My Younger Me Poem by Blessing Ikponmwen

Guess who I saw today,
A little girl!
When I saw her, I smiled because I remembered you,
I remembered you, my younger me.

I was told that you were born many years ago,
I really wished I could tell what your face looked like when you came out from mummy's womb,
But I was told that seeing your face as she held you in her arms, brought tears of joy from her eyes.

What were the sounds that you made relishing mummy's breast milk?
Sincerely, when I hear babies make amusing sounds when they are being breast fed,
I can't help but wonder, 'Did you make those sounds or were yours different? '

I wish I could remember and picture all what you did
When you cried,
When you laughed,
When you were hungry.
I was only told about some of your little escapades by mummy, daddy and grandma.

So you learned to sit,
And then you crawled,
What was your first word?
Was it 'Papa' or ' Mama'?
Please when you took your first step,
Who saw you?
Daddy or mummy?
I am sure who ever did was super excited and you felt like a star, right?

You took a step,
Then another and another
You started walking! What a feat!

Grandma said when crying you always mentioned 'Pamuuu'! 'Pamuuu'.
Immediately you were given 'Akamu' you would stop crying.
No wonder pap turned out to be one of the meals I enjoy taking even when I am sick.

With the scars I see in my body,
I need nobody to tell me how playful you were.
I still remember how you would run around with other children.
You never mind bathing out in the open,
You never mind mummy sucking out phlegm from your nose with her mouth,
You never mind daddy giving you a chunk of meat from his mouth,
You never mind being on mummy's back till you slept off.

My younger me,
How come you were so afraid of the dark?
That at the sound of 'Ojuju', you ran faster that one aiming for a reward.
You never understood lies, hatred, unforgiveness, jealousy and unhealthy rivalry.
These are scarier than the dark.

How excited were you when you started school?
I can only imagine your little feet in your shoes
And your uniform as mummy took you to school.

After many years,
I see how you have grown,
Grown to become a beautiful lady,
A lady who appreciates life and all that it offers,
I am glad you lived because
I would not have been able to see the little girl Who made me appreciate you,
My younger me.