I love you, I hate you
I love you, I hate you
I want you, I need you
You're my joy
My misery when you step away
I experience all kind of emotions with you
A rollercoaster, a thriller
My Ying
Oh yes my Yang
You compliment me
No doubt you complete me
With you am whole

I see them Politicians in their Lair
They plot and scheme
Tall tales they tell
Many have fallen under their spell
Because of them many well up
Soon they will lie in the Lair

Little did she know
She believed I was not watching
My face was turned the other way
She kept giving him the cookie
Little did she know I had a lazy eye

Henry gazed deep into Lizzie's eyes
As he held her hands
She waited expectedly
"You're my forever girl"
"You promise?" She asked sincerely
"Please don't make me lie twice" he quietly whispered in his heart

"Of course" he replied in a reassuring tone.

Perfect , just a perfect evening
Lovely company, quiet music
Sumptuous meal
Captivating conversation
Everything else seems a world away
He was a man of her dreams
Right everything!

Then it was time to leave
She just needed to go to bathroom
A quick dash before they head off
Only to come back and find him gone
With a note left behind saying sorry
It was all a mistake
He was married and needed to go
She sat down for a minute
It was all a blur !
A nightmare.

Yes,I've done it all
The rise and fall
I've chanced at life
Won some, lost some
Made my mistakes
Celebrated my triumphs
Ridden the waves
Fallen into pits
Lost friends , made more
Now I sit here and look back
Was it a comedy or tragedy
Whatever it might be
Whenever the my story is  written
I insist to hold the pen
Because, only I can tell it best.

Pulls you in, lets you down
On your face, a  frown ☹️
In sad feelings you drown
Left in tears 😢
Drained and miserable you seem
But you knew all to well
Your empty pockets, crippled you
With no financial muscle
Your love claims had no leg to stand on
Now trudge on, find a pond to swim in
Leave the wild seas to the Sharks 🦈

It seduces your heart
It drains your pocket
Clouds your judgement
Leaves you with a mighty headache

Am far too gone
Irretrievably gone
I know it's been a week
Since you asked to leave
Now, you want to come back
That's lot of water under the bridge now

You ask
"Am I that easy to forget"
I wish I could say that
Moving on quickly was my only option
My sanity you see
I needed to clear my head quick
Else I will lose me

Anyways .... how're you
It's been a week 😪

The Palestinian boy looks over yonder in pain and simmering anger
Over the hills a soldier watches his every move
While protecting a land grabber, a "returning owner"
Where does his deliverance come from
PLO ? UN ? HAMAS ? ARAB NATIONS
They can care less
What happened to freedom he ponders
He lost his childhood friend to a ******'s bullet
Like Abel's blood was spilled by his kin
Ishmael's progeny have stained the ground with their blood
Wailing goes on unceasing
The value of a Life has never been so little
Dispensable, easily done away with
But Jannah awaits and Unto his hands, my spirit I commit
The boy mutters silently as he makes his way to another funeral.

My irresistible allure pulls you in,
Like a moth to flame,
You have a snowball chance in hell to resist,
I disarmed you from the first hello,
Weakened in the knees,
You can't walk away from me if you wanted.

Despite knowing there'll  be a hell to pay,
I play a Russian roulette with your emotions,
Every red flag you see, I tell you it's a carnival season,
With charming words and honey laced lips,
I leave you in peril and confusion,
Why must it be this way,
You can't tell me go , you can't tell me stay.

She touched me with a Lover's stroke
I gasped for air, my heart raced
Electricity down my spine
She looked deep into my eyes
As she dropped her last clothes
Waves of longing hit me
It was swim or sink

No - don’t kiss me
unless you're planning to
start a new habit.

Don't borrow kisses
unless you can return them
with real interest

Remember girl
it's all fun and games 'til
someone falls in love

While to many, life is a gift
Others yearn for the liberation of death
Many wish for life partner
Loads are trapped in loveless unions
While a 7 course meal seems appropriate to some
In a street Corner man eats out of a trash bin
Life is a mystery

Like a fish in a bowl, many are confined by their religion
Yet others choose to swim in the open sea of spirituality
A man celebrates his academic achievements
Life teachings guide the next man, streetwise
Some pay a fortune to listen to an opera singer
A young girl sits at a Park listening to the birds chirping
Life is a mystery.

With a glint in my eye
And charming smile
I scheme
Tonight is the night
Am going to find a way to slip in
With her, a want to sleep
Little did I know, she's going to give me a slip
Right after she told me ... NICE TRY

I wanted to swipe right
But guilt tagged my conscience
Was it too soon
Too soon to get someone who reminded me of you
Same everything

What if she swiped left
My heart will be stark
Dry and flammable
Bereft of any emotion

Oh ye !
What have you done today
Did you till , or sleep all day
Now you seek bread
Laughable

Aye ! I want bread
I hunger
Last night I did not shut my eye
My tummy grumbled without end.
I need bread

Sorry, I got nuthin' to offer
I told you 'ere
You got to earn your bread
Look at you now
What a sad sight

🐈 Cats
Oh boy you got love 'em
Them majestic beasts
They don't have owners
They have servants

Loyalty, that's dog's ****
It's over rated
Them cats know better
They're their own masters

They scratch you 'til you love 'em
How can you not love the purring
Rub them right you might see tail wiggle
But don't get too excite  
Breaking hearts is what they do

Tell me Baba
Tell me about the Nakba
I see the Women Wailing and in Angst
Bitterness and Sorrow Unending
Tell me about the Nakba

Who did What and Why
Tell me about the Nakba
The ground remains thirsty
Thirsty for blood of our youth
How much more do we have to endure
Tell me about the Nakba

I see Keys, everyone is holding a Key
Tell me about Nakba
Baba, where are all the doors, the homes
Show me Deir Yassin, Show me my Village
Why is everyone quiet , say something
Tell me about the Nakba

Me
Troubled
The unread book
A man of many faces
Quiet.Loud
Extrovert.Shutted
Sinful.
Spiritual.
Overall a soul seeking self
A man on a journey
A man with troubled past
A man with expectations
A man who wants control
To control his own mind
His demons to bind
A man who seeks internal peace
To settle the troubled spirit
Find a way to do what's good
Good by himself and those he loves
He goes to bed tonight with hopes
That tomorrow brings better tidings
Soon he'll be smiling
Looking back how the day was
Wondering why he ever had a fuss.

The boy watched them lower his mum' s wooden box
He was just 11 at the time
Family crowded around him
He did not take any notice of them
He was numb

Everything else around his lost meaning
The world was without colour
He tried to make sense of it all
No success

Back home ,  he went to his room
Curtains drawn, massive headphones
He listened to stories online
Stories on Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus
Right then he became a convert
A Stoic.

Now he understands,
Mum did not die, she Returned !
Do he promised himself never to be attached again !
That's when he received Salvation
He was free

She looked lovingly into his young eyes
It was a fluttering infatuation
She had forgotten this old feeling
Her heart flickered like an old lamp
That is what 25 years of miserable marriage does to one
She had finally found strength to walk away from it
That's when she met the young man
He held her hand and wiped her eyes
He was godsend
He fed her cat and walked her dog
They grew close,
A bond was forming
In his company, food tasted better
She started swaying to music again
Their chats and walks were healing her
But she still had moments when fear gripped her
She kept reminding him
Her heart was an old piano
Broken and unused
She requested he be gentle with it
It needed mending
Tears welled from her eyes often
The youngin always wrapped her in his arms
'I got you', he would whisper tenderly

Undisturbed emotionally
Dispassionate
Equanimity
Sober, clear minded
Acknowledge emotion
Stay clear of passions
Be Stoic.

She's a gem
A real sparkler
She has me falling in love
Falling Hard
They say only fools rush in
I confess, I Am fool in love
And am rushing in
Guess what, am gonna keep her
Treat her right
And maybe she'll give me a baby
Or two
Yeah ! Com'on baby girl
Let's do this 😉

Did I mention I hate democracy
I do.
I have bled in the elections
Hemorrhaging uncontrollably
Lost left, lost right
Oh these wild dogs
They came in packs

I won't acknowledge the winner
The game was skewed in their favor
I appealed, to court I turned
They swatted me away
My case had no merit, they stated
I remain here pained

My supporters wail about the injustice
This is one too many
When will morning come
The night is long
And am a poor loser , A sore loser

She was in troubled waters
She could not keep her head up
She fought
She was in despair
She asked if I could be her bridge
She cried, she begged
Yes, I said
I will be her bridge over the troubled waters
I will save her
Save her from the abusive relationship
Save her from emotional turmoil
But I always knew she'll walk off
Once she feels safe
No one stays on the bridge
I still did it.
I chose to be her bridge
I let her use me.

Last night I used my tool
I left you in a pool
You flooded like the nile
Coz I hit it in style
You moaned and some more
I kept hitting the core
Leaving you reeling
Reeling in unforgettable feeling
Ecstasy and fantasy rolled into 1
You kept at it,but you lost
Because from pillar to post
You fought... you lost !

Got a minute
Come sit with me awhile
Oh comely girl
Grace me with your company
Don't leave just yet
From your fountain
Let me wet my whistle

Being by herself, that's all she has known
Dad was never there, mum left
They had their own demons to deal with
They struggled with the bottle and other ills
She never missed their love
How can you miss what you never had

She's an adult now
She has a lot of friends or are they really
A job to keep her going
She is miss independent now
Did I mention she's got a boyfriend
Yes, they are inseparable

Soon she might want to be a parent
Is she equipped to succeed at it
I wonder aloud
Or is she doomed from the go
She's has no point of reference
Nor does she have any ready support from mum
Simply, she might be walking in the darkness

Would it be fair to judge her parenting skills
Especially, if she makes mistakes while trying
What is role of one generation preparing the next
Are parents obliged to train and prepare their children for life challenges
If yes , what about orphans
Where do they turn to

Anyways, I sit here and wish her well
Many with similar stories have succeeded
She'll prolly do it.
Afterall, she has made it adulthood
She will be alright , I reckon

The little girl looked at her mom
She wrapped her little arms around her
She seemed unwell constantly
Always going to hospital
Her mom tried to stay calm but tears rolled freely

The little girl's dad was in a foreign country
He's been gone for many a year now
He always rang and checked on them
But the girl's mom was her world
Now she was stricken

Her Dad was in a dilemma
Whether to come back and look after his family
Or stay and make money they desperately needed
Money they needed for his wife's treatment

The little girl always said a sincere prayer
A simple request to God
That her mom be well again
Her parents joined her quietly
With solemn hearts
They also hoped for a miracle
Just for little girl's sake
May she enjoy her mom's company a little longer
May be a lot longer
Because at moment, it felt like the walls are closing in

Formidable
Yet unassuming
Impressive
Though Stealthy
Leaves you in awe
Yet makes no claim
His reputation precedes him
Still he blows you away
His presence lingers on long after his gone
His quiet words echo without end
Friends and foes acknowledge
Few ever attain this level of Badassery.

Everyone got a voice and a choice
It all sounds so nice
Lies, Lies. All Lies
You've got neither
But you know no better
Wallowing in your ignorance
As they say, ignorance is bliss

Time to face up, Man/Woman up
These are terms and conditions
You've got no wriggle
Just sign the bottom of the page
And admit that they control you
After all the own you
You've got no voice or choice.

Do it for the Foes and Hoes
They're watching
Hopin' you slip
Give'em a slip
Leave them running their lip
Oh keep them on their toes
Foes and Hoes

The young man was difficult and irascible they claimed
Like the pits of hell, he was always fired up
His eyes gazed with intent and focus
He sought trouble or may be it always found him
He chose to live on the edges of the community
To them he was dreg of society

Unknown to them, life had dealt him a bad hand
No family to call his own
Push away from every place he tried to call his own
The streets had hardened him
Life had made a fighter
He was no longer a push over
He wanted respect
He demanded it
With quick wit and faster hands
No one dared to go, toe to toe, with him

He kept his own company
But he always he remembered those who did good by him
For those who did otherwise,
They had a broken jaw to nurse
All he ever wanted, was a fair shot at life

The year is 1993
I heard Eric Donaldson " traffic jam"
I was hooked

1996 .. My first collection
King Lion Sounds
Bob Marley anniversary
I was Sold

Then I discovered
Buju Banton, Alton Allis
Lila Ike, Sister Nancy
Everything

Gimme Ska , Mento ,
Reggea ,! Ragga
How what a feeling!
Religious experience!

Yesterday I went to our old pub
The one we used to sit by the window
I had my usual
Saw the same old faces
They played the the same music
Everything was familiar
But one thing was missing...You
You were not next to me
That's when I realised
Am slightly hung over you.

I scored myself a winner
Oh boy what a catch
This is what mama always talked about
A lady on street and freak in bed
I share with her my dreams
She knows my worst fears

You see she wanted a man
Not just any random man
A real man
She asked me, are you that man
I had to man up


We've been together for a minute
Promise you, this ain't minute
Big , that what it is
What a lovely thing this is
This is total bliss

Girl am taken by your beauty
Engulfed by your perfume
Girl my soul is filled with desire
Leaving me with longing
A craving only you can satisfy
Let me drink from your sweet waters
Quench this thirst oh girl
Am ready, Turn me loose

She went " deeper"
I responded "tighter"
Long pause
Then Nuthin'.

Talk is cheap
Everyone can afford to say something
Few people mean what they say
Even less are willing stand by their words
One philosopher advised
Say less than necessary
Leave people guessing
Know the facts before commenting
Choose response over reaction
After all we given one mouth and two ears
Talk less and listen more
Because what you utter, you already know
Listen and you might learn something new

I told her she's my mojo
But she wants us to keep it on the low low
You see for a while I wanted her to ******* Lolo
I first she asked me her insta to follow

Finally the day came,  I wore my polo
I knew I had to smell great
So it was time for Yolo
Yes, I had planned a treat

Dangerous
Wild
Untamed
Scary
Creative
A loaded gun
A blank slate
A new dawn
The real freedom
Courageous
No bias
Winged
Please Unshackle my mind

She was in troubled waters
She could not keep her head up
She fought
She was in despair
She asked if I could be her bridge
She cried, she begged
Yes, I said
I will be her bridge over the troubled waters
I will save her
Save her from the abusive relationship
Save her from emotional turmoil
But I always knew she'll walk off
Once she feels safe
No one stays on the bridge
I still did it.
I chose to be her bridge
I let her use me

My empress
Heaven knows am deeply impressed
I can't wait
Tonight against you I want to press

Let's lose the crowds
Let me take you to the clouds
Its OK if you wanna be loud
Because tonight its you I wanna pound
Today your deepest secrets will be found

Yesterday, Liz took her dog to the park
That's when saw her old password
She ruefully smiled
How time flies
She thought she'll have residual feelings
Not anymore,
He was just another face
She glanced over and kept on walking
He was now just a footnote in her life
An appendix and nothing more



...

It goes on and on, no end seems in sight.
It is peaceful. It's lonely.
There will be no river to cross.
Oh yes, no bridges to burn.Lovely.
No one has gone fore. Uncharted.
Time to leave a trail.
Let them who follow hail your bravery.
The road winds, lot of twists and turns.
There will be no one to offer a sip of water.
There will be no place to lay your head.
You will have to enjoy your own company.
Thoughts will fill your mind.
Whatever you do, don't lose your mind.
Keep going, soon you will find your destiny.
Yes, you don't seem to know where it is.
All you know is, what you need to find.
Enjoy the scenery along the way.
Listen to birds sing, stop watch the sunset.
A distract from the perils of your travels. Finally when get to see what your heart searcheth
Behold your journey will end
Everything will make sense
Trod on, may your heart not fail

I come to you at dawn
Oh source of my strength
I turn to you in hope
Asking you guide my step
For the climb is steep
Light my way and lighten my burden
I plead


Yesterday's hopes linger on
But today reveals its promise
Time to lace my boots
Yes, I need to soldier on
Yesterday is gone
Tomorrow is not mine
All I have is now, today

Grant me clarity of mind
Let not my spirit be broken
Show me my limits
Let me exploit my strengths
At the end of the day
When I lay on my bed tonight
Even when I be weary and beaten
My heart will sing
For you walked with me today

Don't look for too long
It will make your heart long
And that would be wrong
Because to one do I belong

You can't keep me for yourself
I am a journeyman  
Am different things to different people
A breeze to some, a tornado to another
Don't try to contain me.
Am No one's.

Democracy, you scoundrel
You led me a stray
You told me vote
What a powerful statement
Minority have their say
The majority have their way
Lie
He who casts the vote matters not
He counts the votes matters a lot
Despair , anger , loathing
Stolen, my voice has been silenced
What now !
I pain

She doesn't want to go home
She's happy to face the dawn
Walk of Shame and the whole shindig
She wants to stay with me tonight
She's a big girl now.
She wanna chill with the big boy.