A TASTE OF GRANDMA

Words from the aged are gold nuggets
…which turn platinum with every tick of the clock
They are like bridges which save
…when heeded to in time
They are like ladders which help with easy climbs
…when used in time
They are like armour
…perfectly protective, if won on some battlefields in life
I see that now
…now that I walk on the road of maturity

II
Grandma said there are human doves
Who can anoint into blessings
…fetching love from worlds into a magnetic attraction
…making one doubt the existence of bad
…even in a criminal crowd
She prayed for me to find one
But advised to open my eyes
…so as not to be blinded to act insensitive
…when ill fated spirits complain of their drains

IIb
Grandma said there are also human peacocks
Ones who will with pride walk even on flaming firewood
Pretending pain is but a fly whizzing in flight
…and shame is a thing without a living
All the while digging pools of tears in their chambers
She said they can boast like ghosts
…and be roasted like cocoyams in far off farmlands
She prayed I never meet any
As their company could uplift as high as the heavens
…only to pluck one to fall in a ghastly crash
Killing personalities in scandals unanticipated

IIc
Grandma mentioned the human sheep
Foolish to the tee
One who knew no self esteem
…let alone live up to its shine
Even maggots could walk all over them
…and they’ll beg for the forgiveness of the disgusting
…claiming they were in the way of their disgust
She did pray I identify those and stay away
…if I can’t hold their chins to make them see their worth in their own mirrors
…as their low self esteem can be contagious
Noting there is a limit to how foolish one can be

IId
She sure did mention many human traits
But the one whose lessons stand as a teacher
Schooling me now
Is the one about human pigs
They fear no fall because they themselves jump to their fall
…and still get up strong
They fear no filth because they revel in nose-punching shit
Nothing dirty can harm them
…because they live off rubbish
Grandma did pray I am able to stay away from such humans
As they can strip off dignity
…and push the most respected into shame
She told me to always remember their shame fetches them ovations
As they see jeers as cheers
For they have nothing to lose and nothing to choose from
She did pray for strength to ignore even strong taunts from such pigs
As that is the only repellent capable of exterminating them
I now understand her words
After meeting a human pig
…one which stinks like broken-fertilized-foul-eggs
…and boasts even in its mindlessness

III
Grandma was a genius
One I’ve only uncovered
…long after she went home
…home to our ancestors
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © March 17, 2021