In a little shanty town
was a night like this
girls were sitting down
around the town
like this
some were young
and some were brown
I even found
a miss
who was black and brown
and really did
the twist
watch her move her wrist
and feel your belly twist
feel the hunger thunder
when her hip bones twist
try to hold her, keep her under
while the juke box hiss
twist the music out of hunger
on a night like this.
Tochukwu Ezebube is a passionate poet and founder of Poem Collections. With a deep love for African verse and a commitment to sharing diverse poetic voices, Tochukwu curates a rich tapestry of poems that celebrate the beauty of words from Africa and around the world. Join him on this poetic journey at Poem Collections, where the magic of language unfolds.
BACKGROUND OF THE POET Wole Soyinka was born in 1934 at Abeokuta, Western Nigeria. Educated in Nigeria in University College, Ibadan, and at Leeds University in England, he graduated in English Language and Literature in 1958. Wole Soyinka is a versatile person and sings, and acts and produces plays. In addition he is a creative…
Christopher Okigbo is apparently one of the Nigeria’s greatest poets. Born in 1932 in Ojoto, Eastern Nigeria, Okigbo studied Classics at the University College. He had written several poems including The Star Have Departed, Newcormer, Watermaid, Love Apart and For He Was a Shrub Among The Poplars. We have decided to title this piece as…
1E-gyptIn Af-ricaMesopo-tamiaMero-eTheNileSilicaglassand brittleSa-hara, Tim-Buctu, Gaothe hills ofAhafo, windsOf the Ni-ger, Kurmasiand Kiverdown theCoiled congoand downthat black riverthat tides us to hell HELLIn the waterBrownBoys of Bushongodrowned in theBlue and the bitter Salt of wave- gulliedFerdinand’s seaSoft windsto san Salvador, Christopher, Christ, and no NoahOr dove to promise us, grimthrough it was, the simple sal vation…
New Year’s greetings with a plum branch in hand the sky draws near such a bright sunrise New Year’s Day New Year’s Day has come — quiet streets The year begins on New Year’s day our life is Now the stars vanished and then — five-colored New Year’s mist
Let us with a gladsome mind Praise the Lord, for He is kind: For His mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Let us blaze His Name abroad, For of gods He is the God: For His mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. He with all-commanding might Filled the new-made world with light: For…
To praise the blue whale’s crystal jet, To write, ‘O fountain!’ honouring a spout Provokes this curse: ‘The high are humbled yet’ From those who humble Godhead, beasthood, verse. Once, the Lord raised this bulwark to our eyes, Once, in our seas, whales threshed, The harpooner was common. Once, I…
