-
Conscience and the Man
- LANGAA RPCIG
- Chapter
- Additional Information
44 Letters to Marion (And the Coming Generations) So wild So fierce The distant day in a little world so harsh with pain On my head They set their Loads and strut with ease to the empire of the dead But me Weary I limp, I toddle, I cry ‘‘set me down, set me down’’ But Where is Njisoo Of the gloried days? Conscience and the Man Conscience: ‘‘Why sit in the curtained Hall Weeping with applause What others can afford Of an endearing endeavour? Have you not quaffed enough Of that wisdom that men of genius Have on their admirers’ feet displayed? Why sit still quaffing the stuff When with natures plumes and ink All mankind can in the book of Fame Their names inscribe?’’ The Man: ‘‘Many a man have passed by me On the stony path In a thorny forest and asked What good I was in the universe With shame, I’ve hid my face 45 John Nkemngong Nkengasong In the dark of day and yet asked The meaning of my life.’’ Conscience: ‘‘The meaning of life is putting Meaning in your life’’ The Man: ‘‘I’m resolved, that of all the ink That spits from the tongue of poetry I shall display the beauty of my troubles In the eyes of the world.’’ A Phantom in Heaven I saw a phantom in heaven When Fuandem blew his winding horn And in swaddling ganduras the angels Dropped from the heavy clouds and squatted On his feet – I saw the little man I saw him in another world when I was young He sank his claws in my throat Till I cried out in my dream And woke God in His sleep. City Woman The long dreary day wearies her out yawning at the balcony splitting hairs painting nails gazing at the clouds wondering why they were clouds ...