Gone Young Poem by Chika Nwokeoma

I stopped for some minutes
Looked away from my scribbles, littered
Pieces of papers on the table
A glass of water that fattens the thumb,
Only time knows how long;
As I gazed through the window
At the orange sun
Hanging on the west side

Little Jamie was kicking football around
With the others
He was only five,
Bare, tiny mosquito legs,
On tiny rocks, stones and silt
Dogs frolic around the corner
With their undefined business

After a moment in time
I turned back
At the future soccer mockery
Jamie was gone
Like the fading light in April
That was the last I saw him
My tiny, mosquito legged star player

News came few days later
Stray bullet went through him
As hot knife through butter;
My tiny mosquito legged player
With reverie and ambition
Fizzled like smoke in the wind


I remember you Jamie;
My mosquito legged star
Faded dreams
On rocks, stones and silt
On my scribbles and poetic rubbish
Fit for publication

Adieu!