Hafiz and Me

I long to
live like Hafiz
content with buttering the sky
or catching the happy virus
and singing beneath the stars

In fact
the kettle is whistling
a background music
for me
to paint an outlandish face
in front of a disco light lit mirror
in the middle of
a starless night

Writer’s note:
Reference to Hafiz poems –

Buttering The Sky

Slipping
on my shoes,
boiling water,
toasting bread,
buttering the sky:

That should be enough contact
with God in one day
to make anyone
crazy


The Happy Virus

I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious –
So kiss me.

A State of Mind

It’s hard to to get into gear today.
Lunch time passed without me noticing the absence of breakfast.
I looked at the to do list trice and pretended nothing to do.
I sat very close to the window so daydreaming on clouds wasn’t too obvious.
Black coffee was kept warm by the sunlight through the window
while my cheeks sensed the burn.
I’ve never felt so good about being stuck in the present.
Tomorrow doesn’t need to come, really, stay here, right now!

Novelist

She writes novels
not for recognition or validation
not for financial gain or fame
She pursuits self actualisation
through the mirrored images
of her novel characters

Nature Declares

Oil painting attempt “heart”

My heart is an island
Your eyes are the ocean
Your shoulder is the land
Our love shimmers
from the view of an airplane

Cut up Poem

If I cut up
our love
with well worn time

Instead of creating
a new fairy tale
I write a memoir
of resurrection

Prayer

Oil painting attempt “pray”

Humbly pray
in fetal position
Supplication has merit
Thanksgiving opens heaven’s gate

Revival

We do
what we can
together
to overcome
the seemingly
unconquerable force
tormenting our
brothers and sisters
globally

Reading – Call My Name

I decided to do poetry reading of my favourite poems from Hidden in Childhood. Purchase click here.

Call My Name by Uchechukwu Onyedikam