IF ONLY

I sat on the edge of the fence
As many held placards in defense
Of their beloveds made to turn soil
Through some negligence, still I recoil

II
Their voices act like noises
Noises I felt were part of their many choices
But could have been kept
…to save those pores which wept
…under the sun’s angry toil
And so I got comfortable on my fence
Thinking silly is their mock defence

III
Many days passed and I heard some sound
At midnight, raining goosebumps so profound
But I shook it off and slept
…even as I heard others wept

IV
It was in the morning my phone rang
Only to hear a loving voice’s name sang
…in a dirge which slapped a bang
…on my consciousness
You should’ve felt my anxiousness

V
Mother was coming to visit
Oga’s hounds were on their stooging fit
And shot a miss which found my mum
I woke at the hospital, shock making me mum

V
They spoke of how long it took to get a car
They spoke about how much they tried to take her far
They drummed on the facts of my sins
As I felt my many cars turn konko and bins
My connections turned naught but horrible bars
If only I had awoken to the noises
If only I had joined the voices
If only…
If only…
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © July 24, 2021