Every Now And Then

Every now and then
I think to myself
There is more to me
Than being
A wife
Lover
Mother
Daughter
Sister
Friend

Every now and then
I search deep within
For the light in me
To penetrate my surroundings
And to extinguish my darkest nights

Every now and then
I remind myself
That the gratitude I have
For love and life
Irrespective of the challenges I face
Is sufficient enough for me
To master them all

Every now and then
I speak to myself
Professing and declaring all
My creator has said about me
I am the head and not the tail!

Every now and then
I throw caution to the wind
And share my inner thoughts
Hoping
Like seeds they will not
Be mis-understood
But instead
Fall
On fertile hearts

Every now and then
I remind myself
That will power alone is not
Enough to create
The desired changes in me
Instead I take a leap of faith
Into the unknown
Knowing
My life is about taking risks
No more living in my comfort zone

Every now and then
I choose to fight my battles
With lethargy
Indifference
Ambiguity
And get rid of them with
One stroke of my pen

Every

Now

And

Then

I take a look in the mirror
At this naked body of mine and
Confidently remark
“You sure look good!”

Just every now and then….

Elitha©2006

Who Told You

WHO TOLD YOU

WHO TOLD YOU TO TAKE MY DREAM
AND SCREW IT UP
AS IF IT’S A “HAS BEEN”
WHO TOLD YOU TO TAKE MY JOY
AND KICK IT AWAY
LIKE SOME BOUNCEY TOY

WHO TOLD YOU TO BLOT MY NAME
OF THE WALLS OF ELMINA
FROM WHENCE
MY FOREFATHERS CAME
WHO TOLD YOU?

WHO TOLD YOU TO MUTE MY CRIES
AND REPLACE MY HISTORY
WITH YOUR BLATANT LIES
WHO TOLD YOU
THAT BLACK IS WRONG
AND WHITE IS RIGHT
HAS IT EVER OCCURRED
YOU COULD BE COLOUR-BLIND?

WHO TOLD YOU THAT
MY GIFTS ARE IN
MUSIC AND SPORTS ALONE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
WILL FIND IN ME NO HOME


I BEG TO DIFFER
CHECK OUR FAMOUS MATHEMATICIANS
YOU’LL SOON DISCOVER
THAT FOR MANY CENTURIES
CIVILISATION HAVE BEEN RIDING
ON THE BACKBONE
OF AFRICA

WHO EVER TOLD YOU
TELL THEM FROM ME
THEIR WORDS CANNOT HIDE
WHAT THE EYES CAN SEE!

2006©ELITHA