LOOK DOWN ON NO ONE’S WORK

“Hena na ↄte obi adwuma a ↄyἐa na wamunkum nanim?

Hena na obu obi adwuma animtia?

Hwan na ↄdwene sἐ nadwuma a ↄyἐ sene obi de?

Onuako mpἐ agwa ntenaso na ontie ἐἐ”

 

There was a day when “kruu ni’s” broom was revered

So much so that young ones dreamed of holding many brooms

And sweeping what every bowel could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But the bowels never seized to ease

 

There was also the time when laboring on other’s farms was revered

So much so that young ones prayed in rooms

For God to help them hold those cutlasses and work for any money owners could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But the weeds growth have not seized

 

There was the time when working on tattered shoes was revered

So much so that young ones begged to be groomed

To hold those wooden boxes and hit hard, fixing any leg wear, for monies owners could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But the pressure on leg wears has not seized

 

There was the time when “ↄyἐadeἐyie” was revered

Young ones dreamt of taking that path and begged to be groomed

To carry a sewing machine on their shoulders and make the scissors cry to fix any wear for coins owners could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But the pressure on clothes has not seized

 

There was the time when palm wine tapping was revered

So much so that young ones begged to be groomed

To climb those palm trees and tap the best palm wine and sell what they could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But many’s thirst for palm wine have not seized

 

 

There was also that time when pushing truck was revered

So much so that young ones dreamt f pushing them in their rooms

And sought to buy trucks to push loads for anything that owners could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But many loads waiting to be conveyed have not seized

 

 

There was also the time when cracking stones was revered

Many young ones dreamt of owning many trips to sell or build rooms

And sought to work hard to own sites by working for money anyone could spare

That time has passed as the eyes became bored and sought others

But the need for stones has not seized

 

So what makes you think your work will reign forever?

What gives you the right to look down on what others do?

Have you ever thought of a world without those people?

Would you ever love to live in those worlds?

Everybody’s occupation is important

I love mine

It is not a crime to love yours

She loves hers

He may not love his, but his being there is helping a lot

For your comfort

For my wellbeing

For her survival

And for his pocket

So lower those eyes in apology and shame.

     Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2014.

Picture taken from the 123RF site.