Valentine and the Day After

Valentine and the day after

Pity the flowers that got plucked
And got delivered to express love
Pity the flowers that got crushed
In-between bruised lovers

Pity the ones that got thrown away
Or the flowers that got despised
Or the flowers abused
And the flowers lost

Pity the many lost for ever
And the many deflowered
Or those shaken down there
Whether unkindly or by choice

Or cut by deceit and subterfuge
After all the sweet nothings were uttered
And many meals downed in greed
Or sweet and red wines downed

Downed to blend with the Valentine colour
Downed to drown the voice of reasoning
And lead someone to ecstasy unimaginable
But passed off as love expression

Pity the ones who wake up today
Cursing yesterday and yesterday’s person
Praying yesterday never was
Wishing they could erase yesterday

Pity the ones who desire to rewind to two days earlier
And enter yesterday again with reasoning intact
Unfortunately yesterday is gone
And the events undoable

So let each one accept their yesterday
And live with the consequences
But if they still live long enough
Let them learn against the future

Valentine remains but a hype
Hyped by a capitalist world
To keep the business lines hydrated
But true love remains for all times

(Obo Effanga February 15 2017)

Red, everywhere you go

Everywhere you go is red
Red dress day? Yes
Red letter day? No
What is going on? I ask
Is there a game of football today?
Maybe Man U is playing
Or Arsenal gunning for fourth place
Or Liverpool walking alone
But I feel so all alone
In a sea of red
Red sea if you like
For some will see red today
When the day is over
And they realize
February 14th is just a day
That they call it Valentine's Day
Or fahlentine in many a tongues
Is no excuse
To go all giddy
Or fool around
This day will pass like other days
And every true lover knows
Everyday is for lovers
One day for pretenders
And that is today
But if today is day of the red
At least I have my red notebook

Obo Effanga
February 14, 2017