The Tongue Poem by Kingsley Egbukole

A pink mass of interwoven, striated muscle
Devoid of bone or skeleton
Anchored by webs of string tissues
Locked in a cage and checked by a door

When it escapes sometimes commotion follows
Roaring pthunderously like sub-saharan African lion
To strike dangerously like the black mamba
Potent and deadly like the Inland Taipen

The tongue of man who can tame?
Not by the sword of warrior men
Not by the affluence of the wealthy
Not by the build and size of the hefty
Not by the fairness of the beautiful
To them it is a restless evil
Full of deadly poison

But to the wise who abide in the Almighty
The tongue is bridled and soothing
A tree of life with gracious words
Turned to honeycomb and melodious
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bone

(Tuesday,19/9/2023,10.08pm)