Teach me not religion

On the threshold of existence
I hear the clamor of the unborn
Just before relinquishing
divine consciousness.
I hear them pray to man
before they become man.
I hear them whisper….

Teach me character, virtue and nobility.

Teach me not to see man as spirit
but man as man

Teach me not to call the other man a fool
simply because he believes not what i believe

Teach me not to be quick to strike down the living
for the philosophies of one dead and gone

Teach me not to weigh a man’s worth by his spirituality
but by his humanity

Teach me not to send value yonder
because my oracle says we are unequally yoked

Teach me beauty, freedom and sound mind.

Teach me not to live good for a reward here after
but to live good because to live good is good

Teach me not of an eternal raging fire to curb me
but of reason, karma and empathy to guide me

Teach me not of virgins, crowns and golden streets to lure me
but of truth, wisdom and vision to lead me

Teach me not to forgive because it’s commanded
but because it’s humane and goodly

Teach me not to be heavenly conscious and earthly useless
but to live a rich full life

Teach me boldness, strength and courage.

Teach me not to forever hide under the veil of expectations
but to break boundaries and run wild

Teach me not to leave earthly matters to the divine
but to deal with each as it arise

Teach me not to await manna
but to enjoy the bliss of labor

Teach me not timidity to accept all things
but the courage to question all and prove all

Teach me not that God is on a mountain
but that he is me…that he is the other

Teach me love
teach me to be human
teach me to laugh
teach me to be free
teach me life

Oh man…teach me not religion

19th of May 2011

There was nothing special about this day until after work…

It was a Thursday…a very normal Thursday. It started out like every other day. I woke up to those awkward ‘happy birthday family stunts’ peculiar to the Temitope clan, stared at the numerous missed calls and text messages on my phone, got ready for work and then joined the madness of Lagos on my way to Ojodu Berger where my office was located. Surprisingly, the world did not stop spinning on its axis because it was my birthday and somewhere deep inside of me, i actually debated the sensibility in Government declaring everyone’s birthday a personal public holiday…LOL.

Foolscapade

It’s a taboo in this land
i know it is…
the importation of felines
for the purpose of epicurean deeds.

Goodnight…Goodbye

From his death bed
he stared through dim eyes
at the duo of his progeny
one after another…
his time ticking slowly away
his valedictory speech ready to spill

I Am Human!

Please allow me introduce myself

“I Am Human”
I guess that should say it all
and end this freaking poem.

A Shitty Poem

The sun is high and scorching
Hot balls of sweat rain down my scalp
And trail down the length of my body
As I struggle to hold it in.
In ceaseless waves it comes
Hitting again and again against my resistance
Every attack leaves me weaker
I cringe and arch my back
Clench and unclench my fist
Even make strange little animal noises
As I hold the fort.

To be or not to be…Different!

Sometimes i feel so horrible
that i always see things differently.
That i’m always the minority.
That my views are unpopular.
Sincerely, its not my own making.
It’s just how i am wired.
Is something wrong with my mental framework?
Why the ping can’t i just see things like others?

Smokescreen

Just before the river stirs,
before the pebbles
send their ripples rolling
over the calm of my deep,
I confront myself in this
still glassy stream…

Yuletide Groan…

Once,
we tumbled beneath
the tender sheets
fused in dark nights
lolling on waves of passion
for a fleeting moment…

Awaken!

For the first time
I break our
timeless embrace
hold you at arm’s length
twirl you around
squint at you
shut one eye then the other