Poetry of the Ivory

Am back home

I see our country has grown since then
After fourteen years; everything has changed
Fourteen years must have been a long time for you
Well, to me, the time seems shorter.

Everything everything has changed
The kids all grown
Grown-ups a little older
Is this home really?

"Brother is home!" a young man shouts
From a distance
"He is home! He is back home!" women follow behind me
"Welcome son" those in boot and pant say.

Yes. It's home; now I agree
'My people' recognise me; am back it's true
For a minute I thought I was lost
Am really not.

Two days have passed since my arrival
I have walked the whole village now
I have needed a companion all through
I have feared I might get lost though.

I left footpaths; murram roads
I left mud houses; bricks and stones
I left a shop; shopping center
I left a dark dark place; now, daytime in the night.

Fences are now hedges
Shambas are now gardens
Waterholes are no more; taps
And, did I just see a swimming pool?

An airstrip
A train station
Haha... statue landmark
A cinema hall.

Everything has changed
I stand the same place I stood last
I stand differently now
I stand in a whole new way.

Yes, it's her; and I've missed her alot
Grey hair on her head; her smile not as white anymore
But same voice; same laughter; same dimples a little deeper
Same title, Mama.

Yes, it's him; I respect him like I did
Grey hair on his head; same serious face
Muscles a little leaner
But same voice; same laughter; same title, Papa.

I hear my siblings are in far away towns
Flourishing
I hear my aunts and uncles
Are now old; some have left us.

The neighbours moved away
I have met new ones
And our chief is dead
And his wife remarried.

This wooden stool I want to sit on forever
This daisy I want to feel it's grace forever
The orange horizon far beyond me; and the cool wind
I am back home,forever.