by Chinua Achebe
At dawn slowly
the sun withdraws his
long misty arms of
embrace. Happy lovers
whose exertions leave
no aftertaste nor slush
of love’s combustion; Earth
perfumed in dewdrop
fragrance wakes
to whispers of
soft-eyed light…
Later he
will wear out his temper
ploughing the vast acres
of heaven and take it
out of her in burning
darts of anger. Long
accustomed to such caprice
she waits patiently
for evening when thoughts
of another night will
restore his mellowness
and her power
over him.
From:
1971, Beware Soul Brother and Other Poems
Copyright ©:
Christmas in Biafra and other Poems
Last updated August 22, 2018