Open Seseme Poem by Kojo Owusu

In a churning vortex and strangling oases
I wandered where contentment was as
Elusive as a genie. The runnels
Of propitiation have disappeared and
The contrast between me and my brother
was obviously sharp. When the old man joined
The ancestors and bequeathed life to us,
We were quick to squander it.
But he, joining hand to a lady
Of fortune is now successful
Soaring in the air of luxury and
Traversing the land of ostentation
With smiles of encouragement from
A Supportive wife. But I, hurled from
A squalid hut, and now sprawling on
A Poor widows hearth. I wander in the
Lifeless forest gathering sticks with
The meek creatures eternally stooping
To lighten my burden. We traverse the
Fertile but indifferent wild of withered
Boughs where rustling symphony assail
My ears. My return journey home was always sad.
And though a calm, devoted and
Uncomplaining wife, a mournful
Appearance was always clear in her
Tainted face. And so our uncalled for
Trauma continued our woes and throes
Kept on increasing and our voices were
Drowned at the ears of those who will
Alleviate our pains. Is man doomed
To suffer? Is man condemned to be
Burdened in an inextricable dark hole?
In the dark hour of my soul, she was the
Only person who was able to console me.
I saw the love lurking in tender breasts
To be strange, supernatural. But how
Helpless we are, when the vistas
Of fortune is appearing, we cannot
Even see it. One day while I was
Gathering sticks with my donkeys
I perceived a cloud of dust drawing
Towards me. I strained my eyes and
I saw a troop of horse men who would
Soon reach me. I was frightened.
I trembled. I hide my donkeys in a
Nearby bush and scampered up a tree
Where I could see them without being
Seen. The horsemen dismounted and
Brought out saddlebags full of gold.
They looked like robbers. The captain
Went towards a rock and uttered.
“Open, sesame! ” Suddenly a portal
Appeared on the face of the rock and
They entered into a cave. I was on the
Tree observing everything until I decided
To climb down from the tree because
They were keeping long. But just as
I made up my mind to descend, the portal
Flew open again and they came out and
The captain uttered: “close sesame! ”
The portal closed and they disappeared.
I descended from the tree and something
Urged my conscience to try the
Cabalistic words. I shouted the
Magic words and the portal appeared
Opened. I entered. I was overwhelmed
And frightened to see gold towering
In the cave. I did not know what to say
But it dawned on me that the bandits
Have being keeping their spoils in the
Cave for a very long time. I, who had
Gathered sticks from time immemorial,
Today, I would go home with gold.
I took as much gold coins as destiny
Would allow, and placed it on the backs
Of my dutiful donkeys and carefully
Concealed it with sticks and started
Off from the forest. My return home
Had an epic proportions. The boon
I was taking to the hearth was
Immeasurable, inconceivable.
And what avarice, what cancerous
Mote blinded her soul. When my wife
Persuaded me to get weight to measure
The gold coins to know its value,
My brothers wife cunning made her
To know the secret and he divulged it
To him. Greediness seized his soul and
He threatened me for the magic words.
I showed him where in the lone cave
Unable to say the words for emerging,
He was slashed into pieces. Through
Morgiana’s resourcefulness we were
Able to bury his unrecognizable body.
I was glad, I married the widow and
Morgiana became my servant.
morgiana’s breasts are filled with unbounded
Courage and inexpressible loyalty
And absolute devotion. Though I was
Courageous, it is to morgiana that
I own my life. The portentous marks
On the wall she outwitted the markers.
She scalded the heinous thieves in the
Barrel with seething oil and finally stabbed
To death the penetrable captain.
And she deserves to be married to my nephew.
Now for a very long time I did not go to the
Cave because I feared some of the thieves
Were alive. One day, I took
My saddlebags and mounted the donkeys.
When I reached the cave, I looked at
The treasures that my descendants would
Inherit. I uttered the cabalistic words
“Open, sesame! ” And as usual the portal few open.