Quiet Destiny

by Aloysius K Itoka

Overview

This book of poems give a vivid picture of the civil crisis that engulfed the country in late 1989 and the tremendous destruction meted out to the people and the country of Liberia. The styles are simple and can be easily understood. After the military coup in 1980, the country undertook several development projects such as the building of roads, bridges, and infrastructures like schools and colleges. While many invested in minerals, they flocked the countryside. Forest trees were at its highest level, and forest project was shipped to various parts of the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466912571
Publisher:	Trafford Publishing
Publication date:	03/28/2012
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.10(d)

Read an Excerpt

Quiet Destiny

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By Aloysius K. Itoka

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 Aloysius K. Itoka
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-1257-1

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Chapter One

    THE GOOD OLD DAYS

    Serene I sit on ends and wait;
    No food or drink a sad situation;
    A life of woe a dismal fate;
    Some ray of hope my sole salvation.

    They watched unmoved as we succumbed;
    To days of grief and dreadful nights;
    Hearts torn apart as unroofed homes;
    Sadly yawning to claim our sights.

    The nights were damp so cold and chill,
    Rainstorms and winds are blowing wild;
    Frail sighs of pain the tents stood still;
    Homes split in twain a new born child.

    Gone are the days when all was right,
    Conceit, deceit now guide our ways;
    Revengeful death disgusting blight,
    Bring back once more the Good Old Days.


    THE CAVALLA RIVER

    Embankments high with hanging boughs,
    Red, muddy Duo white flowing suds;
    Kiss headless corpse as a man plows,
    Along sand=bars of birds and buds.

    In small canoes they calmly sit,
    Braving the crossings of the deep;
    A day of gloom a monstrous pit;
    Our breath withheld sometimes to weep.

    "Let's go" it was so loud and clear,
    The paddle dipped away they went;
    "stop that", "sit down" good gracious dear,
    Look at that leak we'll not relent

    In haste they scuttle up the slopes,
    Collecting Oil and Beans and Fish;
    Few cups of rice and salt the hopes,
    Of those who dared just for a dish.

    The search for basic daily needs,
    Remains unchanged each day the scene;
    Oh save them from those fatal deeds,
    And smooth their paths in ways unseen.


    HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN MAN

    O faithful land of righteous men'
    Where God's command supremely reigns;
    Gold and Silver hopes of heathen
    Are worthless things in HIS DOMAIN.

    Many have become indeed rebellious,
    Some friends of thieves we have been told;
    The Name of God sounds melodious,
    O lead us back into Your Fold.

    We hail Leaders and advisors,
    Such as we had in times long past;
    Shield us from all vile pretenders,
    By Thee O Lord our Lot is cast.

    When pride has long been committed,
    And Earthly arrogance debased;
    You Alone will be Exalted,
    As confidence in man erased.


    HE IS LORD

    Tell me not in simple phrases,
    Horrors that I have long beheld;
    Thousands groan in putrid marshes,
    Towards which they were all misled.

    Days that were so long and dreary,
    Brought us evil and great sorrow;
    Some maimed lay dying they being weary
    Wait the lame for sad tomorrow.

    So many precious lives were lost,
    For lack of common faith and will;
    Sinners rejoice at righteous cost;
    Seek not revenge HE ruleth still.

    He is Alive the GOOD BOOK says,
    Trust not yourself have faith in God;
    He is the Truth, the Light and the Way,
    Be not afraid, HE IS THE LORD.


    I HEARD NO ROOSTER CROW

    The sun rose early on the morn,
    Our shadows trailing on the sand;
    Unending sounds of guns in turn,
    Booming aloud throughout the land.

    It's sad to say but true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow.

    Throughout captured land we travelled,
    Where many a fighter were deployed;
    O'er death's dark vales we marveled,
    At countless skulls that were destroyed,

    It's sad to say but true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow

    Along the road of blood and death,
    Remorse of conscience filled to heart;
    What had become of Mother Earth,
    As sin of Cain will n'er depart,

    It's sad to say but true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow

    On sides of the old Plantation,
    Among crops green 'neath rubber trees;
    Decayed frames of God's creation,
    Emitting stench with morning breeze,

    It's sad to say but true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow

    So bleak were the burnt out houses,
    As caved in roofs under sunny skies;
    Revealed skills lost for all ages;
    By vain ambition in disguise,

    It's sad to say but true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow

    To bed that night I had reclined,
    With fear and grim resignation;
    All call for peace had been declined,
    By vile and mean ostentation.,

    I woke at dawn and true indeed,
    I heard no Rooster Crow.


    THE DISAPPOINTED POLICEMEN

    To wish you luck I take my leave,
    Intent to tread no more this road;
    Since there are none that I believe,
    From me do shear this awful load.

    He took the wheels and swiftly sped,
    Leaving a trailing smoke behind;
    It rammed in head-long pedestrians fled,
    Over looted goods of every kind.

    The panicked clod lost his control,
    As lives now rest in Hands of Time;
    The car collided spewing petrol,
    In scarlet dust of blood and slime.

    The scene unleashed an angry crowd,
    Who uttered several bitter words;
    A frightened culprit no longer proud,
    Now sat bemused against such odds.

    Two cops appeared in dew so dense,
    "Your license please" one calmly said;
    In vain he searched with great pretense,
    Neither at home was he prepared.

    Then to the Chief at once they went,
    With much excuses so often heard;
    He pled in tears as he was sent,
    To a crammed cell without his beard.

    When late the cops returned that day,
    The Chief had lunched with shrimp cocktail;
    All cells were searched to their dismay;
    Realized the culprit was on bail.

    A fixed date was set for the trial,
    Arranged so it be not deferred;
    The chief who was not so congenial,
    Had both the cops involved transferred.

    The case was called up as assigned,
    Both transferred cops were right on time;
    Alert at what had been designed,
    The Chief, they knew was not sublime.

    The culprit took the stand at last,
    And pleaded guilty as was charged;
    The Judge refreshed from a repast,
    Quickly had the man discharged.

    The Chief was now a happy man,
    When with smiles and joy he was told;
    That the Judge who was of his Clan,
    Had thrown the case out in the cold.


    LIVE NOT IN DISGRACE

    She left me on a rainy day in June,
    Arrayed in plain neat dress of azure blue;
    Her neck bedecked with gold of great fortune,
    To me she said, "I'll soon come back to you".

    Over the dress her long hair loosely hung,
    Short quick steps gave life to a charming gait;
    Low blowing wind her coat openly flung,
    Revealing legs which led her through the narrow gate.

    For fear that she might miss the only flight,
    In haste that day to Robertsfield we drove;
    My heart grew faint I realized not my plight,
    When to the desert bird I sadly strove.

    It was a light steel-plated plane of old,
    Awaiting on the drenched and slippery runway;
    As engine roared tear drops I could not hold,
    Blurred stratus clouds that took my love away.

    Come back to me O precious jewel of my eyes,
    The vows you made indeed seem all in vain;
    Your tender touch now thrust into the skies,
    Is just a dream held captive in that plane.

    So many years have now gone by my only love,
    Those words of hope reflect your loving face;
    If games you played were treasures from above,
    Farewell, goodbye, I'll live not in disgrace.


    LIZARDS, LIZARDS EVERYWHERE

    I have never seen so many lizards,
    Creeping about casually like drunkards;
    They crawl and roam all over the place,
    And some so bold to stare you in the face.
    Even so bold they wink and stare,
    Lizards, Lizards everywhere.

    From Custom House where passengers embark,
    To long huge buses resembling Noah's Ark;
    Give them an inch, they sneak into your suit,
    As agents from a reptile Institute.
    That institute must be in a mess, I swear,
    Lizards, Lizards everywhere.

    At the bus stops you find these creatures,
    Clutching and cringing on anything that features;
    Leaders of tomorrow each armed with a rubber gun,
    Carry strings of lizards dangling in the sun;
    Those strings are no doubt someone's fare,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    Along the busy road toYamousoukro,
    To the coastal city of San Pedro;
    They always seem to be timing,
    Road transport buses endlessly coming;
    Coming with passengers as if from a fair,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    One night I went to the roast meat stall,
    And indeed did have a great ball;
    The roast was fresh and tasted sweet,
    With some brown powder sprinkled over the meat;
    Juicy meat extra super rare,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    Red head, tailless, short and long,
    You often see them creeping along;
    Just toss a crumb they know their tricks,
    Most often even after six;
    Though after six they do not care,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    Back to camp I went at last,
    And met inmates who were as usual on fast;
    So as not to upset many a feeling,
    I said nothing about the side eating;
    That eating turned out to be a nightmare,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    Next day in tents many who looked hungry,
    Wanted to know why I was so merry;
    I told them French bread was really a treat,
    With brown powdered seasoning sprinkled over roasted
    meat,
    That roast meat would lead me to declare,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    And so despondent feelings I could not uphold,
    When with great amazement it was unfold;
    That the brown dust which tasted so sweet,
    Was ground, dried lizards sprinkled over the meat;
    For love of roasted meat I became a square,
    Lizards, lizards everywhere.

    Too late now to find a solution,
    But I have made another resolution;
    To acquaint roasted meat eaters about that dust,
    Brown dust which often helps to knock off the rust;
    Rust here, or dust there,
    Lizards lizards everywhere.


    THE JUJUMAN

    When evening breeze her crusted fetters break,
    And sends red dust above the village streets;
    The tides swell high above the village lake,
    Flowing into the winding narrow creeks.

    The vengeance spread along the mountain side,
    Creating fear and havoc at her will;
    Uprooting crops while deer and gazelles stride,
    Over young growth and stumps without their fill.

    Monkeys and Chimps were all in disarray,
    Springing and swinging as the stubborn wind;
    Violently slaying gibbons in its way,
    Spared not a single kith or kin.

    Unmindful of the damage that was done,
    It swept across the slopes and rocky hills;
    Destroying wide forest reserve begun,
    Leaving behind ruins of worn out saw mills.

    Her wrath continued through the gloomy night,
    Sending tremors and chills in everyone;
    They dare not sleep in spite of windows tight,
    But stared with dread at what the wind had done.

    The sun rose early at the break of day,
    With villagers gossiping without fear;
    Accepting roofs that had been blown away,
    As Omen of a cursed forsaken year.

    So to the Jujuman they quickly went,
    Drums beat assembled men from far and wide;
    A lady who had been his discontent,
    Was the sole victim he must now deride.

    A wife had been unfaithful to her vows,
    That has brought misfortune to our town;
    She must confess and pay a cost in cows,
    "To please the GODS" he said, as he sat down.

    The exploits of accused he knew too well,
    So the snare prepared she could not escape;
    She confessed and before her husband fell,
    Naming a man strongly built like an Ape.

    The Lover Boy to the charge consented,
    Because he was known as a man of wealth;
    And by rejecting what was requested,
    Was, he knew, self confirmation of death.

    The day for the sacrifice having been appointed,
    Three cows five bags of rice imposed were paid;
    The Jujuman performed as he was expected,
    Displaying colorful charms and gambles on parade.

    The Oracles having been consulted,
    Drumming, feasting and rejoicing were grand;
    For the GODS he confirmed, had consented,
    To allow them work freely on the land.

    The farming season was the crucial test,
    Crops grew fast and harvest a great success;
    All agreed that JUJUMAN was the best,
    As he invoked to save them from distress.

    But the Quack had become a virtual pest,
    Whose threats and harassments were in excess;
    When he sensed that he was trapped in earnest,
    Soon escaped leaving many, many more to confess.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Quiet Destiny by Aloysius K. Itoka Copyright © 2012 by Aloysius K. Itoka. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

1. Dedication....................vii
2. Introduction....................ix
3. About The Author....................xi
4. Brief Information about The Book....................xiii
5. The Good Old Days....................1
6. The Cavalla River....................2
7. Have No Confidence In Man....................3
8. He Is Lord....................4
9. I Heard No Rooster Crow....................5
10. The Disappointed Policemen....................7
11. Live Not In Disgrace....................9
12. Lizards, Lizards Everywhere....................11
13. The Jujuman....................14
14. River Cavalla Flows Forever....................17
15. Let Peace Prevail....................20
16. Which Way Maryland....................22