THE BODY SELLER

She said Kofigah rented her body for
…every evening in a month
…with touches and pounding and biting with kisses
Atuaki rented her mouth for a week
…for licking and pulling and chewing
…with special bonuses for sores
Before Tetteh came in with a room offer
…to pray inside her every time his demons wake

Ib
The poor man just stood there
…like one struck by thunder
But his eyes of love remained

II
She said she would sell her body to him
…for a thousand, in every other month
She said she would sell her image to follow him
…for five hundred, every month
Still her clothes and make up
…shoes and bags
Pomades and pedicures
…jewelries and others
Must be billed on his big pocket

III
He heaved a breath like a whirlwind of arrest
And just spoke a sentence
“I want all of you for this lifetime
…how much will that cost?”
The tears standing and shining in his eyes
…before falling with his blinks
…dug goosebumps for her skin
…and mine even in my darkest hide

IIIb
She found shame in her scantily clad
…pulling at what little to try a most cover
She lowered her eyes
…feeling a sense of selling a worthless to a worthy
She felt disdain
…for a past whose rust shreds her left pride
But he lifted her head and said –
“I know all you are
That my heart still beats for you is proof enough
That you can do no wrong in my eyes”
She sobbed like a baby
…and replied
“It’ll cost you nothing
…but this love you feel
Because buying to own me
…will equal buying to own the money you used
…in my bought”
He was clearly amazed at her wisdom

IV
He hugged her till she got lost in his embrace
No eye was dry in their watch
…even the eyes of heaven drizzled in its eavesdropping moment

V
If a lesson did knock on my head
…entered and sat among my thoughts
It was that –
…bodies get sold to the worthless for things material
But to the worthy, a priceless free
What a gem to find in a monstrous bargain!
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © January 30, 2020