FACETS OF MY GHANAIAN LIFE

1.
Where to begin my story, oh where to start
It’s hard to say when there’s so much at heart
But I’ll start this like any other day
From where darkness rules but gives dawn way
Night on the inside, blindness for a while
My room in silent pride, my face wears a smile
Bliss, pure bliss- a state of ecstasy
Me in my purest form – zero hypocrisy
Soon sounds flood in from the outside world
Bitter-sweet tunes at my ears are hurled
Bitter because the cocks’ crow chisels at my soul
Sweet from the chirps of warblers unknown
But these are enough, enough to wake me up
Some days I whimper, dare I say, like a pup
Of course this may not be your expectation of my daily start
But take a minute, wear my shoes and feel my heart
For as I speak forth as Ghanaian and even before you do
I think we both agree that I was first me and you, you
To pour out my best, I must succumb to symphony
Step in and meet my little Ghana, in other words, my family…

2.
Fathers, grandparents, uncles and siblings
Mothers, cousins, aunties and niblings  
The ones who got your back, come hell or high water
The ones who stab your back, even when it’s covered with mortar
We are the Gas, we are confident as we are loud
Yes, I’m a Ga and in this fact I stand proud
I may not know the past of every member within
The deeds they’ve done, seen and unseen
But I love every one of them all the same
To not have family at all would be a terrible shame
I know very well that we’re full of serious drama
But that’s another story about life and karma
Back in the day, way back in primary school
When stubborn was the code and mischief was cool
My grandmother’s house was the place to be
Even though it had its roughs and chores for me
I learnt about life there, especially about living with others
As for the art of sweeping, I have graduated with honors
Though the past was not of skies raining manna
This is a piece of me, my life, my Ghana

3.
Looking back on all these things today makes me grateful
God has been good and kind, He’s been faithful
As a people I believe that view is shared by most
From the northernmost lands to those on the coast
We may not have the same religion but we have a common goal
To have the joys of worship in spirit and soul
To communicate with the self-evident supernatural
Some may call it spiritual, some say cultural
To me true religion frowns on harming one another
And treating your neighbor as your sister or brother
As for the times, we choose when we may
Be it Friday, Sunday or Saturday
To be Ghanaian means acknowledging our differences
And not discriminating with actions and utterances
For whether it’s the good Qur’an or the holy Bible
We are one nation, and not just tribal
I’ve known this from way back in senior high
We watched each other’s backs and were each other’s eye
Till date we are still a team, one fine crew
Never have I known a brotherhood so true
For those who remain blind, they lack panorama
But in God we trust for a much better Ghana


4.
Despite all the smiles, we’ve all had bad times
Those days we fell victims to terrible crimes
Days that on the wrong side of bed we awoke
Days on which we were penniless and broke
Days we had our hearts so broken
And days we slept, wishing never to be woken
Days we were battered to the very core
Days life hit hard and made us so sore
Oh and those days so dark & grey
Days when the sun rained soot, not a single ray
With sorrow as bread and hunger as friend
Those days just seemed to be without end
Days we lost friends and those we cherish
Our hearts ached and we sought to perish
Despite those moments of black and the blues
Despite heart-wrenching and horrible news
You and I didn’t end at that road block
We kept moving like the hands of the good ole clock
And just like the droughts to the farmer
We have had our shares of tragedy - in Ghana

5.
Enough of the dark times, let’s celebrate the dawn
For it’s not in all days that man must mourn
Beautiful moments also come our way
From outdooring or “kpodziemo” as we Gas would say
To weddings and promotions –a joyous galore
Makes us smile so hard that our lips feel sore
Farmers sing with joy at bounteous crop
Those jubilant moments we wish wouldn’t stop
Where children are celebrated for growth and achievement
Those moments of gold far from bereavement
Where hard work and sweat is well rewarded
And noble efforts are proudly applauded
Whether on ground, in air or upon the sea
We have all held of fortune’s key
We must only be grateful and seek for more
For these lands are fertile with tons in store
More days of laughter are yet on their way
So let us hold all ships of negativity at constant bay
And stand proud in the waves of our banner
We, regal and beautiful, people of Ghana

6.
As I ponder these on the table of my mind,
No other words from my heart could I find
But that this our heritage, from sky to soil
For it our hearts beat, churn and does boil
Be us in vehicles moving to and fro
Or in our homes and schools learning to grow
Be us on way to our farms to plant
Or in canoes to sea, as we sing and chant
Be us in political parties of countless views
Or of the indifferent throng without any clues
Be us mighty chiefs on skins and stools of old
Or clothed in richly ornaments of silver and gold
Be us different in genres of music we adore
Or united in the roars when our players score
From all the above, we’ve all been there
If they were all meals, you’ve had your share
I may not know your rations, I am not so certain
Alas with these final strokes, I must draw the curtain
I end with this statement, which none can deny
Our unique Ghanaian lives would be empty, without you and I.