail as you hail...
We will hail
we won't fail
We will own
a new dawn
And this country will sail
as one nation, a great ship
to the shores....of plenty!


This is a song to lighten the burden of those preaching DEMOCRACY, and to beam some soft light on the souls of those doubting it. Sure we can do with some stirring, can't we!

Lows of Lebanon 2006

Lebanon
Litany of wobbles
Literary and literal absurdity
Tempting and tasking self and all
Lebanon
Litany of struggles
Complex and conscious construct
Draining and dampening self and all
Lebanon
Mirrors and marrows, hate and fate
Tears tearing a nation's fabric
Blood bleeding a people's bond
A glorious land...
Cascading in compounding crises
A precious place defying peace
Oh Lebanon, where be thy beauty of old!?
Pray Lebanon
When will thy soul sing again?!

(Lows of Lebanon 2006).

See comments at www.onoviranobzervatory.blogspot.com and join the forces of good.

Grandpa's Word-Light

If war be written
by victors
why do losers groan
If wealth belongs
to creators
why do gulpers moan
If hell be home
to sinners
why do prophets fast
If air belongs
to us all
why do rulers fuss

Say, then, say not
This is the mystery
in the miasma
misery in the misses
and mystique
in sweet ministry
But the high pain
be sure not plain
though the low gain
ride most acclaim

If all were won in war
and none be need in wealth
If words were such a waste
and none be need of wish
Let me pay
When all be true to all
and none be tasked in vain
When dues be due to all
and none be fool as tool
Let me pray
For each day, dear swinger
our pay be due


World Peace and World Poverty constantly agitate my soul, my quill. Characteristically, may I say, I see less World Leadership - in quality or critical mass - working for positive change!

Am I alone? You tell me.

Saw Your Flash

Mentally I was alert
Merrily we had such blast
Yeah, I saw ya flash
God Bless
Amen

Physically I was in pain
Happily we had our gain
Damn, I saw ya flash
God Bess
Amen

Thoroughly I was amused
Eerily wasn't I used
Ha, I saw ya flash
God Bless
Amen

Temptingly you were on high
Fleetingly were we so high
Fret, I saw ya flash
God Bless
Amen

Breezily we were the toast
Hi-Fively how did we coast
Blast, I saw ya flash
God Bless
Amen


These days it is mightily painful, even hateful, to lose your love and the capacity to love again. Stop! Don't be silly. How can anyone give in to such pain, to such a level of hate, that they must foreclose the pulse and pleasure of love, true love! Don't. Gun for love, damn the sting.

Hard to find? Sure. Hard to keep? You bet. So what be the trick, the track? Search me!

But as the lost story goes, there is sense in tunes, and there be sweetness in tension. Use the power of time and the logic of the world wide web. In the flash of SMS texts, or the flashiness thereby, you can fetch the passing pain and fish for endless gain...of love!

Your choice. Yes, your very choice.

Taking Off

I walk not alone
in the shadows of whispers
Yet I be alone
I talk not of games
in the shadows of gangsters
Yet I be in games
I will hoot, not shoot
I will yell, not shell
I will pray and play
Yes, I will live, though I leave
and can leave since I live
Oh, I be alone


Joining the multitude has its strings, stings and rewards. Being alone must hold something. It brings pain, gain and refrain. Both these stances be as old as time. No preaching

Pray, we are where we are! Despite the crowd...Despite the cold.

Dare, Or Bore

Dare not the morning ride
that pumps your pride
We've been there before
Dare not the rising sun
that boasts of fun
We've seen lots before
Dare not the soothing night
that smells sweet dreams
We have snored before
Dare your purse, by jove
but hold tight its strings
Dare your pulse, by love
but hold firm no lust
Dare when it pays
share if it pays
As some daring loony says:
Not daring is crazy way
What a say!


2006 was the year that wasn't! Those were the months we dared not but dared all, in vain! By being there, yet so very absent, we failed to dare. Many times. In many many ways. Blast.

Hey, don't point too far at who, where, when, how, bla bla bla. It was me, you, them...and us. Everyone. Personal, institutional, national, international. Focal. Global. Everywhere.

2007, may I predict, is the year that will be! It will recoup, it will reclaim, it will project. Doubt not for the signs are clear, the lessons so clear. Everywhere. Believe. This be no vain.

Oh, now we must point to self, to them...and us. Yes, everyone.

And the fun part? We can do it!

Entry-Exit Blues

Casting in real time
cast is cast
crew is crew
Cast crude
screw crew
Cast wide
spew slew
And the mix
joins the fix

Casting in true life
cast be cast
crew be crew
Cast tight
brew crew
Cast bright
pride due
And the pix
be the mix

This journey
be tourney
Ya crew
be ya due
The cast be da blast
Join by choice
not draft
Loin ya voice
plus craft
Watch who you draft
or sink da craft
For many a player
end life as daft
though clever a leader
shine up the shaft


It's the US Elections, and several changes around the world, as well as the upcoming 2007 Elections in my native Nigeria, that are on my mind. Whirlwind. Stomps. Stains. And surprises. There be more to come.

We take office with words not meant. They'll leave power as soon we choose. Let both boss and bouncer beware. You may know ya coming; who knows ya going?

Damn, do folks ever learn? Oh, their crew and cast show the way!