INNOCENTIA BLISSILICA

Who did wean
Me from the nipples of innocence?
That being is mean
For ripping my happy confidence
Those days when sand was rice
And mud was banku
Those days when dust was rain
And even urine was water so pure
Those days when rainbow was the keeper of all that were golden
And thunders were the only monsters
Those days when the sun giggled
As the earth’s heat met in confidence
Bullying air who was of prominence
In lovesome ways
Who, like a cutlass, cut the chord of that bliss
From my contented eyes?
I want to play “nkuro”
I want to play “pi-lo-lo”
I want to play ampe
I was to play antowankyire
And watch as legs tried the kete dance
And learn to dance adowa
I want to cook the spiciest of meals
With unknown leaves filled with promises of nutrition
And top it up with the capable soil which begets all foods
I want to dream of all pleasant possibilities
And marry all kind, capable and handsome souls in thought
Take me to those days
Because freedom lived there
Trust lived there
Love lived there
There, in those days
Now I stare at trees and see snakes in their praises
I look at the sun and see murder in its eyes
I see air and feel the pain of its pinches
Nothing looks safe
Even now I notice my shadow come and go like a thief
A thief planning a murder
My murder
Blissful are those days
Those days rudely severed  by the sword of age
Even clothes on my skin battle the glee of dust
Hmmmmm
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia (c) 2015