on the bite of a kola nut
i was so high the clouds blanketing africa
in the mid morning flight were pushed
away in an angry flicker
of the sun’s tongue
a young lioness sat smoking a pipe
while her cubs waved up at the plane
look ida i called a lion waving
but she said there are no lions
in this part of africa
it’s my dream dammit i mumbled
but my grandmother stood up
from her rocker just then
and said you call it
like you see it
john brown and i are with you
and i sat back for my morning
coffee
we landed in accra and the people
clapped and i almost cried wake up
we’re home
and something in me said shout
and something else said quietly
your mother may be glad to see you
but she may also remember why
you went away