The Passage of Dreams

You found the passage
Of dreams and turned your
Back on Eden…
A cloud without a shred
Of silver lining

As the tide
Turned, he seized
The magic moment…
Just in time to witness
The birth of Destiny

Behold
The image of a restless
Soul; chasing…
The rainbow lorikeet
With tender foot

Ah, the magic possum…
Painting my dreams pink
With a handful of poems

Fear not, fondest one,
There’s a lyrical new voice
In the ‘hood
Revealing the secrets
Of the lost love

The seed
Of doubt disappears
In the golden
Dawn…a land
Full of surprises

Amidst the silence
Of the endless sea
The eagle
Found its wings
In the nick of time

And in the garden
Of the earthly delight…
Fortune’s lair


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Winter Fragrance

The red kangaroo
Wading through the dreamtime…
Sprouting winter

You
Light my fire
With gusto…
The sound of winter
Fragrance

Birth of ambition…
The bright chaos of the night
Transformed

The blaze
Of light in the dark
Heart of winter…
Scent of the pink
Flower foretold

Sing to me, Gemini,
A deep and dazzling
Song of joy

In the inner glow
Of winter, the lost boy sows
The seed of wonder…
Drawing the magic words from
The sensitive tongue of Desire


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Refugee Boot Bank

The Australian Refugee Association is seeking donations of football (soccer) boots to help young refugees get involved in the sport.

About 1500 refugees settle in South Australia each year, with half of those being young people.

Many are keen to get involved in football (soccer) - providing benefits to themselves, their clubs and the wider community.

However, the cost of participation can be a barrier, as they struggle to meet the cost of fees, uniforms and boots, while trying to live on a limited income.

The Office for Recreation and Sport provides funding to the Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia to help new arrivals participate in sporting activities, but the demand far outweighs the resources available.

The Australian Refugee Association is setting up a Boot Bank and is seeking deposits from anyone who has a spare pair of football (soccer) boots that they no longer need or use. All sizes are welcome (they just need to have another season of wear left in them).

Boot donations for the Boot Bank can be dropped off at Multicultural SA, 24 Flinders Street, Adelaide, or directly to the Australian Refugee Association, 304 Henley Beach Road, Underdale, South Australia before the end of June.

The Office for Recreation and Sport is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of age, gender, cultural background and ability, have equal access to sport and recreation opportunities.

The Golden Wattle

The autumn
Rain brings fresh hope
Of life in the
Sun-burnt country...
The golden wattle blooms

The neophyte
Captures the gentle muse
In the sacred
Dew of the glorious morn…
The dream is still alive

With her mane
Of auburn hair shining
In the sun
She wrote the first stanza…
Tickling the inner beauty

Dance of the maidens…
The mesmerizing rhythm
Of the
Tanka poem under
The rainbow

A promise
Fulfilled, it’s time to…
Smell the roses

The wise
Owl on the prowl, this
Sensitive soul…
Stirring lust out of the golden
Heart of autumn


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo

Africa Day 2007

It's a very special day in the annals of South Australian history. In fact,
it's a day like no other, as the African migrants and refugees celebrated
Africa Day for the second year running.

The civic reception was at the Adelaide Town Hall.

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, the Right Honourable Michael Harbison spoke
eloquently about the fruits of multiculturalism and the African contribution
to Australian society, to the absolute delight of the invited guests.

The event was proudly supported by the Adelaide City Council and the African
Chamber of Commerce SA Inc (AFRICOMSA).

Coming to Australia

A fantastic world premier of Coming to Australia took Adelaide city by storm this week, as the young Africans shared their personal stories.

It’s an epic story of the African refugees in song, dance and drama – a journey into the mind of the new arrivals.

They came in dribs and drabs from the refugee camps in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Sudan to make a new life for themselves in the land Down Under.

Performed at St. Mary’s School, Franklin Street, Coming to Australia is a truly engaging musical extravaganza. It’s a show like no other; featuring young people from Africa’s long wars.

Shedrick Yarkpai provided the music, lyrics and choreography.

The cast of Coming to Australia included young dancers and singers such as Rebecca Freeman, Tina Kamara, Precious Norman, Tutu Gbala, Princess Dunn, George Moore, and Nimiro Unzi.

This ambitious project was directed by Rob Crosser and David Roach. The colourful production revealed interesting stories, fantastic music, and exhilarating dance of the new arrivals.

The show left a lasting effect on the audience as the young refugees combined their talents to deliver the total entertainment package; singing songs of freedom.

Field of Dreams

The great
Moments of life abound…
Where the rainbow
Lorikeet sings, the secret
Flower blooms

The sun
Shines through my
Heart in the
Field of dreams as Eve
Whispers to my shadow

The gentle
Spirit rules the day with
Fun and laughter…
Blissful memory of the past
Trapped in the present

The frisky
Muse walks along my dreams
Under the autumn moon
I chase the dazzling goddess
With tender foot

On the
Sumptuous wings of desire
I navigate the
Golden heart of love under
The watchful eyes of Eros


© Lawrence T. Udo-Ekpo