Liquid Love Poem by Ola Joseph Kolawole

LIQUID LOVE

the road was just as it has been –
the same way it was months back when I left
I began to thread the familiar path
Which led to my dad’s compound
Every step I took, I took with ease
And the destrination drew nigh and nigh.

Then suddenly –

My rolling stone began to gather some mosses
Having being halted by an invisible wall –
The wall of fear!
Vivid pictures of how dad dfelt when I was leaving overwhelmed my memory
I remembered how reluctant he was
Leaving me to embark on this weary journey

Weary… Yes! Very disheartyening indeed
How I wish id never left at first
“You can’t flourish outside my fatherhood”
those were the words of my old man
which he had told me of times without number
usually at those times I’d felt the cushioning of his laps
and caressed his tender loving white beard
– Those words come back as clearly as then…

and now…

every step became heavier
and I lifted up my head
which I had buried onto gazing at the ground in shame

and behold,

My dad’s compound became more visible
And I saw a silhouette from afar
The figure of which resembled a cross
And I began to wonder –
What could that be?

Every step became yet heavier
And I practically felt like turning bavck
But I encouraged myself
Having acknowledghe trhe truth in the formerly controversial fact
“I needed dad to survive”

“If only He can take me back again”
“…At least as one of his slaves…”
trhose were my inferior thoughts
as I carried closer to the base
then I lifted up my head
for yet another time

And now,

The silhouette became real
It was my dad that was standing with open arms
– That was thye cross – like figure I’d earlier seen

I couldn’t say whjere the strength came from
But I knew I sped through the last few yards
With a ballistic race approach
And I bumped into his warm embrace

And looking into his eyes,
I saw tears rolling down his cheeks
But viewing the tears with a third eye,
They are drops of love in its liquid state

Then he dazed me yet more
As these words bellowed from his lips
“Come take your place beside Me
You’ve been gone for too long
Each day I’ve eagerly awaiterd
Your definitely undaunted return
Let’s throw a big party
For him that left as a child
Has returned as a son…”

My eyes doubted the reality of the scenes that unfolded
As I was robed in the best of clothes
And a signet ring was on my finger…
Need I say more?

Dear Dad,
Thanks for YOUR LOVE.

November 1,2007