Burnt Boats

By Isuwa Gaius Alu

'Burnt Boats' is a collection of poems written by Nigerian poet Isuwa Gaius Alu. This includes poems like 'Abiku', 'Silence', 'Bruised', 'Hole in a Rope' and 'Native Woman'. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publiseer
• Release date: Jul 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9788828353218

Book preview

Kids.

BURNT BOATS

These swinging sounds of blames

echoing far away from the shallow

depth of our carefulness

This dirge that pierces our ears

with sharp fangs of regret

as we celebrate sadness

from shallow depth of carefulness

are we not the ones:

the ones that left our fuel

at the hands of a match lit?

swallowing in our joy; our boats

how do we, then, crossover

when our boats are burnt?

how do we, then, crossover

with burnt boats?

ABIKU

Abiku,

the dry pale song

of shattered nine moons.

the scorching joy of temporal excitement.

when will you wear mama rest?

the breaking thought of aching push,

the sour song of joy.

when will you stay?

Abiku,

you have severally severely putrefied

the feelings of womanhood,

you really have eaten

the sweetness of blissful union.

your light is of quicksilver,

your smile is a peace killer,

your comings are pain leavers.

oh! abiku, oh! abiku.

Abiku,

the door is open again,

in static position we wait!

perhaps this time,

you’ll stay forever

and wear mama rest.

for her flesh is vexed

(and) her strength is messed

even happiness, her soul rejects

so abiku,

pare sadness from our doorstep,

smooch our hearts, tenderly with joy-

come abiku, this time come

and wear mama rest!

JONAH’S CORNER

We sip sleep like tea

With lousy eyes fixed on passing times

The quaking of the earth doesn’t perturb

Beneath the deck, the very lower deck

We hide from storms and waves

We find comfort in Jonah’s corner

How many days, how many nights before Tarshish?

Perhaps you should wake us when we get there

Beneath the deck, the very lower deck

Let us hide from storms and waves

We find comfort in Jonah’s corner

Cast your lots! Throw us out!

Let the whale swallow us!

Who knows? We might turn for Nineveh

Before then, let us please,

Beneath the deck, the very lower deck

That we might hide from storms and waves

For we find comfort in Jonah’s corner

SILENCE

Silence!

Let’s hear the sound of quietness

The wiggling and giggling of unseen beings

Welded into realms that transcend humans

Hush!

Let nature cuddle and