“i watched your body dance to the music
that draws stones to you now…”

ODE TO AN EFFEMINATE CHILD

i wish to write joy on every muscle embedded in my tongue
& sing your body into a bird

i’ve cradled you twice
before and after your memories were birthed

i watched your body dance to the music
that draws stones to you now

but i’ve never had to imagine
that your tongue will burn songs into elegies

elegies cradle you now
& i am lost like your masculinity

darling                  come let me kiss your wounds into healings
come let me teach you how to arch your brows if it makes you happy

you’ve suckled long unto me
come suckle on joy

the closet is getting rusty
come dance in the field with me

come to your mother’s embrace
and dance to oblivion
————————-

Poem © Ugochukwu Damian Okpara
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay (modified)