The Tales of a Street Youth

I was told to learn to make it on my own
And it is the realest thing I have ever known

They say I am at liberty to dream as big as the Milky Way
But then, I will have to pave my very own way

The street is not just my home; it's where I keep all what I own
It's where I have lived all my life; it's much more than a home

Many call me names to my credit and discredit
But I am less concerned about the script they edit

I have a different story to tell the generations to come.
I begun long time ago and this' how far I have come

From the getho where I was born and grown,
Where I have seen many slip down the throne

In my shoes on your way through the wilderness,
You have more to lose than to gain; so so bitterness

To make it in my world, you must be hundredth in a million
And to keep it, you must be a centurion

But these are not reasons enough for me to let go,
Especially, not while I still feel the need to flow

My case is not one you'll love to hear; not here
So I will keep the lid on the rest until a better year.

The Tales of a Street Youth

I was told to learn to make it on my own
And it is the realest thing I have ever known

They say I am at liberty to dream as big as the Milky Way
But then, I will have to pave my very own way

The street is not just my home; it's where I keep all what I own
It's where I have lived all my life; it's much more than a home

Many call me names to my credit and discredit
But I am less concerned about the script they edit

I have a different story to tell the generations to come.
I begun long time ago and this' how far I have come

From the getho where I was born and grown,
Where I have seen many slip down the throne

In my shoes on your way through the wilderness,
You have more to lose than to gain; so so bitterness

To make it in my world, you must be hundredth in a million
And to keep it, you must be a centurion

But these are not reasons enough for me to let go,
Especially, not while I still feel the need to flow

My case is not one you'll love to hear; not here
So I will keep the lid on the rest until a better year.

TIMELESS ANNALS

I am tired of your taunting stunts
Whether you mean them or not
Because they take away my look
And turn me into a nook kook

You make me want to use and lose
Every single bit of my blues to you
Even though you know how bad I feel
With your filths in my face like glues

Don't ever think I will lose my beauty
Not even when the lights are turned off
For I know but one very thing
Not even myself can take them away

Don't come again if you aren't ready
To make me feel that very way
Stop making me want even more
Of you and of your love away

I have waited but for too long
My friends say I need to be strong
So though the feeling is hurting,
I have long stopped regretting

The reflections I have seen of me
Before and short after you were gone
Tells me the future is uncertain
For those who'd lose hope in me

Guilty I know I have become
Of having faith in the things yet to come
Of loving the same things I should hate
And of being mixed up and quiet late

They say my veins aren't blue enough
To enter and dance in the club
So sometimes I clone my emotions
With my self-styled naked notions

It's not because I am scared of dying alone
I am just tired of talking on the phone
It's not because I am missing you home
I am just in love with the stones you throw

Don't send me flowers in summer
Don't send letters that you are a runner
My mirror can't stand your timeless annals
So please spare me your ruthless banal

Author Notes:
Inspired by happenings at Kpodola Writing Workshop during a session with Poetra Asantewaa.

By the Blood, Be Saved

Eternal life is the most precious commodity,
Everyone must try to afford however may
And there's no other way than through Christ
The Son of God who died for the sake of mankind

By the blood, we shall all attain salvation
Because He is been and still is in causation
For the brisk and utter fulfilment
Of the promises of the Father to His Nation

Though the world still ignore His calls
He's proven to be the Master of Patience
In Him, rest your faith, for a restore of fate
Because in no time, you may be late

He died long before He was killed
Soaked in His blood of innocence
And such was but for you and I
To partake in His Holy Covenant

He lived long before He was born
Entrusted with the treasures of heaven
He overcame death before principalities
He's Himself, a heavenly Monarchy

His love for those lost in search of peace
Should find you on your way down every lain
He is powerful but beyond contending
Yet, He became as Humble as the Lamb

And as we celebrate this Easter,
May we find happiness in the
fiesta
May we come to learn of His unconditional love
And may we boldly emulate His every step

Without this, there may be no salvation
Not for you, for me nor for the nations
Because Christ is the only Name available
To deliver the world from its troubles

Simon K. Amu
©2017

THE STREET BOY

You equate the street boy to a criminal
Because of whatever reason in your mind
But if you lie in his position for a minute,
You will realize he actually deserves a salute

Have you ever wondered how he feeds?
How he manages to make his odd ends meet?
Days upon days through months into years,
He's been strong, surviving and killing fears

He does all kinds of jobs you won't allow your children to do
He does them not because he enjoys doing them
But because he's got no other choice
That can keep him dreaming for the best

You call him names you do not understand
You make him your object of mockery
And you even despise him for your egos
Oh, I am sorry, but I am not the least surprised

Like a lawyer, I stand before the jury today
And accuse the rich of being helpless to the society
If I am allowed to proceed with my case,
Then I have the following to say on the street boy's behalf

He's not the rebel you should fear
He is the less fortunate begging for your grace
He's not the object you should mock
He is the brave soul you should emulate

He thrives on the hopes lost by many
But he never complains for his unfair share
I call to the stand, the public media
And accuse him of spewing too many lies

DO EVERYTHING TWICE BETTER THAN BEFORE

Before you tell me about my past,
Know that I have long left it behind
I have left it behind not to be forgotten
And not for it to be rotten
I have left it behind not because I'm scared
Or because it means nothing to me
But I have left it behind to rest
To belong where it belongs
I have left it behind to be past, to be gone
And so to not dictate my future

But before you tell me about the future,
Please know that no one has yet been a future(r)
Know that it's the only thing I've hope for
And trust me, it's what I'm never certain of
I am not certain not because it is so bleak
Or because I am myself lost in its core,
But I am uncertain to be certain
That whatever may, the best soon comes
Yes brethren, I am uncertain to be certain
That the future is very uncertain

So while you still have today,
Please live your life like the last it may,
Do everything twice better than before
Today is the best time to live your call
Today is the best day you can afford
Not because yesterday is become a past
Or because tomorrow may never come
But it's the best because it is
For real brother, yesterday is gone
And oh, tomorrow just may never come

DO EVERYTHING TWICE BETTER THAN BEFORE

Before you tell me about my past,
Know that I have long left it behind
I have left it behind not to be forgotten
And not for it to be rotten
I have left it behind not because I'm scared
Or because it means nothing to me
But I have left it behind to rest
To belong where it belongs
I have left it behind to be past, to be gone
And so to not dictate my future

But before you tell me about the future,
Please know that no one has yet been a future(r)
Know that it's the only thing I've hope for
And trust me, it's what I'm never certain of
I am not certain not because it is so bleak
Or because I am myself lost in its core,
But I am uncertain to be certain
That whatever may, the best soon comes
Yes brethren, I am uncertain to be certain
That the future is very uncertain

So while you still have today,
Please live your life like the last it may,
Do everything twice better than before
Today is the best time to live your call
Today is the best day you can afford
Not because yesterday is become a past
Or because tomorrow may never come
But it's the best because it is
For real brother, yesterday is gone
And oh, tomorrow just may never come

FAINTING CALL

From the not too distant territory,
Comes the scream of the helpless
For the attention of a caring heart,
And for the help of that kind hand

Who hears this dearly fainting call?
Is anyone behind the tall grey wall?
How much longer would it take?
Hope it’s not a thing she can’t take? 

I saw across the windows of buses,
Along the principal streets in the city,
Arms stretching out for alms; charity,
While some people are full of buzzes 

Who cares about the widow-needy?
What about the unlucky hungry child?
Is it that justifiable, to be this greedy?
While crime’ spreading wide and wild

The scream’s getting million times more
The grey walls seem running across
Who is going to take whose cross?
But before then, where is the law?

Silence wouldn’t be our last resort,
Not until our scream rip your thought
Our fainting call is still on the fall.
So come over, from the tall grey wall

Look Around

Stop and take a look
See what is going on
And try to reset things
There is no need to wait
Get up and change the world
Because you can
If you look around
Tell me what do you see Is
there something to smile about?
While the children are dying everyday?
And as the nations cry for peace
The leaders are talking about the economy
What is so good about this?
That's why I took a look around
And have got to do this writing
That you may also read
And maybe join force with us
To fight in this battle

My Turn

It's my turn to glorify Him
For the pains He beard
Just to yield me a fruit
I have never planted and nurtured
Oh! Lord God of mercy
Hallowed be Thy name
And may Your minds be true
If not that you were there
What would I have done?
My education couldn't
Replace my appetite for salvation
But then, my faith in You
And the baptism in Your Name
I am a son with a Father
A herd with a shepherd
A soul with a known destiny
And it's my turn
To sing Hallelujah!
To His holy name
So praises and adoration
Be onto Thy Holy Name

The Difference

i believe in a difference
so i never live in pretense
its never on a silver-platter
so i always keep it tight like the plaster
a change must surely come
and the world may every scam
just turn round side by side
you may find where to ride
because the difference
is always our reference
never give up the fight
but rather hold it tight
and never scare in the dark
and or separate the white from the black
which makes no difference

Right Thing

Don't let them tell you
It is impossible
To do what is right
Never hesitate
To do what is right
Never mind the cost
But rather the benefit
When you stand for the truth
They will scorn you for that
But that shouldn't
Be your setback
Rather strive even harder
Till you always do what is right
Because it pays to

PEbblesbaby

I was here on AP just last February
Where I met wonderful poets and poetesses
One of them is Pebblesbaby
Who is she you may ask!
And I will tell you
She is one willing to lend a hand in help
With her arms widely opened
Looking for families
And making good friends
She is a strong fun of love
And is always ready to care
As a poet here on AP
I owe it a reputable duty
To pen a piece dedicated to her
As someone like DivineAngelWhispers
Who is hosting this contest
A poem dedication to Pebblesbaby
Who is the forward light
To many here on AP
And if you can read this
Pebblesbaby
It's a sincere dedication to you
For your wonderful works of humanity
So please mama Pebblesbaby, smile
And feel free always
Because you are a wonderful poetess

Hard Rock

I can feel it always
Your strikes for my downfall
Sometimes, it hits me hard in the head
And strips me with hot iron bar
Yet! Strong I ever remain
Tough against your resistances
And ever ready to face you
BecauseI am a hard rock
Breaking all the barriers
From destitution into hopefulness
From warring into prevailing peace
Can you hear what am saying?
Do believe or not
I am a hard rock

If Not....

If not for love
If not for my love
The love from deep within
The love for you
And the love for me
What might happened?
Might the sun cease to shine?
Or the moon never would bright?
Would the wind not blow?
Or the rain never will fall?
Think if not
That we sees like the blind
Heard like the deaf
And kept silence as the dump
What could have happened?
If not that you were there?
When mummy left us
As dad, we don't even know
I am always wondering
If not that I was born
Or that I am a girl instead?
I wonder how it might be
And that's why I asked
What if not...........?

Forget

Forget your troubles
Never remember your pains
Forget about your miseries
And never recall the bad times
Forget your sickness
And stop the crying
Forget your mistakes
And never be disloyal
Forget about the worries
And look forward for the blessings
Forget the humiliations
And never step away from righteousness
Forget about being a failure
For your time shall surely come
Forget your troubles
And listen to the natural mystics
Forget about everything
Because things shall never be the same
Just forget your troubles
For they are less a burden to bear
Forget about taking revenge
And save the world

Once Awhile

Good things must be done always
But not just once awhile
Bad things are not to be done ever
Not even once awhile

Love never dies
Not even once awhile
Let lovers live a loving life
Always but not just once awhile

Let peace prevail everywhere
And feel the world always
For we don't want any war
Not even for once awhile

Lets keep the struggle
Keep it harder always
We need not give up the fight
Not even once awhile

Stand up for your right
And do it always
But never fight for your right
Not even once awhile

Our Leaders

Oh Africa!
I am sorry for everything
Just sick and tired of hearing
Those innocent voices crying out
Why should one man want it all?
We were fed up with colonialism
So our liberty we seek for
Why now that we are free
And our leaders seems to be puppets
That knows not much
What to do and how to do it
So they treat us anyhow they like
Some of them have big bellies
Which is really unsatisfiable
So they are always wanting
Yet! Never getting all
I want to ask
If those of them like Lauran Gbagbo
Of La-Cote Devoir
Are not feeling sorry
How people are suffering
All for their bad deeds
Please we need peace and love
So with due respect to you our leaders
Sow this seed and nurture them to grow
And just be good leaders
Giving way to others also
To help make things right and better
Yes! To you our leaders I am calling

TheThree

We are the three
The three rulers
Rulers of the world
I am FOOD!
The air you breath to live
And the plants you eat
Are my honest servants
I am DEATH!
The second ruler of the world
Wars,, lies and humiliations
Are my militant soldiers
I am SEX!
The the third ruler of the world
The youth and the masses
Are my weapons of destruction
We are the great three
We are your rulers

No Help

Oh! There is no help
Though we are hopeful
It seems we are enemies
To whoever that may help
And that's why everyday
Though we are trying harder
To make both ends meet
It's not like that
But down at the bottom
We are still existing
Where is the help?
The help that makes it better?
Why can't we render this hand?
The hand that helps
From the heart that loves
There is no help anywhere
And the poor are even losing
What little they kept hold of
Yet! The rich have more to spend
And still wanting more again
Please Help!
The world need help
The children, the boys and the girls
The nations and the masses
All need some help