the plane is late
it has not arrived yet from Accra
people are waiting with patience
first 30 minutes
then an hour
we think the plane is cancelled
people begin to rumble
what if the plane doesn’t come
what will we do
the bus ride is long and it is night
we are tired and tired of waiting
the plane lands finally
and we are off to Accra
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dVerse prompt on waiting – a photo of Accra
Fishing nets hang by the shore
here at Lake Bosumtwi
anchored by stones
thrown into these waters
of deep depth
When you return will you bring me a writing book?
the English was heavily accented
the face was young and inquiring
English I say
When you return will you bring me a writing book?
I heard the word clearer now and know of a request for book
any book I ask
a writing book
Are you a writer I am a writer
Then I remember that I have a small moleskin book in my bag
I bring out the book and present it to him
I hope he becomes a writer
I see him in the distance walking home with his book
We wave goodbye as I leave Lake Bosumtwi.
We hike in the morning before it was too hot. Yet the sweat pours out during the many steps up the side of Prayer Mountain. People come here to pray, to find deliverance in this Christian nation of Ghana. Before we reach the top there are rocks that are weeping like the Weeping Rock of Zion. When we come to the end of the trail we are on a flat plateau of smooth indented stone. There is testimony that the waters collecting on the rock have healing powers.
The way down is quicker. The struggle up was difficult but “these memories were left here with the trees” as we pass by more pilgrims on their way up with their own struggles. Each step a prayer.
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dVerse prompt to use Jo Harjo quote. Written after a climb up Prayer Mountain in Ghana.
Ashanti village
home of chiefs
kings and queens
guarded by a warrior
timber and gold
farms of cocoa and tomato
waiting for the harvest
A rainbow over Kumawu
Trucks and cars passing by
this rainy day going to Kumasi
past villagers selling their goods
lush vegetation plantain & banana
small mountains in distance
no naked flame the sign reads
no bush meat for me
as we travel on
mindful of where we are going
what we will do when we arrive
Labadi Beach
is a jumble of plastics
horses and hawkers
boys playing soccer
dark bodies
tall concrete fences
with signs
don’t pee on me
Open 24/7
high end shops
compared to Jamestown
stop for African cloth
(Get use to someone
trying to sell you something
cuz everybody out to make a cedi)
billboards KFC as we
travel on down Oxford Street
no time for chicken
Mandela’s mango tree
is planted here
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
Accra in Ghana
The trees of the park
are of nations
presented to honor Nkrumah
first president of Ghana
leader of independence from British
scholar economist educator
founder of University of Ghana
His burial here
so we don’t forget
Pan-Africanism
Organization of African Unity
Neo-Colonialism
where he points the way
into the future
The trees of nations
grow in the park
their roots mingle
share nutrients
absorb rains
off the coast of West Africa
Looking down
world’s tallest building
don’t miss this
while in Dubai
go early or late
when the sky is clearer
wordshophop 