Silence - Samuel Adjei Ntow


My mind is blank
A tear falls on my bed, my poor eyes
The light is out
A cricket fills the void
Lying a yard away my books
Thankful like sleep to a slave
Lost to hope and aspiration... the owner

In the next room
Someone turns up the TV volume
In the other a boy shouts to be heard
In mine I write about them.

The TV is suddenly turned off
The crickets return
Dying arguments fade to graves
Then silence.....

The crickets get a companion
A frog croaks... spicing up the melody
A stray cat joins the chorus
Purring for food
In bed I write

My room... the light is out
My mind is blank
I hear a dog in the distance
Barking... telling its master
Sleep well... you are protected
But remember, more food tomorrow

Near my window
A man shouts into his phone
O.K. Bla... Mechia Maame
Afia ne Abena, bye bye

Illustrating where he is from

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The crickets and the frog sing their song
The cut is gone

Silence.....
A plane thunders through the night
As if seeking audience with the rain god
Now the night is cold

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The crickets.....

Someone drags his feet toward my window
Like a contented fool
It's Kwesi... on the phone
Lying to his girlfriend... as usual
I’m stressed... my money is in the bank
I don’t have credit... I will call,
The line cuts, and he curses the network operators
He goes back the same way he came
Thank God, I have my peace again

Silence.....
My mind is blank
The cricks continue
The TV murmurs... someone has turned it on again
I punch on my keys
Sleep beckons
I put down my phone
Waiting I yawn
My mind is blank
The crickets sing
A door shuts in the corridor
I yawn and wait.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

thumbs up man.
appreciate the ghanaian setting and rich humor this poem contains.
keep it up man.

Prince Kwasi Mensah said...

Interesting technique, Samuel. I love how Silence relates to the common experiences of Ghanaians. Keep on writing, it gets better every time.

Edem Agbodza said...

dude I'm impressed, you've got a knack for this. thats talent right there if we didn't know we were staring down at it. great poem.

Darko Antwi said...

Samuel, you don't need anymore encouragement and praise to go ahead with the writing of poetry (that expresses your immersurable ability to imagine) as your debut, 'Silence'.

You've had some sincere gentlemen-praise upon the conception and contraception of homely activities & silence that fuse themselves in your poem.

Welldone.

Samuel Adjei Ntow said...

To Ekow, Prince, Edem, and Darko thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it.
To Darko, i think i would need all the encouragements if i want to be a great poet like you or a little nearer

Nana Agyemang Ofosu said...

I admit without doubt that this is a good work. Indeed these do happen through the night in the Ghanaian settings and for you to have captured the details in your work makes it wonderful. well done.

Darko Antwi said...

You're are right Samuel. You'll need encouragments as you go along. I was only thinking narrowly within that moment that you've received some overwhelming host of comments - that are enough to spur you on (and continue to deliver) - but never to rest on your oars.

Contrary to my writing experience, it took a long period of encouragement of so many friends before I gathered confidence in my ability to write. Although I had developed interest for the use of words, I hadn't any belief in myself at age 18 when I started, but I regret as to why I didn't or couldn't avail myself for the initial trust others had in me until I turned 22yrs.

Again, welldone.

Unknown said...

chale u force. what dey go on. u for school me....afari