
Cyrus Kabiru (SMAC Gallery), from “C-Stunners”. Source: weareafricatravel.com
let me remember you
we mold differently,
teenage-fly hearts,
with phone calls we don’t want to end
what we don’t know how to do,
is walk away
i have known you
for introducing me to nature trails,
and each tickle of a touch
evokes the treks shared
that’s how I remember
—in the gaze of animals at orphanages
and
the gurgles of monkeys we fed
if the fears win,
will I flare-up?
if the edges no longer flame?
let me remember you,
like laughter;
—the soaking of rain and,
the flux of its lightning arcs
let me remember you,
in the eyes of the impalas,
racing to flirt
caged
without reason,
in silence without
your touch for drums
the wall’s paints are in your nails,
and your knuckles are getting sore.
you know you have to beat it down
—it has to crumble
maybe it’s you and
the pain has grown to be a man,
who’s tough on change
he doesn’t want to leave?
you fight not to lose,
(the little boy has to live)
you might win and
not know the shade of victory.
when the boy stares into the water dish,
it mirrors what the world denied