Leonell Echa
FOUR POETS’ FIVE II: FOURTH
CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE.
POETRY: FREESTYLE
EXERCISE ON COUPLETS…
EXERCISE ON COUPLETS…
PAIN, INFANCY, VACUUM, PRESTIGE &
TRAGEDY
TRAGEDY
SAM
PAIN
Pondering on its
necessity, on why he created this sensation, I bite my brain
necessity, on why he created this sensation, I bite my brain
For from within a
spectrum of living emotions, the one which best defines life is pain.
spectrum of living emotions, the one which best defines life is pain.
INFANCY
An angel from the
heavens; a portrait to God
heavens; a portrait to God
A symbol of hope,
and an infant to the world.
and an infant to the world.
VACUUM
Nothing in
everything; everything in nothing
everything; everything in nothing
Devoid of all,
yet remarkably existing.
yet remarkably existing.
PRESTIGE
He was ignorant
of its meaning; assuming it was the name of a car
of its meaning; assuming it was the name of a car
For his character
was suspect and he only found prestige in a bar.
was suspect and he only found prestige in a bar.
TRAGEDY
I could not break
the news as I choked on the words in my throat
the news as I choked on the words in my throat
Tears escaped
eyes as my expression divulged tidings of demise
eyes as my expression divulged tidings of demise
BASH
PAIN
To be forgotten
like needless rain
like needless rain
This ‘Gollom’ of
our wretched existence.
our wretched existence.
INFANCY
Of innocence of
the pure at heart,
the pure at heart,
Infancy, like the
misnomer of a tardy Nigeria.
misnomer of a tardy Nigeria.
VACUUM
Where I’m a
stranger to myself, and strangely too
stranger to myself, and strangely too
You come to me.
PRESTIGE
Like the vestige
of little egos
of little egos
The grand
plaything of misguided statesmen
plaything of misguided statesmen
TRAGEDY
Like the pride of
the disillusioned magnate;
the disillusioned magnate;
An oil trader;
weak in simple fitting judgments.
weak in simple fitting judgments.
DESMOND
PAIN
Rivulet of tears
streaming with pain
streaming with pain
The heart has
been broken once again?
been broken once again?
INFANCY
Yore in the days
of ignorance and infancy
of ignorance and infancy
Vanity and lust;
the sweetest flights of fancy
the sweetest flights of fancy
VACUUM
Emptiness
encompasses the wake of her absence
encompasses the wake of her absence
Gone were the sun
and the light that welcomed her presence
and the light that welcomed her presence
PRESTIGE
Men and animals
eat vegetables of varieties
eat vegetables of varieties
I’m a thistle
meant not for their plates and palates
meant not for their plates and palates
TRAGEDY
De-robed of grace
and mocked for her nakedness
and mocked for her nakedness
Yet again,
another victim of man’s wickedness.
another victim of man’s wickedness.
MIKE
PAIN
The pleasure
turned to pain, the Question burned in my brain
turned to pain, the Question burned in my brain
About whether
Love is Humane in its touch, or am I just insane.
Love is Humane in its touch, or am I just insane.
INFANCY
The chastity of
the boy as he suckles with relish
the boy as he suckles with relish
My cravings for
adulthood I feel to relinquish
adulthood I feel to relinquish
VACUUM
Like a child
ripped off his mother’s embrace
ripped off his mother’s embrace
My dreams for us
you whacked with Disgrace
you whacked with Disgrace
PRESTIGE
I lay, tonight,
with my head high in rest
with my head high in rest
Knowing I gave it
all, nothing short of my best.
all, nothing short of my best.
TRAGEDY
Toiling to make
ends meet, despite the scorching heat
ends meet, despite the scorching heat
I retire to my
abode well knit, to discover I have, but my fame to eat
abode well knit, to discover I have, but my fame to eat
ANRE
PAIN
Lust, love,
loving Ellain
loving Ellain
Quarrel, malice,
heartbreak; pain
heartbreak; pain
INFANCY
Bring back the
days of love, trust and purity
days of love, trust and purity
These infant eyes
have grown and played with vanity
have grown and played with vanity
VACUUM
I hear the echoes
and vibrations from within
and vibrations from within
Void and vacuum,
whispers from this heart you swept clean
whispers from this heart you swept clean
PRESTIGE
Is pride from a
different stock that prestige?
different stock that prestige?
Which would
liberate or keep me under siege?
liberate or keep me under siege?
TRAGEDY
I really do not
like the word
like the word
It sounds…tragic.
