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Chidera Odom Restaurant Operations M... @ Sundry Foods Ltd
city Benin City, Nigeria
514
1363
65
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In Literature, Writing and Blogging 3 min read
LAYERS OF MEMORY AND ICE
<p>After you grew, you let yourself slip </p><p>Back to the place where shadows whispered your name, </p><p>Where the hurtful gaze seared through your soul. </p><p>Some say you were blinded by love, </p><p>That was why you endured the verbal slaps, </p><p>The virtual kicks that bruised more than skin. </p><p>You never gave as good as you got </p><p>Perhaps because you never received as good as you gave. </p><p><br></p><p>In moments like this, when I sit and remember you, </p><p>Wet anger boils out of me. </p><p>I want to reprimand you, </p><p>Shake you free from those chains, </p><p>But it’s too late to teach you new tricks, </p><p>Too late to mend what’s already broken. </p><p><br></p><p>Out of the blues, you grew, </p><p>in magnificence, as much as in horror, </p><p>You grew horns as sharp as your newfound resolve, </p><p>Dished out rewards on those who wronged you. </p><p>And though I’m proud of the vileness of your crime, </p><p>A bitter pride it is,</p><p>For what have we become? </p><p><br></p><p>At least they deserved every blow you dealt, </p><p>And if I threw in a punch or two, </p><p>Nothing feels amiss, nothing feels wrong. </p><p>It was a time to let live and a time to live, </p><p>But at what cost to my soul? </p><p><br></p><p>I remember when fondness was your only language, </p><p>It was in the words you gave me and, </p><p>the way you hugged me wholly. </p><p>Not even the street peddlers or beggars can deny the tune your heart sings with. </p><p>But now, the tune has changed, </p><p>The discord now echoes with noisy pain. </p><p><br></p><p>The stern hand still resounds, </p><p>The hard smile before the harder kick </p><p>These days, even your eyes speak of resistance, </p><p>Though your heart remains true, </p><p>A thin layer of ice has formed where once was fire. </p><p><br></p><p>I got so used to your old voice, </p><p>But the one you use now is Greek, Zulu, and Venda to my ears. </p><p>That hard stare buckles my knees, </p><p>Your fangs dig deep when I reach out, </p><p>I am no stranger to them, but, </p><p>they only used to care in my memories. </p><p><br></p><p>I could have forgiven the hurt if you were grey and frail, </p><p>But there’s nothing aged about "65".</p><p>When I sat at your knee, listening to your lonely old tales, </p><p>You should have told me to hold them in place, </p><p>To keep them safe for a day like this </p><p>I would have planned for this rainy day. </p><p><br></p><p>Now, you’re a blank slate, akin to a child, </p><p>And time was never our ally, </p><p>We don’t have all day to fill you with beautiful memories. </p><p>And I’m left here, grasping at the shadows of yesterdays realities, </p><p>Hoping that somewhere, beneath the ice, </p><p>The warmth of your old heart still lingers. </p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
LAYERS OF MEMORY AND ICE
By Chidera Odom
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