Asides from the heart,
what other part of your body beats?
I ask my teacher.
She looks at me and spits out in disgust.
A drop of saliva lands in my mouth
and I quickly swallow it, using my tongue
to tear apart her arrogant ignorance.
How can she not know that my intestines
beat faster than my heart do?
Since they are curled up like snakes
does she expect them to hiss?
Isn't she smart enough to know
they can easily crawl away and leave my
stomach empty once they do?
Not like my stomach isn't empty
but my intestines beat drums of hunger
to pacify the demons always lurking
around my pancreas in ugly bloodied costumes
I love my intestines but they are bad drummers.
Yesterday, I made a list
of the things I want to change.
I showed the list to Mother,
who read every syllable with watery eyes
and sweaty palms. I think she forgot her
handkerchief and moped her sweat with it.
Now, I'm making another list
of the things I want to change.
*
a) Poverty
poverty has hung from my family tree
for as long as I can remember.
I warn myself not to throw stones
up too high—I might mistakenly harvest one.
b) Hunger
hunger lives in Makoko
I live in Makoko
I guess we're brothers.
c) Health
we can't afford hospitals,
we lie about the stench of blood
and syringes in methylated spirits
while calling the dead spirit
of our ancestors to heal my dying brother.
d) Education
According to Mother;
school is a place where the wealthy
embalm children so that
they sneak to work.
We stay at home because Mother
doesn't like sneaking.
e) Water
My people are very good people
with pure heart and clean soul.
Unfortunately, water is not pure here.
f) Climate
The grass is fertile,
nobody wants to sow the seed—
they are scared to be a father
but they are all eager to cut the trees.
e) doesn't have an heading
because I burnt it alongside the candlewick.
Electricity won't allow me complete the list.
© Abdulhameed Ridwan O
