SHEABUTTER AND SALT

Him/He/His= Sheabutter
Her/She = Salt

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Once upon a time
In a river heated by the sun
Sheabutter oiled its surface
While salt tormented tongues and eyes
…of the river fishes

II
Though they disliked him,
The fishes hated her for her stings
And complained to him about how She was tormenting them
He called on the Unseen She to stop hurting the fishes
As she was usurping the peace of their territory

III
She did not take this advice well
So called him out on his meddling
Exchange of insults led to why they’re all stuck in the river
…in the first place

IV
He taunted
“I was there when your bulk chose the shore of the sea
Even when many living things told your pile
…to look for a dry place to hide
Your head She refused
Until humans tasted and loved your kind
They begun digging you from the place you thought could give you warmth
And transported most of you to all places
Some of you were left in the rain
…in unsafe places
Forcing you to melt to places you were never meant to be
See, your stubbornness destroyed your togetherness!“

V
She did not also take this lightly
“I also remember how you turned oil
…to soil this river which many living things toil to feed on
Your bulk knew the sun was your enemy
Yet you chose to play with it
I remember many of you complaining of friction
And admiring the colour and shine of the sun
Complaining about the wetness of rain
Could it be family pressure or that of peer?
You all dragged yourselves from the comfort
…of the rain
Into the sun which was at its heated best
And turned into oil
Now you’re here
A complete nuisance in cold
And an utter disgrace in warmth
You dare to tell the tale of my history?“

VI
The fishes were appalled at the revelations
…of the history of their tormenters
And gathered to think of a plan of escape
…from both
They eventually settled on migration to another river
Leaving them their kins murdered therein
The two feuding solids turned liquid
Were left at the mercy of angry elephants
Who drank and destroyed them together with water
Until the pate of the earth beneath
…greeted all roaming eyes
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © August 23, 2020