At Times... Poem by Onyi Ogwumike

At times,
When Night’s eyelashes bat and sprinkle stars over the limbs of Time,
Do the pulsating winds in Love’s fingertips
Rummage over vast African plains.
Winds blow tall tree Strength,
Whose roots,
Sinking deeply into the wetlands of Bliss
That spiral these lands,
Grab hold of my soul which lays in slumber
Underground.
Strength’s seeds do drop,
Dotting the deep brown earth,
With hues of magenta, scarlet, and amethyst.
‘ Tis this picture of intoxicating dance,
Painted in the smile of the Moon,
That lures the wide-eyed Owl from his ecstatic struggles with Sleep.
‘Tis this fragrant story that I see
Swirled in your iris
That draws me to your heartbeat.
And be my love true,
Shall I lay in slumber,
Indeed actually thwarting slumber,
Beside you,
For however long Time should grant us.