Jack Mapanje
Niyi Osundare
Lauri Kubuitsile
Peter Addo
N.Casely-Hayford
Kola
Boof
Courttia Newland
Nii Kwei Parkes
Eusebius
McKaiser
Anietie Isong
Dike
Chukwumerije
Chinelo Achebe-
Ejeyueitche
Akin Adesokan
Tolu Ogunlesi
Adaobi Tricia
Nwaubani
Eghosa Imasuen
Mpalive Msiska
Roi Kwabena
Emmanuel
Sigauke
Nnedi Okoroafor-
Mbachu
George E. Clarke
Kimyia Varzi
Obemata
Uche Nduka
Amatoritsero Ede
Obododimma Oha
Leila Aboulela
James Whyle
Koye Oyedeji
Obiwu
Becky Clarke
Nike Adesuyi
Derek Petersen
Afam Akeh
Olutola Ositelu
V. Ehikhamenor
Molara Wood
Chime Hilary
Wumi Raji
Chuma Nwokolo
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George
Elliot Clarke
George Clarke, author of about eight works of poetry,
is among the best known Canadian poets. He is a native Africadian,
a Nova Scotian of African origin, and was honoured with the Governor-General’s
Award for his narrative lyric suite, Execution
Poems (2000). Other works by the poet include Whylah
Falls, a verse novel (1990), Beatrice
Chancy, an opera libretto (1999), the poetry and photo book,
Illuminated Verses (2005). Clarke has worked with music to
locate much of his poetry in performance or musical theatre.
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Four Poems |
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Desolazione
Cosmica
Unsheathe your slick, urgulous instrument,
Pickle it in that snacking gash; sink black
Twixt its two coral halves – like a raven
Chipping at a dripping watermelon.
Enterprise, dip, slirp, raging, feverish –
As if you’ll never again taste such fruit,
Fleshy, drooling, until your eyes dirty
With tears, and elongated arrogance
Withers, a-wallow in oblivion.
Nature is vigorous in withering.
You ravish it; she kills you completely.
Yes, you rise again, raven, out her cave,
But, ravenous, return to trap – and meal…
You perform, you eat, are eaten, deformed.
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Messaggio
Sloppy politeness ends;
A peppery rumpus starts:
Not gingerly, but gingery,
The voluptuous tumult smells.
Limbs link and unlink –
Reptilian, snarling.
Slither:
White negligee angles down white skin.
White sheets undulate sleepy luxury.
But ambiguous hardness chinks
Soft marble, taps lacustrine dew –
Or tears –
Nicks.
Next, Demerara rum careens into Carrara marble.
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Eva La Venere Selvaggia
Our fingers mingled; our tongues twinned, twisted;
We writhed; we snatched at each other; we sighed.
I had to grapple that rippling, skittish mist;
My torrents had to bust her ice, scald her flesh…
Kisses unfolded like – like – a spreading plague –
with ardour
(I felt – admittedly – conspicuously harder).
Her purse needed feeling – but not with gold,
No with spanking, black iron, stainless, and light.
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Quemada!
Love – yield love – while the body’s ripe.
Don’t sag iceberg-like. Flame volcanic!
Wail as if a drum; never fall silent –
Save for wine-sodden sleep, uninterrupted.
Naked and aflutter in a four-legged bed –
With a coddling body opposite, charming,
The sun’s never slight, never extinguished.
No matter how fat clouds crowd it from sight!
What good is chastity – if it’s for good?
That lover crumpling under caresses,
Is a saint moon-luminous with amore.
Jangle the bed! Shake it! Splash the wine!
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