ECHOES OF CHILDHOOD

Derrick Kofi Agbesi
@derrickkofiagbesi886981
23 days ago

Oh, those days!
When we were lost to the events of yesterday,
Never thinking of tomorrow.
Joy arrived with every celebration,
“Our Day”, marked by exams’ end.
Little baskets in hand, we'd strut around,
Front teeth missing, childhood unbound.
Teachers' warnings, terminal reports, forgotten fast,
Dad's scolding for a B grade, didn't last.

I recall the dusty football fields in the neighbourhoods,
Bamboos for goalposts, charcoal lines engaged.
Worn-out balls, our prized possession,
Dreaming of being top players—
“Messi! Ronaldo!” scribbled in ink on our shirts.
Everyone aspired to be those stars,
Not the doctors we pledged to be in class.
Little talents scoring twenty plus goals in a game,
While the ball owner seized the ball if not chosen,
Or if his side was losing the game.

I recall the afternoons beside the big tree trunks,
Tiny dark hands gingerly throwing pebbles into the sand.
Fights erupted if one was struck on the head,
Mum spotting the figure she had searched all day, bathed in sand.
But the next day we returned, clean and cool.

Now time has flown; we are not free.
We now carry our own burdens,
Wishing to return to those days—
When quarrels faded as quickly as they arose,
When joy was abundant and worries were few.


#AfricanChildhoodMemories
#ChildhoodinAfrica
#Poetry


Motivation Behind the Poem: The carefree life devoid of future anxiety during my childhood days together with my peers brought me fond memories and thus motivated me to pen down this poem. I hope you enjoyed it!
~Derrick Kofi Agbesi~
@ Accra, Ghana

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@joyoyih936684 @derrickkofiagbesi886981