The Coming of the Nubians

They came
In dribs and drabs
Like angels
Of the Light
Speaking to all of us

The Nubian found
Himself in the line of fire
Defending
Australian values, under the
Watchful eyes of Big Brother

Now, he talks candidly
About the challenges of
Survival
In the new environment; his
Thought as deep as Truth

One summer’s day
He drained the dreamtime
Swamps
Where the vandals used to breed;
Revitalising the land

Great was
The sense of awe and
Wonder
Of seeing the beauty of
Nature reborn

He walks
Like a lion, this
Gentle soul
Singing the songs
Of freedom

Behold
The blue sky and the
Vanishing clouds
As life begins anew in
The paradise foretold


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Tanka Delights

They read
Haiku in the evening
And eat
My tanka poems
For breakfast

Lunch
Is a foreign country
Largely unknown
To the poor
And the homeless

Laughter:
The potent tonic of
Love divine;
Healing the wounds
Of time


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

On Experience

Experience is the
Bird you failed to catch
But don’t despair
The goal is nearer
Than you think

Climbing
The ladder of opportunity
With tender foot
His clumsy hands
Hanging by a thread

Wake up
The dream is still alive
Whispered the spring
There’s a brighter future
In the making


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Nubian Life Blossoms

Nubian life
Blossoms as the energetic
Young guns
Embrace new values with
Boundless enthusiasm

The lost boy
In his element
Riding
A giant kangaroo
In the field of dreams

They flee
From Africa’s long wars and
Found
A haven among the gum trees
Chasing the Australian dream

Ah, the Nubian
Scholars in hot pants;
Taking
To education (and training)
Like ducks to water

Behold
A child of two worlds
Text-messaging
The future with gusto; building
Bridges over the racial divide

With unique
Talents and perspectives they
Graced
Antipodean cities like the
Cosmic messengers of peace


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Inner Beauty

The waxing moon
Reveals her inner beauty, this
Sentient being
Glowing with love
And affection

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Angels in Campbelltown

Angels
In Campbelltown; happily
Turning on the lights
And rolling out the red carpet
For the brave newcomers

Behold the image
Of the guardian angel
Feeding
The hungry child
And wiping away her tears

Springtime
In Campbelltown;
The angels
Are at it again
Reinventing the future


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Lonely Hearts

Lonely hearts
At the dawn of spring
Exploring
The depths of emotional universe
And comforted by the gentle moon


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Spring Sunshine

In the spring
Sunshine, the curious cat
Dreams
Of the hapless butterflies
On the brink of extinction

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Great Survivor

He still holds
His head high, this
Great survivor
In the Cauldron
Of unfair life

© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Honey Birds

Honey birds
In my spring garden
Stealing
The sweet nectar of flowers
Like a thief in the night


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Liberians

The Liberians
Arrived with stars in their eyes
Basking
In the glory of
Antipodean spring


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Educating the Refugees

The Australian government plans to build vocational education colleges in the refugee camps in Africa to teach English and work skills, according to The Australian newspaper report.

The principal aim of the project is to educate and train the new arrivals for the Australian labour market.

Thus, under the proposal put forward by the Vocational Training Minister, Gary Hardgrave, training in the camps would give the refugees a greater sense of dignity, coupled with the relevant skills to earn a living when they arrive in Australia.

The real intention, however, is to equip the new arrivals with language and work skills to facilitate integration into the Australian community and help ease the nation’s skills shortage.

The Dawn of Spring

The dawn of spring
And the scent of daffodil
My heart leaps for joy
As the hidden beauty
Of nature unfolds


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

The Nubian Rose

The Nubian
Rose bursts into full bloom
As we look
For new ways of
Thinking and being


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo