Freedom

“I was young you see. It did not concern me that my neighbour’s father was organising a riot, or that he was all prepared to spark a bloody crisis.

All I truly cared about was the art form of play and the freedom of running around in my underwear. Just letting everything loose.

For I had been tempted many times to take off my clothes and join the local kids my age who daily ran free of clothing, and restrictions. They were free to roam and run.”

~ Extract from ‘Advocate for Peace’ TedxCIU Talk by Sandra C. Obiora

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Thy Physiognomy

Written by Sandra Chukwudumebi Obiora 17th Sept.2022 © All rights reserved

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There is just something about you

The curve of your brows,

The slide of your nose

The slant of your lips

The depth of your gaze.

Human Thou Art Immortal

By Sandra C. Obiora. Written 7th February 2022

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‘Let Us make man in Our image,

After Our likeness’ 

was on one newly created day uttered

By the One who existed before time began. 

Sweet Africa

Poem Written by Krystal Orellano Weldon ‘Gypsy’ © 2019

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We all come from the desert root of the African tree.

Time for Everything

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

~ King Solomon. Ecclesiastes3:1-8

My Brain @ 100%

A poem by Sandra C. Bamisile © Written 4.11.2011

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If I could use 100% of my brain’s capacity and not be limited to just about 10%, I would…

I would think of why I am on earth, and actually answer it.

Balloon Called Pleasure

An Apoetsbrain Original. All rights reserved © Written 15th December 2021

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It’s shine cannot be ignored. 

Big and bright. Laced in gold. 

Begging to be held and owned. 

Sparkling, distracting, exciting.

Thus you reach out in a heartbeat. 

You stretch forth to grasp it. 

Society’s Kiss

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”

~ Susan Sontag

The Burden of Will

An Apoetsbrain Original. All rights reserved © Written 5th January 2022

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I am doing what we humans do. Just like birds perch, I am 

Standing quietly on the front porch. 

Overseeing the activities of fellow human beings. 

The man drawing on a  smoke seated beneath a weeping tree. 

The man walking his dog in his winter pajamas. 

His dog’s tail wagging aggressively. 

The street vendor playing his sales recording ceaselessly. 

The ethnic man taking a pandering walk around the neighbourhood. 

The youths moving around with the apparent burden of adulthood. 

Photography with Joe

Today on Apoetsbrain we are featuring photography by Joe Onginjo. Joe is a fun, spirited and strong willed soul from Kenya. He recently rekindled his passion for photography as a way of making new friends and capturing the intricate details of day to day life. He is currently in China doing his PhD research in Management Science.

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When asked the reason for photography, Joe said

The Unpredictable Designer

Featured poem by Bonsu-Adjei Arthur © All rights reserved

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He cuddles a baby to sleep

Yet researched in the Books of the Pharisees

He draws the algorithm of creation, yet his algorithm seems inverted

For geometry is authored by his hands, pinpointing him at the center

Apoetsbrain Photography: Beautifully Dangerous

An Apoetsbrain Original © All rights reserved.

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Innocent and harmless it appears.

It seems as though it has no other care in the world but to glide and twirl across the waters.

Its every move made as though to mesmerize and hypnotize its prey.  

Its color dancing to the light pretending to be light itself.

But like a moth hopelessly drawn to a flame, 

its poison soon spreads, 

and the hug you came over to give turns to a strangle.

Soon mesmerized and breathless you fall.

The Face of God

An Apoetsbrain Original. All rights reserved © Written 21st August 2021

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We all are the very face of God.

The haughtiness in this one

The timidity in that one

The dismissiveness in this one

And the ephemeral nature of the other

These are but the face of God.

Sam vs. Ugandan Wildlife

Ever wanted to visit East Africa for a taste of its wild life?  Well, here is a little taste of wildlife heaven from the planes of Uganda. Meet Sam Balyejusa, the genius behind these excellent shots.

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Unassuming

An original by Oluwatobilola J. Agboola. All Rights Reserved ©

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Can we mend broken pieces of trust

trampled beneath the feet of deceit?

Forgotten Lover

An Apoetsbrain Original 2011 ©

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It appears you must always be by my side

For me to think more about you.

I know I may promise  you now

That I will think about you everyday that you are away,

But we both know that is untrue.

True Laughter

Have you laughed? I mean really truly laughed.

You know the type that starts from your feet making your toes curl. That one that travels up your legs making them shake like a leaf in the wind.

That laughter that boils up in your belly like steam in an enclosed space looking for a way out. That one that literally causes you pain until you open your throat and let it all out and open.

Mainstream

Featured Poem written by Bonsu Adjei-Arthur

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‘Sometimes, our best work is done in secret’ they say

But we all crave the day the public gets a hint of ‘our base’

Several stories get lost in the universe like those star gazes

Any reason why heaven does not record the crowd but the secret places?

It’s Our Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me and Happy 4th year anniversary to Apoetsbrain!!!

When My Daughter Turns Five

Featured Poem written by Joan Toluwani Amos ©

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When my first daughter turns five

‘Princess!’ I’ll call her

Waging Peace!

“The real champions are not always those who wage war, or those who pick up arms and go forth to battle in order that they be heard.

The true champions are those who with all their heart wage peace. Those ones that battle their circumstances, their inner demons, and overcome with the weapons of their minds. No blood shed. No love lost. They take the highest road.”

~ Sandra C. Obiora

Fighting the Lonely

An Apoetsbrain Original – All Rights Reserved ©

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I can see it in your eyes that you are lonely.

Beyond your smile, your actions, your clouding thoughts.

Beyond the things you wish to feel, and the things you wish to kill.

Beyond the though thoughts and the though actions.

Unsure

An Apoetsbrain Original Written 24.11.2012

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You are beautiful yet you ask

How beautiful am I?

You are strong yet you look in the mirror thinking.

Am I strong enough?

The Crazy One Within

There is something shocking about how far this other self of mine can go.

This retarded other entity of mine has no inhibitions or limits whatsoever,

But I do, I have to posses some. The lines are clear everywhere I look.

Yet, here I am, crazy within.

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Wholly Reaffirm

A featured poem written by Darlington Kelechi Obiora. All rights reserved ©

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With you, I feel whole and happy.

The minute we part, I feel empty and heavy.

It is like a part of me is no more.

You are my fate. I know.

The centre of my life.

For We Are Now All Mad

By Sandra C. Obiora. Written 28.12.2013

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This morning it felt as though I woke up into twilight.

At some point, twilight became dawn, and dawn was no where to be found.

Colours

Poem by Joe Onginjo ©

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I refuse to be the labels you give me.

Decades Come and Go

An Apoetsbrain Original © Written 31st December 2019

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As I look out my window at bleak skies,

As I feel my way through the winter chill

As I think of glories past

As I dwell on things to come.

Fly

Featured Poem written by Joan Toluwani Amos ©

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To the one with whom I share so many things in common

I See Potential

Featured Poem by Olusola Bamisile (BB). All rights reserved ©

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As I journey from one city to another in Nigeria,

And recount all the experiences embedded in every moment