Interlude II: Memories of Ganvie by Kwadwo Opoku-Agyemang
For Maame
There in salt-haunted Ganvie
They have soaked memory in water
And history walks on stilts
Above all wars
Do not feed the sea, no
Not if you wish to go home again
Not the skulls that fatten the bottom of our sea
Flood flee to Dahomey, Dahomey
Absurd ambition, when will I ever learn?
This is wine to witness my war
My sword has scattered the stars
Restless burden, earth and lore
Bare bones be the blight beneath my scars
We who stand under the waterfall to kill death
When did Anokye plant the sword of war?
Maiduguri, Abossey Okai, Abomey and Akuse
Adande, Adande! Ooh, Adande!
Do not feed hatred to the sea
Do not behead the deity for its brass
Do not sell the people for wine
Not for sale not for profit not for ever more
Blood is never vain, nor faint enough
The orphans came and went empty
And so did the past, his and hers
While blood flows in the ashes under our feast
We captured Timbuktu in wars without echo
Without print or pinch, neither warm nor woo
Addo left us, and so did the words to say goodbye
He went to Chicago, took the castle with him
There to meet his geography with the globes off
In the end it came to this
A palm tree climbed in sandals
A casket walking away to the grave
On the legs of six weeping men
And the prophet in us did not wonder
Whether we died or we cried
Are you safe, kind heart
Is some ghost chasing you, should we hide you?
The stool is superior to the king
Under the eyes of Dahomey
Do not cross Kpasse
Do not look to Xwegbaja
Do not go south to Ganvie
They have soaked memory in water
And history walks on stilts
Above all wars
Above all wars
Leave a comment behind