By Roland Akosah Totum Bonum In the Land of the Living Nature’s lessons are myriad Her attractive energy holds her heavenly maidens aloft Her radiant showers hold us in awe And on an occasion she pleases us with a tango: In each other’s shadow a neighborly pair may lie From each other’s shadow they steal away Without a whimper to worry the heavenly realm Nature’s fare is light, heat and sound Life’s rhyme and rhythm to sustain So out of its core a star unleashes generous energy Across a cosmic distance to bathe a planet aglow Against light’s shimmer, away fades darkness. Earthbound, man delights in Nature’s fury (Nature’s bounty an afterthought) So a folk gropes in pitch darkness Surrendering mind and means to mean men Self-enthroned men hold court; maidens ululate Courtiers charm and tease supplicants At the subdued, tyrants throw tirades at will Despots desecrate settled decency To each declarative, a mischief to match Then as if Nature’s facile teaching abiding An inspired multitude arises in one accord Yesterday’s dread is become today’s dare The portents of darkness succumb at light’s portal: In the land of the living, a fatal embrace unravels And a folk awakens at last! By Roland Akosah Totum Bonum Email: roakosah@eno-international.com