THE POT OF BLAMES

Once upon a time
A porter carried a pot of blames
Which bullied her with crimes
…she had not committed
The pot could be heard in its announcements
…at the East even from the West
“It is because of you I beat my child to a pulp
If it hadn’t been for you, I’ll be rich
You made me yearn to dominate my wife
You know you helped made me a thief right?
You better not sleep soundly
…my sickness is due to your negligence
I killed many with lies and guns
…due to your incompetence…”
The announcing pot kept heating with blames
Burning the peace of the porter
And increased due to the blamelessness of the criminals

II
One solemn night
The porter met Nana Nyame
Who was taking a walk on the streets of fairness
…under a redemption sky
Odomankomah asked the porter
…why she was carrying such a heavy and horrible pot of blames
The porter, feeble from the hurts of the pot
Replied:
“If I don’t take these blames
…the criminals can’t sleep
I’d rather have sleepless nights
…than have others suffer this fate”
Otwereduampong looked keenly at the porter with concern
And continued walking besides her

III
After a while
Nana Nyame calmly said
“The pot of blames will continue to grow bigger
…and get heavier
It will be the death of you
And will be the destruction of those you protect
For you can’t live forever in your state
And they can’t be forever in their state
Their children will do much worse than them
And when that happens
…it surely will be your fault
Sometimes kindness is a crime to criminals
Their payment might teach them to refrain
Their lack of payment might push them to disdain
With feelings of their righteous unrighteousness ruling their consciences
Do think about this”

IV
The porter thought about this long before Ototorobonsu had left
And decided to smash the pot
For the blames to walk on their own legs
…to the consciences of their creators
There were wailing and self pity
Chaos erupted as many people were blamed instead of the one person
But true to the words of Ɔkatakyie
Crimes began to abate
And calm was restored
So the porter knelt in thanks
Singing hallelujahs of the knowledge of will
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © October 31, 2020