The poet lives two lives.
One on the outside,
And one in their mind.

When you look in their eyes
You could see an abyss.

If you looked long enough
You could sink into it.

But most people don’t see it.

Take the time to read the words, though,
And you would know for sure.

The poet lives in two different worlds.

Take one breath at a time
Adorn each piece with a chime
Let hearts beat in sync
As feathers in air must sink!

Take one step at a time
Bless a beggar with a dime
For so do hearts entwine
Like broken glasses of wine!

Take one day at a time
Grace each line with a rhyme
For so do poems ferment
When pens and papers cement!*


© Raphael Uzor

When I think of home I think
Of waking up by the chilly wind
Of the morning sweeping my
Face, and walk at 5:00 AM in the
Morning to the milk shop with
My Dadaji, and the cold, refreshing
Lassi prepared by my Dadiji that
She did not let me leave the house
Without completely drinking it, and
The stories of my Naniji and the way
She can narrate and bring to life the
Feeling that should have swept away
With the flow of time, and I think of
The random but sweet conversations
I had with students walking to the
Same school as I was in making me
Realize how time flies when we are
Enjoying the moment, and that cricket
Match with my friends where we broke
Neighbours windows and ran away
Only to sneak in from back of the house
To get the ball back, and the sound of
Minute hand from old fashioned clock
Clicking away and transforming those
precious moments into beautiful
memories for me to sit here and
share with you all.

They say if its meant to be it will happen
Though time and distance pulls us away
Stretching these bonds tighter than before
We'd always come back to eachother
In one way or another
Though time may change us
New battle scars adorn us
Different loves leave us
This bond will remain
Strengthened not with iron and cement
But with an unending care
With an unmoving love
With a burning passion
This bond will remain

You and me set out to sea to chase the setting sun --
But it set too soon, so we caught the moon
(Still a great prize to be won).
Though, it changed the rhythm of the tides,
And all the waves they churned.
It came that you and me soon learned
We never could return.

Don't fantasize,
Close your eyes.
Your prying lies
Will surely lead to my demise,
For I was born
To be more
Than just a simple wife.

I'm not a trophy by any means,
But I see marriage in your eyes --
Two rings staring right at who you think I am,
The one you want, but I never can
Be the girl that you desire.
You've been confusing my cold shoulder
For an igniting fire.
I'm not trying to call you a liar,
If anything, I'm the one concealing the truth.

I will never be just a wife,
I will lead my own fantastic life.
I'll never wear an apron, curls, or pearls.
I will never be your one and only girl.
I will live for myself and my daughters,
For all those women to come
Who think
All they can ever be is a housewife
Clad in pink.
Honey, there's so much more to this
Than a life in which you depend on a man
For your happiness.

Be your own other half,
Fall in love with your own smile.

(10w)

~
intent of heart
goes further far than
talent of hand!

~

*post script.

much as my father used to tell me, "son, do not be a man whose talent elevates you to pinnacles your character cannot keep you!" his words ever ring true!!  a shout out to Denel, who inspired these words, with her own.  thank you, friend!! (: Steve

If I seem distant it's
because I am.
I abandon this city
like rain down gutters
trying to get back
to a home, a field, a shore,
no traffic, no smoke
where air is pure
& lungs breathe deep,
in a rhythm
untarnished by
tarmac & brick;
modernity's grip
that looks for life
& buries it, forgets
Earth has a pulse
a heart that beats
beneath us.