A Song For An African Child Poem by Harry Biosah

I love to sing this song
Emanating from feelings
That run deep, as a fountain
Draining into an ocean
Transcending every thought, emotion
Reminiscent of this picturesqueness
Traversing barefoot
Across narrow, dusty river paths
Water pot firmly rooted to my head
Clothes barely clinging to my barren back
Staving off probing mosquitoes
Wondering if there would be enough food
To quench my famishment tonight!
The imagery of distant rising and falling
Of a solitary town crier's conclave call
The night soil man in his domain
Savoring the repugnant scent of his bounty
As he probes deeper into the palpable
Yet elusive blanket of darkness
Towering endlessly over around us.
Images of children, half naked
Playing moonlight games
Images of men
Gulping tons of utaba
Down tunnels of barrel-like nostrils
Copiously devouring from kegs of palm wine
As tales of war and valor ring out
Women telling stories of animals
In the animal kingdom
The constant menace of flies, insects
Fanning my defenceless face
I still love this song
It's the only song I know!