The night watchman
05 October 2015
PAUL WAUGLA WII
An entry in the 2015 Rivers Award
for Writing on Peace & Harmony
Polished driveway, poignant scent of frangipani
Under a starry Touaguba night
It is a night when a star is born
Somewhere in this metropolis
Where the rich and the poor
Must breathe the same night air.
From the balcony of his wealthy hillside
He gazes across the young night
Beyond the silver horizon
Where sterling sea merges with golden sky
It’s a million dollar view,
If your heart can dream.
The clink and clank of champagne flutes
Atop this privileged balcony
Bespeak elegance and class
The fragrant scent of frangipani
Carries beyond the polished driveway
To where dreams are born.
Try as you might
No amount of persuasion
Nor words of endearment soothe the weary soul
Of the night watchman
Like an elusive shadow in that Touaguba night
He stands sentinel by the cobbled driveway
These massive citadels
These magnificent abodes
By what manner of human imaginings
Were such magnificent dwellings
Carved out of the Touaguba Hill?
Thank you everyone for your comments.
Posted by: Paul Waugla Wii | 06 October 2015 at 09:08 PM
Very concise and to the point. Pity the watchman - great analysis of the Touaguba hill inhabitants, a glamorous and pithy lifestyle at the expense of the watchman.
Posted by: Bessielah David | 05 October 2015 at 03:00 PM
Paul - this poem evokes a lot of emotions. Beautiful wording. I quite liked verse 2:)
Posted by: Rashmii Amoah | 05 October 2015 at 01:47 PM
I can see the wealthy and the undermined. Beautiful piece Paul.
Posted by: Philip G Kaupa | 05 October 2015 at 01:03 PM
This is an interesting read with some really good imagery Paul - Touaguba Hill is a useful metonym for wealthy, upper-class living standards and etc.
I like verse four - it's powerful and carries the weight of the whole poem.
Five star for me.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 05 October 2015 at 11:15 AM