Book: The Legacy we leave behind (poetry)
Author: Pule Lechesa
Publisher: Phoenix Press, Ladybrand, and Lesotho (2004)
(Republished, 2006 and 2010)
Pule Lechesa (left) and O Bolaji
Pule Lechesa, born and bred in Ladybrand, has been described as “the mighty bard from the dorp”. He started reciting his poems publicly at rallies, social gatherings and functions from the tender age of 17. He worked as a volunteer court interpreter at the Ladybrand District Magistrates’ Court. He is also a motivational speaker who holds sway at schools, prisons, Colleges et al.
Interestingly the book, The legacy we leave behind, is dedicated to a very young five year old boy “who was knocked down by a speeding lorry and died on the spot. However on the same day his mother gave birth to a wonderful baby named Relebohile; i e ‘we are so grateful to God’!”
The poet’s elevated language is at his best whilst delineating the life of the lost young one:
“Descending like a tantalising dark-cloud...
Hovering and floating on high o’er vales and mountains
Carrying heralds of hope to revive our dessicated fountains...”
(Page 7)
The empathy of the poet is convincing enough; especially in a poem like “Divorcee’s Elegy” which also contains rhythmical rhymes to boot:
“Her memory gone dead; utterly dead
The scar consequent upon the truncheon on her forehead
The taste-buds of an erstwhile love life tickled
The appetite of the other matrimony tarnished
‘Men are cut from the same odious cloth’ soliloquised her...”
(Page 13)
It is clear enough that in this his maiden collection of poetry, Pule Lechesa has been very much influenced by the western tradition of writing, with echoes of old-fashioned English heritage surrounding his poetry. Lechesa hence reminds us of great Black African poets like Christopher Okigbo and Lenrie Peters who were heavily influenced by western literature.
The poems in this work are:
Artisan of joy is no more
The milk skins
Mine God giveth life
I am free to be me
Divorcee’s elegy
Mending the broken pot
Everything is against my will
The lady in purple
African renaissance
Thoughts on life
Losing a friend
The legacy we leave behind
Peace
What is in a name?
Alone all alone
Who am I?
Fare thee well
No more is our milk kine
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Pule Lechesa’s debut collection of poems is very promising.
*Courtesy of the Eclectic Writers’ Club. Originally published in 2004
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