The Pilgrims’ Prayer
Whilst we, by these steep rugged pathways do strut
Dirtied from retired dusts of our sages past,
May we in Irritation not retreat,
From washing a comrade’s’ dirty feet
As we paddle this earthen vessel of many years,
Across Life’s waters of High and Low Tides,
May her fierce and outrageous currents
Overflow not, our restless pilgrim souls
When into earth’s basket, our fleshy ticket shall land,
May the eternal gateman bring us hand in hand,
Into that never ending Orchestral Band
Of our true Native homeland
That meeting our fathers now at rest
and Sharing in the unity of Ashes and Dust’
After this great launch on life’s wide coast
Our pilgrim souls may joyfully attend
The banquet of our Divine Harvester’s feast.
Ampadu Ama
I was cracking nuts for my father
When Ampadu Ama passed with her mother,
I couldn’t go on any further
I got lost in her beauty and hit a rock on my forefinger
Igo took a wife on Eke day,
Ampadu and her mother visited joyfully on Afor day,
Igo drove his wife on Nkwo day
He married Ampadu on Orie day
Ampadu’s skin shone like the oils from Nri,
Her lips tasted like the nectars of Anwu,
Her hips swayed like wind from Eligwe
Her voice innocent like the calmness of Iyi otusi
Her mind strong as the rocks in Udi
Men got drunk from her chest’s cupful of Ngwo
Princes sacrificed white blood at her shrine
She cast spells even on witch doctors
She was nothing but another name for beauty.
Igo loved Ampadu till his death,
At his funeral, her hair was devoid of earth,
She carted away with all his wealth,
Thus his life was but a forgotten filth.
This morning I cracked nuts for my daughter,
Ampadu passed by, looking like old yesterday,
I relived the story and showed her my forefinger
Never tow the path of Ampadu Ama
For Beauty washes away in the sea of years.
Tonye Willie Pepple is based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
ampadu ama….i guess is igbo,,,from the market day and some names
this work is really african, u showed great imagery and narrative prowess
great work……..
NB: the metre and rhymes in some verses did not concur, but still great work mate.
Calvin was right on his observation of Ampadu Ama, but i must be quick to mention here that if poets must self-censor their works with rhythm, metre, syllables and stanzas, then they will denote their works wrongly or make them incomplete to readers. If Calvin, did have a bit of a problem with Ampadu Ama, then The Pilgrims’ Prayer would not have escaped his attention, but critics are good for writers with their feedbacks, that is why Calvin was positive here with his comment and accolade on Tonye Willie Pepple’s work, a position which i humbly share.
Two poems held together by the thread of the theme of impermanency… Every man is a pilgrim & would certainly return home to his maker… as pointed out in “The Pilgrim’s Prayer” and Beauty fades with years…. as observed in “Ampadu Ama”. Didatic pieces… crafted by an ambitious budding poet.
Ampadu Ama: Had a bit of a problem with the rhythm and metre, as some lines are way longer and with more syllables than others and a couple of stanza have 5 lines as opposed to 4. But that said, its a lovely lovely poem. You a very good poet with a potential of being great. Just keep working at it. Cheers.
Ampadu Ama is haunting. Well done Tonye!
Brilliant!
Ampadu Ama is already a classic by my standards.
Bravo.
really beautiful. I love the way you write.
@Gbemi, Godstime and Shola, thank you so much for your kind words, I’m humbled
A truly beautiful piece from a talented writer.
Tonye Willie Pepple,am proud of you,this is good
THIS IS A TRUE AFRICAN PIECE……MORE GREASE TO YOUR ELBOW. YOU ARE GOING PLACES.