The Great Ghanian Poet, Kofi Awoonor, Killed in Kenya . . . Kofi Awoonor (13 March 1935 – 21 September 2013): Ghanaian poet and author whose work combined the poetic traditions of his native Ewe people and contemporary and religious symbolism to depict Africa during decolonisation passes on. Professor Awoonor was among those killed at the weekend in the attack on the Westgate shopping mall, Nairobi, Kenya by the Al Shabab militant group. Songs of Sorrow By Kofi Awoonor Dzogbese Lisa has treated me thus It has led me among the sharps of the forest Returning is not possible And going forward is a great difficulty The affairs of this world are like the chameleon faeces Into which I have stepped When I clean it cannot go. I am on the world’s extreme corner, I am not sitting in the row with the eminent But those who are lucky Sit in the middle and forget I am on the world’s extreme corner I can only go beyond and forget. My people, I have been somewhere If I turn here, the rain beats me If I turn there the sun burns me The firewood of this world Is for only those who can take heart That is why not all can gather it. The world is not good for anybody But you are so happy with your fate; Alas! the travelers are back All covered with debt. Something has happened to me The things so great that I cannot weep; I have no sons to fire the gun when I die And no daughter to wail when I close my mouth I have wandered on the wilderness The great wilderness men call life The rain has beaten me, And the sharp stumps cut as keen as knives I shall go beyond and rest. I have no kin and no brother, Death has made war upon our house; And Kpeti’s great household is no more, Only the broken fence stands; And those who dared not look in his face Have come out as men. How well their pride is with them. Let those gone before take note They have treated their offspring badly. What is the wailing for? Somebody is dead. Agosu himself Alas! a snake has bitten me My right arm is broken, And the tree on which I lean is fallen. Agosi if you go tell them, Tell Nyidevu, Kpeti, and Kove That they have done us evil; Tell them their house is falling And the trees in the fence Have been eaten by termites; That the martels curse them. Ask them why they idle there While we suffer, and eat sand. And the crow and the vulture Hover always above our broken fences And strangers walk over our portion.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:24:46 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015