THE GIST OF THE BIRDS

A sleepless night was done on me

it resulted in me having swollen eyelids

closing off control.

While I struggle to gain authority over my eyes

using little broom sticks to hang

the element of sleep was still winning.

I devised a means to conquer.

Ask how?

Yeah, simply by taking a walk

in a garden possessing tall mango,

almond trees and the likes.

There, something caught my attention:

three birds whispering and chirping  

one to another from different trees.

Then, I paid attention to observe more quietly.

All I heard them gossip about was P-R-I-N-C-E-S-S.

Oh!, my Princess?

what is wrong? I soliloquized.

Fortunately, a new visiting co-bird came

It spoke more loudly saying:

Hurray! It’s the birthday of his charming Princess.

Wow! that was it.

I comprehended the "by-the-way news"

I jubilated

I thanked the gossiping birds

Wait a minute,

I had just conquered the powerful sleep

by the power of Joy, Happiness and Gladness

expressed in the celebration of my honey.

So I began to sing:

The gist of the birds

The gist of the birds

How art thou reminded me of my beloved

Behold the epitome of beauty

Came into this world this day

Came into my life afterwards

And so I’m in love.

composed and written by: Oludare Olumide

THE CYCLES

I have a friend

Bit by bit we talk

Bit by bit we move

Bit by bit we dine

Bit by bit we play

Bit by bit we get accustomed to each other in more critical ways, leading me to have a lover.

I have a lover

Bit by bit we gaze into our eyes

Bit by bit we hold hands

Bit by bit we hug holy or unholy

Bit by bit we exchange uncommon pleasantries leading me to have an enemy.

I have an enemy

Bit by bit we disagree

Bit by bit we abuse

Bit by bit we exchange hot odd words

Bit by bit we damn affections

Bit by bit we separated and that again led us to friends.

Shall the cycle continue again, then I shall have a LOVER next, I hope it will cease there and not move to enemies again.

Written by: Oludare Olumide

A FEELING WHICH I CAN'T EXPLAIN

I traveled to the oceans

Swifted to the deserts

worried to the wildernesses

eagerly approached all seen natures

All in the quest to get an explanation

The ocean used its links with all parts of the world to get me what I sort after

oh no, it came to lament

this is beyond my powers

can you please give me a year to find out?

The desert at first boasted of its power in use of whirlwinds

it rolled higher and wider

it rolled deeper and thinner

and it cracked down weeping:

I'd never failed this way before

I'm sorry I disappointed

The wilderness is the custodian of darkness and hidden secrets

it spoke majestically of its capacity to trench out the old and seemingly lost wisdom

it rustled its thick forest

it breadth out the savour of its concealed knowledge

lo and behold, it mourned the lost of the explanations I seek

And I resulted to consult the comity of other natures, the cloud, the sun, moon e.t.c

they had meetings upon meetings

brainstorming upon brainstorming

consultations upon consultations

they smiled at me like they've got the explanations to what I feel

they whispered in chorus to me saying:
we couldn't get any valuable information but we now know something

the explanation you seek is concealed in your heart

search it out

Then, I listened carefully to my heart

there a still voice said:

the feeling you experience is as a result of someone special you've met

and when I paid more solemn attention

I heard the name – Margaret Rose

immediately, satisfaction filled my heart

because of the feeling I can now explain.

composed and written by: Oludare Olumide