Poetry must be laughing

Poetry must be laughing
As she is drawn out of the closet
Put on display in all her array
Her trinkets of song beaded with rhyme
As she smiles at the lines caressing her eyes
In age old beauty of defiance

Poetry must be sated
With the phrases and cliches that define her movement
With the homage we pay her in all her adornment
With the grace and skill with which we trill
As birds in song in a ritual dance

Because....
Without vying or trying
She is raised higher and higher
On the pedestal we have placed her

Neither moth nor rust can eradicate her
The ravage of war does not humiliate her
Time and tide cannot dissipate her
Men in scorn cannot degrade her
The loss of love does not erode her
Mind over matter cannot control her
For our every thought applauds her

Poetry must be laughing


Omo Okolo copyright reserved Nov 2002