As the sun rises from the east, shining bright on all,
So does it set in the west, bringing dusk to the land
Mount Fako is shaken; the night's come too soon
Epasa Moto's in tears, where is Chief Dipoko?
You took us aback as you suddenly went to sleep
You made your mark, the literary world can attest
Truly, inspiring people don't have to live too long
Like the morning dew, they disappear by mid-day
Leaving the surroundings fresh and cool
You've gone beyond to join your comrades
Together you'd relate in the sphere of poetry
But who are we to understand the mystery of the Divine one?
He gives and He takes, He puts together and asunder
But we are a reflection of His creativity.
To create is to live, though absent, you live through your writings.
It is your time to rest, Sleep well Mbella Sonne Dipoko.
2. Elegy to the Advent Star (For Mbella Sone Dipoko) by Lloney Monono
at your peculiar looks, some took flight
like black and white love, your fright
but you saw only an ordinary beard
which they thought it was weird
and whispered it's because of women
for you set yourself apart from ordinary men!
you toiled more than a few nights and days
in poetry, prose and comments of little praise
see, see that lawyer's white shirt
the vestige of a profession shirked
but, I wonder, what was in that black bag?
not likely a comb for the bard!
adieu Mbella! the advent star
guiding disciples of Esimo ya Mboka
to your envisioned eternity via Moboka
goodbye, Tiko-sage and proud, proud African
but, tell us, at the celestial portal are there names?
the bearded and the bald - the sane or the insane -
aren't we all just the same?
Dante Besong is a poet and cartoonist resident in Buea Cameroon
Lloney Monono is a poet and playwright who lives in England
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