This is an anthology of poems written by Caleb

1. Times&Seasonsby Caleb Adoh

2. Times and Seasons: The
Anthology
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Caleb Adoh
(c) 2015

3. Dedication
This Anthology is dedicated to my lecturers
and the great guys I went to school with from
2010-2014 (University of Lagos). It was really
great knowing you all. You guys brought the
artistic part of me from where I hid it.
I can’t wait to see you guys do really great
stuff: Temi Wright, Ebonne Uche, Alvina Ibe,
Oguntade Damilola, Angel Simon and Samuel
Olatunji

4. Author's
Note
Poetry is life. I spent four years of my university life studying
poetry. A lot of people may think studying poetry at a
university isn’t as grand or in a more 21st century context
—“cool” as most people think.
I realised that lots of the things in life are tied around
poetry, or in a much larger sense—literature. You get to
travel into people’s minds, world and climes from your face
dug deep into that book in your room.
It has successfully helped me to have a great career in
Digital Marketing and Advertising.

5. Charred
Memories
I watched in total dismay
As the fire burned out
Left with the charred remains of precious memories
Blown away by the wind
The morning rainbow was the cord that bound us
A spiritual bridge from both hearts
Time is a lumberman wielding an axe
Shakespeare could not have described Him properly

6. Like Ozymandias, “here lies a stump where a tree
was”
A tree where we sat holding arms overlooking the
sun in the horizon
It’s now a stump left out to dry in the sun.
Dry stalks with grey and black
The only colours that remind us of what use to be
lush green
Look! Cinders.
A hope to rekindle the fire that once burned like
I will rather blow into existence that tiny spark;
That tiny burning cinder called Hope
Even if the only thing I have in return is bloodshot
eyes and
Lungs clogged with smoke
I have a clean state,
Can we please write again?

7. WordsWorth
Let your words:
Pull the silver strings
Pull the harpsichord
Make music like the orchestra of the heavenlies
Blow across the land like pixie dust
Make wishes come through
Yours and those you speak of
Add colour to the desert
Of broken hearts
Be more that sand castles
That are washed away by the waves

8. Be seasoned with:
Lavish praise and approbation
Be BandAid. Mend. Unite
If your lips would keep from slips
Five things observe with care
To whom you speak of, of whom you speak,
And how. And where
A man is made mighty,
Or little by the words of his lips

9. Abiku
Coming and going these several seasons
Bringing to our door posts gifts wrapped in shrouds
Draped in Angelic robes, but with an intent darker than Hades’
Holding in his baby hands the Devil’s sickle
He has come again!
To bleed Mother’s oil dry.
Like water seeping through crevices
News of Mother’s birth
Fills the Town Square with sunken faces
Mother weeps!
Deafening cries of pain and regret fill the quarters
Are the gods not really to blame?

10. The mid-wives revel.
Unfettered by the tumult and disarray:
Fanning the fire of confusion from the
Land of the cold and pale-skinned people.
Pantomimed faces showing phony attention
They created the weapons—CROSS –CARPETING, MANIFESTO;
DEMOCRACY; INDUSTRALIZATION
With which Abiku deals deadly blows
Ever wondered why our palm nuts fall at the foot of the tree?
While Abiku flies across seven seas to our Midwives land
To refine our oil , bringing back our oil of sadness
Look ! here He comes,
The Abiku, on a horse, shading the sun with an umbrella
Painted white, red and green,
With a broom in his left hand.
Here they come with their empty promise

11. My African
Christmas
My Christmas
Waking up to the blissful smell of fried
animal flesh
Intestinal Performances:
Orchestral pieces far more appealing than
the sounds
Of Mozart and Beethoven
Mother grants a piece;
A peace of offering
An appeasement for the whole year

12. Face smeared with oil
Pocket stuffed with pyrotechnics.
Up to a mischief?
Never scared—it’s a spanking-free day
Mother takes on a “Cane fast”
Children dressed in uniforms visiting the
neighbours
The day ends up being a great one—belly
full!

13. Dream. You don't
need to pay to do so
- Caleb Adoh