John Pepper Clarke's Agbor Dancer

("Agbor Dancer" J. P. Clark) by Obodokasi E Agbor

See her caught in the throb of a drum
Tippling from hide-brimmed stem
Down lineal veins to ancestral core
Opening out her supple tan
Limbs like fresh foliage in the sun.

See how entangled in the magic maze of music
In trance she treads the intricate
Pattern rippling crest after crest
To meet the green clouds of the forest.

Tremulous beats wake trenchant
In her heart a descant
Tingling quick to her finger tips
And toes virginal habits long
Too astrophied for pen or tongue.

Could I, early sequester'd from my tribe,
Free a lead-tether'd scribe
I should answer her command call
Lose myself in her warm caress
Intervolving earth, sky and flesh.

NOTE: Whenever we want to mention J. P. Clarke and his poetic work, what comes to mind first is AGBOR DANCER; a great piece of poetry with powerful dictions.

It must be noted that the source for the poem you have just read is naijapoets.mywapblog,com and it was posted by Obodokasi E Agbor