Yaaayyyy! So today is
World Poetry Day! In view of this I would like to share a poem by one of my
favorite poets, Kofi Anyidoho, who’s my professor and one of my mentors!
:) Drumrollssss....
Blewuu... blewuu... Akofa, blewuuu...
Words are birds: they fly
so fast too far
for the hunter’s aim.
Words are winds: sometimes
they breeze gentle
upon the smiles our hearts
may wear for joy.
They fan the sweat away
from fever’s brow.
They lull our minds
To sleep upon the soft
breast of Earth.
Yet soon too soon words
become the mad dreams of storms:
They howl through caves,
through joys, into shrines of thunderbolts.
They leave a ghost on
guard at memory’s door.
Therefore gently...
gen-tly... Akofa, ge-nt-ly...
Take care what images of
life
your tongue may carve for
show
at carnivals of weary
souls.
Blewuu is an
Ewe word which simply means 'gently' and Anyidoho addresses
someone-Akofa, and advices her on how to practice caution when using words.
There’ve been times I said
things and even wrote things to people which I regretted later, you know. Words
that you wish you could take back, words you utter and almost immediately feel horrible
for. This piece reminds me to pull my brakes on words that tear down rather
than build up and words which are never meant to be said.
I pray you also
remember to mull over your words before uttering them especially when you feel
negative emotions like anger. Whenever we feel like spewing out harsh words,
let’s remember to take a deep breath and try really, really hard to respond
calmly. I know. It’s tempting, even
sometimes weirdly relieving, to give a deep cutting retort to someone when they
offend you but let gentleness win the battle. Let’s heal with our words, not
break people down with them.
Please don't go breaking wounded hearts with your words. Pinky
promise?...
“A gentle
tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs
15:4
“Let your
speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you
ought to answer every one.” Colossians 4:6
“When words
are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is
prudent.” Proverbs 10:19
“Pleasant
words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24
“I tell you,
on the day of judgement men will render account for every careless word they
utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be
condemned.” Matthew 12;36,37
“Let no evil
talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits
the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." Proverbs 18:21
Let's learn to always read and appreciate good
poetry! Have yourself a Happy World Poetry Day!!! xoxo
Delali.
