NNANE NTUBE

NNANE NTUBE

VACUUM

The room is empty

Its walls are frozen

Cobwebs filled the ceiling

Glacial is its floor

The windows are frosty

The room is voiceless

A freaking quietness peeps

Wherein alone I stand

Listening to my own echoes

The room is dark

Shadows of you trespassing

Spell bounding my eyes

On your movement;

From the bathroom to your study table

From the study table to the bed

The room is vacant

My heart desolates

REGRETS

If only I had walked the lonely path with you

If only I had held your hand to see you off

If only I had distracted you with stories of our past

May be, just maybe I would’ve revived your desire to stay

May be the door wouldn’t have closed completely behind you

If I had known…

I would’ve have listened to you in the first place

I wouldn’t have boarded the plane for a useless tour

I would’ve stayed back to comfort you with kisses

I would’ve instilled hope in you with my caring eyes

“Had I known?” always follows us in shameful skirts

I regret everything,

I regret covering you with a garment of doubts

I regret leaving you alone to face the chilling wind

Now, you’re in the cold night

Where my legs can’t reach

You’re in the cold night

With no twilight

You’re adorned with leaves

Your glow has faded

If only I had walked the lonely path with you

Your charming voice wouldn’t have been lost in the wind

BY THE RIVER BANKS

By the river banks I sat,

Ruminating about our love

Does it still flow? Or

Will it flow smoothly and endlessly

Like the soft waves of this river?

By the river banks I sat,

Aloof from our roaring love

By the river banks I buried our love

To embrace nature’s calmness

And free my heart from hurt

That for years has broken me

That for years has put me in deep confusion

This love has been our war

By the river banks I signed a peace contract

To lose is a first step to winning

WHY?

The clocks have tickled hours

Here I sit folding arms

Looking at a picture I’ve never seen

Smiling even when smile is gone

Just to give you the glow

I bounced on our hungry thoughts

Strolled on our promises

I saw the land lonely and dreadful

Your silence has brought darkness

In a room full of colours

I thought we could take the road again

Even after the tar was broken

For you said we could ride on

And I slept on your words

Why

Should you put my heart on a thin line?

Why

Should you let silence take way our voices?

Though far on the other end of the bench,

There was means of tying bonds.

Why

The chain of closed eyes?

Why

The quick pass and no smile?

I’m sitting on the coach you know

Waiting for news of your return.

NNANE NTUBE

NNANE NTUBE hails from Yaounde, Cameroon. She is a holder of a B.A in English and a B.A in Bilingual Studies (English and French) obtained from the University of Yaounde 1. She is a graduate from the Higher Teacher’s Training College - Yaounde 1 with a diploma in Bilingual Letters (English and French); she teaches French Language and Literature. Nnane is a Youth Envoy for Peace and Democracy whose love for change got her into writing. Though she writes stories, poetry is her favourite genre. She believes in using poetry to change lives thus the slogan, “Poetry4Change”. She is a member of the World Poetic Front for Defending Women’s Rights. Nnane is the president and founder of YOCEP (Youth Centre for Progress) that trains youths in the domain of artistry such writing, acting and singing out poems. She is a budding actress and script supervisor, a volunteer and an activist for change.