Poem of the Day: May 13

 

Jamestown, Ghana

by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

 

here
the men have fists
more fluent than language
two world boxing champions ate fish here
here
the women cast insults
as powerful as coastal waves
scale fish quicker than thieves scale walls

this is Jamestown
home of strong tides

here
the boys learn
the rhythm of crabs
grow skin thicker than the armour of shrimps
here
the girls walk
the rolling of waves
develop the skill of walking through men

this is ngleshi
harbour of water

here
the colonial castle
crumbles into the sea
like a salted blemish slowly fading away

this is Jamestown
wo shee noko gbeye
we always walk free

First published in The Liberal in Spring 2005.

 

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