FOCUS

An old fable tells a story of a cobbler who bumped into a barber while they were both going about their daily duties. The duo were angered at what had ensued so much so that they resorted verbal exchanges at each other. The cobbler accused the barber of looking upward while walking; the reason he did not see the cobbler approach. The barber also accused the cobbler of looking downward while he walked preventing him from seeing him approach.

The duo rattled on and on until an elderly man came by to salvage the situation. He inquired from the barber what he would have wished the cobbler did differently. The barber recommended that the cobbler looks upwards like he does when walking to enable the cobbler notice an approaching head. However, the cobbler cut in furiously, insisting that he would lose his customers if he were forced to look skywards for by his focusing his gaze downwards, he tends to notice shoes that need mending. The only way he could identify his customers and to make a living was to look downwards.

The elderly man then asked the cobbler what he would have wished the barber also did differently. The cobbler insisted that the barber looks downward like he does when walking to enable the barber notice approaching shoes to prevent bumping into others. However, like the cobbler, the barber was not happy about the proposal and asserted that looking downwards will amount to his losing of his customers for he will miss their unkempt heads and an opportunity to render a service to secure his survival in the city. Bottom line is, the only way he could identify his customers and to make a living was to look upwards.

The elderly man advised both artisans to remain focused on their individual differing paths of life. He also added that they would occasionally bump into each other, which was inevitable, however, they should resist the urge to be coerced into following the path of another which is obviously unsuitable with respect to their chosen purpose in life. The only solution the elderly man proposed to them was to ask for forgiveness whenever they find themselves bumping again into each other but to remain resilient and continue to focus on their individually chosen paths.

The moral of this story is clear. We all are well aware of the fact that we individually seek differing goals in life; while some want to become employees, others want to be the employers, others choose to become craftsmen whereas others want to serve in political capacities not forgetting spiritual leadership and social entrepreneurs. We are all clearly on different paths and should be mindful of the people from which we seek mentorship and advise. There is an important need to pay attention to whose rebuke we succumb to. For instance; a gifted follower who is convinced by a leader to become one because he excels at being a follower may eventually run himself into a ditch as he may be bad at leadership.

Always remember that to stay true to your chosen path regardless of the occasional bumps and discouragements requires discipline and pays off for in staying true to a cause, you do not only realise your purpose but you also discover your true self in the process.

#StayTrue

Regards!
Atsu Dogbey

Atomic Musings

Our Oppressors!
How long shall we end up as casualties of your greedy wars?
Why have you plagued us with this much pain?
When are we ever going to merit justice?
What do we tell our neighbors when our own relatives oppress us?
For you intimidate us with embezzled riches
We, your blood have become your slaves and you, our oppressor
Poverty, like a crack of a whip, cuts deep into our guiltless flesh
As we flee the danger of your exploits
And seek shelter beneath your plush roof
You dare mock and call us forgetful beings!
While you discover creative ways to endanger our miserable lives!


The Oppressed!
We, the oppressed, delight in our ignorance
Revering it like a dark art practiced overtly
We cherish the way darkness blinds us
And loathe the thought of light
It is virtuous to be poor! – we profess
Rob us and display it as your hard earned fancy - we plead
As the old brainwash the young to keep silent on the truth
Hail wrongdoings, for it costs us nothing to stay mute
Our heads are buried deep in darkness
For we shield ourselves from the looming light
We share in dark dreams and proclaim darker visions
To liberate us - is to temper with a forbidden tradition!
But to oppress us - is to uphold our sacred religion!

Concerned Citizens!
Not all of us may forgetful be
Nor forgiving enough to let things be
For our silence speaks unspoken words
And our tears carry pain that may never mend
The bloodshed you instigate is entrenched on our skin
The lingering ghost of vengeance instructs our being
We desire justice lest expect a pay-back!
Morals, lest we rob your peace!
Equity, lest you provoke our wrath!
Respect, lest you lose your undeserving prominence!

A Final Prayer!
Dear Lord, as the shadow of darkness,
Casts itself upon us,
And folly invariably plagues us,
Remind us to remain resolute in wisdom
And to be our brother's keeper.

My deepest condolences to the families of the lives lost during the gas explosion at Atomic Junction on Saturday, 7th October, 2017 and to the injured, get well soon. 

Warm regards,

Atsu Dogbey

Gone In The Wild

Depths go deeper, heights go further

Feet grows numb and visions, blurrier

Spirit departs from the soul that defied the flesh

Hands yield to an unplanned rest

Families, friends and foe feign sympathy

Agents, auctioneers and the affluent aid artificially

The mischievous sprite places the highest bid 

With stacks of cash the receiver will someday rid

As the lights go dim and unending sleep hovers

Alone lay you, stiff beneath pressed covers

Buried in thoughts, lost in mind and ambiance

A life well lived! - a cloaked stranger cries

Your stuffed weight burdens masculine shoulders 

And soon the darkness dins without repentance

Earth, air and bugs well sated

A crude warning to the newly created

As you aversely accept your decreed fate 

To be gone in the wild until due date 

Fix That Living Thing Back!

So I went on a trip down memory lane in search of peace, a strategic attempt to appease my frustrated self with memories of happiness enjoyed during my childhood days. I recollected an incident that did not only forge a smile on my face but urged me on beyond my predicament. It prevented me from resolving to a decision that could have permanently created a dent in my life. I would like to share with you this cherished memory of my childhood and the lesson it thought me on hindsight.

Five friends found themselves on their way back from Preparatory School as it was always the case. Washington resided close to our school but walked on past his residence to join in on our valued after-closing-walk-and-talk sessions. He was reserved and hardly troubled anyone but was always around to share in the laughter, a possible aftermath of our troubles. Japheth, was our protector and with him, although lanky at the time, was fearless and constantly kept us in trouble but provided his usual solution with his ever-ready fists. He was a man of war. Sampson, like the Biblical Sampson was the strongest among us but had a serious disgust for fights so much so that he never engaged in a rescue mission which demanded that he threw his fists at anyone. He was purely a man of peace. My twin brother, Kennedy eagerly awaited an opportunity to tease anyone he desired to and finally me. I shared the same attribute as my twin only I also enjoyed scouting for female classmates to engage in conversations with. Perhaps she might come in handy during a dance session on ‘Our Day’, you never know. We were a happy and naïve lot.

On that fateful day, Sampson discovered his Delilah hanging loosely on a fragile branch of a tree. She was not as ripe as the others above her but she was the only one within his reach. She swung her green body pleasantly on the supporting branch, feeding Sampson with overwhelming temptation. Unknown to us, Sampson had been mentally absent from our conversation. He had been enthusiastically eyeing his lover from a distance. We approached the mechanic shop where his lover was in full glare of his thirsty eyes. Like the Biblical Sampson, our friend made no attempt to resist this dicey enticement. He stretched forth his hand and disengaged the innocent fruit from its branch with a confident pull. He stood close by, admiring its curves from all sides. She was a beautiful little thing. He grinned from ear to ear.

Then we heard the frightening voice of the Mechanic who like the Philistines had been baiting our friend Sampson. His voice interrupted our discourse. It was full of authority; “Fix that living thing back!” Sampson who had instantaneously recovered from his fantasy could not fathom this impossible request. The aspect of giving up his lover was not what made the request incredible. It was scientifically impossible to undo what he had just done. We gathered around the pair, trying ceaselessly to come up with a suitable approach. As we glanced through our blank thoughts, we refrained from the urge of laying a finger on the unripe mango Sampson held cautiously in his palm. He dared not distant the mango from its branch. He held on to it, positioning it right beneath the branch he had plucked the forbidden fruit.

His philistine of a Mechanic looked on with fiery eyes, holding a work tool clenched in one hand. Japheth was the first to speak. It came as no surprise to us for he was the confident one amongst us. “This mango-blue and you are flexing with it like that, Sampson throw it away and let’s go home”. His fists were clenched as he spoke. We knew clearly what his intentions were. Washington who although sensed danger was humoured and allowed himself a passive smile to begin. My twin and I giggled and kept our distance. This fight was clearly beyond our protector. As for our friend Sampson, he had turned into an effigy with his lover in one hand and the other behind his back as a sign of respect. Despite his fears, he also smirked.

You might have guessed how things ended; Sampson couldn’t do the impossible and was advised accordingly by the furious mechanic. Japheth was not granted a fist fight so he left unfulfilled but chose to tease Sampson for a while before departing. Washington retreated home with a mouthful of laughter. My twin and I walked side by side with Sampson between us. We giggled and hid our contemptuous identical faces from him. Sampson continuously repeated the infamous phrase that carried the impossible request under his breath. He joined in the laughter subsequently.

As I neared the end of this exciting memory, a lesson surfaced on my mind; certain decisions, mistakes and/or choices that we make in life are impossible to fix when carried out, so the need to tread cautiously. Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings. Do not mistreat anyone, for the once beautiful relationship may never be able to fix once broken. Above all, do not take your own life or that of another, no matter the circumstances for you cannot undo it once it is done.

Take life a day at a time and like the Ghanaian Rapper Manifest suggests; Nowhere Cool! You are definitely not the only person in a dreadful situation. Remember to keep fighting and to never give up! Hope but don’t grow lazy! Hurt but do not break! Follow your heart the mind’s way! And finally love yourself and everyone else unconditionally regardless of differences in faith, tribe or nationality.

We are all the same and would equally be impossible to fix, once broken from the branch of humanity.

God be our Guide!

Regards!

Atsu Dogbey