I Am Looking For A Word Poem by Job Ombati

I seek to find a word.
A word of the heart.
Sweet as honey.
Dripping pure sweetness.
A word so delightful.
So soothing to the heart.

With a decoy attached to my hook.
I will fish.
In deep waters.
In shallow waters.
In clear waters
In murky waters.
I will whistle to attract it to my bait.

I will make a ladder long enough to reach the clouds.
I will carefully step on the rungs - one at a time.
I will softly part the featherly clouds.
I will push my hand deep to their armpits.
I will then fish out the word.

I will walk into the vantablack night.
Armed with my torch.
Loaded with new Eveready 'shika paka' batteries.
I will beam my flashlight into every dark corner.
I will keep looking.
For the delightful word.

I will visit the busy market.
I will ask both young and old.
For the word.
I will beseech the girl preening herself.
I will ask the restive youth.
I will look for the word there.
I will overturn the grocery baskets.
I will raise my voice above the din.
I will shout in the ears of the semi deaf old woman seller.

I will open a book.
Turn the pages, stop, search and turn.
I will moisten my finger with saliva.
I will increase my search.
I will squint into every page.
For the good word.

I will wipe clean a slate.
I will use an eraser.
And pass my hand over it.
I will then write the word
Slowly and neatly.
A word of my heart.
A delightful word!

Poems for Humanity