Sailor Utterances Poem by Adeosun Olamide

Oh Shepherd,
Birth’ in heart war
Wherefore father to protect household gone forever
And woman (Wife) as birth dies
Wherein warmness, cuddle, nipple, milk of woman unknown
Sheltered by temple
Of Where return in requires’ burden strenuous duties on tender shoulders
Of field’ learn feeding, flocking sheep
Of stream’ learnt fishing
While does’ stares each day admiring passing school students
Wishing be one as identify self accursed
Here grew unschooled and isolated
For none will his friend
Herein begins journey
Of life acquaintances
Of toils from sheep to ship


Sailor
Grew’ in mud and mire
Beneath harsh grew stronger
As choose lesser evil
Oft islands in seek wealth
Here tide ‘gainst storm
Journeying needle eye
Escaping death claws
Here, hit wealth
Becoming richest
Soon, sea legend be
Becoming model for poor, for breeding sailors
Soon, age retires him to wealth and past
Herein mutters self to all

Sailor,
What though of earthly roars, of echoes
What though of darkness, of silence, of solemnity
What though of light, of joy, of singing, of listening
What when end be aloneness?


Sailor,
What though of shackles, of jewelries, of pain, of soothe
What oh sailor? Who?
What though of rags, of robes, of foul, of beauty, of knowledge
What though oh sailor, what though when all fades?

Sailor,
What though of fears?
Of living, of dying, of darkness, of light
Of sleeping, of dreaming, of waking
Of failure, of success, of all, of none
Of rejection of love, of loving
Oh Sailor, what done of your heart, of this stone?
What done ticking clock?


Oh old Sailor
What though of thee?
Of strength, of ship
What when all; Old age grip?

Slumbering Sailor
Thy soul listens to the breeze and agrees its tunes
Of exploit, of riches in stillness travels from that which freezes mind
Through memories waves’ of brevity braveness
As await death forlorn


Oh sailor
Thus does those who
Of lamp deceit’ off! Its clamp loose
And stark in sparkles
For blessed heaven cursed some, even its own
Only to distinguish them
Putting them on paths rough, on route tough
To reach strange bliss, afterwards to know
That life a vanity fair be
Sail home thee, cultivating crops, cultivating families
For in ‘morrow, all needed be that