I fell in love once
It was like finding out
about the woman
selling fried akara and sugary hot pap
at the T-junction before my house
At first, it was merely just convenient
To have akara and ogi for breakfast
Then, it became a key part of my day.
Later, the woman would reserve my portion
And give me extra milk
Other times, she would send her daughter
To bring it home for me.
I fell in love that day
It was like an evening of
Heavy rain fall
After a hot day of blazing sun
First came the cooling breeze
My pores felt like the vent
Of the air conditioning unit
Then came the smell of the rain
That made me forget what sweat smelled like
And the fat heavy rain drops
Pounding on the roof of my house
and pushing me deeper into the
Warmth of my bedsheets.
I fell in love that time
It was like when I came home
After a long day at work
My deadlines had usurped lunch time
And Swallowed my hunger pangs
My deliverables had beat back my appetite
And I only left my desk when
it is too late for lunch
And almost late for dinner
But when I got home,
I was welcomed with
Soft Fufu and delicious egusi soup
I fell in love then
It was like
Being afraid for my safety
On my the way from the busstop
Late in the evening
And finding out that my big brother
Was waiting with a flashlight in front of the house
To safely escort me home
I fell in love with you
Once
I fell in love with you
That day
I fell in love with you
That time
I fell in love with you
Then.
EKAETE HUNTER 