Baabi Dehyeɛ

~BAABI DEHYEƐƐ~
I walk barefooted
Dust sewed to my feet
These socks for the journey

Flies follow my occiput
Singing my wretchedness
To the whole world

My nakedness
Dances in my rags
Like a big fish
trapped in a net

No sweat on my skin
Thirst is all I have drunk

Strongly
Hunger drums my belly
My feet dance
With inebriated steps

There are eyes
All around to feast
On my plight
There are lips to hurl
mocking cackles
at my shameful head
There are ears to be tickled
By the thud in my fall
But no hands to help me up

All the tears
In my eyes 
I have spilled
If only they could  hold their
Laughter in their belly
And lend me their tears

They would know
Where I do go

I am a royal in that
Palace at the end of the road
Built of gem and gold

Ahenema--
Is what yearns to kiss
My feet

Beads rest on kente
Waiting to embrace
My skin

They would see
The endless table
Adorned with colourful dishes
Each singing an invitation

Let them laugh
Their last laugh
I am crawling to my home
There stands the 
Never drying fountain

©Sarpong Kumankoma