My Departed Angel

I remember very well
That September rainy day
When Headie entered our class
That class of kids
No older than seven
And introduced the new student
You
To the class

You were ushered
Into the empty seat next by me
I felt too shy to say hello
But I did anyway
Introducing myself as Quophy
You only smiled back
I guess you were shy too

I must really confess
Your sitting by me
Wasn't as pleasant as
I had expected
I was never at ease
I had difficulty
I couldn't talk
I couldn't even get up

When boys sat
At the back of the class
Misbehaving
Cracking jokes
Teasing one another
And farting
Here and there
I couldn't join them
Not that I was any better
You were the cause

I remember we talked
Less than a dozen times
That academic year
The only times
We really talked
Were during English dialogues
And group discussions we had

I was relieved
When we got promoted
To the next grade
I was free to move now
'Cos I wasn't glued to my seat

My freedom
I was soon to find out
Wouldn't last long
When the teacher
Displeased with the
Class arrangement
Reshuffled the members
Bringing you and I
Back together
It was like my very
Worst of Nightmares
Coming to life

Somehow
We managed
get acquainted to each other
I was no longer shy
And you blushed
No more
Each time we spoke
We became the best of friends
The best of the best

Through grades 4 to 9
We were inseparable
Our mates found it
Rather odd
For a male and female
To be best of pals
Without any romance
Somewhere in between
Somehow they did have a point
'cos I had developed
Some strong feelings for you

Then on our graduation day
From J. High School
i told you I loved you
And I had for quite a long time
I didn't expect you
to say anything back
Maybe I expected you
To end our friendship


I was taken by storm
Suddenly
When you burst into tears
I was hurt that minute
Thinking my words
Had done the obvious
Hurting you

Then like a sinner
Before a priest
you held my hands
How relieved I felt
But I wanted more
More than just holding my hands


Your confessions of love
Words of undying love began
I couldn't believe a word
That you had loved me too
Since the moment
We exchanged our first words
And that you had been waiting
To hear this for ages

We were so much in love
Even though S. High School
We went separate ways
We always kept in touch
Exchanging letters
More than many times


After our final exams
We met almost every night
Walking to the Park
Talking about anything
Sometimes
we let ourselves loose
Kissing
Touching
Cuddling

I made my way
Into a local college
And you had the chance
To join your dad overseas
We kept in touch regardless
'Skyping' regularly
Exchanging letters
And post cards


College was a nice one
And I came out with success
A year after graduation
Like you promised
You flew down to everything
And to me
Well that's what I thought


You had become prettier
And you talked rather less
But you didn't enjoy my company
No more
I was soon to realize
You'd run back overseas
To another man waiting there
Leaving me with nothing
But a long letter
That you are engaged
To your course mate from college
And you were getting married
In early spring
telling me you never meant
To hurt me ever
And that
You loved me truly

At least a final good bye
From you in person
And seeing you
Walk out of my life
Would have been better

I sit and wonder
Why you had to leave
And like
Whitney Houston
I am tempted to ask
Where do broken hearts go?

I wish to call you devil
For you came into my life
Robbed my love
And left me with
Shattered hopes
But like I said to you always
You are my angel
Sadly
This time not my pretty angel
My departed angel.

(c) 2011 Owiredu Albert Kofi

In The still of the night

In the still of the night

And there’s no one in sight

In my mind you’ll forever linger

Even when I die to fill you with kisses

And my arms ache to hold and caress you

Your memories will feel that space

Though I know your presence won’t be felt

Yes my eyes itch to see your beauty

And my body to be felt against yours

I long to smell of you so bad

But distance is acting at its best

Forever I’ll adore you

Always you be my only angel

In my dreams, we’ll continue to love

And in my life, you’ll forever be my other half

(c) 2010 Owiredu Albert Kofi

Those times

Those times

When I had things in haste

Rushing to get done in no time waste

I ended up with lots of wrong

Those times

When I had been so blunt in words

And my lips had moved so sharply

I left a heart bruised

And an emotion stirred

Those times

When I had been so fast in action

But slower in thought

My image I did tarnish

And to many others I gave

The cause to fight

Those times

When I had talked more

And had listened less

I was referred to as a talkative

Because I did say lots of unnecessary things

Those times

When I had been praised flatteringly

And I had believed every bit of that lie

I have come to realize

I was only being stupid and childish

Those times

When I had refused criticisms

And thought myself Man Perfect

Pride was my virtue

Because it had swelled up in my heart

I was only negatively confident

Those times

When I had hated more

And loved less

My heart just grew harder

Harder and solid as stone

Those times

When I had called them

Who encouraged bad acts

And evil doings

Good friends

I was lost and foolish

Because I could really

Really not define friendship

Those times

When I had followed the crowd

And gone the Broadway

Forgetting the many could be wrong

I had only lost my sense of assertiveness

And that time

Which is now

And I wish to make right

All the wrongs I have done

I, now am really

Repentant and wiser.

(c) 2010 Owiredu Albert Kofi

Sonnet: Being Alone

The feeling of being alone

Is one surely of great tone

The longing for a beloved

The desire to hold and kiss one cherished

With an undying flame

Such an emotion is stirred to life

It makes you feel so lame

As if you can’t survive

Yet it won’t kill you

And you won’t lose anything too

It makes so obvious her absence

And you terribly miss her presence

To all your many plans together, you’d have to wait

And play mercy at the hands of fate

Sonnet: An ode to my lady

She’s so pretty

And her face always is beaming

She’s a true beauty

One who’ll send all men dreaming

Her laugh is so sick

And one will want to giggle

As though tickled

At the sound of a voice so sweet, yet not thick

She’s really my angel

One sent directly from above

Her head she holds high like the tower of Babel

And in this battle of life she wants to survive

She’s an epitome of a perfect lady

And I am proud to call her my baby

(c) 2010 Owiredu Albert Kofi

Tribute to a dad

for my pal who lost his dad and anyone and everyone who’s known the loss of a father

It’s you

Who held me

 As I learned to walk

It’s your name

I mentioned next after ‘mama’

I learned to talk

It’s you

Had I looked up to

For approval and disapproval

Papa, In your arms

Had I found comfort

In your eyes

Had I seen love

In your words

Had I heard encouragement

In your anger

Had I learnt the right

In your scolding

Had I avoided evil

Even in your pain, papa

Had I felt real ache

Papa, with you

Had I felt loved

With you

Had I felt protected and secure

With you

Had I felt cared for

With you, papa

Had I felt real proud

Papa, my dear papa

Without you mow

I feel so empty

Without you now

I feel so odd and helpless

Without you now

I feel I can’t move on

Yet I feel this burning flame

One to strive

And make you real proud

But one thing I do know

And is so for sure

We’ll meet someday soon

On that day of calling

And I’d recount to you

In your absence all happenings

And we’ll be together

And inseparable

Farewell papa.

Shattered hopes

It feels like just the day before

When all witnessed his birth

Family and friends couldn’t help

But express their joy

From a beautiful baby

He grew into a wonderful boy

He began to crawl

And he hoped to walk

Just like everyone did

That was his first hope

It was achieved

He walked finally

Then he began making sounds

They were no known language

Yet they were heart-soothing

His second hope

To learn to speak

Was achieved too

Then he began sailing through life

His loved ones grew continuously proud of me

His hopes were all fulfilled

Except his ultimate one

To live to be great

It was to be achieved in a few years time

Then death embraces coldly this happy soul

And all fulfilled hopes made powerless

With all those yet to be achieved shattered

Of course many will cry

The many hearts will be broken

I do cry and

My heart is already broken

The loss of a beautiful soul

And the shattering of hopes

(c) 2010 Owiredu Albert Kofi