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Emmanuel Jakpa -- Poet -- Waterford Ireland
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Oritsegbemi Emmanuel Jakpa was born in Warri, Nigeria, and currently
lives in Ireland. His poetry has been published widely, including
The Diagram, Echoing Years, Barnwood, and Edison Literary Review. He
has been nominated for Pushcart Prizes three times, and he received
the 2008 Yeat’s Pierce Loughran Award.
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Hummingbird-moth
Like a moon flower opening
up to its Hummingbird-moth
you told me, you are all my reasons
to believe in innocence.
So I descend out of the clouds of doubt
gently as with a parachute,
through your open heaven,
into your open arms. |
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Timing
I came in, head aching from
damaged plans. I’ve to leave shortly
to the evening meeting.
Sun glares bright and hot outside.
Sinead O'Connor, Thank you
for hearing me, loving me,
plays from the tv. I login
into my Yahoo mail.
Your message delights me,
as I lay aside all my cares,
eyes fixed on the pc screen.
It's all I need at this moment. |
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Artless
There are times
you make my emotion rushes
incoherently,
like young gazelles
through the vineyards before dawn
up to the hill of spices,
like steam hissing
from the lips of a kettle
without a rhythm,
like the approaching stamp
of late athletic cows hurrying home
to their bleating calves,
like comb through the hair
in the morning
when late for work.
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Beach
The wind blows from the far sky.
And the shore inhales, exhales,
the salty fragrance of the tides.
It keeps on doing this, in and out.
The sun comes out, with heat.
It makes me feel so nice within,
like looking into your eyes,
or holding hands, saying nothing |
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Nothing as Interesting
That night, on the risky edge
at your heaven’s gate,
you slipped into my hands
your thoughts in a sketchpad.
I came home. And there I was,
flipping the pages.
Every word’s a window,
through which I peep
as through a glass darkly,
into the mysteries of your soul. |
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