Killed by the rain

Trickles of rain
Trick, trick, I sleep.
Deep, peaceful, as a morning death
Pieces of me sprawled about,
Lifeless, listening as fear moves about.
Thunders clap as lightning steals the light,
Packets of sweat bond with my frightened skin,
Yet still, I sleep,
Killed, my fingers crawl still
Is death as sweet as this?
Is there a street of gold?
I wait, for I am scared to haste
Still, I lay
As heavy as the rain
Still, I pray
Carnal, nonetheless
Trickles of rain, tingles and tears
I am killed by the rain.
©210109 - Ub Matthews

Two tears

Yesterday came again today
disguised as Sunday.
then I saw a man
light up the sky at day.
I cried two tears,
one for yesterday, one for tomorrow.
Then the glory of the sun
Consumed the pride of men
Her fiery
Boiled up his sweats
Again I cried two tears,
one for yesterday, one for tomorrow.
When moments disappear like mist,
and we resorted to planning and reminiscing.
When the hopes of the future is threatened
by the visions we cooked today
I cry two tears,
one for yesterday, one for tomorrow.

©Ub M - 131108

Cycles

The day recycled,
in the bid to keep the cycle,
a circle - brand new.
Where old things would become news,
Good news,
at least for the chosen few,
so when it ended,
yesterday could commence again.
Would it ever tire?
The endless cycle of same.
Could it be the end?
The slightest form of change.
Those mornings that came veiled,
or the days when the sun shed few tears.
The day recycled,
so Tuesdays became few
Oh! How much time had flew!

©Ub M- 041108

Mimi

The love she thought she had was shared
Cos every heir had a say
Heaps of hate on her head
If only they could make out why
Why she is so fair and frail
Yet all her suitors phase and fail
Was it the ways of men,
Their haste for taste
Was it the waste of when?
When perfect shows, I’ll take
The love she thought she had was hate
Cos every them was the same
When she reels, she may never wrap
For on the lips of hapless men she rode.


©Ub M - 290808

Illusion

Moment fades into vision
Dactyls crawl to a stop, to listen,
To the footsteps of rain tiptoeing on the rafter
Hoping to hear a rhythm
To make music
For the lyrics silence wrote
But, tick-tock tick-tock
The second-hand hurries away
With each stride, sets a pace
As though to a place,
A place,
where language dances to the rhythm of the rain
and with each tap of keys,
The music transpose with briskness.
Like reflex, the door swings with the ensemble
Squeaking a perfect ad lip as it is carried along by the wind
And as the thunder claps to a crescendo
The applause wakens my pulse
To reveal the only music playing, as the tap on the keyboard,
And the melodies of solitude in my head


©Ub M - 260808

Root Three

I fear that I will always be a lonely number like root three
A three is all that’s good and right
Why must my three keep out of sight?
Beneath a vicious square root sign
I wish instead I were a nine
For nine could thwart this evil trick
With just some quick arithmetic
I know I will never see the sun as 1.7321
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality
When, hark, just what is this I see?
Another square root of a three
Has quietly come waltzing by
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer
Rejoicing as an Integer
We break free from our mortal bonds
And with a wave of magic wands
Our square-root signs become unglued
And love for me has been renewed

Recited by Kumar, Harold and Kumar (Escape from the Guantanamo Bay)

I had to post this 'beautiful poem' about 'calculus' I dictated it after watching the hilarious movie Harold and Kumar - Escape from the Guantanamo Bay. Can you dig that this seemingly silly poem helped him win back his college sweetheart? tsk.....gurls!

Charcoal

The light begged to bloom
Just as time snatched away
Pale, she looked, hugging and wailing
But whose tears ever drowned a Boeing’s?
I wonder!

Distance grew old with every thread
But when it flew, she rebirths
If it settles and stays,
Who will wipe the dust on memory page?
I wonder!

The embrace of strong cocoa brew
Veils the hole that valediction makes
A hope that it is only a trip
Gosh! Could this even be a trick?
I wonder!

This time he vowed not to sob
Soggy towels, yet she will not stop
Charcoals and stencils can’t do all the talk
Will this walk be worthy?
I wonder I wonder!

-170608-ub matthews ©2008


Epilogue

Borrowed the first few punch lines from Claire Horner-Richardson from her summary of a painting she did for me as she was parting to a realer place than ‘la la’ land – ‘charcoal on board’.
I adore people that inspire me…no matter how pankey! Cheerio woman! Distance is just a mere deceit in this other world.

Gray

Dark stars on a sunny day
‘Rain on me’ she pleads to say
White Parks dried by winter’s heat
Only grown kids play by the fireplace
The sun sweats from cold?
Invigorating!
Though, tale not well told as days of old.
But, who can narrate the story of stolen glory?
The pauses, the absence of presence, the tension,
Communication mode: tenses.
Excitement weans…
Silence slips in and no one notices,
Steals the show, now everybody’s applauding
‘Awake’! …what mother said to Slumber,
‘Summers don’t come in gray’



- 020606©Ub Matthews

Mother

Mother,
In times like this
Mother,
For better and best
Mother,
A fountain, the founder
Mother,
My tool for growth,
My force, the genesis of dreams
Mother,
The husbandman, the household
Without which, men are mummed
Mother,
When words won’t hold walls
My mother, my spur,
My secret to betterness


Ub M©052008

For all my mothers out there! Especially, the sweetest, Uduakobong Matthews. Mere words can’t detail. I love you! Happy Mothers’ Day!

A life in a box

A world seems unaware
of changes roundabout me
unaware of emotive tendencies
married to what inevitable change?
There’s another summary of a phase
the pattern almost setting a trend
that adieu’ said to a moving train
Ouch! Her rush of air crushing,
Trying to gather me,
pieces of me shattered about...
of blown up thoughts,
of grown up plots,
I'm thrown off guard…
Oh! The woes of packing a life into a box


-Ub M©apr2008

...to shakespeare et al

For all aspiring and established writers, April 23 is a significant date for many reasons. By chance; choice; conspiration; mischieve or sheer coincidence, three (3) prominent 16th century writers namely: Shakespeare, Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who individually and collectively revolutionalised the literary world all died on this day.

On what might be termed a 'book' day to be born or dead, other well known authors such as Vladimir, Maurice Droun, Haldor Laxness, etc, either birthed or died on this date. Little wonder why this date is a celebrated 'World Book' Day.

Concurrently, this date is also celebrated as 'the biggest lessons' day. Where attempt is made to bring in as much people from all walks of life in various countries back into the classroom to have lessons under a national curriculum. I think the attempt is made to create the largest number of idiots trying to get smart collectively or whatever, but, dont they have a point?

Mortality

Bubbles borne
hopes incarnate
Say Valediction,
and new journeys begin
waits;
lives;
kicks;
births;
to a cycle that might soon bore
too soon, becomes a lifestyle
soon, the weight of joys
drowns the tears
soon, the wake of dreams
crowns the years.


-Ub. M©170408

Thai Day!

I have been trying to coin a theme for everyday now. See which activities overwhelmed which and qualified to be used as a theme, trying to diversify my posts.

Up till evening, I was thinking 'Traffic Day' after spending like 7 hours in total on the road for a trip of about 20km, until later in the cool of the day while I am reminiscing, it dawns on me that it might as well be called 'Thai' Day. Not that it is a Thai holiday or something but the fact that all my meals for the day coincidentally was at Thai restuarants. So, I am thinking, I enjoyed these meals very much and I had the appetite for a square meal after such a long time, it qualifies to be themed!

I kind of realised that I have been very busy too! Up to the point where I forget to return calls and confuse conversations with different people...maybe it should be themed, 'Busy' Day...who cares!

April Fools

I almost confused today's "April Fools" with ''Assholes" Day. It so happened that majority of the people that I met today were total cut-out assholes. I was so busy getting myself worked out on attitudes until I had this revelation...folks are just acting in the spirit of the day, fooling around.

The one that almost got me pumping was an ignoramus of a security guard who I noticed that for whatever reasons has been picking on me tirelessly. This time, his beef was that, I couldn't wait for 2mins for a friend I was picking up to get off the lift. I was in the waiting area obviously I wasn't obstructing any traffic. As much as I would have loved to at that instance, I didnt get to use any physical strength to drive home my point but I did give him a warning that I wouldn't hesistate leaving my autograph on his face the next minute he treats me like a scum...I believe he got my point straight.

The officials of the Nigerian Embassy here got the blunt of my frustration earlier in the day. I gave it straight to everybody including the ambassador who had a very lackadaiscal and unprofessional attitude......and then the traffic! OMG! i needed a anger management therapy badly today. The fine point was that, I did not conceal or disguise any frustrations I had, It was like raw emotions flowing unpertubed.

Generally, today was great day, despite the dramas, somebody very special to me decided to be born today so, in the end, everything was beautifully...just like the good book says!

My Good Friday

Good friday this year for me came on a wednesday! Kindda unique not just because it is the 26th, which happens to be my homeboy's bday, unique events did actually take place today! I couldnt help it but tell to whoever dared to listen that it was a good day indeed, honestly!

Started out contemplating waking up or continuing good sleep in the Horner's guest room, ended up running 20km/hr for about 10mins at the clubhouse gym, very exhausting! ...to God meeting my immediate needs to, very important phone calls coming through, to dissapointments turning into blessings, etc etc.

This is my way of saying 'thank you' to the big man for giving me such a fulfilling day, I am so grateful! It was like I could get anything I asked for, too bad I only realised this when the day was almost running out. tommorow is a better day!

My drive

The month of march is slowly marching away, it has been a very exciting ride...a very rewarding month I must say. It has been such that I count every thing that happened this period, good and bad as being good. I am that grateful.

Slowly things are falling back into shape and living is becoming more and more something to look forward to. Yeah, I lost a priceless treasure, a 2GB removable disk full of my undocumented writeups, lyrics and poems. Put up a 5oo bucks reward for the thief that returns it, that is like 10 times the value of an nu drive but ....tsk!

What broke me most was my lyrics, I had like more than a 3-album length, tight material for a debut album that was scheduled to commence recording as soon as I moved in and settled down but, all things work together for goood....

I had a few tears but they are words and they will come again. I just pray for the patience and dedication to pen them down the good ol-fashioned way as the come. Technology will not have me the second time.

Well, the phone lines are installed again, and the internet is up, I can look forward to utilise the good energy that abounds bountifully now and make me into me, the real me.

still changing

finally, I moved! It has been very consuming but I found help and strength to deal with 'em. 'old things have been recycled, behold! all things are becoming new'!

Marching on!

I can almost say now without wavering that a brand new chapter had begun in my life. It began even before I was aware of it, in the comfort and solitude of my bedroom on the eve of 2008. Maybe it was waiting for me to relax and let things run course. This is exactly what I am poised to do, so far, I have minute regrets.

I have been marching higher and higher and things are becoming clearer and I can almost see an end-product.

I feel like most my arrears of prayers are being answered in a hurry.. So much so that I have little or no time to deal with the answers. But I wouldnt need to do that cos,one of the ónly 'resolutions' I made for this year was to compromise and go with the flow, letting nothing slow me or take me unawares except success...I ain't counting my eggs before the hatch but I can say that, i am sure counting them as they hatch.

I am only hinting, with the pace things are happening, I will be forced to change my prayer topics to somethings more dramatic. Iwanna ask the question, why did it have to wait that long but I guess things are just running due course, anywho, Yak Ubong Anyie Abasi!

Activities

Feb, 14th came and went this year without much of the dramatical breakthroughs that it has been accustomed to over the years. I almost stay home alone but for a long walk that I couldn't resist and Guiness!

This year I decided to lay low on expectations and just go with the flow but, It seems to be holding a lotta stunts up its sleeves already, change, being one of 'em. A lot of promises I can perceive but I won't be carried away.

Come to think of it, I am paying back for all those laid back days when I would just sit down and count hours of sleep. The past week has been super-duper busy, from planning an inevitable relocation to auditioning for, and getting a job for a tv commercial to be aired in Russia, to other minute but significant changes that is becoming a norm. I can say that I have been really blessed. This particular job is one that I asked for and really wanted and surprisingly, the jinx that defined these kindda moments was changed forever!

Rehearsing for the job was as fun as the actual shooting. The managers, wardrobe, makeup, other talents, etc were so fun to work with. The costume that we were forced to wear wasn't as comfortable as it was funny to be in but intoto, it was a very fun trip to mediaval Africa, FUN!

The director, a dude from LA was AMAZING! He was that good, treated us not just like mere talents but like real professional, let us have wild fun on set despite the blazing sun in some remote desert, finished shooting like 45mins to budgeted time, GAVE ALL CAST A HUG AFTER THE SHOOT! etc, etc....Ok, point noted.

Back on the home front, a news almost shattered my accustomed fun-ridden week, some dude backed out of the house deal that I was about to close the minute I got back at the last minute, this meant that I wouldn't get that much needed rest just yet, I still have to put in energy in getting and moving into a new property.

God is veldig great all the same, I feel me moving to another level, Maybe my new year has finally started!

Shallow Mind

The mind, the Mine, a journey full of miles
Traffic of thoughts crawling on life’s freeway
The loudness of quiet
In a noise infected street
Much so, tranquility drowns
An ocean of commuters
The quiet gets louder
Even so, a distance ring of cell is heard

The mind, the Mine, a closet full of lies
Mirage of illusions creating highways in the sky
The struggle of freedom
Principalities scurrying away
Confusions, Deceptions
Congested delusions
Custom made Conventions,
Only the undiscerning face rejections

The mind, the Mine a chest full of mimes
Actors and crew rehearsing on a live set
‘Lights’ and ‘Actions’ now,
Murder!
Alter ego just killed
They say it's a crime of passion
He shouldn’t have started a faction
Now, no one dares to be out of fashion



©2008, 06Feb, Ub