Fareed Agyakwah, also known as the author of A Child’s Poetry for Peace is an award-winning Ghanaian poet, author, children’s writer and literary eagle celebrated for his contributions to contemporary African literature- a literary voice deep-rooted in the mores, truths, and transformative rhythms of Africa. His work often weaves together the spiritual and the everyday life, breathing fresh meaning into ancient wisdom through lyrical clarity and cultural nuance. His work has appeared in several anthologies including I, The Writer and Best New African Poets 2019. His writing regularly centers on themes of peace, love, universal humanity, cultural identity, and social change. He is at odds over anything that sabotages the resolve of truth.. The first two poems here are themed on love, and the last but not the least, on a profound meditation on maintaining inner integrity, emotional resilience, and objective self-awareness in the face of judgment, rejection, and the opinions of the crowd. He is a recipient of several awards including the Temirqazyq Best Poet/ Writer of the World 2019 and Miembro de Honor 2020. He is soon going to release another book for children Harmattan Bells and Bamboo Joy: A Christmas Memory.
Faithful
I hate chameleons.
I am damn focused,
Knowing exactly where the lines fall.
You’re awfully good.
Flowers abound.
I intend to pluck yet
The one that truly belongs!
The Last Kiss
Leaving, you called me
Away from the table of men.
I was more than willing
To accede to your demands.
But you only held my cheeks
And wet my lips.
I still wear
The perfume you wore.
I still taste the mint on your tongue.
And it’s sad to think
This unforgettable signature
Shall be washed away with wine.
Your Objective Self
Give in not to the advances of emotions-
It robs you of sound judgement.
And you who are hated for no reason,
This must you know in season-
To each his own; each soul and what he carries;
If the glo of the moon skirts your head,
Your mere presence scares the hell
Out of like-souls possessed by beasts
And beasts at best will ghost you,
And even sting you with reckless abandon.
Yield not to the pain of rejection;
Your presence disrupts their illusion,
Robbing the rash of reckless abandon—
For you would not humble another,
Nor trade your respect for their comfort.
Your sin is your chronic honesty,
Your purity is your truest safety.
You are you most when no one is watching you;
So follow not the throng-
Majority can be wrong
Just as one can be lonely in the midst of a mob.
In all cases, grant audience to the parties involved
Before you pass judgement or the guilty mop-
Your objective self, giving in not to the advances of sheer emotions
And the plight of scuttlebutts.
