KWEE Liberian Literary Magazine Jan. Iss. Vol. 0115 May Issue Vol. 0515 | Page 45

Liberian Literary Magazine

Promoting Liberian Literature, Arts and Culture

According to Eliot

John Eliot is a poet. He shares his time
between Wales and France. In Wales he
lives close to a capital city where he
spends a lot of time reading his poetry to
an audience. In France he lives in a tiny
village and enjoys the silence to write.
John was a teacher. He is married with
children and grandchildren. He has one
book of poetry published 'Ssh' available
on Amazon and a new one will be
coming out in the Autumn, titled 'Don't
Go'. Both books are published by
Mosaique Press of England."

Accra
I
African sunset spread out across the
skyline.
Gray land.
Vibrant yellow
red streaked sky blue.
Sheet of lightning,
Holds as eternal
Blind mirror.

John Eliot

II
The waste land
Where children sit around
Smoke grey smouldering heaps
The distance between us and them
Measured by the colour of our skin
children know that pity is not a gift
III
Hardly four walls
An earth floor
No table
Chair
Desks
Benches
Blackboard
Or chalk
No pupils
For there is no teacher
No education
IV
We are their Masters
said White Man
in the black confusion
Marketplace
of bodies and heat
An African goes down on
one Knee for Me
my Cream Linen Suit
and Royalty

"The photograph of John Eliot was taken by Dave
Daggers during a live poetry reading. Dave is a
professional photographer and artist. He has
contributed drawings to John's new collection of
poetry, 'Don't Go' which will be out in the
Autumn."

© John Eliot

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