ATTACK ON TWO FRONTS

(For Pa Samson Tanyi of London) BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA We all stood there shouting None of us thought of the fleeing bee When the mayor decided to flee too We all burst out laughing. The Mr. Samson Tanyi from London stepped forward and said “Listen, all of you If you are walking on the road and a lion steps into your way While at the same time you`re being bitten by an ant, Which threat will you address first?”

A NEW MIRROR FOR THE RURAL WORLD

(For Dr. Sani Gur Amawa who today attended and supported Dr Amungwa Athanasius as he launched his new book, RURAL SOCIOLOGY at the University of Buea) BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA We let it sail unbridled and unfettered Just to circumvent the old rails We gave priority to the rural world And put the urban world on hold, for a while. All the relevant paradigms were unaltered Because while espousing sociological theories We used both quantitative and qualitative methods Why not? Is research not about covering and uncovering?

HOAX FROM THE BRONX

(For my longtime friend Bernard Muambo whose brother I met at the University of Buea today) BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Washington is surely not far Even if you journey by car But then, if you think of the Bronx Then just know it`s a hoax.

CRADLE OF THE FRUGAL

(For Dr. Amungwa Athanasius, today Wednesday 27 November, the day he launched Rural Sociology in Amphi 750 of the University of Buea). BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Is it arable? Or is it just rural? If it`s a cradle Then surely, we can`t all be so frugal.

FEELING OF GUILT

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA He dropped in this morning To vindicate himself Perhaps he knew we were mourning If, not, then why displace the bookshelf?

THIS BEARING OF GRIT

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Where is the loose bearing? I mean the oily and thick one It was over there on the safari table Just before dawn Now I can`t find it. Is it because of that quaint earring? Or the light that went to everyone Here we hardly trade a spare part for a fable For why should we when we have no lawn? Unless this bearing of ours is all grit?

THE GIRL IN WHITE AND GREEN

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA She is here She has driven in like the farmer`s daughter Dressed to kill in trousers Clutching her cell phone to her ear For all of us to see Her gait is majestic And her built is provoking All eyes are on her. She walks and struts with no fear Even if she`s seized by a sudden shiver All she needs now is a bouquet of flowers So that she can once more move into higher gear Then will she sweep us off to the great sea And make us feel like an old piece of elastic The next minute she`ll be back looking hectic So, for God`s sake, don`t blame her.