CHILDHOOD YESTERYEARS

Chukwuemeka Oluka
@emmanueloluka561455
3 days ago

Written By: Chukwuemeka Oluka

Too many cooks they say, spoil the broth
But you haven't heard our beautiful story
The one told of our childhood friendships
Painted with vibrant colours in our tender hearts
Memories of laughter, innocence and real joy
Too many cooks for the broth was the fun
Our cooking water from collective spittles
Adaku with pepper on the grinding stone
Ingredients flew from mama's kitchen
Nkoli set the small tin pot on the ekwu
Ikem fanned the woods into yellow flames
Adaeze pat tata on the bum bum
Deluyo, nwa m deluyo, food is almost ready
She dutifully mimicked mama's voice and role
The rest would laugh and laugh and laugh
We took turns to turn the food on the fire
And licked our tiny palms to taste for salt
Too many cooks actually made the broth
That was how our friendships were birthed
We were many, but we did not spoil the broth
In joy, we made memories together

#AfricanChildhoodMemories
#ChildhoodinAfrica
#Poetry

INSPIRATION BEHIND THE POEM
The poem, "Childhood Yesteryears" is inspired by the desire to bring to bare the communal spirit that tied friendships together from the cradle and making them stand the test of time. Such friendships should be celebrated.

New words:
- "Deluyo, nwa m deluyo" translated to mean, be calm, my child be calm
- "bum bum" translated to mean buttocks
- "tata" translated to mean baby
- "Ekwu" translated to mean, a tripod of cooking stones

📍Enugu, Nigeria

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