8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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BE THE BEST- By Odundo Elijah Nyakina McWadhiayahThey searched for good, and soThey sat down and thought,
About it
But what did they think about?Being good in society
But when they were askedTo write the past tense
Of the word think
In an exam,They thought, thought, thought, and
Wrote thanks in an exam
For when you think you are goodThen you are no better, be the best
What if you are notGood in counselling and
Home-based care?Be the best in generosityFor when you think you are good
Then you are no better, be the best
What if you are average inVoluntary work and communal activities?
Dont say you are good
For it may be above or below averagesFor when you think you are good
Then you are no better, be the best
Hey, you there
And you here
Exercise caution changeYes change, change, a change
As good as rest
8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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For when you think you are goodChange and be better
When you think you are better, change
And be the best
Be careful my friend
For you may be a victimPull, pull, pull up your socks
And always be the best
For when you think you are good,Then you are no better, be the best.
TAKE THE WRETCH OUT OF THE ROT- By Odundo Elijah Nyakina McWadhiayahIn God we trust
Not only for our past
But a must in our tracksTo fast is task
But it doesnt taste to put God to testOut as rust lest you blotSo worst as to burst in lust
Just trust God for steadfastness
To be alert and justFirst and not last among the fast
Lest you are cast out as cursed
Let a cat be catAnd a rat be rat
Not a bat without any buts.
Dont fret about this,
Treat it in bits to fit
Its best to be at the crest
8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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Yet its not too late to rate your fateLets trot out tit for tat
For the rest of the debate is just
But a bet.
2003
LAST TOUCH
- Elijah Nyakina Odundo MacWadhiayah
In a rumble of gamble,
I trembled and fumbled in mumblesYet none was humble to my grumbles
All over sudden you came
Just before I crumbled
At a time of stress,
Distress and pressureYou brought to my leisure
A pleasure that had more treasureBeyond measure I could gestureYour nature that captures and nurtures
The fracture that had a chapter
In my stature
Your presence brought noble pebbles of comfort
A treble of love was the result
For this was the best timeTo treadle away the preambles
Leaving my heart in rhythm of longings
Yet I have myself to blame
For failing to claim and tame you
In time, when you cameMaybe lame I was
In this game of fame
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Was this any mess?
In my time frame, still
Everything is the same The missile of your strengthHas rocked me
To my soul you have a favourTo my heart this is rated
Maybe one day, in a wayIt will mingle
That together we dance a jigTo rekindle the candle once moreFor all of us to have a vision
Of this last touch
All I need is a whisper.
2003
Can we? By Odundo McWadhiayah
In the midst of fashion and caution
Youve minced me in passionYet, its too much to take precaution
For the two that match need no poison
The cake that bakes is not fakeFor my sake, before you take a break
Let us bet
So strange yet its entangled
Let them grumble in all angles
As they fumble and crumble in that rumbleLets reach the pitch where theres no hitch
As they itch, get on with the stitch
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And let us bet
Im sure this is not a shock
For already, you are soakedLike tendrils, lend me your tendernessTo send a trend that renders me to remember
Those magnificent and sparkling eyes that arouses,That smiles which is magical,
And the nature that does more than logical
So, why cant we-bet?
Must I say if I can play and stay?Will I dry the hay or fry the eggs in the tray?For how long shall my brain drain in this pain?
Should I train my mind to strain not in vain?
Yet, from this strain of disdain I cant refrain till I gainStill, you reign as rain in my veins
Maybe softly, I need to tread
However, how aboutbetting?
Just like a bray of a horseThe ray has paved the way for the tryI must taste this test not in haste
But with fate and date
So juicy and mouth-watering yet so delicate is this fruitThough greater is the appetite
Im in control of peeling off
For I must retain the nutrientsTill I gain maximum utilityThis is why Im betting
For sure, Im not dreaming
This is no trap but beaming reality
Are we in the same gear?Not until we bet this year
8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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The last is preserved for the bestSo if you listen to this,
Youll ever cherish this,
And never will you perish in tricksYet I need not say much too soonThis is why I had to say only this
Just to let you knowThat I can bet
But will you hear me?
LAST TOUCH - Odundo Elijah Nyakina McWadhiayah
In a rumble of gamble,
I trembled and fumbled in mumblesYet none was humble to my grumbles
All of a sudden you came
Just before I crumbled
At a time of stress,Distress and pressureYou brought to my leisure
A pleasure that had more treasure
Beyond measure I could gesture
Your nature that captures and nurturesThe fracture that had a chapter
In my stature
Your presence brought noble pebbles of comfort
A treble of love was the resultFor this was the best time
To treadle away the preambles
Leaving my heart in rhythm of longings
Yet I have myself to blame
For failing to claim and tame youIn time, when you came
8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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Maybe lame was IIn this game of fame
Was this any mess?
In my time frame, stillEverything is the same
The missile of your strengthHas rocked me
To my soul you have a favour
To my heart this is rated
IF SHE DARES, DONT CARE- Odundo Elijah Nyakina McWadhiayahI loved you, but in vainThought I have your love
But your love is halved
Cared about you
Yet you dared me
Couldnt sleep even a day
Without thinking of you
Yet you leaped several days
Spending with my rivals
Spent so much on you
To make youWhat you are
With no reward in return!Yet youve eloped with
A player?
Hes reaped a lot from you
Milked you dry demandingYour best
But giving his worst
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When I offer my romance
You overshadow it
With arrogance
When I need your kiss
You turn me down with a hiss
When we walk together
You stop, talk, talk, and talkAs I stop, to get your attention,
Briskly you start walking What more can I say?Alone, I am left
Staring helplessly, seeing nothing
But separation
As night follows day
You keep on moving away
From me The further you move, the closerI want to get to you
In and out of my life,
Anytime you walk Against my wish
Tell me, did I ever
Ask for this?
What havent I done
To deserve this?Why must you buy
My time, when
Ive not yet soldYour love?
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I wish I wouldnt haveKnown you
In the first place
Maybe by now, Id beSettled down attached
For how long will IKeep the gates of my heart
Open to you?
Why did you chooseTo go with the padlock
And leave me with the key?
Maybe silent prayers
Are answered
GOD, may youErase her from
The confidential files
Of my heart.
Unto thy hands, I amLORD Give me the desires
Of my heart
If she dares, do
I need to care?
January, 2004 McWadhiayah Productions.
DROWNED IN THE FAVOURITE- By Odundo Elijah Nyakina McWadhiayahHave you ever fallen in love?Do you really love me?
You seem not to care, do you?
8/3/2019 Poem Collections by Elijah Odundo
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Dont ask me such For it will turn to be a narrative
Is that rhetoric? A test? An essay?
Or a complaint?No I cant answer thatMaybe its love, maybe void.
So if you say you love me
Wait until I get disappointed in the same
Then Ill shift my attention to youNot because I love you
But because loneliness I hate.
I know you wont like my words
For you expect from me
Those ideal words of romanceThose sweet-swaying words
Of prominence and dominance
Yet not dominance in romance
But dominance of ignoranceIn arrogance
Forgive me if I hurt you
For these are the same words
That I told the other swimmerAnd she felt withdrawn
Then turned me down
Said too dramatic was IYet, she wanted someone romantic
Dont you now see?You say you want to love me
And give me happiness
But I want no loveAll I want is to act out
Youre presumed portion of love
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And display to youThe sadness and happiness
Of this notion
Dont you see?We are like chalk and cheese
But let me seeDid you say you wanted to love me?
Free I guess
Oh, yeah, thats an offer too good to refuseAfter all, what do I lose?
Taking and keeping without giving SimpleUntil such a time
Turbulence there will come
That she will have nothing else to offer
Your eyes will open
Then you will realise that
Floating or sinking changes notThe nature of the poolNot even flooding tearsCan move the stagnant pool
Then you will walk outWasted, tired and torn apart
Just like the rest
You will go as you cameTo give others the chanceTo swim in the same pool
As sure as death
You will start mouthing
Spitting accusations and allegationsAgainst the silent pool
Struggling to gain publicity
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And win Peoples sympathyFor what?
Tell me nowWhat does the pool gainWhen a swimmer swims in it?
When in need of swimmingIs it not you who came to me?
Then how do I take the blame
Now that drowned you are?To what extent do I get responsible?
You should thank me In factFor being there for youIn hour of need
After all, I never loved youYes, you owe me an apology
Will you stop this mouthing?
Or else, Ill get bored.
2003