Tei ('Demirifa Due') Poem by Edward Kofi Louis

'Demirifa due'
You died on the 3rd of March 2002;
And was buried on the 16th of March 2002,
But what is the independence of man when death calls? !
Tei, 'demirifa due';
You were with me on Friday the 1st of March 2002,
Then on Sunday the 3rd of March 2002 i heard of your death;
For death took you away from me like a candle in the wind.

Of the Red Sea and the Black Sea,
Of the Blue Sea and the White Sea,
But the wind blew you away so soon into the world unknown;
Young and fresh and never married,
And of the tears of many who came to see your dead body.

I was short of wards when i heard the news,
Because we had an appointment to go out together on the 4th of March;
And being an artist like myself,
We planned to visit the ART CENTRE (in Accra-Ghana) to sell some works.

Tei, 'demirifa due';
You were knocked and run down by a tipper truck with double axles!
And death knocked at your door so early and you were gone too soon.

Wailing and gnashing of teeth,
Your candle died out so soon in the wind;
And this sad note will be remembered always.