Shadows of the Mind: A Collection of Poems

By Richard O. Djukpen Ph.D.

This book is a result of reflective thoughts over many issues in life over many years. The inspirations to write some of the poems in this book come from everyday the experiences of the author, his friends and TV news items. The poems and expressions in this book cover human relationships, such as love, family, friends, fear, and economic and sociocultural themes. Everything we encounter in life does shape our thoughts and personality. The words we speak from our hearts when we reflect on our experiences tell what happens inside our soul. These emotions open like the cherry blossom flowers on a spring day. Poetry captures our experiences and milieu that mold our philosophy each day. The poetry in this book is in the freestyle tradition, which is an expression of my thoughts in a way that captures the freedom of the human soul to soar in the sky like the eagle or the hawk, looking for a prey. I feel emancipated when I put my thoughts on paper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524529376

Richard O. Djukpen Ph.D.

Richard O. Djukpen (a.k.a. Richie O’Fasah) enjoys writing freestyle poetry and prose. He has written over two hundred poems. He loves to read and discuss his poems informally. He created the Facebook group “Poetic Expressions,” where members have published over three hundred poems, pictures, and prose. He has published some of his poems on the group’s Facebook page “Poetic Expressions.” Over five hundred members and counting are in the group, enjoying reading poems and making useful comments on poems written by members. “The Shadows of the Mind” is the second book in the Mind Series, and the first was “The Bleeding Mind,” which captures his thoughts, experiences, and reflections as he navigates many turns in life. In addition to poetry, he likes to play his ukulele and do painting and permanent marker pen sketching. He does photography of landscapes and its elements.

Book preview

People in My Life

People in my life

From yesterday, before I came into existence

I have no control, just there to make or break my personality

Today, my choice to make – friends, and foes alike

Tomorrow, I will make them as the sunrises and sets

People in my life

Good folks who motivates me to higher heights –

‘Teachers’, ‘Spiritual Counselors’ ‘Neighbors’

I meet many people in my journey through the jungle of life

Many folks are like the rock, steady and encouraging

Some people in my life

Annoying like the mosquitoes in the wee hours of the morning and twilight

…as stress machine, making lemonade from the ‘lemons’ of life and,

Poking me from all angles as the tattooing machine

…like swamp pests – blood-sucking leeches

They are like Monkey on my back

People in my life

Real or Imaginary

Online - connected through social media –

Here today and tomorrow as mirage,

Disappear into the thin air – blocked, deleted, spammed.

People in my life

Memory of past adventures and experiences

Reliving all today and tomorrow

Creating joy today to cope with tomorrow’s catastrophic melancholy

Because of the people in my life,

My life is a song, to be sang, and it is worth singing

People in my life, complete the cycle of my life

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Dove

Dove – the harbinger of good tidings and harmony

You tower above birds

Another cautious harbinger – the Serpent

 And the harbinger of courage – Lion

Higher in ethos than the power of the Bull

Calming the nerves of mankind in the vagaries of gloom

Let your innocence transform us

Dove,

You are the harbinger of peace

The carrier of the green leaf

The pictogram of peace and

The pillar of hope, today and tomorrow

You are the constancy of stability

That of hope and joy to the people down there

Dove

You tower above many birds

You are the harbinger of sweet memories

Your innocence is pure like the dew of dawn

Impeccable as the white linen of snow on a winter day

…Covering the impurities of the land

Yet majestic in appearance and soothing to the troubled soul

Dove

Let me be like you, bringing the Olive leaves to the downtrodden

Hope to the hopeless

Faith to the faithless

Courage to the fainthearted

Dove, giving to the despair the optimism of life

Hope that sustains like the blood in our veins

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My African Queen

My African Queen

You build my life, one piece at a time

You bring sunshine

The sunshine that cut through thick gloomy clouds of hurricanes

You are like the slivers of the early morning sunlight through the leaves

My African Queen

You make every day and moments special

You are one reason I ride the waves of oceanic turbulences

You are as constant as the moon, and soft as its light

You give me hope, that one day I will reach the mountain top

My African Queen

You’re there when the goings get tough

You are like the Rock of Gibraltar…

Earthquake proof, tornado safe as the bunker below

Yes, you are like a rainbow… a covenant of life and peace

My African Queen

You prod me to reach the zenith

You are like the cheerleaders on the field

When the team whirls in defeat, they chant, dance and nudge the players

You push me on …take courage you say and fight the fine fight till evening

My African Queen, thank you

Thank you for laying building blocks in my life, one piece at a time…

Making my circle of life complete

 And letting my sunlight bright as in noontime

Thank you…my African Queen

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Threshold of Love

Love grows

Love blossoms

Love is like diamond, glitters forever

 After refining in the fire of despondency

Love then conquer all fears

No dreads will overcome love… your love, our love and my love

Love matures like the wine with time

Splendid to taste and drink in a party with confidants

Love gives succor as the rain gives life to the plants

It soothes the thirsty soul in the hot wilderness of life

True love is dependable as the faithful witness in the night sky—the Moon

Love is the daylight you deserve after the night of horror

When love is at the threshold

At the prime, full of grace and might

It excels all thoughts

 And all valleys of qualms and reaches the crest of hope

Love is as solid as the Rock

Unmovable now and forever, yes at the threshold of love

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Mother …Oh Sweet mother

In the wee hours

In birth pains, you brought me forth

You gave me shelter for many days,

In your womb as a comforter during cold nights

No winter, No harsh ‘harmattan’ breeze

No scourging heat of the sun

Sweet Mama you cared constantly

Like Mother Nature, ever nurturing, ever loving

In times of distress

In the tempestuous days

You were a succor, like a skiff

Your courage hoisted, like the ‘rock of Gibraltar’

Your love is solid

I can touch it, my dear mother

Your kindness is superlative

All around me is your fragrance of goodness

Hard work is your virtue

Teach me, that quality that endears multitude to you

You are sweet like the honey; that many ants swarm and fly hover over

Mom you mean the world to me

Mama you are the pillar of my life

The best medical personnel I ever knew

The excellent chef and nutritionist

The propelling force for my academic ride to the top

In the wee hours, you wake me up,

Son, go do your assignments, read your books

Stay focus at school, aim for the best

The sky is your limit, go beyond the horizon, mama says.

Soccer mama, the best coach on earth

The best Bible teacher

The discipline is worth it.

Dedicated wife of my father – Big Daddy

My mother, I shall laud you

You are great, in your forthrightness

You lived your words, never tolerated injustice

Injustice stinks like the rotten steak, infested with maggot of politics

I love you mother

With other mothers you fought for community development

Creating a better world for all children

Mother, you left me too soon

On my way to the echelon

I celebrated the last of the diploma without you

Your grandsons and daughters are here to see your dream

Mama you were a happy soul, always so happy

At my spiritual progress and appointments

My heart glow with delight