EKURASE

The night always young
peasants resuming from labor
Noise of children so real and loud

Igniting a chorus through every deafening silence
¹Ekurase

Each day too young to die
Footprints denting sand dunes
All are busy, none will dare sleep
Every man at his best
Ekurase

Household sits around the illuminating fire
Listening to the sage as he unties wisdom knot
Gray hairs nods in agreement amidst the lads
And in a mellow mood they enjoy every word

Tell us legends which preceded our birth,
and why death has no cure, they seem to ask
But night has journeyed far and old folks are weary,
They wait for a fortnight

Ekurase!
Forever my love at first sight.

¹Ekurase: Akan name for village

First published at http://poetryfoundationghana.org/index.php/traditional-poems/item/303-ekurase
Copyright (C) 2013