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GAM WRIT ERS

Discovery of Gambian Literature and Publications

Peters, Lenrie (1932 - 2009)

Saturday, August 16, 2008

We Have Come Home

We have come home
From the bloodless wars
With sunken hearts
Our booths full of pride-
From the true massacre of the soul
When we have asked
‘What does it cost
To be loved and left alone’

We have come home
Bringing the pledge
Which is written in rainbow colours
Across the sky-for burial
But is not the time
To lay wreaths
For yesterday’s crimes,
Night threatens
Time dissolves
And there is no acquaintance
With tomorrow

The gurgling drums
Echo the stars
The forest howls
And between the trees
The dark sun appears.

We have come home
When the dawn falters
Singing songs of other lands
The death march
Violating our ears
Knowing all our loves and tears
Determined by the spinning coin

We have come home
To the green foothills
To drink from the cup
Of warm and mellow birdsong
‘To the hot beaches
Where the boats go out to sea
Threshing the ocean’s harvest
And the hovering, plunging
Gliding gulls shower kisses on the waves

We have come home
Where through the lighting flash
And the thundering rain
The famine the drought,
The sudden spirit
Lingers on the road
Supporting the tortured remnants of the flesh
That spirit which asks no favour of the world
But to have dignity.To be loved and left alone’

(Source: http://www.cafeafricana.com/Poetry.html)

Dr Lenrie Peters was born in 1932 in Bathurst (The Gambia). In 1956 he graduated with a B Sc. from the TRINITY College of Cambridge. From 1956 to 1959, he worked with the University College Hospital of London. In 1959, he received a Medical and Surgery diploma from Cambridge. He holds a Master’s degree in Arts. From 1954 to1955 he was the president of African Students’ Society of Cambridge. He worked as journalist of African programs with the BBC from 1955 to 1968. He was the president of the Historic Commission of Monuments of the Gambia and President of FESTAC comity in 1977. Mr Peters was the President of the board of directors of the National library of the Gambia and Gambia College from 1979 to 1987. From 1985 to 1991, he was a member and President of the West African Examination Council (WAEC). He was member of the jury for the Literary prize of the Commonwealth in 1995.

He passed away on 27 May 2009 in Dakar after a brief illness.

Comments: Pls identify yourself

julius Tofunmi - Ikeja, Lagos - Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:11 AM

i think this poem is soo good. i would have said he should keep up the good work but he just died may his soul rest in perfect peace. he will be remembered .i am also learnin this poem in school..x

alfonso - Ikeja, Lagos - Sunday, June 21, 2009 6:48 AM

im sorry but please put the interpretations , it would help alot and this poem is great .... i really want to know why it was written and where