Dry Season in Eremon - Edith Faalong

I have seen the dry season in Eremon.
The shea and dadawa trees: long, bare,
yet weighed, sacred, weary...

sighing from the secrets they carry,
secrets of want, need,
of several comings and goings.

Of bone deep chill and merciless cold
drifting through the few trees -
over lost rocks, rare bits of green,
over an earth blackened by fires
still crackling in the distance,
the sun shining with a vengeance
pushed on by our ignorance.

Cracked feet of mothers roam the dry earth
gathering wood, minding homes
infant noses bleed, lips crack.
Toughened hands beat the shea in processing.

Men sit under trees
empty pots of pito.

Half full calabashes to their lips,
heady scent of tobacco in the air,
their chatter getting louder.

Oh, I have seen the dry season.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a poignant poem, Edith. Dry seasons are testing points of life. Great poem from a sterling poet.

Anonymous said...

well Edith--a deep sensitive--64 mexapix--camera EYE--that developes the magic--beautifully--like the word reduction--adds more intensity to the piece--keep showin us that magic----bees -knees.

Anonymous said...

wow!beautiful and touching.could just visualise the trees and women picking woods.

Anonymous said...

wow!beautiful and touching.could just visualise the trees and women picking woods.

Anonymous said...

wow!beautiful and touching.could just visualise the trees and women picking woods.

Jonas said...

A dry season in Eremon indeed!The imagery is superb! Thumbs up for you.

Jonas said...

A dry season in Eremon indeed!The imagery is superb! Thumbs up for you.

Jonas said...

A dry season in Eremon indeed!The imagery is superb! Thumbs up for you.

Anonymous said...

"Cracked feet of mothers roam the dry earth
gathering wood, minding homes
infant noses bleed, lips crack.
Toughened hands beat the shea in processing."

You know what, Edith. You've got to get published. I am serious.

Adjei Agyei-Baah said...

It's indeed a winning poem.It deserves it.Kudos Edith

Anonymous said...

Creativity at its best, kudos Edith