Tides of life rise,
with aim to consume.
Stay afloat by ceaseless sculling—
and count self lucky—
from one day to the next.
Tides rise wildly
in the face of a leadership monopoly,
dark skies looming,
illuminated by bureaucratic lightning
and ominous claps of thunder—
a storm making violent the tide.
Swimming blindly,
no reset button in sight,
a cureless malady—
of corrupt statesmen—
with a Get Out of Jail Card-Free.
It’s about Monopoly with a Twist at dVerse!
Click and join in! 😉
Sitting in front of her large PC monitor, she is bombarded with viral news—ranging from facts to the alleged. YouTube algorithms feed her digital broadcasts from the West, with content creators on both sides of the divide airing their views—Isaac and Ishmael; Donkey and Elephant; Bear and Trident. War, death, and oppression are the order of the day.
Her many clicks finally bring her home to reality—online echoes of weary youths raising their voices, expressing her homeland’s frustration with a political administration that cares little for its own. Leaders who line their pockets, fattened by greed, entangle themselves in meaningless scandals.
The viral online rant of a young citizen spreads like wildfire, igniting a movement— even the powers that be tried to silence it. The ongoing 30-Day Rant Challenge—watch, listen, and you will hear—there’s a lullaby for suffering.
Dear reader,
My apologies in advance if my piece carries too much of a political undertone. Today, I am participating in the dVerse challenge -Prosery, Leonard Cohen- while also taking part in an online protest here at home. So please bear with me!
Besides, you get to know a little about where I'm from... 😉
Happy reading! 😊
The Window Washer
Who can judge?
Covetous deviant!
Or what other nature
takes on such a task?
Peering through open “frames,”
imagination—the superpower—
a transportation to alternate parlors,
for momentary encounters of what is not.
Still daydreaming,
yet hand in rotatory motion,
cleaning.
Covetous deviant? No!
For every day’s daydream,
the sacrifice—the more.
The higher the climb—
come what may the weather,
clinging to life ever tighter
so skylights may glimmer.
Covetous deviant? No!
Rather—
Superhuman undertone.
A shout out to all those in the window washing profession! IT IS HARD WORK!!!!❤️
This week’s Poetics @dVerse focuses on “the romance of open windows“- but not limiting our poetry to an interior to exterior perspective.
Join in! 🙂
Away sounds of distant thunder
sparks prayer for cool weather
for a moment humidity flees
silence is broken by rustling trees
sounds of night competing
as distant thunder abates the heat
coming dawn gazes upon the scene
coming unforgiving Sun-
not caring a hoot…
Sitting in my chair, the crack of distant thunder inspired this piece. I hope it does justice to this week’s Quadrille prompt on dVerse – Quadrille #219 – A Poetic Hootenanny
Join in and “give a hoot about the rules and write a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting the title), including some semblance of the word hoot…“
Cheers! 🙂
‘Came by way of a thief in the night
Said Ma’
Initially unwanted by
… Papa
Four months too soon
Preterm
Complication stirred up intercessions
… Please stay
Decades since, “Celebration” in my name
“FK” 😉
Festival King, FK for short, is obviously not my real name – BUT just so you know, my pseudo is coined from my first and last names … First name actually meaning “Celebration”:)
An old poem of mine gives insight into my Last name. Click the link if you’d like to read: OTARU
MTB: The Poetry of Names – Today’s MTB prompt on @dVerse has us writing a WaltMarie poetry style*:
And the theme of your poem should be
Consider/imagine how it was chosen, what has it meant to carry that name.
ENJOY!!! 🙂
Raped of essence, Gaya thinks:
life is an affliction!
homo sapien sedition,
greenhouse emission,
they ruin my flawless skin…
Take me back to Eden's wake,
time of the primordial soup
when all was new
and only felt was heaven's embrace
cradled by sun and moon's light
Skies filled with faraway stars once vivid
now blanketed by industry’s breath
the heavens polluted by technology
nothing is left undefiled
like a dog with fleas, I am sets unease
Overpopulating, they
consuming all in their wake
their parasitic resilience
unsusceptible to my defenses
all failed attempts to quash them
weaponizing my tears
my quaking body and seething pants
yet the malady unable to shake
beset, but corrected I stand
… man, not life is my only affliction
Worn, abused and tired am I
Awaiting what're be my end
by tormenters within
'else by heaven's kind hand
leading me back to Eden's wake
Inspired by the dVerse prompt: Metamorphosis of Sorts
On February 20th, Nigerians witnessed the launch of A Journey in Service, a memoir detailing the life of a former military ruler. Now 83, he recounts his role in what can only be summarized as the country’s downward spiral—from senseless coups and executions that ignited a civil war to an election annulment that led to further bloodshed. And yet, on that day, he and his book were celebrated by the President and former Heads of State. The gall—the insult to the common Nigerian, past and present.
February also delivered a Hollywood tragedy straight out of The X-Files—a renowned actor, his wife, and their dog, all found dead in different parts of their home. No signs of forced entry. No carbon monoxide poisoning. No definitive time of death. A mystery worthy of the strangest conspiracy theories. Oh boy – February couldn’t get any crazier could it? Well Helz Yezzz!.
February 28th! The world witnessed what can only be described as the political equivalent of The Jerry Springer Show. Leader versus world leader. Or perhaps, world leader and his team going at leader – take your pick. No fists were thrown, but the number of jaws hitting the floor that day—including mine—was staggering. A day of pride for some, a day of disgrace for others. A moment in history remembered for ????… I’ll leave you to fill in the blanks.
Now, standing in the month of Martius, I can’t help but reflect on the sheer audacity of the past few weeks—from political theater to ongoing freakishly hot Lagos weather. And so, I ask: What more could you have in store for us, O month of March named after the Roman god offf … war?!
Pantheon smiles down,
From Fields of Mars spectating
His month unfolding
Its Haibun Monday on dVerse and its all about how you interpret “March Madness”. This piece was fun for me! Based on my view of the term “March madness” I got the chance to unclog all the frustration that came with previous month of February 😁.
March is here and I personally choose to be positive and prayerful about what’s ahead.
Cheers! 🙂
“Mama, I have foot…”
Yes sweetie, two little ones,
speedily growing, swift in stride
carrying with them the giggling sound of your mischief,
the humorous expressions of your 2 year old wisdom.You move with them and I can scarcely keep up.
chase me! chase me! you say. “Now i’ll chase you…”
These sessions ending the same every time
I catching my breath while you yell “lets continue”Your quicksilver moves at the stores are a challenge
I watch you jet down the isle, a “catch me” said in your giggle
“If I catch you!…” my mind mutters in annoyance, and yet I do.
Into a shopping cart, sweeping you up… AND OFF WE GO!“Wear your socks baby”
“No Mama, I have foot”
Amazing! we came by each other only 2 years ago
yet today my quicksilver bears a silver tongueFoot or feet, mama gets the picture and respects your wish,
I’ll just wait till you lay fast asleep and later parcel them in wool
And for each night I do this, I’ll gaze upon your growing feet and say a prayer
… that they may grow to fit into shoes far better than my own.
Please feel free to join the party by clicking on the link below!
Today we’re looking at writing/creating a profile/portrait in our verse.
Walking in her pretty heels,
Surety in her stride,
unseen pressure points
and pain hidden that
only translate to varicose veins
Life, one big test- a parlay
To the party, initiated at first breath
Trials giving way to testimony, leading
to testament at death.
Her unfolding story is mine
of boulders crashing down
tempests unresting versus the calm
spectator and actor amidst the rise and falls
A tumultuous mind, groaning existence
Stings ease with each silent scream
Suicide- won’t welcome the hand that
suddenly ends the huddles, the runs,
crashes and burns, the rumps, the bumps
and turns- Puddles of mud laying in front,
…So tired of the jump
Her life- a misty mirror with its many cracks
Tears mapping her yesterday
and in that same distance, trails of
“honey-coated” memories- strengthening
here and tomorrow, .
Brighter days just up ahead,
Rays soon to pierce through the gloom-
in hope she spurs on
heart focused on a multicolored dawn
Calm waters, sweet sea breeze, blue skies
wind and sea bird cries
the taste of salt, the feel of sand grains
marking her almost naked skin – “a daydream”
In reality, life’s current rages on,
She’s super girl- “S” on her chest,
taking on the world with music in her steps
In her pretty heels, walking life’s yellow brick road,
They still sting yet her expressions will never show.
Really, every woman is an example to me, because as women we go through so much pain. We have to live this perfect life when we are messed up inside. We all go through trials and tribulations.
Mary J. Blige
First cry to shut eye
At play, “Connecting the dots”
Shaping DestinyBeginning to end
Fitting pieces as we go
Breathing, in “Jigsaws”A “Mortal Kombat”
With no flawless victories
…then we fade to dustGAME OVER!!!
Its about “PUZZLES” @dVersepoets 🙂 … Hope this piece isn’t too puzzling 😉
Festival King 