A Familiar Place Poem by Joshua Nnachi

1.
i'm passing through this path again
where we stopped to look each other in the eyes.
we smiled, seeing something different in them.

2.
we made promises and dreamt of forever
surrounded by the smell of rotting mangoes and harmattan breeze.

4.
we wrapped secrets in guava leaves
bearing our autographs
and weaved saliva into memories.

3. i.
i was fire and you were arctic.
this was the altar where we died.

ii.
i felt you melt icy in my shaking arms
when i mistakenly tore your amulet:
i was afraid
but you begged me to never let go.

...

4.
it's been nine years now.
and i came here to remember;
but everywhere and everyone's changed.

5.
we're changed.

© Joshua Nnachi, Dec.2022.