Thoughts on a page…a collection of poetry©

2008

By Chiedu Ifeozo

Contents

Words

I spill my thoughts on these pages

Different issues that have shaped who I am today

These thoughts engulf me

My life, my love

My feelings, my opinions

Memories not far behind

Visions etched squarely on my mind

Still photos of moments hard to forget

Issues affecting my society that I regret

These are just words

Expressing myself the best way I know how

Words that can be powerful and meaningful

Words that can be positive and uplifting

Words that can be sad and painful

I write because once pen meets paper

I see the real me

My imagination inspires me

My fragility scares me

But these words are me

And I am these words

Homecoming

I looked out the window, on the little scattered houses, and little cars

The crowded streets and polluted skies

The patches of darkness and light, tin roofs on concrete rooms

Everything seems so quiet from up here

The chaos of the city, just a familiar picture in the distance

The people go on with life as normal with no resistance

With each passing moment the view becomes clearer

I can make out the yellow danfo buses, as the sounds in my imagination get louder

I immerse myself in my thoughts, as I stare blankly into the seat in front of me

The engine shudders, the chairs shake and the frame rattles

The wheels hit the tarmac and the frame screeches to a halt

The applause rings out, the smiles break out

This is it, my homecoming

The warm heat sips into my skin, welcoming me with vigour

The arrivals hall is packed, and we’re all staring at each other

In our minds we all know the land outside is like no other

We'll all be having different experiences, but there'll be a lot of shared thoughts

Large boxes dance along on the one working machine

The sweat beads start to appear, as the people start to disappear

I swear there's a conspiracy, because my little box seems like it would never appear

When it finally does, the hall is almost empty

I walk to the door with the big burly men

Who stare me down like I need to say my amen's

The way they stare would make you act suspicious

But the lady by their side looked to be auspicious

I flash a smile and tell her I'm a student back from my education

To my surprise she waves me past, if only for a donation

The ride home is long; the radio plays a familiar song

I'm still on a journey that began yesterday, for some it’s the start of a brand new day

There are people on the backs of okada's, old men perched on their verandas

The generators have already begun their daily shift, there's workers waiting for a lift

The lady frying akara is working hard with a smile, once there's life there's hope, there's no denial

The baby on her back wont stop crying, not sharing the mothers desire to keep on struggling

The streets are always busy, the people are always noisy

The familiar sound of home, it’s been a while since I've been gone

The street hawkers outside my window are trying to catch my attention

But my minds far away, focused only on the situation

Every image unlocks memories, stories from the past that could fill libraries

My past is in every corner of these streets, how things have changed

Life has moved on, for others it still remains the same

This land stays on my mind, no matter how far away I go

This is where I'm from; I'm back where I belong

This is where I was born, and where I'd always return

This land is full of scars; don’t be deceived by the luxurious cars

But there's hope in the futures eyes, a chance that we have the power to change our lives

This is where my future lies; I have visions of touching the skies

It’s a tough decision to make; the difficulties may be hard to take

But you have to look through the clouds; the struggle comes with good rewards

Mother waits at the front door with a familiar pose and a big smile

Comfort comes with the warm embrace of family

Joy comes from conversations not disturbed by any anomaly

A new phase in my life is just beginning

This is it, my homecoming.

The People

Raise your glasses to the people

The ones who make everything look simple

They can see the future through the eyes of an eagle

The wise ones who know life’s not a sample

You live once, better find an example

Be the best by any means possible

Never underestimate the power of the people

Their sweat, the catalyst for the growth of a nation

Trying to provide a better future for the next generation

There’s honour in their search for salvation

Put your hands together for the people

Struggling in the face of so much adversity

There’s beauty in the strength of their versatility

There’s hope in the beauty of their creativity

It’s a bittersweet drama set in reality

Stand up for the people

The streets are filled with unsung heroes

Each one of them with thousands of their stories

Young faces with grown minds

Young minds with grown up scars

They grow up too fast

In a youth that doesn’t last

Let’s celebrate the people

The ones who’ll never feel unequal

The ones with the drive to never be second best

They forget the myriad of excuses

They prepare for the tests that life may present

They rise up, above all the problems and reasons why not

This here is us; here to succeed no matter what, we’re the people

City of dreams

The city of dreams

Where we all want to be

Out there on the road

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(Pages 1-9 show above.)