The Voice
Of The Water
All
day long I, the river flow in Babble,
Each
one receives his bang of drum.
But
on my way blasting explosion
That
flowing water, agitating hissing stream,
The
demanded water with howling of the wind
Yet
from up to down, water falls
With
murmur of the stream, in patter of drops
That
stone talks as the water runs
Thunders
of hoofs
The
thunderbolt fearing the spear,
Strikes
the metal ring with wail of siren.
The
sea seek not to myself to add water
Said,
flowed and roared warned as to sin not by eaten
Someone in roar of torrent.
You
all cannot, in thirsty state
Drink
dry river.
Make
the sun come out late like the king nearing home
You
and mothers are friends indeed of mine in
Chattering
seasons.
Shower
on the field of enemies
The
stone of the bowl of my liquid
Pipe
is not considered small.
That,
washing of the earth will never cease
I
flow towards the other, like booming of gun.
But
your minds content does not.
Do
not run in front of me in flood.
Your
water Jar was chasing
My
river stones and broke
Its
legs by itself
Be
careful of the thorn in
My
river, the lashing of the whip,
It
stabs invincibly with pains.
Do
not climb that tree
In
your courtyard to welcome me;The rain.
Mention
thunder never,
In
a rain shower
Hear
the cry of me
At
the storms against my current,
Then
stones crying at my running water.
The Animate Conference
Regular
as a clock,
We
are many on this island,
Like
a company of actors with a troupe of minstrels.
The
crab safeguards her head
With
her eyes as in a bale of cotton wool.
The
snail ceases salivating,
At the arrival of a big charcoal.
But
patiently climbed the tree
And
later travelled out of the island
With
her household.
Glides,
the snakes with no fear,
The
cobra and viper like twins;
The
offspring always alone.
Lizard
kept her secrets
In
constant bellies to the ground.
Mouse
deprived of airs
When
the cat was around.
Monkey
tore our garments shapelessly
Despite
friendliness shown to him,
But
goat was eating by his reach
For
the fear of the wolf at night.
Plants Wonders
One
uncooked grain I saw
In
boiled cereal.
The
roasting grain laughed at me,
Snapped
at you,
Crackled
and pooped at us all together
In
the middle of the day
Many
many times,
Several
days and seasons
The
water yam was pounded,
But
the dough still contained the lumps.
That
cold water,
Did
nothing to the cooking of dried Okro.
To
the bitter leaf,
I
added enough sugar
Milk
and honey
Yet
still bitter.
Then
still water load on it.
So
not from rainfall
It
derives its bitterness.
Dairo Gbenga Franklyn
Dairo Gbenga Franklyn is a professional
private educator and the principal educator at Bodija International College,
Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a literary scholar and seasoned public speaker, script
writer and editor-in-chief of many Journals and international year books. He is
a leadership coach. A graduate of Language Arts (English) from Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria (1996); Journalism and Mass Communication from Institute of
Journalism and Mass Communication (1990); Christian Theological Institute,
1990. He lectured Church History, Homiletics, Hermeneutics and African
Traditional Religion between 1991 and 1992. He was a script writer at Digest
publication 1992-1994, and later became Acting Editor (1994). Teacher of
English language and Literature-in-English at Government Science School, Kuru,
Jos, between 1996 and 1997,
editor-in-chief, Science School Publication, Kuru Jos (1997). He became a
teacher of English language at Offa grammar school, Offa Kwara state in
1997-1999. He, in 1997-1999 lectured Biblical and Systematic Theology (CTI). In
2001, he started work as a teacher of English language and
Literature-in-English at Bodija International College, Ibadan. Between 2001 and
2007, he became Book reviewer at Longman Plc. Dairo G. Franklyn possesses
unusual energy and creativity. He is a turbulent driving force behind the
creative suit, the graphics, scripts and the animations in the year book
productions. He possesses clear and delineate distinctive asset in school
management and executive guide. His core values are integrity, honesty, candor,
excellence, industry and creativity. He packages end of the year programmes,
graduation set profile, awards and cocktails events, school conferences and
excursions, outdoor and social events. He sustained brand and effective school
operations, improved market share and customer’s loyalty, reduced loss and mismanagement
of resources, increase shareholders values due to effective school management
and motivation of workforce. He was a
promoter of African poetry- Abiku by
Wole Soyinka (2003); Director, Dramatic monologue in The Beautiful ones are not
yet born (2004); Director, a dramatic presentation of the Lion and the Jewel by
Wole Soyinka (2004); Director, The gods are not to blame (2005): Director:
Speaking Back: A dance drama/Poem
(2006); (Poetry) Sketch for various entertainments/Celebration of Hon. Justice
Kayode Eso @ 80 CON, LLB, FNIALS. Master of Ceremony: (2006); Giant Strides
Since 1966 (2006) BIS entertainment for
all events (2006); Reviewer and Master of Ceremony, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in
the Nigeria We Want (The dream of Nigerian Flag designer) by Okedokun Okeyinka
(2007); Director, A comparative dramatic presentation of J.P. Clark Abiku and
Wole Soyinka Abiku (2007). He has design, project and invention such as; A Constructional Production of Poetry –
Recitation (2007); Down Memory Lane with BIC NEWS (2003); Year Book Essay
contribution (2003); Positive Art: Righter (An Essay Contribution) (2004); BIC
NEWS in Print (2004); Dialogue (Aquila non capit Muscas) (An Eagle does not
catch flies) (2004)