Nostalgia
Date: 2024-12-17
Nostalgia
The first time you saw an earthworm, it shrank when salt slapped its face.
You heard its music of uproar and felt for it. You lost the strength of dancing.
In the bush, you were there with 'Tife and 'Tobiloba, searching for snails,
Because Maami told you how sweet they tasted in stews.
You wanted to taste them, to confirm if truly their body tasted like honey.
You laughed because it was raining, and 'Tife sprinkled rainwater on your fragile body,
You loved swimming in the rain. "Ike Ọlọrun" God's blessing, you'd say.
Your body would go cold when the rain stops, and you'd shudder in front of the fire.
The next day or the next after it, you'd make football from paper and cello tape. You were a fine artist.
'Tobiloba, 'Tife and their brothers would come over,
And you'd argue over who to pick who into a team.
You'd play till the day wraps up, and rush to the stream to wash the dirt off your body.
Mother must not see me like this. You'd tell 'Tobi anytime he mocks your effeminacy.
At the market, you'd follow Aunt Azeezat to buy kinds of stuff for night meal,
On your way, you'd see Egungun dancing in the village square, dangling something that looked
Like a king's horsetail on their hand, their guttural voices scaring the little kids.
You'd ask her why they are out today. It's the Egungun festival. They'd parade the village, displaying
Their magic to all the villagers, Aunt Azeezat, dark-skinned with a birthmark on her forehead, would tell you.
You used to love them, how they displayed their magic to the world, chanting something that
Looked like incantations, or maybe they were truly incantations. You were too young to know that.
Sometimes, it was "ice and water" you'd play. You, your big brother, 'Tobi and 'Tife, plus some small boys that lived nearby.
The rule was: those who belonged to water must run from the ice team.
If ice touched water, water would freeze and turn to ice.
It was fun. Another day, you'd play "Dodging, shooting".
This was a game of hiding and shooting your enemies.
You'd target and shoot the body of your opponent if you see them, and they'd be held captive under your chain.
You'd always dreamt of swimming back to childhood so that these dreams
Would become another reality, so that you'd remember how father argued with his friends in the large sitting room,
And mother dried husks of rice for Tuwo in the broad daylight.
