The Sierra Leone Web

 
  Ezekiel Mohamed Sheriff is a Sierra Leonean writer, writing in advocacy of the poor and marginalize in society. Ezekiel M. Sheriff was inspired into writing by the corrupt nature of society in his days, and the death of many of his friends as a result of series of deprivations.  

 

Beyond the smiles

Alone I trek a narrow river road
with broad smiles on my round face
like a happy suckling
who neglects the pains
on his mothers lap

Then my eyes caught a boy by a river
my slightly opened mouth reached the river
at my management
the boy spoke like a boy
in victory you dwell
in victory you dwell
that lovely face of yours
have never tasted bitterness

Boys, I said
beyond this smiles
lies red letter days
which I tell not
but all hide I in the glorious looks of my smiles.

My boy,look beyound this smiles
and you will pity the mountain
look beyound this smile
and you will see a lake that have been filled
with the tears of my brothers
as the sun becomes too hot
the stomach of my brother is empty
all hide I in this glorious smile

Boys, my mountain is a desert
where the shade is absent,
where the children cry of hunger
and the young prefer to die on seas
in far away lands
what sorrow?
what pains in my land?
all hide I in this glorious smile

Today my boy I can't die with all
let some of my tears dry in me
ha ha ha ha the deaf cats laugh
aah aah aah the younger rat cry of pains
but all hide I in this broad smile

My child, is the mountain cursed?
Eden God made for black has chameleon to fire

Satan Do Not Be Proud

Satan do not be proud
Though they say you were the makers right hand
Blind are my eyes to it.
Ancient fool
You have showed my parents what cost them a garden

Rebel, why are you in a lake of laughter
You think yours is the victory
take a glass of water,
I jump to swim in an ocean, where laughter sleeps
If I fall ten times, ten times will I wipe my knees.
Do not make rumours of my wounds

I am a poet
But your boss lives in me
I am your boss,
Christ is my brother
I swim in laughter as you think my father will give me his back
I am not Job
No permission from higher order.

 

TOMORROW

WHEN IN A DARK ROOM I SIT
WITH MY HAND UNDER CHEEK
WONDERING IN THE MISTERY OF DAYS
WHICH NO SPECIALIST EFFORT TO FORECAST
ONE NEVER KNOWS

WHEN THE SUN WAS STILL SHINNING
I FORGOT GOD MADE A RAIN
WHEN IT WAS STILL DAY
I FORGOT THERE IS A NIGHT
WHEN I CHASED THE SKY
I FORGOT THE LAW OF MOTION
ONE NEVER KNOWS

NOW THE SUN HAS GONE TO BED
THE TITANIC HAVE SINK
THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE MADE
MY HOUSE A CEMETRY.
ONE NEVER KNOWS

TOMORROW IS EVERY MAN'S BLINDNESS
OH WHAT PAINS
WHAT SORROW
WHAT MISFORTUNE HAS BEFALL ME
TOMORROW IS A PREGNANT WOMAN
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT WILL BRING OUT
DO NOT BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW
IT IS NOBODYS OWN