The African Monk Poem by Nweke Emmanuel

Scrooching in the bush
Still no sound was heard
His heart kept throbbing
Slowly and steadily
It must be found
Life- a place forgotten
Here the sun heats
But there is no shadow
No image to curb
Like a sleeping child
Who desires no more
Pauting for life
Where no death sound is heard
Pushing the fogs
Swallowing the drafts
He stops and guessing
Blind in sunlight
Stoops and signs
Ave Maria benedictatu in nobis
Unconsciously- eagerly drowsy
Memory inaccessible
At the sound
He jumps and pushes
Looking fretted
Escaping
Pale with fear
The way is blurred
Suddenly he wakes.