SWEET EWURO

                                 

Mama said Ewuro is sweet

Humor her

Only its aftertaste is sweet

I reminded her

So what is bitter and sweet?

I frowned at the farm

The sweat ran down my back

Even sweat is salty

Why would Mama say Ewuro is sweet?

The sunrays pinched my back

Sensations in many places

I frowned again

She smiled at me

So she found this work pleasant?

Ara,

She called to me

She laughed at the furrows on my forehead

They reminded her of her folded wrappers

Now,

Grip the hoe tighter

Let your muscles dance beneath your skin

Let the midday insects please your eye

Let the sun bathe you golden

Let your singing belly be acoustic

The harvest is coming

Mama said

Onaara,

Let your veins protrude with vigour

Work is sweet.

Then,

When the harvest is come

You will whistle with the larks

Ewa, never mind your bitten skin

When the days of reaping come

Your beauty will be of glory

Then your stomach will sound like Papa’s bass

Your veins will lay fine

Mama looked at the Azure

Contentment in her eyes

So, let us accept the chores

Let us plant our yams

We must not sleep away our seedtime

Asa, never get weary of well doing

In due season you will reap

If you do not faint.

Come closer

Let me comfort you

Come for an embrace

But we must work

Ewuro is sweet

Ewuro will do your body good

Ewuro will massage your stomach well

Hard work does not kill

It is laziness that kills.

So we call our Ewuro sweet

And our Onugbu pleasant

Kola tastes good to us

And bitter leaf pleases our taste buds.

                                                                                                                            © Kelechi Chima.