PORTRAIT OF MY BODY AS UNLEAVENED BREAD

For my body is bread—
I rid myself of every leaven.
Tonight, I’m a boy dousing the flame I carry in my loins.

I set myself on fire & walk with feet shod with grace—
my fragrance smells like life, like death…
heaven’s harvest.

I find strength to carry my cross from every battle I’ve won (& lost)
& the remembrance of the man who bought me’
I’m a bond-slave & I’m in love with a Man—

I’m sealed with his name.
Let every other lover fade away,
let other passions die on the rood of denial,
Amen!

A SONG OF REPENTANCE

I come (back) to you as a suckling,
feed me the milk of your word.
Before you I’m wretched—
tanned & tattered from the sun outside your courts,
but you promise me green pastures &
still waters, bread for my weary soul.

Teacher, welts from your rod are proof of your love.
Shepherd, your staff guides me back to the fold.

Wash me with water for I’m a man of dust,
clothe me with white linen.

My soul is a whore, lover,
woo me with the sweetness of your word,
chase away other lovers & their enticements,
fill my eyes with your pleasures alone.

Your eyes are burning lamps—
they see & undo me;
flush out the greys of night from my
inner chambers, flood me with your light!

 

WE ARE WHAT MEN SHOULD BE WHEN WE WERE KIDS

“Give us out daily bread,” we’d pray,
amidst our planning & scheming,
our wisdom that steal from us the joy of trusting—

thoughts of tomorrow—
the noise that defiles the solemnity of heart;
worries that crease our head when communing,
worry, the force that draws our knees to the ground

We are what men should be when we were kids!

Consider the flowers of the field
or the sheep that trudge-by every noon with bellies dancing in gratitude.
Those simple things, ever trustful,
ever assured that they’re in his thoughts &
he shall meet their needs.

 

Biography:
Adeola Juwon is a Nigerian poet and Ghostwriter. He is a Christian and he writes from Lagos Nigeria. His works have been published or forthcoming on Writers Space Africa, Praxis online magazine, African Writer, Kreative Diadem and elsewhere. His works are an amlagmation of the whole human experience.