November 2014
I was born in Calabar, Nigeria and lived, among other places, in Egypt and England before settling near Boulder, Colorado with my wife and four children. I'm a computer engineer by trade, but poetry is my passion. My chapbook, Ndewo, Colorado is a Colorado Book Award Winner. In my spare time I snowboard, coach and play soccer, and train in American Kenpo. I am also an editor at Kin Poetry Journal.
Author's Note Ekphrasis for Brandy is based on the painting, Heartstrings, by my friend and colleague Brandy Mayer; and Years but Frames is for my wife on her October birthday, written a few years ago, but unpublished.
Ekphrasis for Brandy
Brandy Mayer - Heartstrings
Haunted moss of man-in-moon shade,
Echo of invading other
Arcs across her stark skin, stained
Report in mirror fruit of ether.
Triumphant strut of ferny stem
Slumps upon the sectioned organ
Threads on keen dwarf-Eros darts
Rag witness to control foregone.
Isis knot of severed smile
Numbs to deathly brooding mystery
Genius of her love-lit dreams
Shapes this vision of her mastery.
Years but Frames
for Lori, on her birthday
Years are just frames for wondrous times,
Lucky thirteen three times over;
(And fourth child—even luckier)
The grounds ring all the season's chimes.
The leaves calendar pantomimes,
Your favorite colors splashed on dates;
Each jubilee anticipates:
Years are but frames for wondrous times.
You're still the late year sprite who wove her
Spell beneath my armored hide,
Now thirteen lucky ring-tied,
Lucky thirteen three times over
On count of three, offspring premiere,
And three more till the second head,
The more—the trinity was bred;
And fourth child! Even luckier.
Migrating birds send down their rhymes
In golds and purples through the scene:
Rich bunting for an autumn queen;
The grounds ring all this season's chimes.
The princess in her good will robes,
Eyes crown lads at their pell mell games
And hanging gourds with Renoir lobes--
Tableau! your special time proclaims:
Years are but frames.
©2014 Uche Ogbuji
Echo of invading other
Arcs across her stark skin, stained
Report in mirror fruit of ether.
Triumphant strut of ferny stem
Slumps upon the sectioned organ
Threads on keen dwarf-Eros darts
Rag witness to control foregone.
Isis knot of severed smile
Numbs to deathly brooding mystery
Genius of her love-lit dreams
Shapes this vision of her mastery.
Years but Frames
for Lori, on her birthday
Years are just frames for wondrous times,
Lucky thirteen three times over;
(And fourth child—even luckier)
The grounds ring all the season's chimes.
The leaves calendar pantomimes,
Your favorite colors splashed on dates;
Each jubilee anticipates:
Years are but frames for wondrous times.
You're still the late year sprite who wove her
Spell beneath my armored hide,
Now thirteen lucky ring-tied,
Lucky thirteen three times over
On count of three, offspring premiere,
And three more till the second head,
The more—the trinity was bred;
And fourth child! Even luckier.
Migrating birds send down their rhymes
In golds and purples through the scene:
Rich bunting for an autumn queen;
The grounds ring all this season's chimes.
The princess in her good will robes,
Eyes crown lads at their pell mell games
And hanging gourds with Renoir lobes--
Tableau! your special time proclaims:
Years are but frames.
©2014 Uche Ogbuji