PENMIND MEDIA & CREATIVITY

On staircase of stagnant flow                                            Ploughed pill            cadence crumbles unnoticeably                       of fortune will hits cracked overture           sulfurous laughter tensed moves                     beautiful basket frustrates our rain days of dozens birthed famines of                    lovers of hope crept beggars of dew               thirsty arrows.                                    dusky palms rent attire of consolation.                 Dutiful sower                                     On virgin soil of colourful reliance   rolled haughty hills of timeless count               blameless blood waterlogged fields drank sweat of breeze in faceless cup              burnt bones eroded trail of bombing sun rises and sets on bent backbones               bucolic scenery perished in burning twilight of a great agility on weak string.                               speechless seed. Eve clings                      

The corrupts are not only those who embezzle money, The corrupts are also those who see, but say not. The corrupts are not only those who fraud, They are also those who take a tip from it. The corrupts are not only those who preach, They are also those who criticise and do not as preached. The corrupts are not only those who hijack bags, They are also those who sleep all day and eat the air. The dangerous are not only the assassins, The dangerous are those whose words kill. The dangerous are not only those on mask, They are also those who smile, but pierce one's back. The dangerous are not only those seen or hidden; Are not only those know or unknown, For the dangerous ones are not yet born. © Ikpe Comfort (Beatitude)

CAMPUS ASSOCIATION OF POETS' ANTHOLOGY THEMED: PUNCHEON; An Appraisal To Poetry In Respect of THE WORLD POETRY DAY. READ OR DOWNLOAD HERE

Orí ooooooooo! Worship not the silent deities, Onto our necks is a sacred shrine, Orí oooooooooo! Trouble days are for the charms, Every appearance of the dark light Orí takes a standing salutation by men. Orí oooooooooo! Upon His call we worship And His directives we decipher, Hence, our fates are left to tell, Orí, be not in malice with my fate. Orí ooooooo! From whose directives  We pick meats from dish, Be it bitterly sugary... Only the doom heads could say. Orí oooooo! Sleep not when successful wind blow; But into hidden place throw me  When the days are dark  And when the road is hungry for blood. OLOLADE AKINLABI (OLOLADEX) © 2017   

dear comrades of death years, your service in the palace of terror has squashed the soul of the nation the solo tune of your bombs excellently plucked the souls of loved ones from the tree of life—you  perched the living in the pouch of temptation dear comrades of death since crunching the souls is only passport to heaven since genocide gives glee to your solitude peace Since scorching your ocean is only goal of our mission Why run from death is the anthem of your existence? dear comrades of death if death is proud to be deathless relish on earth like creator of creatures fetching tears from the eyes of every soul, if from earth all souls exit Nature needs not to be somber Since death only lives on the living Where is death after life? mere comrades of death… relish not on the scores you sent in exile rely not on death living only on beings forget not the twilight of life that digs drenches on your cheeks,  Quite a furnished cham

That year in the lighted classroom, We sat together and parrot, the ABC. We were the last skin layer of the moon, We shone brightly to the sky and the people, Then you gave me your smile to hold for you. That year behind the Udala tree in my backyard, I kissed you for the first time without any guilt and, I  showed you the world through my eyes; You gave me your smile to keep for you in my laughter. I touched your emotions and feelings gently, It was the first time I saw you moan diligently. That year when we went wild in love, I found comforting restoration in the mounting redness of the woman you are made to be, You gave me a kiss to hold for you till eternity; Here is your kiss I still have it on my palms. The image of the caved love we drew is still here in my heart. That year I cried white tears for your love, Tears that tells a lost stories of imperfection. When I have travelled far in the world' deserts, When I have climbed th

When dream smiles, The thousand acred journeys is in a mile Hope and strength resuscitated once again Mind is open as of eagle to see the future Rocks designed for man's fall metamorphosed Even to a stepping stone to greatest altitude Tears of blood from a wounded heart turn to spring of joy The trivial bicycle runs faster than aeroplane The inclement cloud releases the breeze of comfort The topsy-turvy mind sees the narrow path Old rules unarguably pave way to new ones. When dream smiles, The flag of trust flutters uninterruptedly And power acknowledged the veracity of power Absence of war with the nature is the conventional wisdom Beggars of the highway become a lender to the low man There's always an appetite to win the coin of opportunity. When dream smiles, Equality is pronounced and unity in diversity Representatives of minds minister with fear of the morrow Brains will be appreciated as fertilizers to the nation Head

For Aleppo What is the joy of war if not the fragments  of blood sprinkled unholily on the ground? Aleppo has seen this braveness and succumbed that the testament lies in the swords and armours. I can feel the test of your suffering and pains, I can smell of the irony of the warship bouncing, I saw the shape of your crying laughter; Sharp, drowning, and, building itself a channel of restriction in this fragments of godless war. Make the body of your masses a holy fortune, let them find delights in your face and soul. Illusion of this abolished fate shall stand when the thousand drop of those tears shall speak, Aleppo! You can fetch from eyes to eyes those fifthy shades of darkness and imperfection. Aleppo!! Shatter those winning ageless fate. We have seen your tears and sorrow smiling, we have seen the season of your song hanging here in the throat of howling wind of shame. Your mirror has eyes and mouth to tell the world of those thorns

The judges for the fifth Brunel International African Poetry Prize 2017 yesterday announced ten fortunate poets who had reached the shortlist stage for the poetry prize that aimed at celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. Four Nigerians were included on the list. Ten poets have reached the shortlist for the fifth annual Brunel International African Poetry Prize  - a major award of £3000 aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. This year’s prize attracted some 1,200 entries – doubling the size of the competition since its launch in 2012. The prize is sponsored by Brunel University London and  Common Wealth   and is open to African poets worldwide who have not yet published a full poetry collection. Each poet has to submit 10 poems to be eligible. The winner/s will be announced on May 2nd 2017. This year’s shortlist: Sahro Ali   (Somalia);   Leila Chatti   (Tunisia);   Kayo Chingonyi   (Zambia);   Saddiq Dzukogi   (Nigeria);

This is Lagos- a welcoming address to all dignities an old sermon preached by three wisemen no praises or pleasantries at the entrance gate Come and face your death or life warrant in a no man's land but everyone's home The walls of the streets are filled to its brim the good, the bad, the ugly, and the wild Yoga girls parading in a lost emotions Skimpy skirt Lucifer, ruining many men Yahoo boys fan smiling coals into money Spinners spin the spindle of the morning Spreading on their wings are skyscrapers, Oceans greeting in a pleasant radiation... In her bosom are cruel hustlers borrowing the Earful clamour of the day. "No sweat, no sweet" every toddler sings Traffic holds down to ransom the hurrying legs of yellow and black buses whose courage is like shield This is Lagos- the flag of Nigeria Where floating slums swallow innocent eyes  Carbonated air blares out the lungs to rot the streets are strict and tough- A g