Away Poem by Adeosun Olamide

We returned to the shores and found, our sons have all sailed away.
The shores haven't changed;
The shy sun belongs here, ambling in its clouds-
And the tides haven't stopped to roll.
The boys pray and sleep as we, dreaming of the seas,
Rolling with the tides or winds
Accommodating its seduction.
We look away and look to the sea or to our sons
Have I passed his ship? Or was his, one, at pace or peace down at sea?
We take the Fishes home, to withered wives, to shriveled mothers,
To her shriveled grave.
There are no daffodils on the sea, no roses, there is more
There is more in the sea than cowries and Fishes.
Cowries, the merchant refuses,
But he knows me, for some have offered cowries before,
And he understands me, the need I have of his flowers,
The flower is pink or red and beautiful, but unpopular,
I do not know what it is called; I cannot recall its scent-
We take the flower home, to withered wives, to shriveled mothers,
To her shriveled grave,
I have dreamt of, of she by my side, of my sons,
Her voices have woken me…
I have seen her sometimes too, not in dreams,
And when I drew closer, she is no more.
How now does she look?
Will the wrinkles in my palm let her feel the warmth?
I ask, taking the new path home.
I have answered the questions while on sea,
I have answered others too,
But the responses, I do not recall.
I approach it, and hope home hasn't gone too far away.
A girl stands at the entrance, but walks away as I come,
I followed her; till she entered or became the mist.

I returned to the door to hear she walked into the sea,
They knew her and knew me too…
And have advertised the knowledge of her love or madness to their sons,
I take the fishes and the flowers back to the sea, to the distance,
Forgetting shriveled mothers or her shriveled grave-
Praying only the tides, takes us home.