Uche Mbah

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The moon was full that night. Beethoven
Long ago sang a song of melancholy
Awakening the drowsy maidens of twilight. Moonlight sonata.

Not long ago,
The sun retreated in a dramatic fashion :
Suddenly, a rider appeared
On the horizon riding on a ram.
The rider was carrying a jar of water.
Light glanced off from

The transparent entrails of the rider of apocalypse.
The rider stopped and poured
Molten gold on the smiling sun
The sun rained gold on the
Comatose and prostrate life of
Earthlings. It was only a drizzle…

The rider, with one quick bound
Disappeared beneath the horizon
Followed by the docile sun.

The moon was bright that right. Newton
Long ago taught of the fractional distillation of colours
In a glass pyramid. Light refraction.

Not Long Ago

Not long ago,
Leaden slumber placed a heavy yoke on my weary brain
My thoughts merged from life

To dream. I saw the Lord
With some faceless people –
He sent one out.

“Go, you will see a man carrying
A pitcher of water, follow him
Till you reach a house.

He will take you
To the upper chamber, where
The table is laid” he said.

Suddenly, I know – I don’t know how-
This is the age of Pisces
Directing us to the age of Aquarius.

The scene changed to fishing site.
“Cast your net on the right side
Of the boat, and you will catch fish”.

Again, I know- The right side
Of the Father belongs
To Messiah of Aaron, the Left
Is for Messiah of Israel.

The sun was fierce that morning.
Nefertiti long ago
Led a choir of maidens in praise of
He who made the sun
During temple consecration.

Not long ago,
The sun rose with a mission:
It rained gold.
Golden raindrops lay on
Every rooftop, every treetop, every
Glass blade, every animal, earth
And air. Raindrops were seen
But not felt on the body.

I look up at the dizzy sun:
It was an amazing sight.
It was pulsating, dancing
To a rhythmic and unwritten
Music. The music came as the sound
Of thunder and flood passing through a tunnel.

A strange golden bird hovers
Below the sun. The bird,
Suddenly disappeared.

Then the weather changed:
Shawls of clouds thickened
Round the sun and a desperate lightening dispatched.
The gold was gone:
Rainwater was unleashed.

There was no moon that night.
Only thick darkness pierced
By the light of my dreams.

In the dream, I saw
The messiah of Israel;
He was separated from me
By a thick layer of glass.
“You‘ve promised; Now fulfill.”
His countenance merged with
The sea of glass.
I was soon alone.

The sun was normal that morning
Except from the hangover of the dance
It dances at the same time
Every year.

Uche Mbah is a poet, writer and journalist. He earned his degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He lives and writes from Lagos.