Kofi Anyidoho

Kofi Anyidoho(born 25 July 1947) is a Ghanaian poet and academic who comes from a ]family tradition of Ewe poets and oral artists. He is currently a Professor of Literature at the University of Ghana. Quotes Our Earth survives recurring furies of her stomach pains and quakes From the bleeding anger of her wounds volcanic ash becomes the hope that gives rebirth to abundance of seedtimes. I sell My Song for those with ears to buy It is to a tree that a bull is tied You do not bypass the palm’s branches to tap its wine. When you meet a poorly-dressed neighbour at a great durbar you do not spit on the ground and roll your eyes to the skies Like an orphan stranded on dunghills of owners of earth I shall keep my sorrows to myself folding them with infinite care corner upon corner taking pains the foldings draw circles around hidden spaces where still our hopes grow roots even in this hour of finite chaos. Those who sent their funeral clothes to the washerman awaiting the mortuary men to come bearing our corpse in large display Let them wait for the next and next season only to see how well earth children grow fruit and even flower from rottenness of early morning dreams the news from home we drove across the wide yawn of the breezy bay to the Oakland home of Mike who fixed a memorial dinner for his years among our people 5 They call for song and I sing the story of our wounds: the failures and betrayals the broken oaths of war leaders grown smooth with ease of civil joys They laugh they clap they call for more 10 For a change just a little change I sing your dirge about their land’s defeat in the beauty of her dawn: the ghost of Harlem standing guard across their bridge of mirth their launching pad of dream and myth. External links