July - September 2017 •
The Lion King
• 65
POETRY & arts
‘Ajah Park’ by Nduka Omeife (Watercolour)
impossible, many times, is simply the
untried.
The beginning is the most important
part of any endeavour. Ninety per
cent of success is showing up and
starting. You may be disappointed if
you fail, but you are doomed if you
don’t try.
Dare to begin. No endeavour is worse
than that which is not attempted. You
don’t know what you can do until
you have tried. People like trees, must
grow or wither. There is no standing
still.
TREE OCTA DNA
BY Albert Masanje
You are a seed planted in fertile land
of Africa. The World knows about you.
Millions of people saw you being put
into the ground. The Sun illuminates
you at your birth. Winds blow, drought
pass, and deforestation also passed
but you survive all. Wow! Where is your
source of energy? I wish to trap such
energy. How beautiful you are? Your
colors are so shiny, attracted to every
eye even at very far distance, you still
so shiny. I love to lie under your shield
forever, where can I go my beautiful
tree? Please fill the World with your
shield as soon as possible.
From the land of Serengeti,
Ngorongoro, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake
Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, I feel
your energy. Where your roots end?
Inside Africa draining minerals, oil,
water, and all fertility from amazing
grounds of Africa. Thus why you are
giant and continue to grow almighty.
One advice to my beautiful tree,
please refine your food before eating
them, kindly don’t eat raw materials
directly from fertile ground of Africa. I
know you can do it. Ha! Ha!
My beautiful tree I compare you to
Octopus, barriers are nothing to you.
Fortress is nothing to you. You crash
them like nothing, taking anything
you dare to possess. I see your legs
in Europe. A seed planted in Africa
shielding Europe. This is so powerful in
this time and end times. Please send
refine food to Europe, show them how
tasty is our recipe. Please make their
desire drive to you always. Wow! I see
this leg in the Eagles land. My beautiful
tree allows these Eagles to shelter in
you and please give them royal refine
food, shield them perfectly. Make
them feel at home.
My beautiful tree live forever young,
grow without stopping shading your
skin. In whatever situation you will
exist. My beautiful tree please hosts
your grounds dearly, provide rain to it.
What will happen if you don’t give rain
to your grounds? Please don’t fail to
exist, give rain to your grounds.
Lion of Serengeti, famous on climbing
trees, harbor this beautiful tree. My
greatest lions hunt, hunt buffalos,
elephants, and giraffe at the end of
the day return to your beautiful tree.
My greatest lions climb my beautiful
tree; enjoying such fragrance and
awesome breeze. Roar; roar my
greatest lions roar against enemies.
Those who want to harm your beautiful
breeze, shield and safe place.
