"Sankofa"

[Ɔkyeame Kwame]

First Place College Poetry Winner
"Sankofa"
(Akan-Twi: ‘return-go-take’)”

Kwasi Konadu

Re-member we when I was not
re-member roots when trunk, branches,
leaves fruit and flower were not
re-member common sense when
sight, smell taste, touch, and hearing were not
re-member that we have two ears and eyes
but they do not hear and see in twos
re-member that speech effects and
affects the speaker
re-member when folks drum to the spirit of
life and not life without spirit
re-member that fools speak, the wise listen
when the wise speak, everyone listens
re-member that the eyes can only see what
the mind trains it to believe
re-member that that is simply is!
re-member time as boundless, sacred reality
since not even time can time itself
re-member that the sky is black
and oceans have bottoms
re-member that it is paramount to
re-member what cannot be forgotten
re-member if we misuse our seeds
our potential fruit becomes rotten
yet, the blossom shall shine
in our children’s forehead
and in their children’s children
re-member what should never be forgotten
re-member each breath
re-member the power in finding
your place in reality
your mission and purpose in life
REMEMBER…S