Lamentations: A Collection of Poetry

By Kazeem Olalekan

In this book, Kazeem Olalekan uses the universal language of poetry to describe a life journey. He draws inspiration from great poetic works to illuminate his journey and in his words: '..help another traveler somewhere and in another place to make sense of what is a voyage we must all make'.

Lamentations draws on the oral traditions of the Yoruba language and infuse it with the best of the world's poetic outputs to produce a book set to take readers on a journey of passion, exhilaration, sadness and reflection - all set within a musical framework.

This book has had a cathartic effect on the author and reflects on the complexity of perception and of the power of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Feb 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504936910

Kazeem Olalekan

Kazeem Olalekan was born in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom in 1991, where he did his 'A' Levels, studied pharmacy at the University of Sunderland and masters in business information technology at the Newcastle Business School. Kazeem now lives in Southampton and draws on a range of life experiences in his writing. His first published work: 'The Doctrine of Universal Truths' is a reflection on his dramatic life trajectory. Kazeem is a specialist paediatric pharmacist at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. He has a range of work in the pipeline including: 'Saving Time', 'The Evangelist' and 'A Social Experiment - An Open Letter to Americans' His objective is to inspire as well as entertain readers. In some cases, inviting them into his world and demonstrating that 'nothing is impossible, if you are willing' - nil volentibus arduum.

Book preview

AuthorHouse™ UK

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403  USA

www.authorhouse.co.uk

Phone: [phone]

© 2015 Kazeem Olalekan. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  02/05/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-3690-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-3691-0 (e)

Cover Pictures:

© Rohit Seth #9012980 / Fotolia

© siloto #26365548 / Fotolia

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

1    Introduction

2    I protest

3    See what they have done to me

4    Unidirectional speech

5    Symmetry

6    The Beasts

7    Complicity

8    Suicide

9    Melancholic Rhapsody – Decision Time

10    How to pray

11    Show me your good side

12    Love

13    Unity

14    No Force, Just Persuasion

15    The Journey

16    Sweeter than Honey

Epilogue

Bibliography

Discography

About the Author

The journey continues

I dedicate this book to a patient mother and a loving family here in the United Kingdom and in Nigeria.

The will exists but the means, alas, elude me.

To my mummy:

Adiatu aya Saubana

Arake ma jo meji

Ajo gberu, majo gbeko

Eru ni si ni, Eko ki siniyan

Omo karo oji re

Ona lo jin o, eru ma ni baba

Ati iye kan, eku lai lai

Modupe fun yin, fun ise rere laye mi

Modupe fun Oluwa

Fun di da to da wa si

Eku iro ju, Eku suru, Eku oju lona

Igba laiye, Asiko ni gbo gbo nkan.

I travel light

Unburdened by possessions

Unbound by greed

Unruffled by threats

I travel light

Chose to light the path

Chose to be the light

Chose to follow the light

I travel light

I travel light

To follow the Light

The light of Christ.

1

Introduction

This alas, is not the work of a great poet. It is not even that of someone with an eloquent command of the English prose. In the words of CS Lewis, I write for the unlearned about things in which I am unlearned myself. My excuse for writing this is to illuminate the journey I have been on with the distinct hope that it might help another traveler somewhere and in another place to make sense of what is a voyage we must all make. In any case, this is therapy for me – the unburdening of my innermost thoughts and frustrations – in order that I may move on.

Lamentations is a collection of poems I have written using different styles, cobbled together after studying great poetic works by different masters of this genre. You might notice me paying homage to some of the greatest poetic works of our time – either in style, form or reference. A complete list of the poems is listed in the bibliography.

Of course I added my own touch. Poetry, as an art form, uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning. Music has played a key role in putting me in the right frame of mind to write these poems and a comprehensive list of these inspiring sounds is listed in the discography.

The poems in this book are organised in a deliberative sequence but may be enjoyed, devoured or even masticated in a random manner without (hopefully) discombobulating the reader.

2

I protest

(kango, kango, kango…the clang of the town crier – silence)

I protest, I protest

I strongly protest

I protest because you changed me…

…and shattered my trust in people

I protest because you put a wall around me…

…to imprison me

I protest because you understood symmetry…

…and exploited it

I protest, I protest

I protest strongly

I protest because you invited the Beasts…

…and they ate my lunch

I protest because you complicit my friends…

…to get at me

I protest because you made me…

…contemplate suicide

I protest, I protest

I protest vigorously

I protest because you allow melancholia to set in…

…and you chuckled about it

I protest because you forgot…

…the power of prayer

I protest because you project evil onto others…

…to make yourself the saint

I protest, I protest

I vigorously protest

I protest because you shut love out…

…and allow hatred to fester

I protest because you promote division…

…in order to guarantee your rule

I protest because you used coercive measures…

…not persuasions

I protest, I protest, I protest

I protest with every bone in my body

I protest with every sinew of my being

I protest, I protest, I protest

For all these, I protest

(kango, kango, kango…the town crier exits – cue music)

Stanza One

Guilty as Charged

I was a score and eight

or was it XXX and one

Found myself on the shores of the Acheron

A choice: I made; a straightforward path: Lost

Charged, and found guilty as an ‘uncommitted’

For not being able to choose between good and evil

Mixed with outcasts who took no sides

My faith: sealed; Guilty: as charged

Ah me! Emi omo Olowu oduru

Omo inu bi Orisa

Odile orun mo, nibi iku gbe n’gberin

Me: Guilty? Why my conscience: So clear

Was it not me who alerted you to her bullying?

Was it not me who, when asked to jump

Replied how high

Your aim: Noble; Your means: Ignoble

So it was that I embarked on the journey of my life

Into this dark place, blacker than anything you can imagine

Vantablack, a place that absorbs all light

Easy life, I had hoped: Gone; In slumber: I passed

Ah me! Emi omo Lisabi agbongbo akala

Osi le kun, pale kun de

Emi omo Olumo, omo Egba awoyaya, emi omo Olumo

Me: Wanted where the power lies

Not content