...when tears roll
down my heavy eyes
like torrents of rain from a cloudy sky,
with colours of love
you open up your heart to me
like an umbrella
unfolding in the rain
like rainwater that wets
the earth, and flows back to the sky
only to fall again
…our tears evaporate
and on the nest of hope
where we lay our dream-eggs,
they return into our dry eyes, again to roll
down our swollen faces
…our tears evaporate –
a hopeless cycle
(c) Senator Iyere Ihenyen
Senator Ihenyen
Senator Iyere Ihenyen was born in Lagos, but hails from Esan-West L.G.A., Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. He writes poetry, short fiction and engages in literary research. Recognised by a U.K-based organization, Outspoken, in 2006 as 'one of the significant voices in Africa pushing the boundaries of contemporary African Literature.' The late and respected Nigerian editor and critic, Okey Okpa, had described the young writer as his 'future Poet Laureate' in 2008.
While some of his poems have been published in local dailies such as the Daily Times, New Age and Business Times, his early works have also been featured in international anthologies published by the U.K.-based Anchor Books, Poetry Stop, Canada, and the U.S.-based Voices Network, where his poetry has been given special international recognition.
Currently in a full-time Law Degree programme in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, he has been serving as the Campus President of Golden Minds Centre, a youth-focused organisation. With an inveterate interest in Literature, especially creative writing, Colourless Rainbow: Poetry of My Childhood is forthcoming from Coast2Coast, Lagos.
His website
