Metaphorical Poems

Nwafor Oji Awala  Let the nameless be Avoid the wrath of the faceless Tomb raiders dare The venom of pit crawlers  Don't ask me to name a spell It  leads to hell Knowing or doubting is no deal Naming the nameless invokes evil Let the nameless be Avoid the wrath of the faceless  Author’s Note “Let the Nameless Be” was first written and published on social media in 2022. It now forms part of my upcoming book, tentatively titled We Are Who We Are. This poem reflects my meditation on the nature of the hidden and the consequences of tampering with what should remain untouched. The nameless represents mysteries that defy human grasp, while the faceless embodies the unseen powers that guard them. The act of naming is not neutral; it carries power. To name the nameless is to summon it, and with that summoning comes danger. The images of “tomb raiders” and “pit crawlers” serve as vivid warnings: those who trespass forbidden spaces often awaken venomous consequences. Likewise,...

Bumuh Martin  Bumuh Martin, the Cameroonian poet, offers us in Iron Ladies a layered metaphorical tribute to women of strength, fearlessness, and social presence. In the streets where power is often equated with masculinity, Martin crafts a counter-narrative: the resilience of women who stand as pillars of moral correction and social control. Strength in Voice and Action  From the very opening— "Fearless in thought and in word, and in deed" — the poet situates these women as embodiments of courage in every dimension of life. They are not passive observers of society; rather, they act, speak, and think independently. Without them, Martin suggests, chaos would ensue: “dogs will always freely breed” and “bad boys will range all dark nooks.” In other words, the absence of their presence would mean unrestrained vice. Respect and Dread as Weapons The Iron Ladies inspire both respect and dread. Martin captures their aura through imagery of street power: curses that silence m...

Bumuh Martin  Iron Ladies  Fearless in thought and in word, and in deed_ What they want to do, they of course, will do; Without them, dogs will always freely breed... Bad boys will range all dark nooks and strike too. Folks dread the curse of stark crones when they boo... They subdue those dogged men who think they know, Draw respect from among our street's who's who.. When roosters see grave dames, they fear to crow. With full pent up spite, they stoop and talk low Then spit their outrage right into your face; Make you pick up and eat those boasts you throw, Then buy you one beer to seal your disgrace. Our street smarts have learnt to watch their place_ They know all shes are not those shes in need Whom they can drag and torment without trace... They now know well that their men pride can bleed. (c) Bumuh Martin  Metaphorical Poems  

Justina Abbah  Cleanliness is nest To Godliness to said I must imagine the World's cleanest country. Shining like the jewel In the heart of the desert Gleaming like the bright And morning stars. Pure! Like the fresh flow, Of the cool sea water Reflecting sky in flawless white A model to the world to see. (c) Justina Abbah  25/8/2025 Metaphorical Poems  

Justina Abbah  By Nwator Oji Awala  Poem Analysis  In her poem “The World’s Cleanest Country” , Justina Abah, a poet from Benue State, Nigeria, presents a vision that transcends geography and enters the realm of metaphor and aspiration. The piece is not just about physical cleanliness, but about purity of spirit, moral order, and the symbolic beauty of a nation that embodies virtue. The opening lines, “Cleanliness is nest / To Godliness to said” , invoke the proverbial wisdom linking cleanliness and godliness. Though phrased in a slightly unorthodox manner, the lines gesture toward the spiritual foundation of the poem: that physical order reflects inner discipline. Abah suggests that imagining the “world’s cleanest country” is itself a spiritual exercise—an ideal that one must hold in mind before it can become reality. The second stanza introduces luminous imagery: “Shining like the jewel / In the heart of the desert / Gleaming like the bright / And morning stars.” H...

By  Possenti Ndlovu We are fiduciary poets,   keepers of the trust,   holding mirrors to the world—   reflecting truths they fear to face,   the terror etched in their own careers.   We cradle broken words,   guard fragile voices,   hold the weight of silence,   speak what others dare not name.   In shadows and in light,   we carry the legacy of stories—   unseen, unspoken, unfurling   like roots beneath cracked streets.   We build one brick at a time,   one verse, one breath, one truth—   till walls crumble,   and the world sees itself   in our unblinking gaze. (c)  Possenti Ndlovu Metaphorical Poems

Possenti Ndlovu By Nwafor Oji Awala Introduction In Fiduciary Poets , Zimbabwean writer and lecturer Qinisela Possenti Ndlovu reimagines the poet as a custodian of trust and conscience. With imagery that balances fragility and strength, the poem portrays poets as guardians of silenced voices and builders of truth brick by brick. This piece is both a manifesto and a reminder of poetry’s enduring power to challenge, to reflect, and to transform society. Poem Analysis  In his poem Fiduciary Poets , Qinisela Possenti Ndlovu presents poets as custodians of truth and guardians of collective memory. The choice of the word fiduciary —a term rooted in trust, accountability, and stewardship—instantly reframes the role of poets beyond artistry, positioning them as trustees of society’s conscience. The poem unfolds in measured layers. In the opening stanza, poets are described as “keepers of the trust,” tasked with holding “mirrors to the world.” This metaphor suggests that poetry is not e...