The Dark Continent

David Diop, born in 1927 in Bordeaux of a Senegalese father and a
Cameroonian mother, moved frequently during his short life between France and West Africa.  Before his death in a plane crash at the age of thirty-three, he had contributed to “Presence Africaine”, a cultural review of the African world in both French and English editions, and had published “Coup de Pilons”, from which this poem originates.

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Source:  Nurnberg, Maxwell (ed.), A Gathering Of Poems, Washington Square Press: New York, August 1969.

The Babe

This limerick about George Herman (Babe) Ruth won me first prize in a poetry contest… thanks, in part, to the lenient judging of Enid Anisman… ha ha ha.
Written and illustrated by this blogger. (“ty… tyvm” <—- my Elvis impression)

Let Me Be by Txhrtnsol

Txhrtnsol

Let Me Be by Txhrtnsol

Let me be the woman in your dreams.
The biggest part of life we crave.
Let me be the sigh that comes
out of your chest.

The woman that dwells in you,
The most intimate part of your soul.
The love that you want to have.
Let me be the love you never want to
be apart throughout life and much more.

The most intimate part of your soul.
The love that you want to have.
Let me be the love you never want to
be apart throughout life and much more.

I would give you so many tender kisses.
Let me demonstrate all my affection
To kiss and hug you so out of control.
Let me be your joy,
Let me be the woman of your dreams.

(You’re all that and a bag of Corn Nuts, ranch flavor!)

For her newly published 42-page book of poetry, “Poetic Justice”, send your name, address and $7.00 (US Funds only) PAYPAL payment to ikeman23@juno.com

Oink oink world!

The English poet, Norman Ault, wrote the poem “The Pig’s Tail” which my father used to recite to me as a child. Emphatically, my dad would read the first three lines of each verse and say “but…” leaving me to shout out the last line.

“The Pig’s Tail” by Norman Ault

A furry coat has the bear to wear,
the tortoise a coat of mail,
the yak has more than his share of hair,
but the pig has a curly tail.

The elephant’s tusks are sold of gold,
the slug leaves a silver trail,
the parrot is never too old to scold,
but the pig has a curly tail.

The lion can either roar or snore,
the cow gives milk in a pail,
the dog can guard a door and more,
but the pig has a curly tail.

For the rest of the beasts that prey
from the tiny mouse to the whale,
there’s much more that I could say today,
but the pig has a curly tail.

(I love you, dad… rest in peace.)