THAT BRIGHTEST CANDLE LIFE’S WINDS STOLE

A poem to a film artist – KWAMENA ANSAH ABOAGYE by the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW)

I
Life is many ways in one
And one in many ways
Yet you found many lives in many ways
… many ways in your one life
To create smiles and laughter
… mentorship
… lifetime bonds
To bless many, many lives to live their best
Kwamena Aboagye, Opeele, your life’s light was rare

II
Life is one in many ways
And many ways in one
You found many ways to bless so many
… in just your one life
Living as
… a great husband
… father
… friend
… relative
… confidant
To push many souls up the ladder of success
Kwamena Aboagye, Opeele, your soul’s spirit was very rare

III
Hardly does a man live to tell many goodness
… in a lifetime marked by service
But you taught and brought honour to many a lost
You gifted to push sunshine in many a life
You joked to light laughter in many a sad
Kwamena Aboagye, Opeele, your kind of person was just so rare
IV
That’s why we would’ve wished for more time with you
That’s why we would’ve hoped for many more memories with you
That’s why we would’ve given anything
… for some extra moments with you
But life runs out when the Creator states
Blindsiding humans and their will to save
So we sit together in your remembrance
To mourn
To remember
To love you
To cry
To hail
To thank you
To share you
To paint you
And to show the real you to the world
You sure were one of the best of our everything

V
We hope you walk like a king into the realms of our ancestry
For if any soul qualifies, you sure beat the mark
We pray you’re given a king’s welcome in yonder world
For if any spirit fits the aura, you sure surpass that royalty
We drum and put together all your skills
To share your deeds with the world
Hoping your ancestral stool awaits
… your jolly presence
In a day which fits the heavenly presence you oozed in our world
Agya Kwamena Aboagye, Opeele, may your journey be restful
VI
This is the time we meet to bless you
For all the various affection you gave to us
This is the time we bless you
For being many things to many people in many different ways
… different ways uncountable
This is our way of showing our hearts through tears and love
… knowing your resounding laughter is opening great doors for your rest
Opeele Aboagye eii, thank you!
Thank you for everything
You’ll live on in everything
You’ll be remembered in everything –
… everything you stood for
You’ll be blessed in everything –
… everything you taught
You’ll be seen in everyone
… everyone you taught
And everything worthy of your teaching
For you did your utmost best
… and prepared us for the rest
Damirifa due o Kwamena Aboagye, Opeele!
Da yie o Agya Kwamena!
Yaa wɔ ojogbaang wɔ jen nɛ mli nuntsɔ
Hede nyui Efo Ansah, Efo Opeele!
Rest in immense power Kwamena Ansah Aboagye
Till we meet in the forever ever after
The forever ever after of our mortality
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © Sept. 2, 2021. Edited by Dr. Francis Gbormittah