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Monday, November 29, 2010

THE WORLD'S RICHEST PLACE (PART TWO OF THE GRAVE)

Yes, the grave!
For buried in the grave are stories untold,
Books unwritten, songs unsung, and ideas unshared,
Heroes unheard off, and intimidated,
Greatmen covered in obscurity,
And inspirations sealed in oblivion,
Within its chambers , sepulchers and tombs,
Lie mighty men, enslaved by the dust of mother-earth,
Champions and winners lifeless are laid, choked by the ashes of burnt dreams,
And the smokes of ideas in flickering flames,

Some embalmed in the unpleasant oils and nauseating scents of poverty,
Others wrapped up in clothes of fear of the unknown,
And others still, covered in expensive attires of acquired riches mistaken for purpose fulfilled,
In its yards, a few lie asleep having been restrained from their dreams by the hands of pessimism,
And the arms of doubt and unbelief,
So, they all lie, from various origins, and citizenry;
Their dreams shattered, their stories untold,
And their names never mentioned,

But will you?
Will you pass through this world,
Sojourn through the universe,
Thread the dusty and sandy paths of life,
And sail the restless seas of mortality,
And transcend unto eternity,
Without leaving behind memories worthy of celebration in the hearts of humanity?
Without leaving behind footprints, perhaps shoeprints, or even knee and palm prints of greatness for your world to follow?
Without buying for yourself a place in history,
Without opening for yourself a page in the annals of time?
And without purchasing for yourself a name in the chronicles of events?
The choice is yours!

THE GRAVE!

From time immemorial,
From generations past,
Centuries prehistoric,
Decades gone,
And millenniums faded,
At the depths of man's heart,
The quest has laid,
And in his life,
The search lingered,

A search it is,
For where lies the riches of life,
And a quest it has remained,
For what harbors the treasures of humanity,
A search it is,
Embedded with a desire for acquisition of wealth so great,
And of satisfaction so immense,
A quest it exists as, for the endowment the world proffers,

Now at last, with much reflections,
With meditations intense,
Thoughts insightful,
And ruminations inspirational,
The veil of ignorance has been torn apart,
The hood of misconception blown away,
The shield uncovered and the revelations of the real roots magnified;
For not in the gold mines of nations does the treasure lie,
Not in the oil wells of the delta are the riches cradled,
Not even in rubies, diamonds, emeralds and jasper-precious stones are they sealed,
But in the GRAVE!

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

WHAT A CREATURE, WHAT A BEAUTY!

It was a hot sunny day; the sun was burning,
Your eyes glowed; your skin glistened,
In the midst of the sun, your beauty was more glaring,
Instantly, your beauty yelled at me-it was resounding,
So I listened,
My entire body froze, and my eyes popped,
As I muttered, "what a creature, what a beauty!"

Your features exuded perfection,
Your eyes starry, was a beam,
Of life, energy and passion,
Your figure so curvy, was like a stream,
Of sexuality and satisfaction,
Your lips full and shiny, was like a sunbeam,
Beaming sensuousness and exuding attraction,
Your legs straight and spotless, were like moonbeams,
Beaming softness and confidence, leading in the right direction,
You were stunning, perfect and complete,
Hence with abruptness, I whispered, "what a creature, what a beauty!"

When you spoke to me, for the first time,
I felt my past merged with present, and sutured with my future,
For I realized then that you were all I needed, all I need and all I'll ever need, till the end of time,
Your beauty transcended artificiality and superficiality, you were a perfect creature,
Now that you are mine, it feels like with each passing day, your beauty is renewed, gradually getting to its prime,
The inner version of your beauty exudes my most desired features,
Honey, this beauty you possess must be supernatural; it is certainly divine,
Thank God I found you; so many years with you and I still look at you and utter,
"What a creature, what a beauty!"

WHAT HAPPENED TO US?

Tears in my eyes,
Pain in my heart,
And sorrow in my life,
As I reminisce with painful pleasure the beginning of this love,
A love it was destined to last forever,
A love it was sent from above,
I was sure we were meant for each other,
I remember our first kiss, that moment time stopped, my heart stopped, and I felt covered in a love-glove,
Enclosed by a world of peace and tranquility, where we would abide together, forever,
But baby my heart now lies broken,
As I can't help but ask?
What happened to the love we had?
What happened to the moments we shared?
Please tell me, what happened to us?

Tears in my eyes,
Pain in my heart,
And sorrow in my life,
As I meditate on our present situation
Happily ever after, was meant to be our story,
Till death us part, was meant to be our case,
Together we were meant to go from grass to glory,
On the island of Love we were meant to be-in a better place,
But now it's a different story,
Honey, antipathy is now our case,
Love and likeness have become the pair that grew wings,
Our love have become the creature that grew fangs,
Biting on us, and continually tearing us apart,
Sweetie, please tell me, what happened to us and the love we shared together,
What happened to us and the days spent together,

What is this sudden silence that now lies between us,
What is this abrupt distance that now exists between us,
Baby please tell me, why do we quarrel and fight,
Why do we lie apart each other, every other night,
Baby, this wasn't the love we pledged,
This wasn't the life we vowed,
Is it really worth it?
All this acrimony,
All this disharmony,
All this antipathy,
Baby please, let us bury the hatchet, and erase the past from off our minds,
Let us put those painful memories behind,
And reunite in a life-long of passion.

IF I COULD RUN AWAY!

The world in which we live is filled with much struggle,
With each passing day these struggles seem to double,
Trials on every side, my heart is sometimes filled with sorrow,
Grey clouds in the sky, bleakness fills tomorrow,
Sometimes your best doesn't seem enough,
And no matter how much you try, life remains tough,
In the midst of all these, I wish I could run away,
I wish I could fly away,
To a place where the skies are always blue,
To a place where I'll always glow,
A place where the grass is always green,
And the air is always clean,

Baby, we live in a world where love has gradually become a crime,
A world where deception and lust is at its prime,
To the hate and jealousy of this world, have I become allergic,
The envy and acrimony in this world, have become lethargic,
To our love life,
I remember when I said I wanted to make you my wife,
The world said you wasn't my type,
That your life was a mere hype,
They even said I was wasting my time,
That I should get you off my mind,
The world said we didn't belong together,
They said we won't last forever,
But look at us now, our love so strong has not be broken,
On a unique love-path, we walk, which before has not been trodden,

Honey, if I could fly away,
If I could run away,
To a place where the sky is always bright,
To a place where opposition is out of sight,
A place where the grass is always green,
And the air is always clean,
Baby, I will, with you by my side,
I will, with you behind,
On my back-I'll be your carrier,
And through the flight will be your bearer,
And together we shall soar to a better place,
Where we would have our own space,
Sweetie, indeed if I could run away and fly away,
I will, with you by my side.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

WHAT A WORLD!

Friends, we live in a world in which the unpredictable wind of fate drives us in unexpected ends,
A world in which the restless seas of life drowns even the skilful of captains,
However, in the face of these situations which tend to obfuscate us,
We should not treat with negligence,
The fact that the key to our destiny lies in our hands,
What a world! One characterized by irony!

In this jungle, brothers, no definite trend is typical,
We therefore are architects of our own lives,
For some folks step into it wretched, and depart affluent,
Others tread its path wallowing in luxury, but get passed the finish line as beggars,
Still in this jungle, brethren,
While some fellows die from the pangs of hunger and poverty,
Others have so much as to cast them to the dogs,
What a world! One that typifies sheer contradiction!

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

DREAMS

They are the blessings to our world we give,
The purpose of our existence,
They are the reasons we live,

They come to the hearts of the determined,
They befuddle the minds of the great,
And they flood the reasoning of the successful,

They are the definition of success,
Sometimes though, our God-given purpose,
Which to our world connect us,
And from our generation respect attracts us,

They may be day-dreams, fantasies, imagination or even night visions,
But without them, we become like dusts to be blown away by the wind of life,
Without them, endlessly we roam, in the market square of life,
Adrift, we remain, tossed to and fro by the restless seas,

The great they define,
The message of the successful they herald,
Between victors, and victims, a bridge they build,
In the midst of Kings, they place commoners,
And before the wealthy, set paupers,

Who we are, they are,
The definition of our existence,
And the epitome of our personality.
Do you have a Dream?
Please do not let it die.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

TEMPEST!

As we sailed along the Mediterranean seas in the twilight of a peaceful eve,
We relished the gentle sensation of the winds as they rushed by, sweeping through our scalps and seeping freshness into our pores,
We relaxed on the deck of our vessel, lay on the stern, stood on the bow, admiring the wonders of nature in the pellucid waters, the vegetation stretch along the sides of the seas, completely caught up in nature's abundance, and drawn from the realities of the acquatic body,

Then suddenly, like a flood from the heavens in all intensity, the winds rose, the currents surged, the thunders roared, the lightning through the dark skies pierced, the rains poured, and our vessel trembled,
Tossed to and fro by this restless act of nature, we lost our compass, and the power to control the situation, from our hands slipped,
As we in utter frustration ran helter-skelter, striving to halt this precarious moment, our hearts fluttering, our blood boiling, and our bones quivering in apprehension,

We continued helplessly, tip-toed on the edge of a precipice, heading for a shipwreck,
The seas seemed to have been infuriated by our complacency, the currents by our withdrawal from full alert, and the waves by our continuous giggles, cackles, and chuckles,
As we battle this ordeal, in a manner of abruptness, to worsen the complications, we were launched into a fleeting moment of violent movements, drowning us into unconsciousness,
Then we woke to an island of uncertainty, surrounded by strange hills and trees of unknown identities, to wander and plod the woods of danger, till help comes.

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: THE CONCLUSION (PART TWO)

...Saturday, December 26, was a bright and fair day. The ceremony commenced at about 9 '0' clock in the morning. This was the happiest day in the lives of the couples and they were both gorgeously dressed in the traditional yorouba attire with their faces beaming with smiles. The marriage was done in the traditional yorouba style, and all marriage rites were observed accordingly. It was then time for the couples to dance before the guests. This was the most scintillating part of the occasion, as the couples will exhibit their native dance steps. Being natives of yorouba, Abayomi and Bisi were equally good dancers, but one must certainly out-dance the other.
   Bisi swayed her whole body from right to left in the traditional yorouba style. Abayomi also showed off much of the yorouba dance steps, but had by mistake brought in the white man's dance steps at the concluding part and was thus thrown over to the loosing side. While this was going on, guests were busy munching lumps of meat, masticating grains of rice, and gulping bottles of assorted drinks-there was enough for everyone to eat and drink. Finally, the celebration came to an end and the couples retired to their rented apartments for a recuperative night rest. Bisi had earlier gone to her mother's house for a word of advice on how to make a peaceful home and after that night, she was to stay with her mother for a week before finally joining her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Abayomi and Dr. Kunle were to travel back to London the following year. So they had enough time to put everything in place before going back. They even embarked on and completed a number of projects for their community, including a pipe borne water project and the new town market complex.
  The older year had passed and everyone was making resolutions for the New Year. For Mr. and Mrs. Abayomi, they decided not to start bearing children until a month after their white wedding. Kunle decided that he was going to set up a medical center in Britain. He had the dream of discovering helpful drugs and therapeutic measures that would greatly improve human health. At the end of January, Mr. and Mrs. Abayomi and Dr. Kunle had already finalized plans for their voyage back to Britain. They left Nigeria on Sunday evening and arrived Britain on Tuesday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Abayomi kept their vows. Their wedding ceremony was one of the biggest in London were they live.
  Barely one month after their wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Abayomi were blessed with a son whom they named Adegoke. Dr. Kunle's dreams were materialized. He established a medical center and was already working as a medical doctor. Mr. Abayomi had also started working as a Civil Engineer in one of London's reputable companies. His company built a number of roads, bridges and tunnels, and with him as the leader of the team of civil engineers they were soon able to supply ample amount of water to drought prone areas. Mrs. Abayomi continued working as a Chartered Accountant in her own firm and also made great impacts in the Accounting field. Her son was placed in the custody of a trusted daycare center, while she worked. Dreams do come through indeed, inspite of obstacles. 

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: THE CONCLUSION (PART ONE)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (PART ONE)
A DAY OF CELEBRATION
   On Saturday morning, Bisi and Kunle woke up at about 7:15 am, and finalized preparations. They then drove off to Abayomi's house in a cab. On getting there, they realized Abayomi had been waiting for them, so they all drove off to the airport. At about 11 '0' clock everybody was on board the plane and it soon took off. They were to get to Nigeria on Tuesday evening. The news of their intended return had reached their parents two days earlier and so everything was put in place for a welcome party holding on Tuesday evening at Mr. Ojo's house. Their parents drove off to the airport by 4:30 pm on Tuesday evening to receive their children. Their flight did not arrive until about 7:30 pm, when it finally did. This offered a great deal of relief to both parents. The three had just alighted the plane and were just emerging from the clearance zone, when their parents saw them from where they had been sitting, waiting for them. They quickly and excitedly ran to embrace and welcome their children.
     "Welcome my heroes and heroine" said Mr. Taiwo.
     "How was your flight?" Mrs. Omotola asked.
     "Fine. Except that the weather condition was pretty bad" replied Bisi.
     "Thank God you arrived safely. May Olodomare be praised" Kunle's mother added.
     "How are you dad?" Abayomi asked his father.
     "I am fine son. I can see you have now grown into a full-ledged man. Congratulations my son" he said in response.
   Both families soon drove home to commence the welcome party they had organized for their children. There at home, it was food, drinks, and dance galore, as everyone was happy to see the ones who have made the ancient Ijekun town and hamlet proud. Mr. Kwame who was now getting on in age was also at the party and was exceptionally pleased with his students.
    "Welcome home my brains" he said as he beckoned on them to come.
    "I know it wasn't easy at all, but thank God you made it. Congratulations"
    "Thank you sir" Abayomi said.
    "You were a source of inspiration to us all. Those very words of yours encouraged us greatly" he added handing over a brief case containing some money and other valuables to Mr. Kwame.
    "This is for you sir"
    "For me? Oh may God continue to bless and prosper the works of your hands" Mr. Kwame said prayerfully.
   "Amen" they all replied in one voice.
 Abayomi and Bisi had fixed a date for their marriage ceremony. It was slated for Saturday, December, 26. The wedding was going to be the biggest ceremony ever organized in Ijekun hamlet, Bisi's hometown. Invitation letters and cards were distributed throughout Ijekun town and the neighbouring towns and villages. Mr. Ojo had invited his business associates from Lagos. The venue was going to be the Ijekun market square which was about 10 acres in size. All the guests were to be served with ceramic plates and glass vessels. Canopies and chairs were made available and a traditional musical band was invited.

TO BE CONTINUED
Copyright Lysious.

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: WEDDING BELLS RINGING

CHAPTER TEN (PART THREE)
THE GRADUATION
..The next day was Friday, and to Bisi's greatest surprise, Abayomi showed up at their house to ask her out. She knew he was certainly going to do this, but never expected it to be so soon. She however agreed considering the cordial relationship they had had for years. It was 7 pm at Kunle and Bisi's apartment on Cleveland Street. The evening was warm, but windy. Bisi had just finished doing the dishes and was about to sit down on the cream-colored leather sofa when she heard the door bell. It was Abayomi.
       "Hey, it's you. Come in" She said as she opened the door.
       "How are you? You decided to come pay us a visit today?"
       "Yes. I am very well. Everything is great. How are you?"
       "I'm good. Just finished doing the dishes. Your friend is in his room studying. Let me go and call him" Bisi said as she attempted walking toward the hallway.
       "Um, Bisi...that won't be necessary. It's you I actually came to see"
      "Oh, okay. Hope all is well?" Bisi asked pretensiously as if she didn't suspect the reason behind his wanting to see her.
     "Actually, I was wondering if we can go some place and talk. Just the two of us. There is something I'd like to tell you. I hope this is a good time?" Abayomi asked a little nervous.
    "I was just about to watch a documentary by BBC, but I think I can spare an hour or two. You know I can't tun you down" Bisi said with a smile, relieving Abayomi's nervousness.
    "I really appreciate that" he said as he sat down.
    "You look beautiful" he added. Bisi blushed and paused for a while as she turned to look at Abayomi, who at this point was wondering if he shouldn't have said that.
   "Thank you!" Bisi said with a short giggle, as he looked Abayomi in his eye. There was a certain knowing to the look they exchanged in that brief moment. It was if they both know where this is going.
  "Well, I have to go and freshen up and change into something else. Five minutes would do" she said as she went into her room. Five minutes later, she appeared, looking resplendent in a red silk sleeveless gown.
    "Can we get going now?" she said to Abayomi who was so captivated by her beauty that he stood staring, dumbfounded for a few seconds.   
  "Sure!" he said short of words. "Kunle we are leaving. Please lock the door" Bisi called out to Kunle.
  "Alright! You two have fun!" came the response from the hallway. They both drove off in Abayomi's Lexus jeep to Terra restraunt at 53 Cleveland street. Few minutes after they arrived and got a table, and chatted for a while, Abayomi decided to make his intentions known to Bisi.
  "You see Bisi, I think you are the most beautiful creature I've ever seen on two legs" He started off with a broad smile.
  "Oh please. Don't flatter me" she replied with a smile revealing her perfect dental structure with an opening in the middle. She looked more beautiful with her smiles, that leave her cheeks dimpled.
  "Nooo! It's no flattery. I mean every word of what I just said" Abayomi said expressing his honesty.
  "Thank you then" Bisi said as she reached for the glass of Pink Lady on the table, took a slow sip and then placed it back on the table covered in white linen fabric.
  "Honestly, you possess all the qualities a man would desire in a woman. I mean any man would be proud to have you as a wife" he continued as he stared into her glowing eyes, holding her hands.
   "I love you Bisi! Please marry me!" Abayomi said letting out the inner content of his heart, as he brought out a shiny black gold-plated case containing a diamond ring.
  "Marry you? I don't think I am ready for marriage now!" Bisi said but in a low voice.
  "Please Bisi, don't say no. You mean so much to me right now. I know we haven't dated and I am sorry I never mentioned this all along, I just thought this would be the right time. Please marry me and I will make you feel loved, like a real woman" Abayomi pleaded kneeling.
  "Well, Abayomi I have always admired your character. I mean your discipline, intelligence and moral chastity. The thing is, I just think this is moving too fast. But, like you said, may be this is the right time. I know I still need to know you better if we are going to be together. But I guess, having being friends all our lives, there isn't much left to know about you. So yes, I'll marry you!" Bisi replied with a radiant smile.
   "Oh thank you!" Abayomi said as he gently slid the ring down her finger. They both embraced each other and kissed briefly, before leaving the restraunt hand in hand.
    Abayomi called his parents that night and informed them of his newly found love. They were very happy with him and congratulated him for making a right choice. Bisi also informed her parents of the engagement. They two were in support of the union. It was if their marriage was God-ordained. The three decided to travel home the next weekend to see their parents after so many years, and to fix a date for the upcoming wedding. Everything was really moving fast. They bought their flight ticket, went shopping, and packed all that the journey would require. They were to leave Britain on a morning flight and so decided to make all preparations ahead of time.


 

Thursday, November 25, 2010

THE TREASURE WITHIN YOU!

Your beauty so deep, runs deeper than the Atlantic,
My love so deep runs deeper than the Pacific,
Your character so clean cannot be dented,
And your beauty so pure remains untainted,
Within your soul, lies pearls,
And within your spirit lies wells,
Some of love, others of honesty, and some others of chastity,
Baby, there is a treasure within you, deep in your entity,
A treasure for which I seek,
A treasure for which I'm willing to stick,
By you, through the storms and for all of eternity,

Darling this treasure within you of which I speak, is a marvel,
It's a treasure so abundant, I cannot adequately unravel,
Not within this realm of mortality,
Hence the reason I'll be with you for eternity,
To behold the wonders of this treasure,
Baby, for this treasure within you, I'll be with you forever, like a fixture,
I have searched for so long, all my life,
For the right one to call my wife,
Then I found you, a treasure sent me from above,
You showed me true love,
Baby, this treasure within you, brings me fulfillment,
This treasure within you, is my life's enrichment,

This treasure within you,
Brought out the best in me,
This treasure within you,
Gave me comfort in the days when I was hurt,
This treasure within you,
Is the source of my pride,
Baby, this treasure within you,
Changed my life's course,
This treasure within you,
Has become the propelling force of my life,
I'm grateful to God for this treasure within you!

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: THERE IS LOVE IN THE AIR...

CHAPTER TEN (PART TWO)
THE GRADUATION
   ...The final year examinations came but the trio wrote theirs at different years, since their course duration was different. However, they all emerged best in their various departments when they graduated. This attracted recognition by the British government. They also received a number of awards from various renowned institutions. On the day of their graduation they received sums of money, enough to enable them start up with their careers. After Bisi's graduation she had to work for some years with various reputable accounting firms, while Kunle and Abayomi continued their education. However, after their graduations, events took a dramatic turn between the friends. They were all now full-fledged adults.
     "Kunle, I think there is this strong feeling in me that Bisi would make a good wife" Abayomi said in a manly tone.
     "You are not serious" Kunle replied laughing surprisingly.
     "This is not a laughing matter. I am dead serious. I would really like her to be my wife. You know, we have spent all our lives together as a family, and I think Bisi possesses all the qualities I desire in a wife" He said sounding even more serious.
     "You are really serious? Well, Abayomi I really do not have any problem with you as a brother-in-law, but it's not me you want to marry. You have to go talk the young lady in question" Kunle said expressing his position on the matter.
     "I perfectly understand you Kunle, but you are her brother, so I thought it wise to come through you."
     "Well, in that case I will talk to her about it. But you should try asking her out sometime. You know, you can take her to a romantic place and make your intentions known. You might even want to propose at once" Kunle advised his friend. It was as if he wanted them to be married as fast as possible.
     "That is such a good idea! Thanks man! You are such a good friend" Abayomi said as he shook hands with Kunle.
    "You are most welcome and best of lucks with my sister" Kunle added as they both left.
 That night Kunle disclosed Abayomi's intention to his sister, to which she gave no response on her stance.
   "I will prefer he comes to me himself, you know, as gentlemen do" she said.
   "He sure will at the right time. But you know considering our relationship with him, he thought it reasonable to come through me first".
   "I know all that and I understand you completely, but it's not you I'm marrying. You have done your part, and I appreciate it. But if Abayomi is serious about what he told you, he'll have to speak to me himself."
  "You're right, but can I atleast know what you think so I can tell him. You know, a yes or a no" Kunle tried persuading his sister who was getting slightly upset by now.
 "Look Kunle, I have already given you an answer. He has to come to me himself. That's how I think it should be done".
"But Bisi..."
" Can we not stretch this further?" Bisi interrupted. "I really have to go to bed. My day was pretty hectic. Good night" Bisi said in a manner typical of a mature young lady, as she quitely left her brother's room and headed for hers.
 "Good night" replied Kunle as he wondered how his kid sister had fully grown into a graceful and mature young lady.
 "How time flies" he said to himself as he lay to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...
FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Copyright Lysious.

GRASS TO A GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER TEN (PART ONE)

CHAPTER TEN
THE GRADUATION
    The subsequent semesters were very successful for Bisi, Kunle, and Abayomi. The news of their parent's reconciliation really stirred up the siblings as they decided to make the best results in their departments. The final year was not easy for Kunle who had to visit some general hospitals for practicals. There he was exposed to dead bodies and was even asked to carry out experiments in which he had to dissect the brains of some dead bodies in order to study the brain cells. This he did with his lecturer's assistance as a final year test. The determined future medical doctor had to spend sleepless nights, studying voluminous medical texts and materials. For Bisi, the bulk of her final year thesis was based on analytical procedures of financial accounts. She was asked to work with some financial firms in order to carry out an analysis of business procedures and accurate record keeping.
   Abayomi in a similar vein did not find things easy too. He was asked to work with some field civil engineers to acquire practical knowledge. He also had to rigorously study both outdated and modern materials on Civil Engineering, and was exposed to brain twisting engineering mathematical problems. But if it is painful, it must be gainful, he thought.
  The final year examinations were around the corner. It was actually slated for September, 28 and all final year students were asked to submit and defend their thesis paper after the examinations. Bisi, who graduated before Kunle and Abayomi, submitted her thesis in her fianl year. Abayomi was however asked by his lecturer Mr. Washington, an American professor of Civil Engineering, to modify  and elaborate his thesis. He was asked to this with adequate references and illustrations. This was so much work and had to be done in the stated time. Abayomi extended the tentacles of his research and emphasized practicality in his work. This time it was accepted and he was commented by Mr. Washington.

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER NINE (PART TWO)

...Mr. Taiwo was to go to his wife's house the following day and deliver her portion of the money their son sent. At first he was reluctant, but later mustered courage and decided to take the bull by the horn. At least for the sake of their children. The next morning, Mr. Taiwo got up early, had his bath and breakfast and then headed for his wife's house. On arrival, it took him almost five minutes to knock on the door, and when he finally did, he faced down with eyes closed.
       "Come in!" was the reply from inside, but Mr. Taiwo refused to come in for fear of his wife's reaction. When no one opened at her response, Mrs. Iyabo walked up to the door and opened it, to see her husband standing at the door, faced down. Mr. Taiwo's heart rent into two when his wife opened the door.
       "Oh, it's you. Come in" she said with a smile, to his utter amazement. Kunle had earlier written a letter to his mom, which she received a day before the postman delivered Mr. Taiwo's parcel. So Mrs. Iyabo had already decided to reconcile with her husband.
       "I'm awfully sorry for everything I made you and the kids go through" Mr. Taiwo said with streaks of tears on his cheek.
       "Please find a place in your heart to forgive me" he added.
       "It's okay. I forgave you a long time ago" Mrs. Iyabo said as she walked towards her husband who was standing across her in her white-painted sitting room, well furnished with black leader sofas. She then kissed him before they embraced each other with deep emotions. Moments later, Mrs. Iyabo returned the keys to her apartment to the land owner before moving back in with her husband.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

FEAR!

The mirage of danger that appears on the road of life, frightening its users,
The voice that makes a mountain of a mole hill, and obstructs the path of pusillanimous fellows,
The hands that grip the feet of the defeated, holding them back from rising,
And the factor that enslaves mediocrities, and up the rungs of greatness stop them from climbing,

The enemy of courage,
An adversary of bravery,
Drenched in invisibility along the journey of the great,
And enclosed in insignificance, in the cause of the purpose-driven,

The ropes that binds the wings of the dreams of the unfulfilled,
Hindering their flight to the skies of accomplishment,
The heat that drains the strength of the once energetic, drowning them in the rivers of stagnation,
Places a magnifying lens over infinitesimal challenges, thus getting cowards infused with apprehension,
Weaknesses nurture and strengths stifle.
The greatest fear being the fear of fear itself!

IF I BE BORN AGAIN...

To what shall I liken this love you have shown me,
It's like the tender loving a mother shows her child,
A love that has made me free,
From pain and heartbreak; a love so strong, but yet mild,
Baby, if I die and be born again, you'll still be my only love,

Loving you is a feeling I wish has no end,
Not even with the end of mortality,
A lover, a soulmate and a friend,
Is who I'll be to you, even for eternity,
So, I just want to take this time and tell you how I truly feel,
Truth is, if I were to be born again, you will remain my soul mate and I mean this for real,

I never knew love could bring fulfillment,
I never thought love could be one's greatest achievement,
Until I met you,
I never knew love had the power to revolutionize,
A life and make each day feel like paradise,
Until I found you,
What more do I need when I've got you,
Honestly honey, if I were to die and be born again, you will remain my heartbeat

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER NINE (PART ONE)

CHAPTER NINE
THE RECONCILIATION
     Kunle and Bisi became committed to their academic work again, and were thus able to make up for the carry-overs they had in the second semester. So, they moved onto the third semester. However, for Kunle who was studying Medicine, it was not easy at all, as he frequently had to borrow relevant text books from the school's library. At the end of the third semester, the siblings, with diligence and God's favor made the best results in their departments. The British government thus moved them back into their apartments and re-enlisted their names for the regular monthly allowance.
   Mr. Taiwo had not heard from his children for a long time and was getting really perturbed.
        "What could have happened to my children? This is strange and unlike them. Maybe they
         are planning to send me a bigger package this time. I still need to call them though"
As these thoughts ran through Mr. Taiwo's mind, there was a knock on the door.
        "Come in, the door is open" Replied Mr. Taiwo anxiously. It was the postman.
        "Good morning sir. I have a letter for you. Here it is sir. I'll need you to sign here sir" The postman said as he dipped his hand into his mailbag and handed over an envelope to Mr. Taiwo, who then signed on a note pad the postman had asked him to sign on.
      "Thank you very much. God bless you" Mr Taiwo said as he received the envelope from the man.
     "Thank you sir. I'll be on my way now" The postman said before leaving the room. Kunle had written a letter to his father, telling him all that had happened and why there had been an unsual delay in cash transfer. Kunle also advised his father to apologize to his mother and put right that which has gone wrong. Mr. Taiwo felt sorry for his mistakes and was ashamed for failing in his responsibilities as a husband and father, and for causing his children much pain. He was therefore determined to make amends.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL: CHAPTER EIGHT (PART TWO)

CHAPTER EIGHT (PART TWO)
A NEW DAWN
...The service commenced by 9: 30 am, after all religious rites have been observed. It was now time for the sermon and Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Lambert mounted the pulpit, a five meter structure made purely from Elizabethan gold. He was a tall, light-skinned, white-bearded man in his late fifties, and the sole-spiritual head of the church. That Sunday, he rendered an elongated message which put all the little children to sleep. But he vibrantly preached on the message, "what matters most". In course of the message, he made the congregation realize that it is of great waste to acquire all of life's abundance and loose one's soul in hell. In fact for Bisi and Kunle, it was as if they had been reported to the Rev. as it appeared he was talking directly to them. The words of the Rev. really impacted the lives of the siblings that they decided to begin serving from God from that day. They sorrowfully and humbly walked out during the altar call and gave their lives to Christ. To Abayomi, it was a dream come through as he had longed to see his friends make peace with God. Bisi and Kunle were very happy in their new found faith in God. It was to them a new dawn in life.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

THINK TWICE! II

For that child you abandoned today, may be the key to your prosperity tomorrow,
That strange woman from whose sexual treasure you tapped, might be the beginning of your pains as you lie on the sick bed inflicted with syphilis,
And that beggar you ignored, and orphan despised,
Might be the millionaire to whom you'll run years from now,

That wife out of whose life you stepped, might be the only wife with whom you had a peaceful night's sleep,
That maiden you abused yesterday, might be your daughter for whom you've long searched,
That subordinate you mistreated might be your employer tomorrow,
That company from whom you stole might be the last you work in,
And the nation's wealth you lavished, might lead to your utter disgrace and impoverishment,
Ergo, fellows, always think twice!

THINK TWICE!

Before you step out of that poor child's life, abandoning it with its mother,
Before you lay a finger on that helpless spouse of yours,
And before you take advantage of your wife's fidelity and trust,
And in between the thighs of a strange woman go,
Think twice!

Before you ignore that poor beggar and with indifference desert that destitute orphan,
Before you step out of that loving wife's life for the sake of last night's dispute,
And before you take advantage of that maiden's feminine weakness, desecrate her and rip her of her virginity,
Think twice!

Before you steal from the company's treasury,
Deal mercilessly with that subordinate of yours,
Before you enrich yourself with the nation's wealth, while its citizens suffer in penury,
Think Twice!

I'LL BE WAITING...

Sweetie, the days feel lonelier without you,
And the nights feel colder without you,
I long for the kiss of my lover,
I ache for your touch, so tender,
Darling, last night, I wished you were here, to tuck me in, when I felt dizzy,
And at dawn, I wished you were here, to kiss me into consciousness, as I felt sleepy,
But to compromise and invite another, I would never,
To compromise and love another, I would not, no, not ever,
So baby, you can be rest assured of this one thing:
That at the end of your journey, I'll be right here waiting for you,

How can I ever love another,
When I have you,
Let the sun collapse from high,
Let the moon fall from the sky,
Let the rivers overflow their banks,
And let the seas overflow their brinks,
Let the world come crumbling down,
And the heavens come tumbling down,
My love for you will never be shaken,
My feelings for you will never be broken,
For not even death is a parting for us,
So through the lonely nights,
And my painful plights,
When there is no one to comfort,
And it really hurts,
I would take refuge in the image of your presence,
And leave ablaze the fires of my love for you,
While I wait patiently for your imminent return, and our imminent reunion,
I'll be waiting!

I'LL BE WAITING...

Though we be miles apart,
This one thing I know: you'll always be in my heart,
For my love for you runs deeper than the Pacific,
It lies deeper than the Grand Canyon, to be more specific,
Baby, between the two of us lies no distance,
'Cos in you lies the true essence of my existence,
So no matter how long it takes,
You can be sure of this one thing:
That when you return, I'll be right here waiting for you,

I still remember the day you left,
I couldn't let you go, so unto your right arm, I cleft,
Unwilling to let go,
From my eyes, came tears in a flow,
You told me you had to leave, for a brighter future,
I had to believe you, 'cos in my mind's eye, I could still see our picture,
Together, as a couple, destined for each other,
I had to let you go, 'cos I was certain our love was meant forever,
So, take your time honey, as you go after your dreams,
For when you return, I'll be right here waiting for you...

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL-CHAPTER EIGHT (PART ONE)

CHAPTER EIGHT (PART ONE)
A NEW DAWN
   St. Gabriel's Catholic church was celebrating her 50th anniversary, and being a member, Abayomi thought it wise to invite his friends.
      "How are you today Kunle?" Abayomi asked.
      "Good. How about you?" he replied cheerfully.
      "I'm very well thank you. See, tomorrow is Sunday and I would really like you to accompany me to church. The 50th anniversary of the church is tomorrow".
      "No problem. We'll all go together, including Bisi. But that will be after my laundry."
     "Oh come on Kunle, you have all the time in the world to yourself to do that. Why not spend some quality time in God's presence. I mean that is even more rewarding than doing laundry, you know" Abayomi persuaded Kunle.
    "Okay. You win. Laundry cancelled. I'll be there" Kunle replied smiling.
    "I would really appreciate that Kunle" Abayomi said as they both went in doors.
  The next morning, the three friends woke up early and prepared for church. At about 8 '0' clock, they were already on their way to St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. The famous St. Gabriel Catholic church, located along Downing street was one of Britain's colossal and long standing buildings. It was built in the Elizabethan age with British architectural designs, and occupied a land mass of 20 acres. It's interior was decorated with the most expensive ornaments and precious gems of the time. The altar was arrayed in costly fabrics of bright colors, and crafted with precious stones. It was indeed a site to behold.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

Monday, November 22, 2010

I GAVE IT UP TOO SOON

Still remember that day you stepped out in a red silky gown,
Your skin glistened in the sun's heat, your ebony hair sparkled so brightly, I thought you wore a crown,
From a distance the purity of your beauty showed,
From a distance, its essence glowed,
Your smile so radiant, was invigorating,
Your sway so sinuous, was titillating,
I was swept off by the uniqueness of your personality,
And was blinded by the essence of your beauty,
No doubt, you were the right one,
So without hesitation, I poured out my heart,
But as it turned out, I gave it up too soon, for you tore it apart,

I couldn't get you off my mind,
It was almost impossible to put you behind,
You were the constant subject of my dreams,
The mere thought of you, made me let out a beam,
Obviously, I was obsessed,
Clearly, I was possessed,
But you were a perfect creature,
With a perfect character, and perfect features,
You were not just a woman, but also a wife,
Factually, it was your type I needed in my life,
You were very nice and sweet,
You listened when I talked, showed me some love, from harms way, you kept my feet,
The only problem was, you were not mine,
You were destined for another, another's soulmate, not mine,
So when the time came, we parted,
And our little friendship was ended,
Now, I am heart-broken, sore and torn,
For out of my heart sorrow's been born,
As it is now clear, I gave up my love too soon,
For you are now gone, never to return.

But I still miss you...

WITH THIS RING...

Baby, today you look more beautiful than ever,
Resplendent in this white flared gown,
Your smile is radiant and your eyes starry,
Down the aisle, I am ready to take you,
Your tender hands in mine, there is no turning back,
As we stand before the priest,
These words I'll mutter with joy,
"With this ring I thee wed",
And for eternity will never take them back,

I'm ready to cherish you for eternity,
I'm ready to love you for posterity,
I'm glad we found each other,
For with and without you, I'll never love another,
Honey, thank God, I won your heart,
For I am certain we can never be torn apart,
So with this ring- a symbol of my eternal protection, I thee wed,
As it continuously encircles your finger,
So shall my care and comfort, encircle your life,
Through the thick and thin, and through the stormy days,

Sweetie, as I stand next to the priest,
Watching you walk down the aisle,
I felt I heard the atmosphere say something,
Its very words were, "Great choice",
Baby, you were my perfect choice, and I'm forever grateful for you,
There couldn't have been any other for me, it had to be you,
So with this ring-a symbol of my eternal love, I thee wed,
As it continuously encircles your finger,
So shall my love forever encircle your life,
And you shall remain the love of my life,
As both our hearts perpetually beat as one.

So with this ring I thee wed,
Till death do us part,
With this ring I thee wed,
Our love shall transcend eternity,
With this ring I thee wed,
Never to love another,
With this ring I thee wed,
And vow to be yours forever...

AFRICA--A POETIC DESCRIPTION OF HER BEAUTY

Africa! My dear Africa,
A great continent sited on the equator,
Paradise on earth,
Showcasing nature's abundance,
Revealing hidden treasures,
Magnifyng the excellence of the creator,
Africa! The home of discovery!

Beautifully toned in dark skin,
A concentration of beauty and elegance,
Epitomizing the perfection of creation,
Radiating awesomeness in appearance,
A conglomeration of a rich cultural heritage,
An assembly of talents,
The store house of bravery, courage and ambitions,
An embodiment of moral excellence,
Africa! A home of greatness!

Though not politically stable,
A unique blend of administrative competence,
Portraying inherent viability in merchandise,
A breeding ground of tycoons,
Africa! The investors haven!

ENSLAVED II

Our children were taken away from us,
Our wives mistreated and made to look like chaffs,
Being tossed to and fro by temperate winds,
Our kinsmen were degraded,
Our rights and lives infringed upon and placed in shambles,

We longed and desired all day to see the beam of freedom,
To behold the dawn of liberty,
Our skills and talents were thrown to the dogs,
Our culture and heritage went into obscurity,
We were sold to the white tradition,
Endured with painful hearts, the foreign rod of war,

We wasted away on temperate shores and islands,
Traded upon as goods for worthless pieces of cowries,
We became slaves in the hands of our captors,
Then we cried out like restless souls in the deepest part of hell,
Oh! When shall we break away from the shackles of penury,
and the chains of captivity,
When shall we return to our fatherland,
To the home of our origin,
To the place of our birth,
Let them bring back our songs,
So that we the people can sing the songs of freedom,
And dance the dance of liberty.

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL(PART TWO OF CHAPTER SEVEN)

CHAPTER SEVEN (PART TWO)
ROBBERY IN THE STATE
   That night, Kunle was admitted in a general hospital where he received medical attention. Two days later, a member of Kunle's gang went to inform Bisi and Abayomi of the recent development. The two came visiting as soon as they heard the news.
     "I am terribly sorry for all I made you go through" Kunle said sorrowfully with tears running down his cheeks, as he apologized to his friend.
     "I had joined a gang and we had planned to rob Mr. Frank Nelson's house the night we had a slight misunderstanding. It was in the scene of the robbery that I got shot in my arm. I've also been addicted to some narcotic drugs and have since been living a wayward life. Abayomi please find it in your heart to forgive me for all the pains and discomfort I made you go through. I regret neglecting my parent's advice. Bisi here had begun living a promiscuous life, just to earn some money. That accounts for her frequent late nights."
Just then tears rolled down Bisi's cheeks as she knelt before Abayomi, feeling sorry too.
  "It's okay, Bisi, you don't have to kneel before me. Come on, stop crying. I've forgiven you all. All you should be concerned with now Kunle is how to get well and start all over again."
Abayomi replied sobbing. It was a happy reunion for three friends as they both held each other's hands and wept joyfully. A sudden air of silence filled the hospital room, but was interrupted by intermittent sniffs from the sobbing friends.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT...
Copyright Lysious

Sunday, November 21, 2010

GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL- THE STORY CONTINUES...

CHAPTER SEVEN
ROBBERY IN THE STATE
  The previous night, Kunle and other members of the "THE BIG GUYS" had planned to storm the house of one of Britain's wealthiest men, Mr. Frank Nelson who owned and controlled a couple of business empires across the British Isles. It was going to be a dare-devil experience for Mr. Nelson's residence was secured by armed police men.
  The gang had earlier gotten a number of sophisticated weapons, ranging from triple fire automated guns, pistols of different sizes, stun guns to bullet proofs of varying depth. They seemed to be very prepared for the feat. At about 11: 30 pm, the gang sneaked into Mr. Nelson's residence through an underground route behind a tree. A member of the gang had earlier gone to spy on the compound and discovered the route. Five minutes after they entered, they made five of the policemen unconscious with their stun guns.
  One of the police men who saw Kunle sneaking into Mr. Nelson's bedroom through the rooftop, alerted the others. Just then there was an exchange of gunfire between Kunle's gang and the police men. In the process three of Kunle's gang members were killed by being shot in the head. But none of the policemen were killed. Meanwhile, Kunle had earlier made it into Mr. Nelson's bedroom and collected 25 million pounds. He was so surprised that a man would leave such a huge amount of money in his house, but he was also pleased with it. Just as he was about jumping over the brick fence when one of the unconscious policemen who was regaining consciousness, raised his head and shot him in his right arm. He fell over the fence to the other side of it. It was indeed a narrow escape for the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Taiwo. The loss of five members of the gang shattered and dissolved it. Members decided to take on a new lease of life. This was how they decided to keep the police off the trail and prevent themselves from being jailed.

THE SAGA CONTINUES...
Copyright Lysious.

BEAUTIFUL PAIN! II

Honey your beauty leaves me still dazzled,
But your character leaves me now puzzled,
When I look into your eyes, I am enamored with what I see,
But when you speak, like thorns, I am punctured by what I hear,
But I still love you,
I still want to be with you,
But how do I live with a pretty thorn in my flesh? It's like a beauitful pain!

If I could turn back the hands of time to that day,
It's still you I'll choose, but just a different and more original you, I'll say,
Honey, the purity of your beauty and the sweetness of your sexuality, gives me pleasure,
But the impurity of your entity and the sourness of your personality, puts me under pressure,
I wished I had looked before leaping, for then I would not be deceived,
I wished I wasn't blinded by beauty, for then this would not be conceived,
For life with you feels like a pleasant torture, like a beautiful pain!

Baby, I still want to draw from your sexuality,
I still want to feed off your sensuality,
But for the pain,
Your body still titillates me,
Your figure still excites me,
I regret to let you slip out my grip,
From the cup of your femininity I still want to take a sip,
But for the pain,
So, tell me would you change?
Would you rearrange?
For I don't mind giving you a second chance,
I really don't mind giving you another chance,
Please tell me what it's going to be,
For I really can't live with a beautiful pain any more?

BEAUTIFUL PAIN!

I remember when I first saw you, from a distance, your skin glistened,
In the cloud of your personality, I heard the wind speak, so I listened,
In the aura of your beauty, I heard the sun mutter,
Even the moon let out a whisper,
I believe their very words were, "there goes your baby",
I recall their actual lines were, "there goes your lady",
Nature has spoken, who am I not to hearken,

So, to you I made a pass,
But you ignored me and walked past,
But I was mesmerized by your beauty,
I was hypnotized by your personality,
So I wasn't considering a retreat,
Hence, I made a repeat,
This time, with a different strategy,

It worked! You were swept off your feet,
I considered this a victory, a successful feat,
I took you down the altar, making a fast leap,
But it turned out I was later going to weep,
For everything was not what it seemed,
You were a camouflage, a mirage-not what you seemed,
You were nothing but a beautiful pain!

WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? II

From the first instance, I made my intentions clear-to be more than just a friend,
I didn't mince words when I looked you in the eyes and told you, "marry me!",
I made it clear I wanted to be with you till the end,
But you laughed me to scorn, and said our lives together, you just couldn't see,
So girl, please tell me what more do you want?

In spring's prime I sent you beautiful hand-picked flowers,
But you said they weren't your type,
I bought you pearls and precious perfumes, and rained gifts on you in showers,
Baby, I even gave you diamond and gold, you accepted it, but called it a mere hype,
So tell me, what really do you want?

I was ready to give up everything for you,
I was ready to make you my own,
And your silence and indifference, was the reason my heart lay in two,
But I was prepared to place you on a throne,
But you turned around and gave your love to another,
So now I know you heart was with another,
And now I realize what you really wanted-not me but another.

WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

From the first instance, I was sure you were the one,
There was something within me, and something about you that told me, it was you,
I was certain with you my loneliness would be gone,
Your beauty was so impacting I couldn't stop thinking of you,

So after many days of watching you sway rhythmically and sinuously past me,
I finally found the guts to tell you, I love you,
You said I was being too hasty, and so you acted like mere friendship was what it was meant to be,
But even our friendship felt like enmity, and I know you can see that too,
And so I ask, what more do you want from me to know that I love you?

I extended my hands for a hug,
But you gave me a handshake,
I said I loved you but you replied with a shrug,
I sent words of affection, but you said they were fake,
Baby, what more do you want me to do to show you my love is real?

Saturday, November 20, 2010

ENSLAVED!

They broke into our borders,
Disrupt our peace,
Seize our land,
Confiscate our resources,
And put us in obscurity,

They took away our love boat,
And planted within us a seed of discord,
Our pride was trampled upon,
They took from our mouths the songs of joy,
And hung them on the roofs,
So that our hands would not reach,

Bound in shackles and chains,
Being surpressed by an upper hand,
We could raise no head,
Strangled by the string of overwhelming force,
Embittered by the brutality of the white hand,
We felt like gold in the smith's furnance...

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

THE TRUE STARS

They are not the celebrities we celebrate,
Or the divas we admire,
Neither the media personalities we adore,
Nor the rich and famous we exalt,

Hidden from the cameras they are,
Far from the spotlights they remain,
Unrecognized by the media they exist as,
And unknown to fame they continue,

They were not born with a silver spoon in their mouths,
Or conceived into royalty,
Neither were they surrounded with an opulence of wealth at their delivery,
Nor drenched in riches upon their arrival into this world,

But they are the hands behind the scenes,
The stars that shine from the darkest clouds,
The ones with a purpose for which they live,
And the true heroes and heroines of our generation,

They are those that weathered the storms of congenital defects and lineal disabilities,
To rise to the top and remained humble,
The actual movers and shakers of our world,
And the pillars of the downtrodden and destitute of our society,
They are the real stars.

GRASS TO GRACE- THINGS FALL APART

CHAPTER SIX
BACK TO GRASS
The first semester in the Oxford University was really very easy for Abayomi, Kunle and Bisi who had made all their papers with excellence. For Kunle, and Bisi the second semester started off auspiciously, but this was soon going to change. Kunle’s parents had just moved into their new apartment in town and their children were regularly sending money to them. The money soon intoxicated Mr. Taiwo that he became extravagant and close to the bottle. He would go out every morning and come back very late. When he  returns, he turns his wife into a punching bag, when she tries to scold him.
Mrs. lyabo couldn’t stand her husband’s recent incessant alcoholism and hostility towards her, and so had to go packing. She moved into a new apartment distant from her husband’s. The news of their parent’s rift had a traumatic effect on their children, and they gradually started loosing concentration on their studies. In fact they had three carryovers in the second semester and had to start all over again. The British government thus had to confiscate their apartment and withheld their monthly allowances. This even worsened the entire situation.
Two months later Kunle and Bisi moved into Abayomi’s apartment with the intention of being domiciled there until they sort themselves out.  
. Abayomi gadly received them into his apartment and sympathized with them over all that ha appened. Weeks ran into months, and months into years, yet the siblings had not sorted themselves out.
“I can’t continue like this” Kunle said to himself.
“No matter how rough the road is there must certainly be a way out” he added stamping his foot as he left the room.
Kunle and Bisi had soon lost interest in their academics and were now both interested in money-making. In fact, they were no longer thinking of their parents. Kunle soon joined a gang of robbers called, “THE BIG GUYS”. Bisi had turned herself into a commercial sex partner. They had surprisingly ignored their parent’s advice and were no longer the morally-behaved and innocent children their parents had raised them to be.
One night Abayomi saw Kunle through a lattice window exchanging guns with a group of suspicious men. Not knowing that someone had seen him, Kunle quickly ran into the house and was about sneaking into his room, before he was shocked by an unexpected voice from behind. It was Abayomi.
“Where are you coming from by this time of the night and what is in that bag you are carrying?” Abayomi asked.
“And what business of yours is it?” retorted Kunle.
“You see Kunle we are like brothers, and I would not sit back and watch you ruin your life. We all came here with the goal of making the best of ourselves academically and to make our parents, clan, and nation proud” Abayomi said in a still voice trying to advice Kunle.
“Oh spare me that my
brooother” it’s all over! My apartment had been confiscated and my monthly allowances withheld. So you see I have to struggle to make a living. So you dont just worry your head about me, I’ll be fine” Kunle replied in defense and walked into his room. Not having the intention of creating a scene, Abayomi decided not to confront Kunle about what he had seen outside. Bisi had been to a brothel that night with a white man and so did not come home that night. Abayomi had to tolerate the excesses of his friends because he believed that one day they'll come to their senses.

WHY GIVE IT UP? II

But the queen of this castle is you,
You run this,
This is your nest,
You decide which bird(s) nest,
It is your hive,
It's your choice which bees live,
But let me ask you,
Do you really want to give up all your stuff,
So easily!

You say you love him,
You are sure you would marry him,
But sometimes  the "knowingness" of a known person becomes surprisingly unknown,
The familiarity of a friend becomes the unfamiliarity of a stranger,
Even if you are sure he is the one,
Why would you give up all your stuff?

You should make him buy the nest before nesting,
And pay for the food before asking,
You are a treasure,
He should seek you, to find you,
You are a jewel,
He should purchase you, legally,
Before using you, freely,

Why give it all up,
So soon, and so easily,
Why give it all up,
So quick and so freely,
Why?
Treasures are to be found,
With hardwork and determination,
They are not be sold out with a mere bait, and presentation,
Please keep your "stuff" for the right "stuff",
You don't need any "wrong" man to make you glow,
You beauty is within you, this you should know,

It is lack of confidence in yourself that makes you desperate,
It is lack of appreciation of yourself that makes you unappreciated,
There is a man for every woman, and a woman for every man,
Your life is not a competition,
Your "Mr. Right" is on his way,
So why do you want up to give up all your stuff?

WHY GIVE IT ALL UP?

Beautiful, Gorgeous, Ravishing, and sexy,
The desire of most,
Scintillating, Titillating, Enticing, and sassy,
The desire of a host,
Decent, Virtuous, Intelligent, an angel,
Every one's desire,

Face so smooth and round,
Shape so curvy and sensual,
A perfect creature,
Rear so attractive and calling,
Breasts so juicy and full,
A perfect feature,
The object of most's attention,
The subject of a host's obsession,

The sugar is set,
So the ants have formed a colony,
The hive is best,
So the bees have created a family,
Everyone is knocking,
On that beautiful door,
Everyone is seeking,
Willing to pour,
Desiring a bite off the cake,
And willing do anything for sure,
Even if it means being fake...

Friday, November 19, 2010

A REQUIEM FOR MYSELF II

That day at the altar,
I made vows I will never alter,
And as I said "I do",
A part of me was through,

That part of me died,
It was a part of me that never knew happiness,
It was a part of me that was used to sadness,
It virtually died,
And I held a requiem for myself

It was a part of me that was always lonely,
It was a part of my that wallowed in worry,
A part of me that knew not true love,
As sent from above,
It all died, and we held a requiem for myself,

Songs of affection, we sang,
Songs of togetherness, in the love-filled air, rang,
Hymns of love, read,
And hymns of tenderness, recited,
It was a requiem I wish will never come to an end,
'Cos out of this death, I do not want to awaken!

A REQUIEM FOR MYSELF

I remember when I first saw her,
She looked so ravishing and dear,
Instantly, there was something about her that made my heart stop,
Something about her that puts me over the top,

I knew right then, that day,
That I'll be with her all way,
No matter the weather,
We were going to be together,

But little did I know that life with her would be like signing a death sentence,
Little did I know that a certain essence,
Was about to come alive, in my life,
The moment I make her my wife,
It was like a Requiem for Myself...

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

YOU THREW IT BACK! III

You got up and left her all alone,
After her love, in her face you have ruthlessly thrown,
And went away with another,
Whom you thought was better,
Let me ask you...

What did she ever do to you?
How did she ever wrong you?
Is it now a crime to love a man with all you've got?
Is it now a crime to give a man all you've got?

She practically gave you her best "stuff",
And you said "that was not enough",
You said you would be with her all way,
But you left her when she was down, and went away,

Wasn't her love too precious,
To be thrown back in her face?
Wasn't it caring enough,
To be thrown back in her face?
Wasn't her love pure enough,
To be thrown back in her face?
I ask you, wasn't it?

YOU THREW IT BACK! II

She was all you'll ever want in a woman,
She made you feel like a real man,
She even loved you before she knew you,
And was ready to give it all up for you,

But you took her love and threw it back in her face!
You betrayed her and made her a forgotten case,
You turned your back against her,
And abandoned her,
How could you be so heartless?

She called and you never answered,
She cried and you ignored,
You abandoned her when she needed you most,
And treated her like an unwanted pest,
You are such a heart-breaker!

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

YOU THREW IT BACK!

You said you wanted true love,
A woman sent you from above;
One who would love you for who you are,
And in life's pursuit, help you go far,

You said you wanted a wife who would always be faithful,
A lover who would make your life fruitful,
A friend who will always be there,
And a partner who would never leave your heart bare,

Then there came an angel as from the supernatural,
One with a beauty so pure and natural,
Made specially for you,
Without an intent to ever hurt you...

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

THIS CHRISTMAS EVE

As I behold the falling snow flakes,
And feel the coldness of the winter,
I am reminded of how lonely and cold my life was,
Before you came and comforted me with the warmth of your love...

As the mistletoes are lighted up,
And the air is scented with merriment,
I am reminded of how dark and dull my life was,
Before you came along;
Your love was the light and spark of joy my life needed,
And now everyday I want you more,

So, this christmas eve,
There's one place I want to be-with you,
There's one song I want to sing-our love song,
And in a multitude of possible wishes,
I wish for nothing!
For you are my only wish,
Under the mistletoes, I'll place my arms around you,
And feel the warmth of your skin,
Through the cold of the nights,
And when tomorrow comes, I'll do the same,
For you, my dear, are my christmas!

TEACH THE BLACK CHILD III

Please teach the black girl to sing her own songs,
Write her own books,
Write her own history,
Tell her own story,
Make and star in her own plays,
For it is a shame to let a stranger build your house!
Teach her to be proud of her voice,
Proud of her laughter,
And proud of her spirit,
Please teach her that her black is beautiful, and she is beautifully black!
Teach her there is pride in her skin,
Teach her she is beautiful and therefore must be treated as such!
Teach her to define her destiny, and not let her destiny define her,
Teach her not to let history or society define her success,
But to let her success define history and society!
Teach the black child!

Teach the black child that she doesn't have to sell her purity and personality for authority,
Power and fame,
Teach her that there is authority and fame in her purity and personality,
Teach her she is not a "weaker vessel", but a strong black woman!
Teach her her past cannot be revived, but her beauty has so many lives,
Please teach the black child that education begins with himself,
An empty vessel can be filled with the wine of deciet and lies,
Please teach the black child to be wise,
Teach him to be strong,
Teach him to be conscious,
Teach him to be him,
Teach him to be resilient,
Teach him to be optimistic,
Teach him to be insightful...
Teach the black child!

TEACH THE BLACK CHILD II

Teach the black child that if he doesn't believe in himself no one will,
Teach him that valleys are meant for those who are comfortable with valleys,
And mountain-tops are meant for those who are comfortable with mountain-tops,
His best is what he makes it!
We define our destinies, our destinies don't define us!
Teach the black child that a battle from within and fought against one's own is senseless,
But beneficial are one's energies when directed towards a sensible purpose,
Teach the black child!

Please teach the black boy that his "sisters" are not whores to be treated like bitches,
Please teach the black boy to treat his "sisters" with respect, and not personality-complexes,
Teach the black girl that she is the first and last person to love herself,
To be loved, she must first love-herself,
And to be appreciated, she must first appreciate-herself,
Teach her her beauty comes from within her, and not a "brother's" pocket or hands,
Teach her not to give away all her "stuff" to a "stranger-brother", or a "stranger-friend"!
Teach her money, wealth and embellishments doesn't produce her beauty,
It only magnifies the beauty she has produced within her entity!
Please teach the black child!

TEACH THE BLACK CHILD!

Teach the black child to be proud of his race, his people and his-story,
Teach the black child that whether he's "white-skinned", blue-skinned or black-skinned;
There is no variation to the skin of his people,
That whether he be partly white or black,
His genesis cannot be half-baked,
So when he asks,
"Who am I",
Tell him he is a proud black child!

Teach the black child that the true value of his life,
Does not lie in the assessment of any life,
But whithin himself-he is what he believes he is,
And can only be what he believes he can,
Teach the black child that there is only one opposition,
To his uprising-himself!
It is not the system,
A system designed for his failure can only make him fail,
If he is designed to fail,
Teach him it is not his society,
A scoiety opposed to his success,
Can only succeed if he chooses to let it,
Teach him it is not the goverment-
Governments don't decide destiny,
The divine does,
Not the system or the society, or the goverment,
But himself!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

GRASS TO GRACE RETURNS AS THE TRIO HEAD FOR BRITAIN-A NOVEL

CHAPTER FIVE
THE VOYAGE
The British Embassy in Nigeria had covered all transportation costs of the scholars and accommodation was already waiting for them with a variety of job opportunities when they live school. They were to embark on their journey by the end of the month. They were also required to go to the embassy with the scholarship letter and accreditation from their school principal.
   For Kunle, going to school abroad at the Oxford University will mean a voyage of self- discovery. He and his sister, as well as their friend were determined to make the best out of their lives when they get there, They had decided to make their parents, clan and nation proud. Kunle was going to study Neurosurgery, but Bisi had the ambition of being a Chartered Accountant. For Abayomi, nothing was of interest other than building of roads, bridges, devising means of supplying water to drought- prone areas and constructing Sky-scrapers. He was going to study civil engineering.
November 31, was a memorable day for both families and the scholars themselves. That was the day they were to embark on the voyage to the British Isles. The previous day, Kunle’s mother had helped them put all their clothes, books and other necessary items in a bag she had purchased from the market.
As stated in the letter, the flight was to take off by 10 am .Very early the next morning, Kunle’s parents got up and put everything in place for their children who couldn’t sleep through the night for excitement. There after, Mr. Taiwo began advising his children.
“My children never put your mind away from God,
Always trust in him and he will see you through. Please remember the son of whom you are” he finished.
“And avoid bad friends and oyibo women. Take your studies seriously and never you forget your parents” added Mrs. lyabo. The family then came together and prayed for God’s guidance, and direction in their children’s life. At about 9: 30 am, Kunle, Bisi, and Abayomi had arrived at the Murtala Muhamed international airport. They had to travel early enough to meet the flight. The clearance began and lasted for about ten minutes, after which their visas and flight tickets were issued them. Then at about 10 am everybody was on board the KLM flight. Tears rolled down Mrs. lyabo’ s cheek as their children entered the plane.
“Don’t worry, they are going for good” Mrs. Omotola told Mrs. lyabo as she patted her back.
“Bother not my good man, in no distant time we would all be smiling, eh” Ahayomi’s father said to Kunle’s father. At exactly ten, the flight took off and both families remained until it was out of sight, before embarking on their journey back home.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...
Copyright Lysious

LOOK ON THE FLIP SIDE-WHAT IF...III

So, what if "do what thou wilt",
Was true, and nobody will judge you,
What if morality or immorality doesn't matter,
And you should be free, and be whatever you want to be,
But hold up!
Before you start thinking, talking, and arguing,
Look on the flip side!
What if the reverse was the case,
And there was a God,
Who will judge all,
And the Bible and the Qura'n were right,
About heaven and hell,
What if there was an after life,
And God actually created this world...
Would you rather live your life, thinking and believing there is no God,
And to die and find out there is a God,
Or live your life thinking and believing there is a God,
And die and find out there is no God?
Which is the best,
I'm talking of eternity here,
So, be wise!

LOOK ON THE FLIPSIDE-WHAT IF... II

So, after much cogitation,
After much meditation,
There's a question on my mind,
A puzzle I can't put behind,
And I know my answers are not hard to find,
What if there was no God,
And all these religious legion is useless,
What if there was just one life,
And all these tales of a second life was needless,
What if the world has no end,
And there was nothing like the apocalypse,
What if Christians were wrong,
And Muslims were wrong,
About the existence of heaven and hell,
What if the Bible wasn't real,
And neither was the Qur'an...

LOOK ON THE FLIP SIDE- WHAT IF...

I've got a lot on my mind;
Wars, religion's legion, each claiming right, apocalyptic events on a global scale,
And with each passing day, I'm loosing the scales
That once covered my eyes,
Sometimes it's confusing with deception on the rise,
I've had the time to think about a lot;
How the world came to be, if there is really a God, science,
Conspiracy theories, greed, avarice, inordinate desire for wealth,
Fame and fortune, Power and vanity,
And every day I ask,
Is there really more to life than this?
Is there really another life after this?
Is there really a day of judgement?
Or is that in itself a misjudgement?

WHEN LOVE KNOCKS

When after a hard day, her presence strengthens you,
And at the edge of giving up, her radiant smile encourages you,
When her tender touch and care invigorates you,
When the mere sight of her pictures pulls different strings in your heart,
And you're so sure that together you cannot be torn apart,
That's when love is knocking at the your heart's door,
And you should just let it pour,
Don't hold it back,
'Cos you're really in love,
That can't be mere obsession,
Or mental possession,

When you try so hard but can't stop thinking of her,
When her absence leaves your heart bare,
And in the midst of a fight, she's still your dear,
That's when love knocks,
When distance is not a barrier,
And her love is your life's carrier,
When your willing to give up your life for hers,
That's when love knocks,
When your ready to sacrifice your wealth for her love and life,
And your willing to give up your health for hers,
When you're prepared to do anything to make her your wife,
That's when love knocks,
You should open up and don't suppress it,
'Cos you're really in love,
And I tell you, this is not mere obsession,
Or mental possession.

WHEN LOVE KNOCKS

As I pondered over the subject of love,
I couldn't help but ask?
How do you know when you're really in love?
Or is that a difficult task?
How do you know when your heart is not lying to you?
How do you tell when your feelings are not deceiving you?
It didn't take long for me to realize,
That between love and lust, a thick line lies,

So now I know,
That when she's (he's) is all you have on your mind,
And memories of her you can't put behind,
That's when you're in love!
It's not obsession,
Or mental possession...

When her personality and posture is the only picture you can see in your future,
When she is the only subject of your dreams, in your mind like a fixture,
When the mere sight of her, brings your heart to a leap,
And at night, her voice puts you to a restful sleep,
When the essence of her nature titillates you,
And the purity of her beauty excites you,
That's when love knocks...
And you should open

TOO LATE FOR A TURN AROUND

Now, the battle is over, and the journey has seemingly ended,
But then he realizes a new chapter was about to begin, which he must transcend,
The treasure is now his, the prize is now his, but then he realizes it is not a joy ride,
He realizes with victory comes pain, he realizes there is a turbulent tide,
On the waters he now sails,
But he fought for love,
For his angel from above,
He sailed the seas for affection,
And travelled the oceans to meet his passion,
So in the midst of these turbulent times,
He says to his love, "it is too late to turn around"

"I risked my life to be with you,
And for you I was willing to come through,
My wealth and fortune I forfeited for your sake,
So that your love and life I can take,
For better for worse was my vow,
Till death do us part, was my pledge,
So no matter what I see,
Though the world be crumbling down,
Though these walls be closing in on us,
I will stick by you,
'Cos right now it is just too late for a turn around"

TOO LATE FOR A TURN AROUND.

A man of strength and courage in the battlefield,
Armed with the right sword, and equipped with a big heart as his shield,
Surrounded by soldiers, some of lust, some of sheer sensual pleasure,
With a unique creature as the target, he considers a timely seizure,
But a veteran with a sincere purpose and vision,
A warrior with a unique strategy and mission,
He emerges the winner; he triumphs as the victor,
Realizing this feat, he knows he must now become a protector,

Through the seas, the sands, the hills, the mountains, and over the rivers,
Did he sail, in search of this most desirous treasure,
Stricken with pains, sorrows, sickness and fevers,
He was determined and perseverant, never considered a closure,
Realizing there was a price to pay, he was willing to give up his wealth,
Understanding something's got to give, he didn't even consider his health,
This treasure was his future,
It's image was his only picture...

THIS THANKSGIVING II

Baby, this thanksgiving, I am mostly grateful for you,
For coming through for me,
When I had almost given up on love,
And showing me our love was meant to be,
And that like an angel, you were sent me from above,
When my family was torn apart, and I was loosing my mind,
You came along- a peacemaker, and with your help we put our differences behind,
So, this thanksgiving, I give God thanks for bringing you into my life,
And making you my sister, my friend and my wife,

Honey, this thanksgiving, I am grateful for you,
For being there for me,
When I was down in the valley and all alone,
You made me believe you were the one for me,
And together we climbed back to the throne,
I am grateful to you,
For being a part of my life and my family,
And helping us make it through,
The tragedy, the despondency, and the travesty, so easily,
I am grateful to God for your life,
And every day I pray that He will keep you alive,
Preserve you and make our love last forever,
Because this thanksgiving, I just want us to be together, now and forever.

THIS THANKSGIVING

As I gather around this table of sumptuous meals-turkey and sweet potato pie,
Surrounded by loving friends and family, I am grateful for the years that have gone bye,
The clutter of ceramics and the clinking of glasses, the radiance of smiles, and the burst of laughter,
Makes me look with joy to the future, as I anticipate our lives together,
For through the thick and thin, we have made it through, bound by unity,
And through the stormy waters, we have sailed through, ending in pacificity,
But in the midst of all these, I'm reminded of why I'm mostly grateful,
I am reminded of why my life has been mostly fruitful,
You!

As the family gathers to pray, eyes shut and hands joined together,
I am reminded of how we, as a family have survived every weather,
When grandma died, and grandpa passed on,
We were there for each other, we remained as one,
When the seed of discord threatened,
By love, perserverance and prayer we were strengthened,
But in the midst of all these, I can't help but notice your beautiful figure before me,
Standing across the table in front of me,
And now I know the reason this has been the best thanksgiving ever-You!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

MY BABY IS ALL THAT AND MORE!

She is glamorous, attractive and classy,
She is elegant, stylish and sassy,
Her personality is unrivaled, her beauty true and pure,
Like an angel sent me from above, her love is sure,
She is the princess of my world, and the queen of my heart,
Like two hearts that beat as one, we can't be torn apart,
Indeed, my baby is all that and more!

Her appearance evokes a strong presence,
Her essence expresses excellence,
Her figure, so conspicuous, brings the wind to a stand still,
Her nature, so unique, causes the moon to smile, giving it a pleasant feel,
Her every step spells confidence,
And her every move, speaks elegance,
That's my baby! She is all that and more!

She is a lover, a soul mate and a friend,
Of the riches of her glory, there is no end,
She is a sister, a manager and a mother,
She is a success, a winner and a leader,
Her every word releases power,
And her presence commands respect by the hour,
What more can I ask for, when my baby is all that and more?

ALL DIE BUT...

Heroes die,
Great men come and go,
Riches fade,
Even life passes on,
But my love for you will remain immortal,

Roses grow stale,
Green leaves turn brown in winter,
Giant trees collapse with the onset of the cold season,
But thoughts of you will remain alive in me and memories of you indelible,

Rubies have prices,
Gold loses its value,
Diamonds develop cracks,
And pearls get washed off,
But your beauty transcends eternity...

SOMETHING SPECIAL, FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, ON A SPECIAL OCCASION

-Perfumes are fragrant,
Lavenders sweet-smelling,
And Daisies lovely, but none of these,
Can match your tender love and sweet affection...

Some say it's hard to find true love in a world like ours,
But with you, I find that untrue,
'Cos you make love even truer and real,

May that day forever remain blessed when I found you,
When you stepped into my life,
Shutting the doors of loneliness, lies and deceit,
And shining into my dark world,
The rays of true love and happiness,
That with you, I will be forever fulfilled,
And to you, forever remain grateful

Wishing you the love, joy and happiness you brought to my life.

TO MY WIFE, LOVER AND SOULMATE

There are so many reasons why my love for you,
Flows like a river-
It's the look in your eyes, when I stare into them,
The sound of your voice when you speak,
The tenderness of your heart and the beauty of your nature...

Because when I'm with you, I desire no one else,
And everyday with you, is sweeter than the day before,
Life with you is a life of constant joy,
So even my sorrows are drowned in your love,
And my pains are washed away by the waters of your affection,

So on this special day,
I want to say thank you,
For being a friend, a wife, a lover and a soul mate.

Monday, November 15, 2010

WASTED YEARS

With a silver spoon in my mouth I was born,
Unto an affluent family I was delivered,
Out of a wealthy lineage I emerged,
And from birth an heir to a powerful kingdom, I was-
Destined to live as royalty,

Round the world I toured,
All the pomp and circumstance, and pageantry attended;
In all the pomp typical of them,
In excessive riches I wallowed,
Along the corridors of royalty and power lived,
And within the domains of luxury ruled;
Having the prettiest of maidens attend to all my bodily needs every night,

So far away I was from the dungeons of poverty,
Distant I lived from the valley of impoverishment,
Far above I was exalted from the gutters of penury,
Between the proletariat and me, a great discrepancy existed,
And separating me from the commoners, was a huge demarcation...

TO BE CONTINUED
Copyright Lysious

THE VOW

Living in a world so mentally depraved,
So socially perverse and morally degraded,
A world drenched in debauchery and promiscuity,
There rumbles within me, a pressure-
A pressure to compromise and join the lot,

As I sit on the balcony each day,
Beholding the sight of ravishing maidens,
Swaying their beckoning waists from left to right,
Coupled with varying anecdotes of sexual experiences from my peers,
Like the only odd one among the lot, I felt,
Ergo the temptation to the adventurous swim through the sea of femininity and loose my virginity,
Approached its acme,

However, as I ponder over the possibility of loosing my divinely-chosen spouse,
By this seemingly pleasurable, but illicit and sinful act,
The chances of pregnancy,
And the likelihood of an epidemic,
I am reminded of the vow and its rewards,
Yes the vow, the covenant, the oath,
It's a vow of chastity and abstinence,
A covenant of consecration, and commitment to morality,
It's an oath of discipline and patience for my God-ordained soul mate,
And the rewards of peace and longevity...

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

THE SORROWS OF CHILDHOOD, A NOVEL CONT'D-NWOUGO FACES REALITY.

Eight
An Eye-opener

      The journey to the old colonial city of Lagos was an exciting one, though the roads were bad. Aunt Adanne’s Daewo Racer didn’t look old at all. The seats were made of a shiny black leather fabric, and were still new; the red glow of the car sparkled in the sunlight. Aunt Adanne seemed not to be interested in music, as we only listened to a British broadcast on the effects of human trafficking. I was just picking interest in the program, when aunt Adanne switched to another channel hissing, on which song with strong rhythmical beats was playing. The song was titled, ‘No Woman, No Cry’, and as aunt Adanne nodded her head, and raising her right hand simultaneously, like one pointing to the sky, she told me it was her favorite from the legend of Reggae music, Bob Marley. I stared at her in amazement before turning to look out through the window, after glancing shortly at a sticker near the dash board, labeled, ‘No Smoking’.
     As we went on I realized that the city was in ravages, and new buildings and construction projects had just begun. I wanted to know why the city was in such an undeveloped state. So I asked aunt Adanne.
          ‘Aunty, why is this city in a bad state, and their Igwe is doing nothing about it?’ I thought cities like villages, were ruled by kings.
          ‘Nwougo, Lagos is a city now, not a village. So it does not have an Igwe; and it is now under the British government’ she answered giggling.
          ‘Also, this city was a center of the slave trade until 1807, when the British stopped it. It was captured in 1851 and formally made a British colony in 1861; and because the old king of Lagos was only interested in slave trade, he did not care about developing the city’ she continued steering the car as we got to a road bend, with a sign post that read VICTORIA ISLAND. Aunt Adanne seemed to know a lot about history. She was a very smart woman, but her answer got me confused still for I did not know what a ‘colony’ was at the time.
           ‘Aunty, what is a colonia?’ I asked.
           ‘Nwougo it is not colonia, but colony. It means a group of places under one government or leader’ she answered correcting me. Although I did not understand how so many places were controlled by one government, I nodded. Only brutal leaders like the Oba of Benin could do that. May be aunt Adanne did not want me to know the British made Lagos a slave state still, I thought. But I later came to realize what aunt Adanne was saying.
     The streets of Lagos had some well-built houses, adjacently arranged in rows, while others were poorly built and looked like they needed only a slight wind to push them down. Lagos seemed to separate the poor from the rich in the way its houses were built, and the way the environments were; some very clean and some a pigsty. The streets also had names, most of which I could not pronounce with the little education I got from Nri. I was amazed that people planted brightly colored red, yellow, pink and green flowers, and kept gardens in front of their houses; and these were well-leveled. Aunt Adanne said those houses belonged to the white people who lived in the city.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Copyright Lysious

LIFTED! II

Ergo, rose I, my feet strengthened with the firmness of courage,
My mind stirred by vision, my hands equipped with talents, and my heart clad in optimism,
For I have discovered the treasures which for passing centuries, within me were laid up,
And for fading times, in my existence lingered,
For the calabash that held the golden seed has broken,
And the pitcher that housed the beacon shattered,

So, with the swiftness of the cheetah, the determination of the eagle,
And the bravery of the lion, I soared,
To the heights of the skies,
To the tops of the mountains,
To grace a date with destiny,
And reveal the beams of hope, and rays of inspiration to a dark world,

Thus, in this, bought I for myself a place in history,
Within the annals of time opened a story for myself,
In the chronicles of time established a page for my life,
And for generations yet unborn, left a legacy ever to be celebrated!