Just as flies are clapped off sores
And cats as smoked off fishes
Just as chickens are shooed off needed grains
And lies are killed off heads
Fan eyes of my foes off me
For I am no octopus with multiple hearts
II
My smiles seem to be their bile
My laughter, their slaughter
My warmth seems to dig their woes
My relaxation, their roasters
My growth seems to be their gaol
My success, their sickness
So fan their eyes off me
For I am no octopus with multiple hearts
III
You know I think not of them in troubled waters
You know I pray not for them to land in imprisoning quaters
You know I covet not their wealth
Even as they covet my humble life
You know I will clap sincerely for their success
…and never wish to own their assets
You know I yearn not for their positions
…and will never weep for their best
So fan their eyes off me
And make them indifferent to my being
As I live to learn from my past
…to better my present hoping to perfect my future
You know I am no octopus
…with multiple hearts
To stand many a broken soul
…in this here mortal body
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © November 1, 2020
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